I am over the moon about this. I am a cover girl. Well, really my quilt is, and it looks much better closely cropped than I do. 🙂 My Chevrons quilt is on the cover of the Nov./Dec. 2013 issue of Quilty Magazine.
I was beside myself when the folks at Quilty accepted my submission many months ago. I set to work diligently cutting and piecing this labor of love and giving little hints whenever I could. I was thrilled that someone wanted to publish it. Not that I don’t take pride in my work. It’s just that seeing it in print is somehow a validation of everything I work for.
I pieced it on my older Bernina 1630 and quilted it on my brand new Bernina 710 . (Buying a new machine mid-deadline can be a pretty stressful experience, LOL!)
I practiced on a bunch of scrap pieces before I was happy with the quilt design. I basted my quilt with lots of pins and anchored the rows by stitching in the ditch. I quilted straight lines about 1/4 away from the seams, using painter’s tape to help keep them straight.
Here’s a closeup of the back after all the rows were quilted. This is technically enough quilting for this quilt, but since I tend to go a little crazy when it comes to machine quilting, I decided to add quite a bit more.
I filled in all the Chevrons with straight lines using a blending thread. I added pebbles and echoed lines in the background, leaving some un-quilted areas to create a textural “relief”.
I was unsure how this would turn out, but once I flipped the quilt over to the back side, I was happy with how the texture was looking.
I’m still learning how to photograph my quilts so that the quilting can show, but it’s a work in progress. For some reason, I get better details when the quilt is flat on a table rather than a straight shot. I know it has something to do with the lighting.
The down side is that since I can’t get a straight on shot, you get to see my messy sewing room with ugly chairs, plastic bins, and cords sticking out everywhere, LOL!
Chevrons Front
It took me several years to get the quilting part down. It may be several more before my photography skills catch up to my quilting skills. Be sure to pick up your copy of Quilty so you can see it professionally patterned, styled, and photographed. 🙂
I almost forgot – I owe a huge thanks to the folks over at Micheal Miller who supplied their gorgeous Cotton Couture Solids to me to make this quilt. I simply adore solids!
Chevrons Back
Here’s a shot of the back. I’ve written up a separate tutorial on how to make your own colorful strippy backing here.
Christa Quilts 
Congratulations on getting published! Your quilt is gorgeous! Love all the colors! I like how you have butted two tables together to give you a large working area.
Congratulations!
hooray for you!! You totally deserve it! Your quilts (especially this one) are so special!
I’m so happy you shared at Needle and Thread Thursday!
🙂 Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
I love that quilt! Congratulations on your cover photo. It is so nice to be recognized.
Congrats! It’s beautiful 🙂
Congrats! Your quilting is incredible!
Really beautiful work! Congrats!
Amazing quilt! Great color combination. Congrats on the Quilty Cover! : )
Congratulations, Christa!!
Congrats!! I love your quilt..you did a beautiful job on the quilting! Now i am really looking forward to the next issye of quilty so i can see it in print 🙂
So exciting for you – covergirl – not everyone can say that! Love cotton couture and the quilting you did is just perfect for the design.
Congrats! I can’t wait to get my copy of the magazine! I love your quilting on this, I think it is perfect! The back is also really cool!
Congratulations Covergirl! It’s looks awesome.
Congratulations Christa! I’ll be sure to pick up a copy of the magazine. Great job!
Congratulations!
This quilt is gorgeous, it has such depth!
Congratulations, I need to go find a copy of that magazine. I need to have you sign my copy. It is wonderful to see someone you know so successful! Your sewing room is great. Many congratulations to you again. You inspire me! Shari
Stop it, girl! I always buy this magazine – but this one will be extra special! I am so excited for you – and that quilting, go head with your bad self! WOW.
Way to go Christa! I will be looking for the issue of Quilty. I love that magazine. Mary Fons will be at my guilds quilt show this weekend. She is doing 4 presentations.
Congrats Christa. Your quilt makes a beautiful cover and I like how you shared the quilting process.
Congrats!!! I love your Chevron Quilt.
That’s the same as being famous right? Congrats!
I love that quilt, and it deserves the cover, as do YOU! QUILTY is my #1 favorite quilting magazine, so I’ll bet getting it. Congratulations!
Congratulations!! How exciting!! And your quilt looks fab!
It looks great! I love those close up shots you got on the table.
What a thrill that must be. Congrats! It’s a beautiful quilt.
Good for you! It is awesome! Be proud, you deserve it.
How absolutely delicious is this? Great work!
Oh wow this is stunning! And huge congratulations on making the cover!! Your quilting is simply amazing – that is something I aspire to 🙂 Fantastic work, you should be proud.
Well deserved! So happy for you!
WOW !!!! that is so great- Stay on cloud nine a little longer- it is so well deserved
You really deserve to have your quilts on the cover of lots of mags – Quilty is my favorite and I feel it has some of the best quilts -your is sure up there! 🙂
Congrats!! Beautiful quilt and you so DESERVE to be on Cloud 9. Thanks for all you do for us in the quilting world. (Totally beautiful quilting – love it.) Oh I have to run now, I have to go find that magazine!
Beautiful fresh quilt. Congratulations on being a cover girl. Your quilting is wonderful!
Congratulations! It’s gorgeous and well worth the cover shot! (I can never get photos to show my quilting. I think you did quite well with yours!)
Congratulations!! What a wonderful honor!! You certainly deserve it………your machine quilting is beautiful and I hope someday to be able to be even half as good!
Can’t wait to scoop up a copy!! Great job, love the blue background. That quilting is like frosting on a cake. : )
Absolutely brilliant! Congratulations on being a cover girl 😀
Stay up there and enjoy the view! The quilting is super amazing! My hurdle is always how to quilt my tops to maximize the design…thus the stack of unfinished quilts. Your quilt is inspirational!
Congratulations again, I am so Happy for you. May your success continue.
Congratulations! Your perseverance and hard work on your FMQ have really paid off! Your quilt is beautiful! And on the cover!! Seems just a little while ago we were working on the QAL. My daughter still loves hers!
Aww…stay up there a bit longer. You deserve it. It is gorgeous – front and back.
You are rocking it lately, woman! Congratulations, it looks great on the cover!! : )
Thanks Lee – but that’s only because I want to be like you when I grow up! 🙂
I love it! Where do you find big tables like that? I can’t find them anymore.
I ordered them from Office Depot quite a few years ago 🙂 They ugly and utilitarian for sure, but they are great for basting and cutting.
I love it and will be looking for it in the store. Where do you find your big tables like that? Can’t find them in the stores anymore?
Pam
Office Depot – many years ago on special order 🙂
Periodically can find them at costco but they fold in half now and are easier to store and transport. Made out of tough plastic
Hi Rose! I do have a white one. I can’t baste a quilt with that because the sides are too wide for even the jumbo clamps I use. 😦
Congratulations Christa! You do beautiful work! Wish I could quilt like that!!
Congrats! I would be on cloud nine too! Love the way you quilted it, it really adds another dimension to the quilt!
Wow, it deserves to be on the cover! What a great quilt, and the quilting is fantastic! I can’t wait to get the new issue of Quilty!
Oh, how fun – you are on a roll! Congrats!
You are having quite a month of recognition. I just finished a small halloween throw and used the suggestion of the serpentine stitch on the binding. I love all the great hints. You are clearly a great teacher as well as being a fantastic quilter yourself.
Congrats! That is awesome and the quilt looks lovely!