Liberty Diamond Ring

A long time in the making but finally finished: Liberty Diamond Ring quilt.

This started when I first saw Alexia Abegg's pattern  a few quilt markets ago.  Lots of people commented on it at the time although I haven't seen many versions of it made.  It does require a lot of background fabric but it is a great showcase for stunning prints like Liberty lawn and it was easy to follow. No pairing of print and colour is repeated in my version- all are different.  When I received an Oakshott Impressions stack I knew it was just the thing for this design. 

Details:

Pattern: Diamond Ring Quilt, Green Bee Patterns, Alexia Abegg

Size; Throw, 72" square

Background: Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Grey

Coloured Fabric: Oakshott Impressions, fat eighth stack (diamonds and scrappy binding)

Prints: Liberty lawn (some from here) and a couple of Lecien Memoire a Paris Lawn prints (similar here and here)

Threads: Pieced with Aurifil 50wt, quilted with Aurifill 28 wt with 50wt on bobbin.   I used the Simply Color small box of colours for the heavier thread.

Batting: Hobbs Heirloom

For the quilting, I stitched the ditch on the diamonds and around the circle.  For the centre, I found a geometric faceted diamond cut drawing and drew that on the centre with a Chakoner- Japanese chalk device.  It worked well, sufficient to see and removed easily.   I used a Hobbs Heirloom batting for the first time.  It is lovely and light to use, the lot is a little thicker than Quilter's Dream Blend and it needs closer quilting (at least 3 ½" apart). I stitched using a range of colours in the centre.  The outer border was quilted in concentric circles and with grey and with lines radiating out from the diamonds.

The binding was scraps of the Oakshott Impressions joined together.  Oakshott makes a lovely binding as its so light and responds beautifully to an iron and holds its shape as you turn the binding.  I machine my binding and use Roxanne basting glue and Clover Wonder Clips to help with this.

The backing is a warm light twill, maybe wool cotton.  It was a car boot sale find and is lovely and soft.  It is a gift for a family member (let's say no more in case they are reading).

The photo shoot involved all the family, you can see us all in this shot!