Monday, August 19, 2013

Hocuspocusville - A Finish

Hocuspocusville is done. I could not be happier with how this all came together.  Even though I got off to a horrible start, it was worth all the boil boil toil and trouble.

The inner 9 patches finish at 1 1/2" square, the outer 9 patches finish at 2 1/4" square.

I think the pieced blocks do their job, they direct your eyes to the stitched blocks.  



This is Lifetime Quilt Number Eleventy-Three or 113.
The pattern is Hocuspocusville by Crabapple Hill.
The fabric is Black Magic and Candy Corn by Renee Nanneman for Andover Fabrics.
This quilt finished at 56" x 56".
It has approximately 1,164 pieces.


Can you believe I started with this?




My Hocuspocusville stitched blocks are half the size of the stitched blocks in the pattern, but I love their size.


As a point of reference, the Crabapple Hill pattern finishes at 68" x 68".

I can hardly wait to get this one quilted, I have no idea how these stitched blocks should be quilted, do you quilt around the embroidery or through it?  I  need to find out.  It would be wonderful to have this quilted and out the month October. Even without the quilting, this is already one of my all time favorite quilts.

37 comments:

  1. How cute it turned out! Quilt around the embroidery, not through it.
    Gigi

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  2. Number 113 is a wonderful number to have for a Hallowe'en quilt. You've done a great job with the setting and it really does show up all that embroidery. Blocks measuring 1.5"??? A tad too small for me. Did you paper piece them?

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  3. It's fabulous! Your setting is perfect.

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  4. It's absolutely beautiful. I love how your setting really frames the stitched pieces. Personally I think I'd quilt around the stitching, it would be a shame if quilting over covered up some of the amazing detail.

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  5. It's fabulous Thelma! I love your version!
    I've seen embroidery blocks quilted both ways...an all over design and stitching around the embroidery, and I've liked both ways. But with these blocks having such amazing, creative and humourous tiny details that you don't want to mess with, I'd probably stitch around and not through the embroidery.

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  6. Holy Moly that was a fast finish! You did a fabulous job and made the right decision to change it from your first choice.

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  7. OH WOW I LOVE IT! Great change! Laura V.

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  8. PERFECT Thelma! What a AMAZING QUILT ! A true work of art ! I would have it quilted around the stitching to accent the houses

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  9. Whew - not only did you manage to make your already trimmed blocks work with the new layout - you put in little nine patches like the original quilt. And 1 1/2" nine patches - so small and so cute!

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  10. Love it. I really like what you came up with. The eye is drawn to the wonderful embroidery blocks.

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  11. Thelma, Your quilting thoughts on quilt pattern designs, fabrics choices, and your ideas how you want your quilts to look are some of the reasons why I love to read your blog and see what you are working on. Thanks for taking the time to share your sewing journey in making quilts. JaneN

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  12. You did a great job. I have a quilt I did embroidered floral vines on and the quilter did the quilting around the vines...very close...very very close.....anyway I love it. I could send a pix to give you the idea if you are interested. Kristy

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  13. Your design ideas are so wonderful and your perfection, even with teeny-tiny blocks. is amazing. That combination makes you one of my favorite quilters--certainly my favorite blogger!!

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  14. It turned out GREAT.. better than the pattern design in my estimation.

    Thanks so much for sharing.

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  15. my longarm quilter quilted through my HPV not the virus embroidery - she did a spiderweb design - and also through my OTR with windy-looking swirls - they are both awesome ... but she quilted around the embroidery on my teapots and Auntia's peppermint letters and THEY look awesome, too!!! my favorite quilting of Hocuspocusville had quilted clouds and the moon and bats and stars in the skies around the houses and pumpkin vines and cats and crows and scarecrows and grass and some cobblestone-looking rocks (like the embroidery pattern, but quilted instead of embroidered) that the quilter might have done freehand - the thread matched the background and it looked like the Spirit World ... i don't have any pictures of that one so you'll have to take my word for it - it was the awesomest of awesomesauce!!!

    LOVE your setting and your eleventy-third quilt!!!

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  16. I love your Eleventy-three finish! Your blocks did frame the embroidered blocks perfectly. That is a very fun quilt... so unique for fall decor. I love the idea that Dianne had of a spiderweb quilting design.

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  17. I knew it! I just knew you would make your magic and these blocks would come together. Well done!

    I have done one of the crabapple hill embroidered quilts (2nd one is almost done) and I decided to go with an all over edge to edge because I didn't want the focus on the quilting, but the stitiching...I am thrilled with mine. It took nothing away from the embroidery and It had just the look I wanted. I can send you a pic, but only in a few days...it is at home and I am not(big surprise eh...lol)

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  18. What a transformation, Thelma. Faced with your problem, most people would have stuffed the project in a drawer and forgotten about it. You were an inspiration to me when I had to redo the borders on a baby quilt three times this past weekend.

    Cindy in NC


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  19. Applause, applause Thelma. It's beautiful. You've gotten some fabulous quilting ideas. I personally like to quilt through the embroidery.

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  20. Fabulous job Thelma. Just Faaaabulous! Love it! This quilt does put the stitchers' talent in the spotlight. Well done. It is one of my favorite too.

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  21. Eleventy-three! You made me laugh! And what an improvement, fantastic nine-patch blocks.

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  22. Great job Thelma! It turned out as cute as a Halloween quilt can be :) And there are some pretty cute ones out there.

    I hope that you quilt around the embroidery, it would be aweful to take away from all that work and your perfect stitches.

    Congratulations on this finish!

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  23. I have the Hocus Pocus pattern. I hope to get it done some day.

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  24. It's great to read your blog and see how you "tinker" with patterns. I'm learning so much from your examples. I love the setting you chose for Hocuspocusville--better than the original pattern! Although, the size of the nine-patches are not something I would try. I do have difficulty matching seams.

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  25. I really like what you did with this quilt. It truned great. Have a good week .

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  26. I love what you did, it's better than the real pattern. It really focuses on the embroidery, which is what you really want to focus on. It's wonderful! The anonymous person who sent you those is a gem...I can't even imagine. She (or he?...no, probably she)is very talented & generous. Love your blog, reading about your decision making, etc.

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  27. It's fantastic. So much better than the original pattern. A beautiful, creative, original quilt! Give yourself a pat on the back, and have a cupcake!
    Debbie R.

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  28. I would love to see how Judi Madsen would quilt this one. Turned out fantastic!!!

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  29. It's beautiful! Love those tiny squares :)

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  30. I love how you've changed this pattern to make it yours! It's beautiful! Your blog is one of my favorite to read - I've enjoyed looking back at past posts (Red and White Tribute is awesome!) thanks for sharing your talent with all of us!

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  31. Great finish Thelma and what a difference from the first version.....just love this one and guess being number 113 it will be lucky!

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  32. Thelma ... I haven't read blogs or updated mine in over a week. I am catching up with yours. This quilt is so delightful! I went back and read where someone stitched the blocks for you and what a wonderful surprise! What a treasure. You always do a wonderful job. Every quilt that I have appliqued the quilter always quilts around the design.
    You have some wonderful projects in progress. I have been taking heirloom sewing classes and sewing for the baby. I have to finish a quilt for my grandbaby!
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  33. You never disappoint, and you certainly have the eye!! Hope you do get it quilted in time to hang. I've had blocks quilted both ways, when I've had embroidery or cross stitch - if the blocks are too big then that area is left sort of puffy or baggy, so I would probably go thru it. As wonderful as those blocks are they will stand on their own.
    Another wow!!

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