quilting

The Mountains are Calling

The mountains are calling, and I must quilt! If I can’t go to the mountains, at least I can quilt them. I’m not sure why I love the mountains so much, having grown up in South Dakota where there were hills, but no mountains. We were a camping family, so my love of them likely came from those memories. This little quilt is a reminder of happy times, and it will have a place on my mini quilt wall. 

Sandra at mmmQuilts hosts a linky party each month called DrEAMi (Drop Everything and Make It) – you know, those projects that just stop you right in your tracks and you have to make it. So it was with this little quilt. 

The Mountains are Calling to be quilted, and I have the fabric with matching thread! - piecefulthoughts.com

It all started with a bundle of Cherrywood fabric. Fabrics 1-3 (from left) and 5 are the Cherrywood bundle. Fabric 4 is a teal Moda Grunge (you know I had to have Grunge in there). And I was delighted to find matching 50 wt. Aurifil thread in my stash! 

I have had this bundle for awhile, waiting for just the right project. Then I saw Kathleen McMusing’s My Blue Mountains and knew I had found it (a free pattern, by the way). 

Kathleen’s pattern was easy to follow and I had the top done quickly. I still like this photo of all the matching threads with the fabrics. 

The Mountains are Calling, my version of Kathleen McMusing's My Blue Mountains, and matching Aurifil thread - piecefulthoughts.com

Isn’t that fun? I seriously left it like that when I left the quilt room for the day so it would greet me in the morning! 

I arranged the fabrics using yellow for the sky, which reminds me of the way sun plays on the mountains at either the beginning or end of the day. The variation in color for the mountains reminds me of the same. 

Quilting detail on The Mountains are Calling, my version of Kathleen McMusing's My Blue Mountains, a free pattern - piecefulthoughts.com

For the quilting, I went with straight(ish) lines for the mountains, then added gentle waves for the yellow sky. 

For the backing, I used a leftover scrap from another quilt back. I don’t recall the name of the fabric. The binding is a scrap piece of Moda Grunge. 

The Mountains are Calling, backing and binding. Pattern is My Blue Mountains by Kathleen McMusing - piecefulthoughts.com

Here’s the guide to The Mountains are Calling: 

  • Size: 20″ square
  • Pattern: My Blue Mountains by Kathleen McMusing
  • Fabric: Cherrywood bundle, Moda Grunge Horizon Blue, Moda Grunge Dynasty (binding)
  • Aurifil Thread: Yellow (2135), Magenta (2535), Delft Blue (2730), Medium Teal (1125), Turquoise (2810)
  • Batting: Hobbs 80/20

My version of My Blue Mountains, a pattern by Kathleen McMusing - piecefulthoughts.com

I enjoy fast, fun little makes, and this quilt was a delight. Thanks, Kathleen! 

Happy Monday, friends! I’m linking up today with 

What quilty mountains are calling you this week? 

Wendy

27 Comments

  • Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts

    I love your little mountain quilt! Your fabric choices are so good, and the quilting is spot on!!

  • Nancy Bekedam

    Beautiful, Wendy!!! I can hear the mountains calling my name!!! Such pretty colors. I like the variety in your straightish lines.

  • Vicki in MN

    Another mini cutie Wendy! I get a kick out of your ‘straightish’ lines;) they give so much yummy texture. When I saw Kathleens pattern I thought of the Arizona Mtns that I love! I have a mountain of quilting to do this week!!

  • Sandra

    Although I loved Kathleen’s pattern when I first saw it, and do love the mountains and have been many many times from all the years I lived in Alberta, I didn’t have that urge to make it but seeing yours and suddenly Realizing thinking of my cousin who lives in Banff, I know I need to make this and sent it to her for a little surprise pick-me-up. I love the colours you used in yours as well as the way you quilted it. Thank you for the shout out and I’ll see you at the end of May for DrEAMi! linky.

  • Cocoa Quilts

    Wendy it is beautiful! The wavy lines make me wish I could feel the breeze. Would love to be making a trip to the mountains sometime soon.

    • Louise Hornor

      That photo with the PERFECTLY matching threads made me laugh! You have quite an extensive thread collection, I’m guessing. Great piece, so bold and dynamic 🙂

  • Diann Bottrell

    Well, now I’m trouble because I love this so much I had to go check out the pattern, and will probably print it out later today, lol! I love the colors you used, and that matching thread is so much fun, too. I wouldn’t have known from looking at your finish that it is paper-pieced – just saw that from reading Kathleen’s post about her original. Beautiful finish, Wendy – I really love it!

  • Carol Andrews

    Wow! This little quilt is stunning! I love the fabrics and your quilting enhances the mountains perfectly. I have looked at Kathleen’s pattern several times and now I’m just going to have to do it. Thanks for sharing.

  • rl2b2017

    Hi Wendy! Oh, this is just a perfect interpretation of the mountains. I love Kathleen’s mountains when she shared the pattern, and yours are fab. All the colors just play so nicely with each other! Good job. ~smile~ Roseanne

  • Quilting is in my Blood

    I love this mini quilt. It makes me happy just to look at it, and the quilting is perfect for it, but it looks like you had to bury a boatload of threads! I think I need to get this pattern sometime. Take care, Mary.

  • quiltinggail

    I really like your mountains!!! And the quilting – oh the quilting! It’s perfect!
    You now have a great mini quilt to remind you of mountain beauty!
    Happy Quilting! 🙂

  • thedarlingdogwood

    I love it! I’ve always loved the mountains. I was born near the Blue Ridge but then lived far away from the mountains for many years. I’m glad to be back to where I’m close to the mountains again, though I’d love to live where I could see the views every day. I love your version of Kathleen’s pattern and leaving the thread to greet you in the morning is so sweet!

  • Kathleen McCormick

    Can I tell you how much I love your bright and wild version!!! It is a knockout and I really think it is perfect. The quilting looks fab and no one would no that the Cherrywood Fabrics had a mind of their own. I really wonder what is up with them. The thread picture is perfect, too. So much goodness in this blog.

  • Rebecca Grace

    I love that your sky is yellow and your mountains are blue. Conventional “truth” is that the sky is blue and mountains are either gray, brown, or green — but you’re right, the truth of our eyes tells us otherwise in different weather conditions, different seasons, and different times of the day!

  • JanineMarie

    Love your colors–and what is it about still life arrangements with thread that matches the fabric? Truly art work in themselves! I can see why you left that to greet you the next day.

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