The Number 15 + TGIFF

Thursday, January 9, 2020

One of my quilty goals for 2020 is to make more quilts for FUN and less for business. And one of my favorite things to participate in is Project Quilting! It's a yearly challenge that starts each January where you make a quilt in one week. (Then you get a week break, and then do it again!) In all, there are six challenges each year. There are usually no size requirements, so mug rugs and mini quilts count!

The first challenge this year was released on Sunday January 5th and dubbed "Notably Numeric." The challenge was to create a quilt by January 12th and use numbers to inspire your quilt. Numbers!! Of course I HAD to participate!! 

I had SO many ideas!! Numbers fabric (of which I have lots!), calculator (I already made that quilt), pi (but I make a quilt with that theme every Pi Day!), hopscotch, Sudoku, telephone, dominoes, color by number... And that's when I realized there was a quilt on my "some day" list that had numbers! I was going to make a Chiefs quilt!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes mini quilt


But not just any Chiefs quilt. A Mahomes quilt!

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We have really enjoyed becoming Chiefs fans after moving to Kansas City. We were never into football watching before moving here! This is just our second football season of living here, but what a great time to get into it! The Chiefs' quarterback is Patrick Mahomes. He's crushing records and quickly getting himself into record books! The football games are actually fun to watch!

Being local, the Chiefs team spirit is fantastic! We always know someone who is going to the game, and everyone wears Chiefs gear on Sundays! Even at church and the grocery store! (I even made my boys matching Chiefs pants at the start of the season!)


Chiefs pajama pants


I started my quilt by finding a clipart image that I loved. I printed it large enough to cover four sheets of paper (about 14" x 18").


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


After taping it together, I thought I had an applique plan. But after about 10 minutes of tracing shapes on Lite Steam-A-Seam 2, I scrapped that idea and decided reverse applique was the best plan for this one!


Kona cotton fabric and Aurifil thread


I had all the fabric and thread in my stash - Kona White, Kona Poppy, Kona Corn Yellow, and Island Batik solid black. For thread, I pulled Aurifil 50wt spools in #2024 White, #2692 Black, #2255 Dark Red Orange, and #2135 Yellow.


Kansas City Chiefs quilt


I cut a half yard piece of each (trimmed to half of WOF) and layered them with Warm & Natural batting and some leftover Chiefs fleece from making the pants for my boys!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt



I pin basted through all the layers and cut out my Mahomes clipart.


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


Using my favorite air erasable pen, I traced the outline.


Free motion quilting


Using the yellow Aurifil thread and the free motion foot on my sewing machine, I stitched 1/4" outside of the outline.


Reverse applique


Then I trimmed away only the yellow layer of fabric from inside the outline. The scissors get close to the stitch line, but still leave about 1/8" of fabric before the stitches. That's why I didn't want to stitch exactly on the line.


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


Next, I drew all the other lines onto the quilt. I did cut and wiggle his face in-between the layers to trace most of that, but the rest I just eye-balled it!


Drawing Patrick Mahomes on fabric


Using the white Aurifil thread, I quilted around all the sections that would be red. It took a bit of brain work to make sure I was stitching on the right spots!


Reverse applique quilt


I carefully trimmed away the extra white fabric, being careful to only cut through the top layer of fabric.

Reverse applique Patrick Mahomes quilt


This is when the number started to be seen!

Reverse applique Chiefs quilt


I worked slowly and carefully, snipping away the tiniest bits.


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


I was so nervous about his face looking like his face, but after the first round, I was pleased! (Of course I noticed several spots that could have been improved, but it wasn't enough to warrant any un-stitching or do overs!)

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


Next, I drew the lines where the black would be, and used the red Aurifil thread to quilt those.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


This is when the tweezers came out! The pieces I needed to cut away were tiny!


Reverse applique Chiefs quilt


And of course I made one snip too deep and cut through the black. I used some Fabri-Tac to glue it down to the batting, and since I don't intend to wash this quilt, decided it was fine to leave it. I won't tell you where it was exactly, because I don't want you looking too close!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


After several hours of snipping away the layers, Patrick was done! I was ecstatic that his face was still recognizable!

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


I considered several different background options (including making it look like a crowd, writing the team name repeatedly, and writing team member names), but ultimately decided on a tiny meander with the yellow Aurifil. I wanted the focus to be on Patrick and not take away from that.


Tiny meandering quilting


The tiny quilting gave the quilt a great texture! It also made it pretty stiff - great for a wall-hanging!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


I trimmed the quilt to be 18" x 20". (And of course, loved the look of that frame! Next time! ;) )

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


I used more of the Kona Poppy for the binding. I used 2 1/4" strips and machine sewed it on.

Machine binding


When sewing the binding on, I used the yellow Aurifil as the top thread, but used red Aurifil in the bobbin. It worked great!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


You only see yellow stitches in the ditch on the front of the quilt, and only red stitches on the binding on the back!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


Speaking of the back, the fleece worked out great! The quilt is definitely noticeably thicker than most, but the tiny quilting helped keep the edges thin enough for the binding to work well.


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


The texture of the back is pretty cool too. The fleece is still soft, but you can feel all the shapes from the front!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


My goal is to photograph the quilt at the Chiefs stadium - or even in front of Mahomes' house! Maybe soon! Both are less than an hour from me!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


I really enjoyed making this one! It's a great start to 2020!


Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


And it's done in time for the playoff game this Sunday!

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


So here's my ode to the number 15!

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes quilt


Go Chiefs!!

v


I'm linking up to Project Quilting


I'm hosting TGIFF this week! Do you have a finish to share for 2020 yet??

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

35 comments:

  1. Wow, Laura, that is really something! I was enraptured following your process through to the end.

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  2. Hi Laura! What a great project . . . even if it is the Chiefs (have to say Go Packers!). Seriously though, this turned out great. And you photos! WOWEE. You need to write a post on how to take such great pictures. Thank you for hosting TGIFF today. I have made such fun connections from this party. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  3. This is just amazing! The detail is unbelievable!

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  4. Congratulations on finishing this one: what a lot of work! Just reading about it has made me tired!

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  5. That is amazing! I can't believe how fast you got it done and all that stitching and then dangerous trimming - you're not only focused, but also confident. I'm not sure I could do that, but hmmm...

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  6. I LOVE it! I haven't done a lot of reverse applique' but your's has me aching to try it again ( one of these days).

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  7. I really can't get over how life-like he looks! Seriously amazing :)

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  8. Wow great detail in the process you went through to make this, as Leanne says, life-like quilt!

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  9. What a fun quilt and great entry for PQ! Nothing is inspiring me....maybe the next one.

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  10. Wow...that's great. I've had such a busy week, no time to think. I'll be scrambling tomorrow trying to figure out a plan. ☺

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  11. Groovy! love that you chose to reverse applique it by machine. Sooo my style!!

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  12. This is wonderful. The reverse applique process is quite intriguing. I need to try that sometime.

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  13. Fabulous interpretation of the number theme!! You did an awesome job with this quilt. I have never tried this technique...now I'm intrigued!! Total score!!! I hope you team does well in the playoffs (because they aren't playing my team...yet!!).

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  14. Of course I had to check out another Chief fan. Love it. This was the first thing that came to my mind, too. #15, but no time. So jealous of your wonderful new quilt. Great work of art!

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  15. You did an awesome job on this! I am impressed but I still must cheer for the Texans! LOL

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  16. Really nice Chiefs quilt. The fleece backing looks perfect. I have been fearful of trying that, but now think I could do it too.

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  17. Wow! What a brilliant idea. Thanks for your step by step tutorial. Definitely have to give this a try for the NFL fans in my family.

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  18. Amazing, and I loved every bit of the explanation of the hows. This is a great fan quilt.

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  19. That is AWESOME!!! We live in KC also. I can only imagine what that would bring if you put it up for bid. I wish I was that talented. Hmmmmm. Maybe I’ll try a smaller one with less features to cut out. Thanks for the idea.

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  20. An amazing quilt Laura. I grew up in KC and am still a Chiefs fan, so when I saw your quilt on Instagram I had to come see all the details. Maybe it will bring us extra good luck tomorrow! Go Chiefs!!!

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  21. That is a great quilt with such a wonderful back story. The photos of your progress are wonderful. You certainly put a great deal of effort into this quilt. I'm sure you will treasure this forever. Go Chiefs!!!

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  22. I was really interested to see what kind of a quilt you would make for this challenge! This really is amazing, great job!

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  23. This is AMAZING! Thanks so much for showing your process--I love the idea of layering for reverse applique! I hope that this makes the rounds enough that he sees it!

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  24. Wow! Thanks for sharing your process. Very interesting to see, and something I'd like to try, maybe. Someday. Being a KC fan sounds a bit like being a Packer's fan. Green and Gold EVERYWHERE here in WI, year round, but especially on gameday Sundays. Looking forward to seeing what you do for the rest of the PQ challenges!

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  25. Wow! That is totally amazing! What a process, thanks for showing your steps. Don't think this will ever be a technique I'll try though. You are amazing!

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  26. Love this one. Reverse applique is one of my favorites, and you use it to such good effect here.

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  27. This is incredible! AND Patrick did AMAZING yesterday! What a comeback. It was really fun to watch.

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  28. My DD moved to KC and is now dating a guy who loves sports so she too is becoming aware of KC sports fever. Very ambitious project and you pulled it off! Congrats!

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  29. Wow! Great choice of using reverse applique. Seeing the cutaway transformation is just incredible. Yet another amazing challenge quilt entry. Looking forward to seeing the other quilts you make for FUN this year!

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  30. you did an amazing job on this! Thanks for sharing your process!

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  31. This is stunning. I hope you get to show it to him. Great job.

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  32. Thanks for sharing your entire process! Mind. BLOWN!!!

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  33. So great that your man won! This is outstanding!

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  34. Love this!!! Big KC Chiefs Fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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