Quilting a 9-Patch QOV w/Updates

Another really neat Quilt of Valor has come up in my quilting queue via Clairellen of those Quirky Quilters in Michigan, and the piecing is exquisite:

Cynthia's 9-patch Quilt of Valor - gorgeous!

While commenting to Clairellen what a joy this quilt was to SID, she replied back to me that this quilt's creator, Cynthia, is a phenomenal quilter, and her applique quilting is award winning.  A picture was worth a million words - Oh My!  To say this quilter is a Phenomenal Applique Quilt Artist, would certainly be an understatement.  If I can get permission to share a pic of one of her award winning quilts, I will - the one I saw was jaw-dropping!

Course, I gulped a bit, now knowing who I was quilting for.  I always try to do my very best but, now I know I definitely need to stay on top of my quilting game for this quilter ;-)

So glad I chose to take a break from my traditional quilting and do some focus work w/templates - it's perfect for this quilt and complements ALL the precision piecing so nicely: 

Creating 'orange peel' quilting design in each corner square w/HQ circle template

After ALL the SID work was completed, time to begin the FUN quilting:

First 2 corners quilted prior to quilting remainder of the star

I got the idea of how to quilt this neat 9-patch from Professional Quilt Artist, Deloa Jones, watching one of her many youtube.com videos late one night:

I thought this was an ingenious method for quilting a 9-patch, and how appropriate for a Quilt of Valor since the secondary design is a star!  After spending a bit of time gathering just the right templates to give me those perfect stitching lines, I was on my way!

Tweaked the center motif to create a secondary star motif using HQ half circle template

Isn't that neat?

Using a Pro-Echo Large template from Stonehouse Quilting to create the continuous star angles/points

An outside star w/center star motif - love it!

I'm adding X's in each red cornerstone square, which should complement nicely the double zig-zag pattern that will be added to each white sashing strip.  I'm saving the red borders for last - they'll be a nice surprise I think, that should give that extra pizzazz to this really great quilt.

UPDATE 3/5/2014 - finally able to add the additional photos of this finished quilt:

Getting ready for white sashing quilting

Corner 9-patch block w/border & sashing quilting

All finished and ready to be packed and shipped!

This Quilt of Valor quilt was a true pleasure and honor to quilt - got some great practicing in on my template quilting - Thank YOU!

According to tracking information, this quilt has arrived safe and sound, ready to be bound and labeled...


Alrighty then, like I always say...time to get back to it!
~Deb