Woo hoo! This project has been dragging on forever. I accepted the challenge/assignment from the team at Gotham Quilts this summer. My schedule has been so full that I haven’t been able to give it the full attention it needs.
If you have ever made an Elizabeth Hartman pattern, you know what I am talking about. There are a lot of fabrics involved, and lots of different sized pieces. I love the challenge, and the finished piece is always such a joy, but man, I am going to be doing some simple piecing for the next few weeks.
This project has been dragged along to multiple sites for piecing. I’ve pieced at Gotham Quilts during social sewing, at sew-ins for multiple guilds, and in the studio of two separate homes. I almost cannot believe I’ve finished it.
I’ve abused my Instagram community rather mercilessly with in-progress photos. I’m sure every one is relieved that I can over-share other projects now.
If you want to see it in person, it will be hanging up at Gotham Quilts, probably for quite a while. If you are crushing on the colors, it is because Andrea picks the best colors for everything. She’s a genius.
You can get your own kit from Gotham, and use the same fabrics I did to make this top. They also carry just the pattern by itself.
For a quilting pattern I used a pantograph similar to the original quilt design, and also the same pattern that I used for the smaller version Gotham has of this quilt. It is an allover pattern, called Wood Grain. It gives nice texture without taking away from the elaborate piecing. Custom quilting this project would have been a joy, but it would have taken me weeks.
Quilt specs:
Size – 67″ x 91″
Pattern – Fancy Forest by Elizabeth Hartman
Fabrics – Fabric bundle available at Gotham Quilts
Background – Essex Yarn Dyed in Leather
Thread – Superior Omni
Batting – Warm and Natural
Quilting Panto – Wood Grain by Urban Elementz
This is the sixth Elizabeth Hartman project I have tackled, and will definitely not be the last. I still have my Awesome Ocean to finish (having only two blocks made makes that seem terrifying), and I also have her new Cuckoo Clock pattern, which I am itching to start. Plus, I just learned that she has a sampler block book!
Other Elizabeth Hartman Projects I have finished
https://dizzyquilter.com/2017/08/12/boris-bear/ 
Plaid Foxes – pre-blogging 
https://dizzyquilter.com/2017/07/23/bjorn-bear/ 
https://dizzyquilter.com/2017/06/08/dogs-in-sweaters/ 
The Cats Pillow 
https://dizzyquilter.com/2017/09/18/another-dog-in-a-sweater/ 
https://dizzyquilter.com/2017/12/21/finished-flamingos-finally/
I’m linking up with Sherry at Powered by Quilting for Friday Foto Fun! My goals for the coming week are to catch up on client work, and get my studio in order. I would like to quilt three client pieces, one charity quilt, and select one project from my WIP basket to work on when my longarm is quilting without me. Oh, and maybe clean the house a bit.
Wow! Most impressive piecing with a delightful result.
I haven’t made any of her patterns, but they sure are cute. I agree that those fabrics and colors are perfect for this design! Well done on the finish, Jen!
Your quilt has inspired me to look at all of her patterns. I love the whimsy of the design Which one would you suggest for a beginner like me?
Hmm. Good question. I did the Foxes first. They only take one focus fabric per block, so it isn’t super overwhelming. The Kittens are pretty easy, too. It’s when she adds five prints per block that things get hairy.
Hi Jen! Great job on your fabulous finish. It looks beautiful and those fabrics choices are devine. Not to gush, but I also love the wood grain pattern you choose. All around, you must be so darn tickled. And Oscar must enjoy the quilt of all the doxies, since I’m sure it was made just for him. ~smile~ Roseanne
Thanks! The Doxie quilt actually was a gift to Oscar’s breeders. I should probably make him his own.
It is gorgeous! They are so much work, I am not sure I could ever face a whole one. I do think that quilting pattern is perfect for it. Congratulations on a terrific finish -maybe I’ll plan another NYC visit so I can see it….like I did your city line one (probably not the right name). Great doggie shots too.
Congratulations on this finish. Her patterns are amazing and so very detailed. The woodgrain quilting panto is perfect to complement all the animals.
Wow it’s beautiful! I have that exact same bundle from Gotham Quilts but I haven’t unwrapped mine yet 🙂 Your quilt is so stunning, and it looks like soooo much work went into it!
Open it up an play! It really is a fun project.
This is beautiful! I like her patterns but have not done the multi-animal ones. Sooooo many pieces!