Whoo Hoo for Winter Wonderland

It’s official! Winter Wonderland won Best Machine Workmanship at AQS Knoxville, TN!

I’ve got to thank the quilter who called me this morning at 10 am to tell me about the win and then listened as I yelled “Kick A**!” into the phone. I was really surprised and thrilled by this award!

And just in case you’re not able to get to Knoxville, TN, here’s some photos of Winter Wonderland so you can enjoy her too:

free motion quilting | Leah Day

This quilt was constructed as separate blocks, each snowflake first being created with Reverse Shadow Trapunto, a fun technique I invented to make clipping the batting much easier.

free motion quilting | Leah Day

The blocks are then layered with silk organza, batting, and backing fabric and quilted. This was really the very first quilt that I used multiple designs from the project and experimented with the way different fillers create different effects and textures on the surface.

free motion quilting | Leah Day

When it came to putting all the blocks together, I used 1 inch strips to connect all the blocks together on the back.

On the front, I used a technique I’d learned from Sharon Schambers Bias Binding Videos. I made yards and yards of white bias binding, starched the snot out of it, then pressed and bent the strips into curves.

The curvy strips were then machine appliqued over the surface of the quilt, covering the raw seam allowances and spaces between all the blocks.

free motion quilting | Leah DayIt was definitely a fun quilt to make because I could just sit down and stitch one block each evening and by the end of 2 weeks the quilt was completely quilted. Putting it all together actually took more work and effort, but it was definitely worth it in the end.

If you’re interested in learning the Reverse Shadow Trapunto technique, check out the Winter Wonderland Quilt Pattern. This 25 page pattern will not only teach you how to make this beautiful quilt, but also how to use this neat technique on other quilts as well.

Now I’m really excited to get to Knoxville and see all the other beautiful quilts! I’ve received several emails from quilters attending the show wanting to get together.

So to make things easy here’s where I will be – on Saturday morning at 10 am I’m planning to be in the food court wearing a red t-shirt. I’ll see you there!

Let’s go quilt,

Leah

LeahDay

Leah Day has been teaching online since 2009. She's the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project, a blog filled with thousands of quilting tutorial videos. Leah has written several books including 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day, and Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt.

45 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations, Leah. What a great phone call to receive this morning. You did good. Yee hah!!!

    paule-marie

  2. Helen says:

    Congratulations on your win – it's well deserved!

  3. Betty says:

    Congratulations on your big win. Your work is lovely and deserving of the award.

  4. Betty says:

    Congratulations. Your work is lovlely.

  5. sewfrugal says:

    You do "Kick A**" Leah! Winter Wonderland is so beautiful and you definitely desere to be #1! I am so happy for you that the quilting world is recognizing your superior abilities! ((((Hugs))))

  6. rlbates says:

    Congratulations!!!

  7. Connie says:

    Congrats! It's a beautiful quilt.

  8. Congratulation!!! A lovely quilt. Caroline

  9. Linda says:

    This is just an amazing quilt! congrats on the award! It is very much deserved!!

  10. Quiltbug says:

    Congratulations. I saw your quilt on the show website yesterday. Way to go!!!

  11. Erilyn says:

    Wow! Biggest congratulations from Down Under!

  12. anotheryarn says:

    Congratulations! It is beautiful.

  13. Congratulations!! You so deserve this award.
    Linda
    Taupo
    NewZealand

  14. pcflamingo says:

    Wow! What a beauty! That is just really outstanding. Congratulations!

  15. Anonymous says:

    congratulations! It is a beautiful quilt,
    greetings Judith

  16. Mary says:

    Congrats! It really shows off the Machine quilting you share with us.

  17. Becky says:

    YEA! You're the second person I've read tonight who's going to Knoxville. Wish I could go!! CONGRATS on the prize! So cool!!

  18. QuiltSwissy says:

    Congratulations!!

    glen

  19. corina says:

    Congratulations Leah! How could Winter Wonderland not win – It's amazing! A well deserved win.

  20. Congradulations!!! It is one beautiful quilt and I love the technique you used to make it..would like to try it so I guess I will have to order the pattern…hope you have alot because you are going to sell out fast!!!!

  21. Congratulations! And how cool that you will get to see it with the ribbon hanging on it!

  22. Anonymous says:

    Whoo Hoo Leah !!!
    Wonderful news, of course it is a wonderful quilt. Enjoy your time in Knoxville…. Red shirt on Saturday…… I will be wearing a lime green tee shirt and will be on highway 20 looking for a ride…….. LOL

  23. UFOQueen says:

    Lean, no one deserves it more. I have learned so much and wouldn't have had the courage to try and improve as much as I have without you. I tell anyone who will listen about you and your site. ROCK ON GIRL! You deserve all the success in the world!

    Jen

  24. Penel says:

    Congratulations on the big win! The quilt looks fabulous!

  25. Sewgirl says:

    I am so very happy for you Leah. I have been following your blog, (and thoroughly enjoying it) for a very long time now. You deserve this…you have worked so hard and are so very generous with your teaching…Not to mention a skilled machine quilter! Congratulations!!

  26. Cindy says:

    Congratulations! The quilt is beautiful and I bet even more so in person.
    Intrigued by the method you used to sew the blocks together with a curvy bias tape.

  27. Congratulations Leah!

  28. Bev says:

    Congratulations Leah!!! I'm sure there are many more national awards in your future. You are talented, creative and most of all WORTHY!!!!

  29. Leah, it is beautiful…and yes yes yes..I would love to learn how to do this..pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee….

  30. I just saw on another site that you won! Congrats!

  31. Karen Martin says:

    Way to go..that is just awesome! I don't know if you ever received a ribbon like this before, but you can now mark it off and goal achieved.

    Karen Martin

  32. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations Leah! You knocked this one! And I'm learning that "starching the snot out of" fabric sure helps putting the pieces together. Good for you!!!

  33. Stormy Days says:

    Congratulations! You really do deserve it, that quilt is fabulous.

  34. Xicapapoila says:

    Congratulations, Leah. It is well earned recognition.

  35. LC says:

    Congratulations! Your lovely quilt certainly deserves to win a prize! Sharing your joy!!!

  36. Sandy says:

    YAY! Congratulations!!!=)

  37. Congratulations! So proud that you are getting the recognition you deserve!

    Have a great time in Knoxville.

  38. Helen says:

    A well-deserved win, Leah. Way to go!

  39. -amy says:

    Congrats leah! … You deserve it!

  40. Marion says:

    congratulations!

  41. Linda says:

    Major congrats, Leah!! I'm not at all surprised, though. How could this quilt NOT win??? Enjoy the show in Knoxville!

  42. Congrats!!! So amazing!

  43. crowefan0517 says:

    So very well deserved Leah! Congratulations! Enjoy the show!

    -debby
    Chester, NY

  44. Christina says:

    Congratulations Leah! Hooray for your hard work. Have a great time!

  45. Austin1100 says:

    Congratulations! This is one beautiful quilt!

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