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ABC Embroidered Quilt Top

Posted on September 5, 2009August 13, 2015 by Martha

This top was finished a few days ago, but I just got around to photographing it today. You’ll have to take my word for it that it looks much better in person. This is a hard quilt to photograph — for some reason the embroidered blocks always look sort of washed out (especially the lighter ones) but they actually show up much better in real life.

The top turned out much bigger than I originally planned. It’s certainly not crib-sized — more like a twin, I guess, which is fine. I don’t plan on adding any borders and probably just a solid colored binding. I purchased some ABC fabric quite a while ago for a back, but I think it’s too contemporary looking for this quilt. I’ll just have to keep looking around for something more appropriate. Anyway, I’m really pleased with the way it turned out, and feel like I’ve actually accomplished quite a bit over the summer.

Many thanks go to Vincent and Dorothy Fago for the wonderful illustrations in their ABC coloring book. Vincent had a long career beginning as an animator with Fleischer Studios — he died in 2002. Although Dorothy is also listed as illustrator in the 3 coloring books I have managed to find, I have no information about her. I am very grateful to both of them for their wonderful drawings.

A list of links to individual block posts is included at the bottom of this page. A pdf file of the entire coloring book, which contains illustrations I didn’t use in this quilt, is located here.

ABC Quilt Top
Martha Dellasega Gray, 2009
hand embroidered, machine pieced
68″ x 80″

ABC-Embroidered-Quilt-Top

ABC-top2

ABC-top3

Links to individual block posts:

A is for Alligator
B is for Bear
C is for Clown
D is for Doll
E is for Elephant
F is for Fireman
G is for Giraffe
H is for House
I is for Ice Cream
J is for Jack-in-the-Box
K is for King
L is for Lion
M is for Mailman
N is for Nurse
O is for Owl
P is for Puppet
Q is for Queen
R is for Rooster
S is for Sailboat
T is for Tiger
U is for Umbrella
V is for Violin
W is for Well
X is for Xylophone
Y is for Yak
Z is for Zebra
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter

20 thoughts on “ABC Embroidered Quilt Top”

  1. Ann says:
    September 5, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    I think it is absolutely AMAZING what you accomplished over the summer! It is SUCH an adorable quilt! There is so MUCH to look at! It really is a quilt that fires up your imagination and reminds you of gentler times. It has been so much fun to watch your progress!

    Reply
  2. Amy says:
    September 5, 2009 at 6:37 pm

    This is so amazing! I’m really impressed that you can make it through a project like this of this size. That takes some real commitment!

    Reply
  3. Jane says:
    September 5, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    What an incredible accomplishment. This quilt takes me back to my own childhood. I’ve enjoyed watching your progress.

    Reply
  4. Robin Gallagher says:
    September 5, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    What an incredible quilt. How many half square triangles are there? Love the embroidery.

    Reply
  5. Evelyn says:
    September 5, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    It’s just so fantastic. What a work of art!

    Reply
  6. jan says:
    September 5, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    Martha, It is beautiful! The pinwheels are perfect and the blocks are fabulous! I imagine ‘in person’, it is stunning!

    Reply
  7. Libby says:
    September 6, 2009 at 7:53 am

    Definitely a masterpiece…I love it!

    Reply
  8. Holly says:
    September 6, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    Just BEAUTIFUL! Congratulations…it turned out even better than I imagined it could – and I looooved the idea of this quilt from the start!

    Reply
  9. Ribambins says:
    September 6, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    This is really impressive. I can hardly figure out time spent to make all this. waouh!

    Reply
  10. pratima says:
    September 7, 2009 at 1:15 am

    This is incredibly beautiful! I can just look at it for hours.
    Thanks for the inspiration 🙂

    Reply
  11. Bunny says:
    September 7, 2009 at 7:17 am

    It’s beautiful, Martha! I’m so pleased for you that it’s finished. What a project this quilt was! Perhaps someday I’ll be brave enough to attempt such a thing. You are an inspiration!

    Reply
  12. Toni says:
    September 7, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    What a lovely lovely quilt! Did I mention how lovely it is? Just beautiful and I agree with everyone else – you are an inspiration!

    Reply
  13. Barbara says:
    September 8, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    I’ve loved watching this quilt come together, and the final product is just amazing. Right now my favorite block is the U for umbrella, but if I look a little longer, I’m sure I’ll find another one!

    Reply
  14. Sara says:
    September 10, 2009 at 5:56 am

    What an undertaking that beauty must have been. You must be so relieved to have it at this stage!
    Gorgeous.

    Reply
  15. Becky says:
    September 10, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    Wow. Just wow. I have just loved watching you work on this. Thanks for sharing the progress with us.

    Reply
  16. Manasi says:
    October 6, 2009 at 7:48 am

    It’s gorgeous! Such intricate attention to detail.

    Reply
  17. Carin says:
    September 21, 2012 at 9:18 am

    I just found your blog and I love it. This quilt is so beautiful. I only have one question … by each block there is a painting with 3 objects but only the X has one object. Did I miss something or did you do only one object draw?

    Reply
  18. Carin says:
    September 21, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Oops I was to fast … just found the pdf file. Thank you so… this one I’m going to make !!! LOVE IT !
    Thank you so much for sharing with us.

    Reply
  19. susan says:
    October 4, 2012 at 6:26 am

    Dear Martha
    I happened on your site while looking for alphbet transfers to use in making a quilt for my grandson. I like the one you have done from the perspective of a teacher–I appreciate that it is developmentally appropriate–uses words and pictures that would appeal and be in the vocabulary (at least listening vocab.) of most children.
    Couldn’t the pictures be downsized to get a crib-sized quilt? By the time I actually get to it, however, my grandson may be in a twin!
    I also love the attitude of quilters/crafters who are willing to share freely with their time, cratfing acumen, and ideas. Very refreshing!
    Thanks

    Reply
  20. Pauline says:
    June 1, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    This is a gorgeous quilt – love the alphabet designs you have used. I am having a love affair with pinwheel quilts for the last year or so and I love to see them used as sashing like this – absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing your lovely work.

    Reply

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