Hot Pursuit – A Finished Quilt

One of my very favorite paintings is called “Hot Pursuit” by Paul Klee. My husband and I spied this on an early trip in our relationship to one of the Harvard Art Museums, and it has lived in our imaginations since then! When I joined the annual Quilt Along (QAL) that Sandra of mmmQuilts! runs, the Glowing Hearts QAL, I had no intention of making such a fiery quilt, but I did. When this quilt was finished, the name kept coming back to me and I think this quilt can live up to it. Let’s see what the quilting story is behind “Hot Pursuit”.

Glowing Hearts QAL Facts

Before I continue my story, I wanted to link you up to the Glowing Hearts QAL and all the fabulous details. Here is a list of the dates and the pertinent information. While the Quilt Along is over, this pattern is a gem and I highly recommend it. I do have some ombre fabrics I want to try with it, but the fiery fat quarters I used made it so simple, I didn’t have to think and worry how to make it (and I could finish it in time instead of overthinking it).

April 3 – QAL Kick-off
April 10 – Fabric requirements/discussion  *Pattern available
April 17 – Cutting instructions
April 24 – Method used to make the bottom half of the heart
May 1 – Make five hearts on dark background
May 8 – Make four hearts on light background
May 15 – Quilt top assembly
June 15 – Quilt Parade –

Fabric Selection and Piecing

A few weeks ago, I was doing the Maine Shop Hop. I was attracted to this group of fat quarters for using during this quilt along. However, I decided the lobster batik was not going to work. I liked the fabric alot, but it just wasn’t right specifically because I had no firm plans for where this quilt was going. Removing that fabric would make it a little more nuetral and I could save the lobsters for another project!

I found that in my batik stash, there was a great black fabric with love and hearts in red on it. It would be perfect for this quilt. This backing, too, was in my stash, and would be perfect as it had lots of the hot colors in it!

I decided to make the quilt with one background, just to simplify the process. Here are my first five blocks.

And here is the second set of blocks. It was so fast once I got sewing! Before I knew it the top was together and on the frame!

Quilting the Quilt

I used a glide thread, called Sand, to quilt the quilt. It is a lovely gold shade, not too bright but I was a little afraid of thow it would look. I am glad that I continued with it. The batting is a Hobbs Thermore, a little thinner than some, but you still get plenty of definition with the quilting.

I couldn’t resist this fun pantograph, Fluffy Hearts from Anne Bright Designs. While this is a border and corner pattern, you can still use it as an all over pattern. I gave the quilt a lovely texture, just what I wanted.

Quilt Stats

Here is Hot Pursuit in all its glory!

Hot Pursuit 46″ x 46″
Pattern: Winter Blues by Sandra Walker
Batting: Hobbs Thermore
Thread: Piecing: Aurifil Dove Grey
Quilting: Glide Sand
Pantograph: Fluffy Hearts by Anne Bright Designs

And one little fun thing…I was hoping for a perfect sunset, but they have been few and far between. I made this image to show you how hot this quilt is! And for those of you who read the details, today is the 34th anniversary of our first date, and Hot Pursuit is making its debut in honor of that!

My QALs with Sandra

Every year I do this, and share a retrospective on my QALs with Sandra! This year I made a collage. I began on the bottom right in 2017 and this year, 2025, is my 9th QAL with Sandra!!

Coming Up On the Blog

I will have some napkins to share with you at the end of next week, as I am hosting TGIFF!. Come back and see what I made then.

Design a Boat block – progress
Dino Baby quilt
Plaidish

Linking Up

Glowing Hearts QAL Linky Party
From Bolt to Beauty
Finished or Not Friday
Monday Musings
Favorite Finish June

Fabric Destash

I am still ahead but looking forward to at least one more finish in the pipeline before the month is out!

Prior YTD Fabric Used = 31 yards
Prior YTD Fabric Bought = 43 yards
Current Month Fabric Used = 5.25 yards
Current Month Fabric Bought = 0 yards

Net Fabric = + 6.75

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