::Inspiration:: Wholecloth Quilts
This summer I'll be making a wholecloth baby quilt. It's something that's been buzzing around my mind since I first set eyes on Joelle Hoverson's
Follow-the-Lines baby quilt from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts.
A wholecloth quilt is made with one large piece of fabric. Joelle's was hand quilted, which is just what I have in mind since this baby quilt will also be a project for week 5 of Handstitched class. Joelle's quilting follows the lines of the print, which would be such a relaxing journey and certainly creates a sweet effect. But, many wholecloth quilts (or most?) actually use the quilting to define something entirely new and separate.
Aren't these pretty? The first up at the top left is not truly a wholecloth quilt, since Kate did include a stretch of improv piecing. I love how the patchwork inspires the character of her quilting. It's improv hand quilting. Sounds like fun to me!
The next, at top right, is a study in simplicity. Instead of piecing patchwork, Anna began with a machine quilted grid. Then she hand quilted squares in various colors and using several stitch patterns in a sparse patchwork formation. You could use any color solid base cloth and establish a triangle or diamond base, instead of squares. Lots of potential here!
At bottom left is Ashley's vibrant circles wholecloth quilt. She used a simple dot print on the front and solid on the back, both which allow the circles quilting to shine. With a wholecloth quilt, especially if hand quilting, you can easily make intricate curves and all over patterns that would be difficult to piece.
And then there's Anna Maria Horner's famous pillow. What gets me here is how wholecloth quilts can really allow a dramatic, oversized print to shine. Anna's stitching adds that bit of texture that says this surface is loved.
Isn't it interesting that wholecloth quilts lend themselves equally well to minimalist styles and flamboyant prints? I wonder where I'll end up. Are you inspired by wholecloth quilts?
A wholecloth quilt is made with one large piece of fabric. Joelle's was hand quilted, which is just what I have in mind since this baby quilt will also be a project for week 5 of Handstitched class. Joelle's quilting follows the lines of the print, which would be such a relaxing journey and certainly creates a sweet effect. But, many wholecloth quilts (or most?) actually use the quilting to define something entirely new and separate.
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| 1. Almost Wholecloth mini by Kate of Swim, Bike, Quilt. 2. Stitched Squares by Anna of Six White Horses 3. Circles quilt by Ashley of Film in the Fridge 4. Hand quilted pillow by Anna Maria Horner |
Aren't these pretty? The first up at the top left is not truly a wholecloth quilt, since Kate did include a stretch of improv piecing. I love how the patchwork inspires the character of her quilting. It's improv hand quilting. Sounds like fun to me!
The next, at top right, is a study in simplicity. Instead of piecing patchwork, Anna began with a machine quilted grid. Then she hand quilted squares in various colors and using several stitch patterns in a sparse patchwork formation. You could use any color solid base cloth and establish a triangle or diamond base, instead of squares. Lots of potential here!
At bottom left is Ashley's vibrant circles wholecloth quilt. She used a simple dot print on the front and solid on the back, both which allow the circles quilting to shine. With a wholecloth quilt, especially if hand quilting, you can easily make intricate curves and all over patterns that would be difficult to piece.
And then there's Anna Maria Horner's famous pillow. What gets me here is how wholecloth quilts can really allow a dramatic, oversized print to shine. Anna's stitching adds that bit of texture that says this surface is loved.
Isn't it interesting that wholecloth quilts lend themselves equally well to minimalist styles and flamboyant prints? I wonder where I'll end up. Are you inspired by wholecloth quilts?