Collaboration
In Angled class students had the opportunity to send in any of 4 different improv blocks for a collaborative class work. I planned to make one more more charity quilts with their blocks, depending on what I received, and hoped the option would free students up to experiment with improv techniques without the burden of committing to making a whole work themselves.
This weekend, really feeling the need to set aside small projects and return to quilts, I pulled out all the blocks I'd received. Hello, color! Pattern! Adventure!
This liberated butterfly block was most popular with students. And pitter pat went my heart in response to the rich cacophony of color! I had enough blocks to make a small baby quilt in the same style as this quilt which inspired our solid backgrounds. While I knew going that route would turn out great, it wouldn't scratch my creative itch. What to do?
Here's the rest of what I received from students: almost enough Attracted blocks for a baby quilt, a nice selection of 6" wonky stars and a group of envelopes (mostly hidden in this photo). Hmm....
My first go at putting them all together, in one grand quilt, organized blocks by color. I like it. I don't love it. Gosh, students favor blue!
Taking it all down and starting over turned out like this. I feel the color cacophony that drew me to the butterflies. I like that the wonky stars don't get lost; they're so cute!
But what really sealed the deal was pulling this bold, stripey sashing. Oh, yes, funky! Just what I wanted.
This stripe is an oldish fabric by Lecien, designed by Meg Hawkey of Crabapple. I went to some lengths to stash it years back, just because I love it. Featured in this pillow. The sashing for this quilt would require every last drop and nothing else in my stash came even close to right. Yep, stashing basics pays off.
I had to trim the wonky star blocks to 5" finished, to better suit them as sashing cornerstones. A few dull points (just a few!) are totally worth it. Oh, and see how I placed some washi tape on my 6.5" square ruler to help guide my trimming? Works!
Today I finished assembling the quilt top! I hope my students like what I've done with their beautiful blocks. Next up a backing, using up a few leftover blocks, and I'll get this baby quilted up and off to brighten someone's day.
Oh, how I love making quilts!
This weekend, really feeling the need to set aside small projects and return to quilts, I pulled out all the blocks I'd received. Hello, color! Pattern! Adventure!
This liberated butterfly block was most popular with students. And pitter pat went my heart in response to the rich cacophony of color! I had enough blocks to make a small baby quilt in the same style as this quilt which inspired our solid backgrounds. While I knew going that route would turn out great, it wouldn't scratch my creative itch. What to do?
Here's the rest of what I received from students: almost enough Attracted blocks for a baby quilt, a nice selection of 6" wonky stars and a group of envelopes (mostly hidden in this photo). Hmm....
My first go at putting them all together, in one grand quilt, organized blocks by color. I like it. I don't love it. Gosh, students favor blue!
Taking it all down and starting over turned out like this. I feel the color cacophony that drew me to the butterflies. I like that the wonky stars don't get lost; they're so cute!
But what really sealed the deal was pulling this bold, stripey sashing. Oh, yes, funky! Just what I wanted.
This stripe is an oldish fabric by Lecien, designed by Meg Hawkey of Crabapple. I went to some lengths to stash it years back, just because I love it. Featured in this pillow. The sashing for this quilt would require every last drop and nothing else in my stash came even close to right. Yep, stashing basics pays off.
I had to trim the wonky star blocks to 5" finished, to better suit them as sashing cornerstones. A few dull points (just a few!) are totally worth it. Oh, and see how I placed some washi tape on my 6.5" square ruler to help guide my trimming? Works!
Today I finished assembling the quilt top! I hope my students like what I've done with their beautiful blocks. Next up a backing, using up a few leftover blocks, and I'll get this baby quilted up and off to brighten someone's day.
Oh, how I love making quilts!