You know how the world shines and sparkles, after the rain? When the sunshine bounces off wet branches, dark sidewalks and washed-clean walls? I like to think this quilt top is akin to that fresh moment. Stormy raincloud fabrics are swept away to reveal bright, open skies. Such a sharp contrast.

I’ve been sewing half rectangle triangle blocks over the last week, eager to finish this quilt top. I’m using machine paper piecing (a type of foundation piecing) in order to effortlessly sew all these sharp, elongated points.

This quilt will be featured in Quiltmania’s Simply Modern magazine later this year, at which time I’ll also release it as a stand-alone pattern. Sewing it for a second time gives me a chance to refine the construction technique and take lots of process pictures.

Sponsor of the Week

The Confident Stitch

Find Kate + Maisie, plus lots of their beautiful fabrics at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup Washington, February 27 - March 1, 2020.

pssst… The Confident Stitch has Anna Maria Horner’s Loominous wovens, featured in my quilt today. Get them while you can!

The first time I sewed this quilt, I called it Never Easy, since the design was inspired by some terribly difficult times. But, I don’t think that “Never Easy” is a very good name for a quilt pattern. I mean, who would want to try to sew that, haha! It’s definitely an easy-to-sew quilt, so that name gives the wrong idea.

The backward pointing dark triangles are meant to invoke a feeling of saying “no” or pushing back against something that’s not right. It’s a moody and almost defiant quilt, in my opinion. Do you have any suggestions for a new name? I have been considering either “Contrary” or “Never Never.” What do you think?

The fabrics used in this quilt are a combination of Anna Maria Horner’s Loominous wovens, Kaffe Fassett shot cottons and fabrics from Anna Maria Horner’s Conservatory collection called Wild. All manufactured by FreeSpirit Fabrics.

I’m a little nervous to quilt it! It’s so light and drapes beautifully right now. I’d like to do some special quilting, but must be careful not to overdo it and make it stiff. Common refrain from many of my longarm quilting customers!