Zany Zigzag Baby Quilt

The evolution of a quilt can be interesting at times. This one started when a friend of mine told me she was expecting a little girl. Her colors were purple and pink, and her theme was flowers and butterflies. Since I didn’t have many pink fabrics in my stash, I bought a few half yards and pulled more fabrics from my shelves. The stack sat and sat until I decided on a pattern. I knew I wanted to use half-square triangles, but was stuck until I saw Cluck Cluck Sew’s Scrappy Chevron quilt. Then I had to swap out fabrics until I had an equal number of light pinks and dark purples. Each block is a chevron made from one purple print and one pink print. I made more blocks than necessary so that I could rearrange them until the zigzags turned out how I wanted them to.

Quilting this baby quilt was especially satisfying. I used two colors of thread, pink in the pink zigzags and purple in the purple zigzags and followed the seams. The back is a flowery print that I’ve used for a backing before. The binding is Thistle, a Kona solid. I am quite satisfied with the results and can’t wait to give it to its new owner.

Linking up to Sew Modern Mondays.

Between the Cats Crib Quilt

My first introduction to modern quilting was via FunQuilts, now known as Modern Quilt Studio. I have long admired their patterns. The first one I chose to make was a freebie from their website. Between the Lines is simple, small, and perfect for showcasing favorite prints, such as the ones I hoarded from Benartex’s Paris Cats line.

I finished piecing the top in July 2010, while I was pregnant with my sweet daughter. It sat neglected as my focus shifted to the challenges of pregnancy and then caring for an infant. After I finished the twin-sized Kitty Kaleidoscope for my sweet girl last December, I decided that this quilt would be the perfect crib quilt for her, even though she already has quite a few baby quilts made by family and friends. I machined quilted in the ditch along the purple sashing, and then added some hand quilting to one block in each row for added interest. I finished this quilt in May 2012, close to two years after I started it.

When I presented it to my sweet daughter, she said “Ooooooh!” High prize from a toddler! She then promptly used it to cover one of her dolls. Guess I need to make a matching doll quilt now.

Linking up with Sew Modern Monday, since this pattern is most definitely modern.

UPDATE: Also linking up to Summer Sewing Contest.

Scattered Chevron Table Runner

“La inspiración existe, pero tiene que encontrarte trabajando.”

Pablo Picasso

One of my favorite artists is Pablo Picasso. Whenever I feel uninspired in my sewing, I remember his advice that inspiration must find you working, and I find it in me to carry on. Most of the time, my quilts are made from someone else’s patterns, or are inspired by someone else’s quilt. Once in a blue moon, I find inspiration in an unlikely place, and the resulting quilt is just that much more satisfying. Even more rewarding is when the quilt is made with someone special in mind. My Scattered Chevron Table Runner is doubly dear to my heart as it was inspired by a piece of wood art and by a person who has inspired me these past few years.

It is no secret that I love Pinterest. For me, it is another way to connect online with people I like, as well as a place to find inspiration and entertainment. A while ago, a colleague pinned this piece of art, and I repinned it as possible inspiration for a future quilt. A short time later, my colleague announced that she was leaving for another company. I have always admired her work ethic, style, and ability to be well-respected in a field dominated by the opposite gender, while still being true to herself as a person and as a woman. I knew that I had to make her something quilted as a farewell gift, as she is a sewist herself. I remembered the art that I had repinned and with very little time at my disposal, pulled a few fabrics from my stash and just started sewing. I began this piece at the first Seattle Modern Quilt Guild sew-in I attended. As I sewed, this small quilt developed deeper meaning.

The front of this piece symbolizes my colleague’s ability to create meaningful insight from black and white data. The back symbolizes her creative and colorful personal style, as well as her vibrant personality. Finally, the binding is symbolic of her strong individuality.

The improv piecing on this quilt was very challenging, but I am very happy with how it turned out. It was difficult to part with this table runner, just as it was difficult to part with my esteemed colleague. However, instead of focusing on what is lost, I choose to focus on what was gained. I am glad I had the opportunity to work on this quilt, and more importantly, I am glad I had the opportunity to work with this fantastic woman.

Linking up with Sew Modern Monday, as this is the most modern quilt that I have made to date.

Sunshiny Day Mini Quilt

Oh, the siren song of quilt alongs! Last year, unlearned in the hazards of craft blogging, I joined two quilt alongs at the same time: the Kaleidoscope Quilt Along at Don’t Call Me Betsy and the Warm/Cool Quilt Along at In Color Order. Too late, I learned that there is more to quilt alongs than sewing: they are rich, social experiences. Unfortunately, I had neither the time nor the energy last year to fully participate in either quilt along that I joined. I managed to complete my Kitty Kaleidoscope quilt at the end of 2011, and finally finished my Sunshiny Day mini quilt this month, eight months after I started it. Luckily, it was worth the wait.

I pulled a variety of cool solids and warm prints from my scraps and stash, used a bright gingham print for the back, hand quilted it in white Perle 8 thread and bound it in a yummy lemony solid. It now hangs on the wall of my sewing nook, where I can enjoy it every day.

 

Linking up with Sew Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations and Finish it Up Friday at crazy mom quilts.

UPDATE: Also linking up with the Festival of Half-Square Triangles at Canoe Ridge Creations.