Tuesday, March 27, 2018

At the Borderline




Right now this quilt-to-be is 42 x 54. 
That's way too small, in my opinion, for even a nice sized lap quilt. 
But it has been laying around in pieces since May 2013 so this top is an improvement. I'm moving forward. 

The "pieces" were these six inch Prairie Flower quilt blocks made of pansy fabrics and a few butterfly fabrics. I liked them when there were a few of them but never did like them by themselves. They were too busy for me even after I started adding solids to some blocks.  So they have lingered.


I don't have a design wall. I don't normally need one; however, my idea for moving the pansy blocks forward needed one. So I used the double bed in the guest room two flights of stairs up from the sewing room.  There is little room to maneuver on three sides of the bed but I managed to get things laid out. And then I had to pick up some pieces, remember how they went together, go down two flights of stairs and then sew them together. In the process I slipped on the stairs and bruised myself on one side but thank goodness I didn't hurt my back or break anything. 

And I pretty much got things sewn together properly. 



Ok. I did mention playing with scale.  Instead of using all the six inch blocks together in a quilt I added larger pieces of large scale fabric here and there  - pansy fabrics I have not wanted to cut into until now.  I added a couple of 12.5 inch square pieces of fabric of pansies in vases...


 ...and  I added some 6.5 inch pieces of fabric and tried to add them near blocks that used the same fabrics if I could.
   I also added a few pieces of 6.5 x 12.5 pieces of fabric oriented sometimes vertically and sometimes horizontally. 


 I have to admit I used some of the tips found in 9 Patch Pizzazz.  I think I bought this book at a book sale a long time ago. I stashed it away in a box of books and forgot about it. Recently when I was trying to organize the sewing space to get ready to share the space with garden seed starting I browsed through the books in the box and had an aha moment as to how to proceed on my pansy quilt when I opened up 9 Patch Pizzazz.
 I don't usually add borders to quilts but as I mentioned...I think it's too small for even a nice lap quilt. So I'll try to add some borders to challenge myself a bit more.  I was thinking of a purple/yellow solid border with some broderie perse (another challenge) pansies cut from some scraps.  I might even add a few butterflies. 


I took the quilt top pictures outdoors last Friday when the weather was beautiful and the crocus were blooming all throughout the lawn (thanks to the squirrels who continue to move them from my original flower bed and into the lawn). 


And then Saturday we were hit with 10 inches of snow and ice that clung to the trees and bushes and sparkled like little jewels. 

AdHoc Improv with Kaja and Ann. 

20 comments:

diane said...

So enjoy seeing your lively colored pansy and butterfly quilt. Bright Colorful quilts are the best. So far I don't own one but I do have the fabric, so one day I will. Really I enjoy all quilts, but bright colors on gloomy days make me smile.

Libby in TN said...

So glad you weren't damaged in your fall like I was in mine! I especially like the large pieces mixed in with the blocks. It may be time for me to play with scale.

Karen said...

I really like how you have put these blocks and fabrics together!

---"Love" said...

I've known people who had pansy beds, but you really do have one in that quilt top! It is very pretty. ---"Love"

Ann said...

Wow, Cathy. You really took the scale challenge to heart. I so enjoyed comparing the original blocks with the finished top. Ok, the finished center. So many great additions: the large scale fabrics in rectangles, the beautiful baskets. Good job.
From those original blocks, I can see how a yellow border will enhance it.
Thanks for joining in with scale and linking your inspiring post with AHIQ.

Elaine M said...

Love it. The fabric and prints flow with the add of blocks of prints, great choice. I find the riot of color very energizing and fun. Be careful and don't fall again.

Robin said...

WAHOO!!! I love it. It reminds me of Wonderland. You make me want to come up with a floral fantasy too. Great job!

djquilting said...

I absolutely love this. You have done such a good job of mixing the scale and colors. Can't wait to see the finished quilt.

Sue SA said...

Love the addition of big print fabric and small pansy prints, a great idea.

jann said...

Really beautiful!! I like how all the yellow spread out through the entire top. So glad you weren't injured badly on the stairs. When I need a design wall, I pin a flannel back plastic tablecloth to my curtains. Works very well in a pinch and if it needs to come down before I'm finished, it can just be rolled up.

Quilting Babcia said...

The flowers in the big vase block really anchors this beauty. I hope you'll consider installing some sort of design wall in your sewing space. Our bodies are so fragile as we get to "a certain age" and we can't risk a broken hip or back in a fall. I'm happy to hear this slip wasn't too serious, please take care!

Janie said...

And then there was snow!
Your top looks great, that's a super example of ad hoc improv.
I like the way you've mixed up scale, pleasing to the eye.

MissPat said...

Wow. As I've said before, I have a bin full of pansy fabric and yet I don't see any of them in your grouping. Amazing. I hope to put mine together someday soon.
Watch those stairs. I'm ever more mindful of trying to slow down and avoid a potentially serious fall.
Pat

Cathy said...

I had so many of those pansy fabrics back when we used to do those CQI pansy round robins. Glad to see you’re getting yours used up - and stunningly, I might add!

mangozz said...

Love all of the purples, one of my favorite colors. What gorgeous fabrics!

Pamela Arbour said...

You have made a beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing your process and the pics and the book. Lots of inspiration and encouragement.

Kaja said...

Wow! I'm so impressed with what you have done here: love the addition of bigger areas of some fabrics and the placing, so that it's reminiscent of the way you get drifts of flowers in the garden. A great take on the scale challenge.

Louise said...

I love this riot of pansies! I'm glad you found such a great way to use the fabric that you didn't want to cut up into smaller pieces. Those panels with vases are cool!

audrey said...

Great use of the larger print fabrics! I'm impressed by how you tamed this chaotic looking quilt and turned it into good energy.:)

Quiltdivajulie said...

I like this top a lot . . . love purples and there are loads of them in the flower mix. Well done!