Once I decided on the quilt design, I calculated yardage needed. And I realized I would not have enough fabric for the quilt, even with adding another fabric for my 'inside sashing.' But if I used that same fabric for the middle of the 9-patch block, I would have enough fabric to complete the quilt.
At this point, everything was set except that new fabric. Since I wanted to give the quilt a clean look, and didn't have a full value range, I decided to introduce a white-on-white fabric.
Once the fabrics were washed and pressed, I cut and sewed a few test blocks, Fig. 3.
I liked the look: the Civil War repro fabrics played against each other well, and the white gave it the clean look I wanted. So it was time to finish the blocks. Half the blocks I put brown fabric in the corners; and the other half have blue in the corners. This gave me 2 different blocks for the quilt.
At this point, everything was set except that new fabric. Since I wanted to give the quilt a clean look, and didn't have a full value range, I decided to introduce a white-on-white fabric.
Once the fabrics were washed and pressed, I cut and sewed a few test blocks, Fig. 3.
I liked the look: the Civil War repro fabrics played against each other well, and the white gave it the clean look I wanted. So it was time to finish the blocks. Half the blocks I put brown fabric in the corners; and the other half have blue in the corners. This gave me 2 different blocks for the quilt.
The next step was to lay out the blocks. I don't have a studio--but I have a large dining room floor, so that's where I lay out quilts to design them (or layer them, or baste them!). I alternated brown, blue, brown, blue, until I had the quilt design, 5 x 7 blocks (Fig. 4). Then, I stood back to critique it and started rearranging blocks until the colors sparkled. Of all the work on this particular quilt, I enjoyed this process the most. The playing with color, trying different value designs--I took photos of each design I liked and used the photos to decide on the final design. I was ready to sew the quilt together, but realized I'd need at least one border--the blocks looked right, but the quilt didn't look finished as-is. I went back to the fabric store with a swatch, hoping they had the white-on-white fabric and I was in luck--they had more! I added the border and it was just as I expected: clean, modern looking, with a beautiful play of values and colors.
Now the big question: how to quilt it? Over the next few weeks, I sketched many different designs. Nothing seemed right but to follow the design. It was a simple solution that worked (Fig. 5).
Now the big question: how to quilt it? Over the next few weeks, I sketched many different designs. Nothing seemed right but to follow the design. It was a simple solution that worked (Fig. 5).
My Mom was very surprised by the gift and just loves the quilt. It looks beautiful in her living room with her new furniture. It didn't win anything at the Fair, but the fun I had making it, and knowing it is keeping Mom warm is more than enough reward for me.