March's quilt was designed, stitched, quilted, and finished at the Boston Modern Quilt Guild Retreat (which I shared a bit about yesterday)!
I came with only the following two goals in my mind:
- I wanted to try some new things.
- I wanted to see what kind of a Modern Quilt I could make in my own style.
My original plan was to make a bunch of small modern quilts — about 12×12 inches.
I was concerned that I'd get my colors mixed up because the greens and blues were pretty close, so I swatched everything and labeled them.
I conceived of the first quilt as a nine-patch and so it was:
When it all came together, I liked it, but my piecing was so terrible…
…that I decided to have another try at constructing the quilt. And then I decided to have another try at designing the quilt. And then I had 3 of them.
At this point, I decided that they looked less like three mini-quilts and more like three blocks meant to go together into one small quilt. So, I made a fourth block:
I thought about adding borders (the fabric on either side of the piece in the background below):
But ultimately, I determined that the quilt would look more modern if was just the 4 blocks. So, I stitched it all together, quilted it and here it is:
As you can see, quilting camouflages a multitude of sins!
For the binding, I did a facing, following this online tutorial. I love the clean look of the edges and the back is beautiful!
What I like about this quilt:
- I tried so many new things: designing my own pieced quilt, paper piecing, straight line quilting, and facing. Yay for me for being brave and trying things!
- I really enjoyed the straight line quilting. It was much more creative than I thought it would be. There were decisions about distance, thread color, direction — lots to play with!
- I adore the color shift in the design. The whole light to dark optical illusion with the triangle and orange bar is way cool!
- I looooooove the color palette. I was working with what I had on hand, but I feel really good about my choices.
- Facing, facing, facing. I can't imagine why I would ever use a traditional binding again. I love the clean look of the facing. It's gorgeous and let's the quilt design breathe!
What I would change about this quilt:
- My first time doing straight line quilting and I need to figure out how you knot the thread at the end and beginning of each line without backstitching. Hmmm…I feel a google search coming on!
- I need to learn more about paper piecing! I was kind of figuring out how to paper piece as I was designing a paper piecing pattern and so most of my points don't match, which is the whole point of paper piecing.
- While this is 100% my own design from start-to-finish, I'm not sure if feels like me? Perhaps I have to open up my definition of what feels like me? Or perhaps I have to find a way to add a little personal flair to modern quilting. Modern quilting has such a minimalist aesthetic that it can be difficult to insert your own personality.
- One of the quilters at the retreat suggested arranging the blocks so that they weren't in two rows. I felt nervous about that choice, so I didn't make it. I'd like to try doing that on another quilt in the future!
Well, that should wrap up the quilt posts for a little while — at least until I get April's quilt done!
Thanks for stopping by!
Beautiful! You are truly AMAZING!!
Beautiful! You are truly AMAZING!!
Beautiful! You are truly AMAZING!!
Beautiful! You are truly AMAZING!!
Beautiful! You are truly AMAZING!!
Beautiful! You are truly AMAZING!!
I love what you did. Instead of backstitching, you might set your machine to make three or four very short stitches and then go back to your regular stitch length for your quikting. My Bernina remembers a couple of stitch settings, so I use my regular straight stitch for the quilting part. For my starts and stops, I use my #2 stitch (which is zigzag). I set the zigzag to be 0 wide (so it doesn’t zig or zag) and I set it to be .5 long (default on a straight stitch is 2.4). That way, I start by pushing #2 on my machine, take a few tiny stitches, then push #1 which is my regular straight stitch and sew the quilting. When I’m near the end of my line of stitching, I push 2 again (it remembers my settings so ling as it stays on) and finish with the tiny stitches. Move to the next line and you’re ready to start again with tiny stitches. And just repeat the process. I learned that from Sue Nickels, wonder quilter.
I love what you did. Instead of backstitching, you might set your machine to make three or four very short stitches and then go back to your regular stitch length for your quikting. My Bernina remembers a couple of stitch settings, so I use my regular straight stitch for the quilting part. For my starts and stops, I use my #2 stitch (which is zigzag). I set the zigzag to be 0 wide (so it doesn’t zig or zag) and I set it to be .5 long (default on a straight stitch is 2.4). That way, I start by pushing #2 on my machine, take a few tiny stitches, then push #1 which is my regular straight stitch and sew the quilting. When I’m near the end of my line of stitching, I push 2 again (it remembers my settings so ling as it stays on) and finish with the tiny stitches. Move to the next line and you’re ready to start again with tiny stitches. And just repeat the process. I learned that from Sue Nickels, wonder quilter.
I love what you did. Instead of backstitching, you might set your machine to make three or four very short stitches and then go back to your regular stitch length for your quikting. My Bernina remembers a couple of stitch settings, so I use my regular straight stitch for the quilting part. For my starts and stops, I use my #2 stitch (which is zigzag). I set the zigzag to be 0 wide (so it doesn’t zig or zag) and I set it to be .5 long (default on a straight stitch is 2.4). That way, I start by pushing #2 on my machine, take a few tiny stitches, then push #1 which is my regular straight stitch and sew the quilting. When I’m near the end of my line of stitching, I push 2 again (it remembers my settings so ling as it stays on) and finish with the tiny stitches. Move to the next line and you’re ready to start again with tiny stitches. And just repeat the process. I learned that from Sue Nickels, wonder quilter.
I love what you did. Instead of backstitching, you might set your machine to make three or four very short stitches and then go back to your regular stitch length for your quikting. My Bernina remembers a couple of stitch settings, so I use my regular straight stitch for the quilting part. For my starts and stops, I use my #2 stitch (which is zigzag). I set the zigzag to be 0 wide (so it doesn’t zig or zag) and I set it to be .5 long (default on a straight stitch is 2.4). That way, I start by pushing #2 on my machine, take a few tiny stitches, then push #1 which is my regular straight stitch and sew the quilting. When I’m near the end of my line of stitching, I push 2 again (it remembers my settings so ling as it stays on) and finish with the tiny stitches. Move to the next line and you’re ready to start again with tiny stitches. And just repeat the process. I learned that from Sue Nickels, wonder quilter.
I love what you did. Instead of backstitching, you might set your machine to make three or four very short stitches and then go back to your regular stitch length for your quikting. My Bernina remembers a couple of stitch settings, so I use my regular straight stitch for the quilting part. For my starts and stops, I use my #2 stitch (which is zigzag). I set the zigzag to be 0 wide (so it doesn’t zig or zag) and I set it to be .5 long (default on a straight stitch is 2.4). That way, I start by pushing #2 on my machine, take a few tiny stitches, then push #1 which is my regular straight stitch and sew the quilting. When I’m near the end of my line of stitching, I push 2 again (it remembers my settings so ling as it stays on) and finish with the tiny stitches. Move to the next line and you’re ready to start again with tiny stitches. And just repeat the process. I learned that from Sue Nickels, wonder quilter.
I love what you did. Instead of backstitching, you might set your machine to make three or four very short stitches and then go back to your regular stitch length for your quikting. My Bernina remembers a couple of stitch settings, so I use my regular straight stitch for the quilting part. For my starts and stops, I use my #2 stitch (which is zigzag). I set the zigzag to be 0 wide (so it doesn’t zig or zag) and I set it to be .5 long (default on a straight stitch is 2.4). That way, I start by pushing #2 on my machine, take a few tiny stitches, then push #1 which is my regular straight stitch and sew the quilting. When I’m near the end of my line of stitching, I push 2 again (it remembers my settings so ling as it stays on) and finish with the tiny stitches. Move to the next line and you’re ready to start again with tiny stitches. And just repeat the process. I learned that from Sue Nickels, wonder quilter.
thank you for the tip….
thank you for the tip….
thank you for the tip….
thank you for the tip….
thank you for the tip….
thank you for the tip….
Go on, girl! With your bad a** quilting self;) LOL! I love this so much!! I love how minimalist it is and I LOVE the color scheme! You did a great job for it being a project full of so many ‘firsts’! Thanks for taking us along on your quilting journey! I have learned so much from your last couple of posts and I am eternally grateful for all of the helpful links!! 🙂
Go on, girl! With your bad a** quilting self;) LOL! I love this so much!! I love how minimalist it is and I LOVE the color scheme! You did a great job for it being a project full of so many ‘firsts’! Thanks for taking us along on your quilting journey! I have learned so much from your last couple of posts and I am eternally grateful for all of the helpful links!! 🙂
Go on, girl! With your bad a** quilting self;) LOL! I love this so much!! I love how minimalist it is and I LOVE the color scheme! You did a great job for it being a project full of so many ‘firsts’! Thanks for taking us along on your quilting journey! I have learned so much from your last couple of posts and I am eternally grateful for all of the helpful links!! 🙂
Go on, girl! With your bad a** quilting self;) LOL! I love this so much!! I love how minimalist it is and I LOVE the color scheme! You did a great job for it being a project full of so many ‘firsts’! Thanks for taking us along on your quilting journey! I have learned so much from your last couple of posts and I am eternally grateful for all of the helpful links!! 🙂
Go on, girl! With your bad a** quilting self;) LOL! I love this so much!! I love how minimalist it is and I LOVE the color scheme! You did a great job for it being a project full of so many ‘firsts’! Thanks for taking us along on your quilting journey! I have learned so much from your last couple of posts and I am eternally grateful for all of the helpful links!! 🙂
Go on, girl! With your bad a** quilting self;) LOL! I love this so much!! I love how minimalist it is and I LOVE the color scheme! You did a great job for it being a project full of so many ‘firsts’! Thanks for taking us along on your quilting journey! I have learned so much from your last couple of posts and I am eternally grateful for all of the helpful links!! 🙂
I read Denny’s comment about the alternative way to back stitch. Sounds pretty good. Another idea would be to check YouTube for free motion quilting. I believe someone would give the starting instructions that might include what you want — even though you are doing straight line quilting. I love your take on a modern quilt. You did a fantastic job designing your own quilting, paper piecing and all. You is a brave woman, lady! Keep up the great work.
I read Denny’s comment about the alternative way to back stitch. Sounds pretty good. Another idea would be to check YouTube for free motion quilting. I believe someone would give the starting instructions that might include what you want — even though you are doing straight line quilting. I love your take on a modern quilt. You did a fantastic job designing your own quilting, paper piecing and all. You is a brave woman, lady! Keep up the great work.
I read Denny’s comment about the alternative way to back stitch. Sounds pretty good. Another idea would be to check YouTube for free motion quilting. I believe someone would give the starting instructions that might include what you want — even though you are doing straight line quilting. I love your take on a modern quilt. You did a fantastic job designing your own quilting, paper piecing and all. You is a brave woman, lady! Keep up the great work.
I read Denny’s comment about the alternative way to back stitch. Sounds pretty good. Another idea would be to check YouTube for free motion quilting. I believe someone would give the starting instructions that might include what you want — even though you are doing straight line quilting. I love your take on a modern quilt. You did a fantastic job designing your own quilting, paper piecing and all. You is a brave woman, lady! Keep up the great work.
I read Denny’s comment about the alternative way to back stitch. Sounds pretty good. Another idea would be to check YouTube for free motion quilting. I believe someone would give the starting instructions that might include what you want — even though you are doing straight line quilting. I love your take on a modern quilt. You did a fantastic job designing your own quilting, paper piecing and all. You is a brave woman, lady! Keep up the great work.
I read Denny’s comment about the alternative way to back stitch. Sounds pretty good. Another idea would be to check YouTube for free motion quilting. I believe someone would give the starting instructions that might include what you want — even though you are doing straight line quilting. I love your take on a modern quilt. You did a fantastic job designing your own quilting, paper piecing and all. You is a brave woman, lady! Keep up the great work.
Long time lurker, breaking the silence b/c I LOVE talking about quilting. I have found Man Sewing tutorials, from the Missouri Star Quilt company, on Youtube to be very helpful and easy to follow. He has lots of videos covering free motion quilting, which should help with your back stitch issue. And Violet Craft is THE expert on paper piecing, there’s a Man Sewing tutorial with her too 🙂
Long time lurker, breaking the silence b/c I LOVE talking about quilting. I have found Man Sewing tutorials, from the Missouri Star Quilt company, on Youtube to be very helpful and easy to follow. He has lots of videos covering free motion quilting, which should help with your back stitch issue. And Violet Craft is THE expert on paper piecing, there’s a Man Sewing tutorial with her too 🙂
Long time lurker, breaking the silence b/c I LOVE talking about quilting. I have found Man Sewing tutorials, from the Missouri Star Quilt company, on Youtube to be very helpful and easy to follow. He has lots of videos covering free motion quilting, which should help with your back stitch issue. And Violet Craft is THE expert on paper piecing, there’s a Man Sewing tutorial with her too 🙂
Long time lurker, breaking the silence b/c I LOVE talking about quilting. I have found Man Sewing tutorials, from the Missouri Star Quilt company, on Youtube to be very helpful and easy to follow. He has lots of videos covering free motion quilting, which should help with your back stitch issue. And Violet Craft is THE expert on paper piecing, there’s a Man Sewing tutorial with her too 🙂
Long time lurker, breaking the silence b/c I LOVE talking about quilting. I have found Man Sewing tutorials, from the Missouri Star Quilt company, on Youtube to be very helpful and easy to follow. He has lots of videos covering free motion quilting, which should help with your back stitch issue. And Violet Craft is THE expert on paper piecing, there’s a Man Sewing tutorial with her too 🙂
Long time lurker, breaking the silence b/c I LOVE talking about quilting. I have found Man Sewing tutorials, from the Missouri Star Quilt company, on Youtube to be very helpful and easy to follow. He has lots of videos covering free motion quilting, which should help with your back stitch issue. And Violet Craft is THE expert on paper piecing, there’s a Man Sewing tutorial with her too 🙂
I agree, and this is something I work on too, to expand what you define as “me.”
I agree, and this is something I work on too, to expand what you define as “me.”
I agree, and this is something I work on too, to expand what you define as “me.”
I agree, and this is something I work on too, to expand what you define as “me.”
I agree, and this is something I work on too, to expand what you define as “me.”
I agree, and this is something I work on too, to expand what you define as “me.”
I think this project would work well for a sort-of-beginner class: in the design/paper-piecing/rotating the pattern/putting it all together… I used to work in a quilt shop and this is more interesting and imaginative than anything that shop ever offered!
I think this project would work well for a sort-of-beginner class: in the design/paper-piecing/rotating the pattern/putting it all together… I used to work in a quilt shop and this is more interesting and imaginative than anything that shop ever offered!
I think this project would work well for a sort-of-beginner class: in the design/paper-piecing/rotating the pattern/putting it all together… I used to work in a quilt shop and this is more interesting and imaginative than anything that shop ever offered!
I think this project would work well for a sort-of-beginner class: in the design/paper-piecing/rotating the pattern/putting it all together… I used to work in a quilt shop and this is more interesting and imaginative than anything that shop ever offered!
I think this project would work well for a sort-of-beginner class: in the design/paper-piecing/rotating the pattern/putting it all together… I used to work in a quilt shop and this is more interesting and imaginative than anything that shop ever offered!
I think this project would work well for a sort-of-beginner class: in the design/paper-piecing/rotating the pattern/putting it all together… I used to work in a quilt shop and this is more interesting and imaginative than anything that shop ever offered!
Julie, when you begin quilting, set your needle where you want to start & turn your stitch length to zero. Go up and down a few times and then reset your stitch length to whatever you want. I use 2.5 or 3 most of the time. When you get to the end of what you are stitching, reset to zero, go up and down a few times and the cut your thread.
Julie, when you begin quilting, set your needle where you want to start & turn your stitch length to zero. Go up and down a few times and then reset your stitch length to whatever you want. I use 2.5 or 3 most of the time. When you get to the end of what you are stitching, reset to zero, go up and down a few times and the cut your thread.
Julie, when you begin quilting, set your needle where you want to start & turn your stitch length to zero. Go up and down a few times and then reset your stitch length to whatever you want. I use 2.5 or 3 most of the time. When you get to the end of what you are stitching, reset to zero, go up and down a few times and the cut your thread.
Julie, when you begin quilting, set your needle where you want to start & turn your stitch length to zero. Go up and down a few times and then reset your stitch length to whatever you want. I use 2.5 or 3 most of the time. When you get to the end of what you are stitching, reset to zero, go up and down a few times and the cut your thread.
Julie, when you begin quilting, set your needle where you want to start & turn your stitch length to zero. Go up and down a few times and then reset your stitch length to whatever you want. I use 2.5 or 3 most of the time. When you get to the end of what you are stitching, reset to zero, go up and down a few times and the cut your thread.
Julie, when you begin quilting, set your needle where you want to start & turn your stitch length to zero. Go up and down a few times and then reset your stitch length to whatever you want. I use 2.5 or 3 most of the time. When you get to the end of what you are stitching, reset to zero, go up and down a few times and the cut your thread.