teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip

Thursday 24 October 2013

'Across Continents' - An Improvised Quilt

 Love knows not distance; it hath no continent; its eyes are for the stars - Gilbert Parker


Here's my latest quilt finish and it's a first for me - I've moved away from traditional piecing and quilt patterns and instead I've pieced the fabrics in a modern, improvised, rectangular design.


I was inspired by my fellow Manhattan quilt store Staffer, Mallory, who made a fab quilt using Kibibi Sheeting in Sienna from the Africa collection by the De Leon Design Group for the Alexander Henry Fabrics Collection 2012, it's amazing with wonderful birds and flowers and I used it as the inspiration to pull all the other fabrics!  

Other fabrics in the quilt are:
Red fabric on the quilt top - P&B Textiles Bear Essentials 2 collection


Below is a fern floral fabric inspired by a quilt from the International Quilt Study Center & Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln designed by Jo Morton and Kathy Hall - Andover Fabrics: IQSC Square in Square A-5885-K

 
I've switched continents again including a striped panel of Wagara indigo Japanese fabric across the bottom of the quilt top and also two strips of another Wagara indigo to frame the upper rectangle on the quilt top.  I've used these two fabrics sparingly as they're so expensive $36.50/yard!


Creating a base for all the fabrics is the wonderful Kaufman Essex Linen Yarn dyed Black
 and the binding is Shades of Black by Me & My Sister Designs for Moda #22196


The finished quilt measures 52" x 80" and the quilting is 4.5" vertical lines using Aurifil #4030 - Plum and a 3.2 stitch.  I've also quilted 1/8" either side of any seams to support the differing weights of fabrics at these weaker points.


And here's the back - the red on this side of the quilt is the most wonderful, soft Peppered Cotton #26 Garnet from Pepper Cory for Studio E Fabrics.

That peppered cotton is just to die for and is probably one of the main reasons that this is now my favourite quilt that I've ever made!



Disclaimer: 
This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.


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22 comments:

  1. I love it. Even the back is cool!

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  2. So putting aside the fabulous red, do you like the modern vibe?? Will there be no more intricate peicing, Miss Chrissie?? Or have you found your new quilt calling? :-D
    <3 E xx

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    1. I'm loving it Erin - I really want to go more in this direction, more improv over a whole quilt rather than a block, we'll see - maybe it's time to stop playing it safe?! :D

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  3. Great quilt Chrissie, wonderful combination of fabrics.

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  4. Lovely quilt Chrissie - reversible too! I love that Japanese fabric. xx

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  5. It looks so warm and inviting!

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  6. The black & gold colored pattern is amazing. I love it!

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  7. Wow! You are so clever at combining fabric and what a trip around the world you have made with this one. Tehn you have taken these stunning photos that make the quilt a real treat to look at.

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  8. I love improv and these fabrics are so beautiful!

    Thank you so much for linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  9. Fabulous ....love the fabrics.

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  10. What a gorgeous original work of art!! Beautiful fabrics!!

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  11. Really pretty and visually interesting quilt. Nicely done.

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  12. Love the colours. Just right for autumn x

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  13. This is so lovely! And the fabrics you chose are just wonderful. A great finish.

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  14. It looks lovely...and cozy too! Great photos.

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  15. Just beautiful Chrissie!
    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  16. Looks beautiful Chrissie and I can't believe how expensive that fabric is!! I keep waiting for one of your quilts to fly off the top of your building :) Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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    1. There's some crazy, expensive fabric out there! My husband panics that the quilts will blow away so I've started photographing them without him! One of these days there'll be a news story about an unexplained quilt floating down the Hudson and he'll be full of 'I told you so'!!! :D

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  17. Love the linen and the shades of black fabric

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Chris Dodsley


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