To participate, you get to show off one or two of your favorite quilts! Today, I thank you for visiting, and share with you a quilt I finished early in the year, Adinkra. It is one of favorite quilts for many reasons.
It started out very slowly, one block a month in 2016. This really helped me during the times of the year I was incredibly busy, as it was easy to make a block (fusible, machine stitched) there was no guilt for not finishing a whole quilt. One block was a finish. The slow pace slowed me down on this quilt, and I took my time making each decision on this quilt without rushing through and accepting the first choice.
I changed the size of the applique blocks, and made a mistake in sizing the economy blocks so I lost the sharp points on the yellow, but that made the quilt turn out even better. I didn't have to fix my "mistake" and I really like how the same yellow fabric in these blocks looks like it is a different color. That open area in the intersections work to prove that it is the same fabric.
I was able to use my precious African fabrics that were waiting for just the right quilt to use. Each of the fabrics worked so nicely together too.
The quilting on the quilt was so incredibly fun. I learned about doodle quilting, and I did exactly that. Instead of making a plan for each area, I just doodled different designs as it came to me. The thread hides most of the stitching until you take a closer look.
I thoroughly enjoyed making this quilt, and everything tended to work out on this quilt. As you can see in the picture above, even the join I had to make in the border worked well. The top of the head seamed nicely with the body on the next piece.
Even the binding went on well, with four sharp miters in the corners that look beautifully mitered.
All the pictures, and the rest of this post are from when I introduced it in February. Unfortunately, I haven't made a label for the quilt yet.
Quilt stats:
size: 44" x 44".
pattern: 2016 BOM by Debby Kravotil. Thank you so much Debby!
fabric: variety of African fabrics, most of which are metallic
quilting: free motion echo stitching around motifs, doodle stitching throughout border and remaining blocks
what I learned:
- Expanding the definition of what "matches". This quilt has lots of combinations I wouldn't have thought to use together, but my limited selection of fabrics made me stretch, and I think the result is fabulous.
- I really enjoy combining applique with piecing. The applique and the quilting were my favorite parts.
- When I first learned about free motion quilting, I thought it looked like doodling on fabric, but then I learned rules about not crossing lines, and saw lots of videos about proper quilting designs, and breaking the quilt into sections and choosing a different design for each section and lost the fact that I could truly doodle. I truly doodled on this quilt and it was exhilarating!
I plan to make up a label that explains all the symbols on the quilt.
Linked with:
Friday Photo Fun
19 comments:
It's a beautiful quilt. The fabrics have a very luminous quality to them.
Gorgeous quilt, I lov the colors! Great work!
Your fabrics are very unique and striking. I love the quilting you did on this piece. So Cool!
Lovely! Great use for those fabrics. Your economy blocks wouldn't look like a mistake if you called then snowballs.;-) Actually I see star points before I see the economy block.
I really like Debby's designs -- this one is no exception. It's quite beautiful! :)
Hi Shasta! Great use of your African print fabrics. This is really beautiful, and good for you for finishing this up! The quilting looks fabulous. ~smile~ Roseanne
I love everything about this quilt! Those African fabrics are simply beautiful, and you did them justice with this quilt.
Just a wonderful job....
The quilt was meant to be...sounds like the fabrics had a mind of their own and guided you as to what should happen. The result is fabulous. I am too afraid to try doodle quilting for fear I will ruin a quilt. Your doodling looks wonderful and enhances the quilt.
I like that you listed what you learned. It is always a learning process, isn't it?
It's beautiful and a wonderful design to highlight the fabulous African fabrics you had collected.
Really nice quilt - love the quilting, too!
Lovely job on the applique! And that inner border is the perfect frame for the applique!
I love your quilt and thanks for the link - I have some Africa themed fabrics so this might be just right for them! I love all the different aspects you gave done …
Hugz
Great quilt with such a good assortment of African prints!
Nice applique' and theat inner black border is such a great touch!
Your doodling has given this quilt such great texture. What a beautiful finish.
A very lovely quilt!
This all worked out beautifully (even the missing corners) and is such a great way to showcase your fantastic African fabrics.
So glad to see these blocks made into a finished design! I have the patterns and they are still sitting in my "To Do" pile. You did a wonderful job with this and I like the way your "design decision" for your Economy Blocks worked out. Way better than if they had been done the traditional way. A wonderful quilt and thank you for sharing it in the Bloggers Festival!
This is beautiful! I love all the detail shots that you included, it's really spectacular!
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