2/14/17

Project Quilting: Bright and Early

When I wrote about my idea for the Project Quilting "The Brighter the Better" theme yesterday, it seemed impossible that I would be nearing a finish one day later. And yet, here I am to tell you about it. Recall that I've adapted the template for the quilt pictured on the cover of this book:


Julie Hirota's technique for doing stained glass quilts is different from the way I'm accustomed to doing it, and so I needed the template enlarged. From there, began the tedious job of creating the "leading" for the stained glass. First, I needed to trace the template onto a sheet of Heat 'n Bond Lite. After that, the entire sheet of fusible was pressed down to a large piece of solid black fabric.


It took nearly two hours, but I proceeded to cut out the entire piece yesterday afternoon.


From there, fusing in the flowers, grass, and sky went surprisingly quickly. You can read about how this is accomplished right here. For this quilt, I was able to apply the colors in layers, which made it a lot easier than stained glass quilts I've done in the past.


From here, I was a little lost about how to finish it off. I had in mind a bright floral border from my fabric stash. First, however, came the question of whether to add a flange as I've always done before. In the end, I decided to add a hot pink. I could always remove it if I didn't like it.


And I loved how it brightened up the whole piece. Then I went in search of the bright floral in Ye Olde Fabric Stash Shoppe. I couldn't find the floral, but I ran across this fabric that was an even better choice. This is one of my oldest fabrics. I purchased it as a part of a kit for making a bag long before I ever started quilting. It's been in my "stash" for over ten years! I had forgotten all about it, but look how perfect it is for this quilt. No wonder I never got around to making that bag.


The theme "The Brighter the Better" has been very liberating. At each turn, I simply asked myself if the questioned fabric would make my quilt brighter. If it did, I forged ahead. And now it's sandwiched and ready for quilting and binding. 


I have in mind a bright yellow binding, but first comes the quilting. Here's another time when it's good to feel liberated. When I've done these quilts in the past, I've always used a black thread to top-stitch over each edge of the "leading". It makes for a pretty back. Here's an example from a stained glass daffodil I made a while back.


For this quilt, I'm still focused on making it as bright as possible, and so I have in mind to use this bright multi-colored variegated thread I used when I made the Happy Village.


It could be kind of fun! I'll stitch around the outside of the quilt first and see how I like it. If I do, then I'll get going on the rest of the flower petals. It's a tedious job, but not as bad as all the cutting I did at the beginning. Once it's all stitched up, I'll be ready to bind it and this week's challenge will be complete.

The only other thing I did yesterday was to get the tomato seeds started. Yes...they are in red solo cups. Tomatoes like a good party. For now, they're sitting in the laundry room window. They won't move out to the greenhouse until April.


Nothing growing yet. For now, I'll keep them covered with plastic wrap to hold in the moisture. Once they germinate, I'll uncover them and let them grow tall.

So it's an all-sewing day today. I want to finish up the Bright and Early quilt, and then I'll get back to the truck camper wall hanging.

14 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Just fabulous!! Loved the colors chosen for the flowers, but then that border treatment just made it POP!! Well done my girl.

WoolenSails said...

I love how that looks and how the colors pop with the black outlines, definitely have to try one.

Debbie

Debbie said...

very cute, bright and pretty! I like your border a lot.

Unknown said...

Love the bright quilt- so, since you're planting tomatoes, you're not taking off on your All-America camping trip as soon as hubby retires?

Linda M @ Pieceful Kingdom said...

Oh my goodness! That is fantastic! That is one bright quilt. I'm opting out of the challenge this week. I'm hoping inspiration strikes with the next one.

gpc said...

Beautiful! I love the brights, and especially nice to see in the dreary month of February. :) I never even put in a garden last year, a first for me since I always plants herbs and tomatoes. Thanks for the reminder -- I guess I'd better put my planning hat on. :)

works4me said...

You certainly came up with a great interpretation of the theme. It looks wonderful. Well done.

claudia said...

With every step you did that quilt just got better and better!
I want to start my growing things too, but I only have a baker's rack to set everything on in my mud room and it gets pretty chilly in there still. I think I will need to hold off a few weeks. (I don't have a hot house up yet, I'm trying! Really I am!

Quilting Babcia said...

Fun, fun, FUN! I love it!

quiltzyx said...

That is definitely BRIGHTER! Love all the shiny brightness of it - great choices on all of the fabrics - and you got done so fast too! Amazing!!

piecefulwendy said...

You put that quilt together so quickly! I like the bright colors, and I'm happy to know that someone else has fabric from back a few years too! Will be fun to see the varigated thread on the quilt!

Dana Gaffney said...

That's beautiful! I've always wanted to do a stained glass but I don't think I have the patience to do that cutting. I always thought you just laid out the black and put the colors on top, LOL.

Brown Family said...

That is a bright quilt. I love bright colors and use them often. Since we have not had winter down here, I plan to get my raised beds ready this weekend and get onions started. Then in early March I will set out tomatoes! I think I will try Romas this year with the Sweet 100 Cherry ones. Hopefully we will not get a late frost/freez in March!

Kate said...

Beautifully done and an excellent interpretation of the theme! The flowers are such fun and the border fabric is an excellent match.