Friday, July 3, 2015

Compass Rose

I went to bed last night so frustrated with the pictures I had taken of this quilt.  It can be a struggle getting 'the perfect shot' or even true colors.  After my first or cup of coffee this morning, I was determined to try again and let's just say they are better!

I didn't have to think real hard on what to name this quilt.  The further along I got, the more that was added, it was pretty evident.

A Compass Rose is that figure you see on a compass, map or nautical charts.  It can be very basic or rather ornate.  It gives you North, South, East and West along with the intermediate points. 


I had a totally different plan when I started this quilt, somehow I veered off course (I could have used that compass), went in circles a few times and eventually found my bearings.  

It all started when I wanted to use hand dyed scraps...

Geometric Quilt
Compass Rose
46" x 64"
I was playing around with my scraps, thinking I would love to try some paper pieced triangles. Those would look good and be fun!  I opened up my EQ7 Program and searched until I found what I was looking for, did a few modifications to the size and printed them out.

There needed to be a focal point.  With little idea of what that would be, I eventually came across this star in EQ7.  Can I find it again?  Heck no!  I wasn't designing a pattern, this was all going to be done on the fly!  One piece at a time and when that was finished, I would look for something else.  


I enjoyed making this star until the center.  There were no directions, no tutorial and no turning back. I winged it and after a lot of tweaking...it came together for the most part.

The first round of geese went together quickly.  Paper piecing and points go together like peas in a pod!



From here, I kept building around and around.  Jump on EQ7, check out Pinterest or scan Instagram.  Once I saw something I liked, I figured out how I was going to use that element and found a pattern or made one.  

After each triangle/geese pieces were finished, I had to calculate the corner squares or spacing pieces from the back ground.  It was time consuming.  But when you are working with out a pattern it's to be expected.  By the way, the gray is Kona Steel.  


Point after point, they were all coming together.  I knew each round needed to stay as centered as possible.  I carefully marked and pinned (which I don't always do) hoping to keep it all on course!



Made it!  To the end.  

This would bring us to the next phase.  Pinning and quilting.  We can take a brief intermission...

Okay, ready. 


There is the usual 'hemming and hawing' about how to quilt it.  This lasted a few weeks.  I really didn't want to think about it.  I knew it needed something to tie in the compass theme, other than that, I had nothing.

When all else fails, grab the Hera Marker, ruler and figure it out as you go.  After all, that does seem like the theme of this quilt from the very start.


The quilting is all straight lines.  I would pick a point and work it around to the start. Pick another point or even the same starting point, and continue on.  Then I would quilt a few rounds and mark some more.  It became very confusing after a while!  There are some areas that are dense with quilting and some not so much.  


I really love this part!  Super dense quilting at the point and lines that radiate outwards.



Once I thought it was finished, I went back and added some more!  Maybe I was addicted, maybe I'm crazy...I couldn't help myself!  



The backing is Kona Coral and made for a great burst of color.



In the end, there were many things I would do differently with this quilt.  If I were to plan it out, yes, it would be changes.  Because it was a 'figure it out as you go', no pre-planning, I'm very pleased with it!

Are you a planner?  Do all your ducks need to be in a row before starting a project?  

LINKING:

30 comments :

  1. Another winner! Your method of design on the fly always works out for the best, Jayne. Love your background and backing choices. And the quilting is beautiful!

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    1. I sometimes wonder where my head is at when I start something! Call me crazy, but I just can't help myself sometimes!

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  2. wow! and yes, hee hawing about the quilting seems to take forever ... love the quilting ... and color choices ...

    lately my mind is overflowing with the other details in life so I don't plan too far in advance ... straight strips and swirly quilting seems to be all I can handle. ..

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    1. I totally understand about the details of life! After this quilt, I have decided to work on something a little more structured!

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  3. Such a stunning quilt, Jayne! I love how you captured the compass shape and the quilting is just perfect. Well done!
    Sandra

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    1. I wasn't sure how this one would turn out or how it would be received! I tried to keep it 'compass' like in all areas, it just seemed like the thing to do!

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  4. Each quilt seems like a different journey for me. Most of the time I would say I do lean heavily on the planning side (that is totally my nature), but some of my favorites have been much more on the whim decisions. :) Lovely finish - congratulations!

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    1. I was happy how it turned out…it took a while, but in the end it worked. I'm working on a baby quilt right now that has been totally planned out! I get where you are coming from! It is a nice change for me!

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  5. What a great looking quilt! I do like to have everything lined up before I start a project, but if I find out I need to try a different method as I go along, that's o.k. too.

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    1. It was a challenge! I do love having things lined up and ready to go as well...not always, but sometimes!

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  6. Wow, how clever are you, all the way around. Congrats on an amazing quilt!

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    1. It certainly made me thing on the go! I honestly don't want to do it every time, but it was a challenge I needed to conquer!

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  7. This quilt is wonderful! I love it.

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    1. It ended up coming together despite my crazy method!

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  8. Pretty amazing for "figure it out as you go" -- well done!! I'm a planner myself.

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    1. I usually have some sort of a plan, or know exactly where I want to go when making a quilt. This one was not one of those in the slightest!

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  9. My Dad is a sailor...so you had me at "Compass Rose"! I love this,with the dyed scraps, and the precisely pieced unplanned way of it! Well done! Again!! :)

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    1. I'm glad this one is finished! I usually have a little something more in mind when making a quilt, I'm not sure how I got on this unplanned path! Thankfully it all came together!

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  10. Kudos to you for being able to design on the fly. I'm definitely a planner and struggle with anything improv. I think that's why I'm much more drawn to patterns that just winging it. I think it looks wonderful and yes, the Kona Coral gives the back such a great pop of color!

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    1. It was an interesting way to make a quilt, one I don't plan on doing to often! I also like to take a pattern and change it up much of the time. Planning is always good! I don't mind that one little bit!

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  11. Super fun take on the compass rose, Jayne. I love it! And the quilting is fantastic. Great work.

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    1. I especially love the quilting on this quilt! It was relatively easy as far as being able to wrestle with the quilt in the machine!

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  12. I've done some simple design on the fly quilts - but nothing in a medallion style - this is awesome! The explorer in me loves the compass theme and I'm glad those equilateral triangles worked out so well. Sometimes going without a plan is freeing because whatever you try won't be wrong, but it is comforting to come back to a more structured project afterwards :) Congrats on the finish

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    1. I was pretty pleased with how this turned out. While I had fun during the process, it was nice to get back to a little more thought and planning again! I'm sure I will try it again (I like to drive myself crazy), but not for a while!

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  13. Wow, you've done a great job! I love the solid and grey combination and your design is lovely :)

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  14. I really like this! I've got a partially finished map quilt with a paper-pieced compass rose in it. I'm looking forward to playing with the cardinal directions in the quilting. I'm usually a planner, but I also like to build and design as I go.

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  15. What a great quilt. I love how you shared your process. Your starting inspiration and then how it all came together. I love the bursts of colour as well. Great post.

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  16. Those hand dyed fabrics provide so much additional texture to that stellar straight line quilting. It's fantastic! (And I'm totally a planner.)

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  17. Now that's what I call Flying by the seat of your pants! I LOVE that you design like this so often Jayne! And the results are sooo worth is; this is an awesome quilt! Love the hand dyed fabrics against the steel and the quilting you did too!

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  18. I'm generally a planner, but sometimes I feel more energized by diving in and seeing what happens along the way. How's that for sitting on the fence? I love how this one came out... the quilting is super cool. And the name really grabbed me (having used a compass rose for our wedding logo).

    I don't know what you experience level is with photography, so I hope this isn't like coal to Newcastle for you, but the professional photographer we had in to our guild meeting a while back was very much in favour of northern exposure for natural lighting of pics. Since then I've been really thinking about that when snapping pics and it seems to be helpful.

    Good grief... what a long comment!

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