Sunday, July 31, 2016

When An Idea Hits You ~ Go With It!

This is for real!  You know how you always have something to do?  A deadline, a WIP, blocks to piece, dinner to make, and idea to explore, but something comes up and changes your entire schedule?!  You know!  

I am totally putting the blame on Debbie at A Quilter's Table for yoinking me away from my schedule!  Kidding, of course!  The Crosscut Quilt-along on Instagram, hosted by Debbie, was actually the diversion I needed!   A quilt-along that was simply...fast, and low pressure!


Crosscut Quilt
20" x 20"
After all the blocks were finished and the rows assembled, I found I liked it just the way it was! And I have to cut it up?



I was hesitant at first because once you start there's no turning back!  And really, it is worth it!    

After day four, I couldn't help myself.  I needed to finish this quilt.  Not because I was tired or it, of over it...I was excited to see the results.  The results even shocked me.  Me!

I sliced and diced my squares, arranged and rearranged until I came up with the ideal (to me) layout.  The blocks were sewn together again and I was frothing at the bit to quilt it. And then... Screech!!!!  To a halt!!!!

I had an idea!  Heaven help me!  Where these thoughts and ideas come from is any ones guess, but it happened.  I enjoy putting the unexpected in quilting or trying something different.  

What I did, and it's nothing new in the land of quilting, is to insert and accentuate a detail.  I wanted dimension that reflected the block.  Most would call it Trapunto Quilting, basically stuffed or padded quilting.

I didn't find out the 'proper' method for doing Trapunto Quilting, not me!  I just made it up as I went along.



What did I do?  From scraps of batting, I cut two 2" strips batting, folding each strip so there were basically three layers and zig zag stitched from end to end to secure the strip together.



Once I decided where I wanted to place the 'X', I had to decide how I would keep the strips in place.  There were a couple of options from machine stitching, hand stitching to glue basting.  I went with the glue.

I put a fine line of glue under the strips and used a hot dry iron to set the glue.  I wasn't sure if it would work on batting, but it did.  The strips are secure and there won't be any shifting at all.  

After pinning the layers together, it was time to 'let the quilting begin'!  Something I was really looking forward to.  Would this unconventional method work? 


Yes!  This is the result I wanted!  A raised, defined element that works with the original design and gives amazing dimension.  

I first quilted as close to the batting strips as possible, and then quilted each section.  Doing the dense quilting accentuated the 'X' even more.  



Even before washing the detail is there, but I knew after washing and drying it would be even better.  No question.    



The back shows the quilting detail, the raised strips much better than the front.  It's kind of crazy!



This did not disappoint!  In one of the low volume fabrics there was a small touch of green, so I added a tiny piece of green to the binding.



I want to thank Debbie for hosting this quilt-along!  For making it a fun event, one that took me away from my every day responsibilities for just a moment!

I plan on exploring this 'stuffed quilt' detail even more.  I'm wondering what it would look like if I rolled it instead of folded it?  Mixing it with hand quilting, or more machine quilting?  Glue basting it or stitching it?  

Have you done this before?  Something similar?  I'm always looking to push the limits, thinking outside the box, pushing the boundaries!  I may not have done the traditional Trapunto method, but what I did worked for me. 

If we never pushed and experimented, we would never learn.   Or have all these wonderful new methods and techniques!


LINKING:

42 comments :

  1. Hi Jayne! I loved this quilt when I saw it in IG! But there I didn't know about your quilting detail and that is so cool! You have the best ideas! I'm sure that 'stuffed quilting' shows even more in live. Once I made few wall quilts with 'sun star' and in the center I add extra wadding circle and then stitched circles. Aa and in 'Nero's Garden' quilt I add extra wadding for the tree. With your idea to use stripes there are so many possibilities ... think solids like you often use ... there the 'fluffy' lines would show really well! Hmmm I need to clean my studio today so I can start something exciting! Have a great Sunday! x Teje
    ps. and i didn't have yet time to try that waving thing!

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    1. I certainly didn't come up with a new idea, but one that made me happy and worked so well! The detail is much easier to see in person. You can see it better from the back, so yes…solids would be the way to go!! It's hard not to get excited when trying something new, this has so many possibilities!

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  2. I did Trapunto a long time ago, but actually for quilting I think your solution is much less time-consuming and fiddly. It will be interesting to see you play more with this.

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    1. I'm all about easy and simple!! Using long strips of batting was just that…easy! Plus, I used batting scraps which are much harder to figure out a good use for!

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  3. Lovely result. Thanks for sharing your process, especially the "trapunto" detail, and for the encouragement to break away!

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    1. I know I sometimes forget that there are new and different ways to do things. They may or may not work, but always worth a try!

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  4. Such a clever idea. I love the effect.

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  5. Cool idea! It is kind of trapunto isn't :) It ended up really well!

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  6. Yesterday I would have said I don't really like trapunto quilting but from today I see it differently . I have loved watching the quilt a long and i love your take on it . Great finish

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    1. I've seen techniques and designs I thought I would never try or even like, but things change over the years! While I didn't do a 'true trapunto' detail, it turned out to be just what I wanted, simple and effective and something I will try again!

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  7. It's a great finish Jayne ! And your idea for accentuating a part of the quilting design is amazing. I wanted to give a try at Debbie's tutorial too and have just started to cut my fabrics. PS : I love the small piece of green in the binding !

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  8. I just love your finished crosscut quilt & the quilting detail is fabulous! I have never tried anything like that but will surely think about it in the future! nice job!

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    1. I hope you do give it a try Ellyn! I'm not one to always go by the book on techniques, which is obvious with what I did! The dimension and detail is worth it, it's very simple and a great use of batting scraps! I see more of it in the future!

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  9. This is beautiful. I love the added dimension on the quilting. Would love to give it a feel. It looks fabulous. One day I may need to try this. Need to Pin for later.

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  10. You knocked it out of the park Jayne! Love it! Now I want to make one too!!

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  11. What a good idea!! An easier way to achieve the Trapunto look.

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  12. What a great idea to stuff the x. It turned out really well and I reLly like the co.ors. Fun.

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  13. This is just amazing! Beautifully done, of course, but your addition of the 'trapunto' element just put it over the top! THANK YOU for joining me in my little diversion!

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    1. Thank you for putting on a wonderful quilt-along! I joined because, well it was you…but because it was a very low pressure and fast quilt-along! I wanted to add 'me' in to the finished quilt and some how, some where the 'faux trapunto' came to me!

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  14. Very cool and it is definitely a stunning detail from the back. In the past, when I gave Trapunto a try, I placed the batting where I wanted it under the quilt top but left it oversized. Then I stitched it in place on my sewing machine and trimmed it back after the stabilizing stitches. Also: that touch of green in your binding detail is great, once again!

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    1. If we did try to invent the wheel occasionally, we wouldn't have new, fun, fast and easy techniques to use! I should be more mindful of proper ways of tried and true methods, they are amazing. Trapunto is one of those that I most likely would never do, but my way seemed totally within reach. The binding speck of green…don't we love our binding details?!

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  15. Your crosscut quilt is just amazing! The way you quilted it adds such an interesting look to it; the back is as fun to look at as the front! This was a fun qal to participate in for me, too. Definitely something new and different I wanted to try just because!

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  16. Your little crosscut quilt is wonderful! Like you,I spent this past week enjoying Debbie's quilt-along (her work so inspired me that I finally downloaded the Instagram app!) and thus avoided doing other things on my to do list. Your version is just amazing and so inspiring. I'm definitely going to have to give your technique trapunto a try. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. I've been inspired by Debbie for a long time too! I am so glad she posted this on IG…I never would have remembered otherwise! I feel a bit guilty even referring to my 'stuffed' method as Trapunto! After all, it is an art that I haven't much clue about. But, there is room for interpretation! You will not regret being on instagram. Well…maybe! It can be addicting!!

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  17. I almost joined in on IG but I knew I could live through you and Diann. Love how you are playing with Trapunto. I think it gives your piece some great texture. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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  18. Looks like a new style of trapunto!!! You are such an envelope pusher.
    By the way I loved the quilt top even without all the theatrics...insert rolling my eyes emoji here
    Love everything you do (I sound like a broken record but I am running out of adjectives)
    Hope you rub off on me a little...ok a LOT!!!
    Hugs,
    Preeti.

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  19. I really like your outcome! That is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing what you did. It makes perfect sense when I see the finished item.

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  20. Oh yeas, you did it again. You do a quilt along and end up with a lovely quilt, THEN you add your own special touch, and it's transformed into something special. How does she do it I ask myself?
    Smiles
    Kate

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    1. I honestly wonder where I get these crazy ideas! When I do I have to give them a try and see what happens. I’m sure all the Trapunto people would cringe at my method and be appalled that I would even compare the two! It was a method that worked really well for me and I will be experimenting with it even more. Yikes…I just thought of all the batting scraps I’ll be saving now!

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  21. I love love everything about this! It's just perfection : )

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  22. I love how you get and idea and you just run with it. This turned out great. I love the effect the extra batting give to it. Very very cool.

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  23. It's so fun and inspiring to see how you use your "in the moment" idea and make such a beautiful quilt. I loved following the QAL but was on a vacation during that time. All the result are lovely, so that I will have to try it someday, too.

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  24. This quilt looks so fun to make! I can see why it grabbed you and wouldn't let go until you finished it. I love the added detail of the trapunto lines and the green in the binding!

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  25. Love love your mini! You make me want to rush downstairs, throw everything aside and make one...I call these DREAMI moments: DRop Everything And Make It. ;-) I've er had a few! Yes I've done trapunto, love the effect; so cool how you fearlessly did your own version. Always fresh with you Jayne :-) oh, btw love that teeny pop of green in the binding as well as the white with black piece!

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  26. It looks fantastic, Jayne! I love the colours, the design and how that extra dimensional x adds so much interest! What a great, fun quilt :)

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  27. I loved reading your post...your excitement just sparkles!

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  28. What a great subtle echo of the design by adding that dimensional aspect. The whole piece is fab.

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  29. I saw this QAL on IG a little too late to join in the fun, but I'm going to give this a try this winter. I'm so glad I caught your post and the interesting batting method. I LOVE IT! Well done!

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  30. Wow -a touch of brilliance, Jayne!

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  31. Turned out really fun and very cool you added your own puffy touch to it!

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  32. Your X sure does mark the spot! I love all the little details on this quilt. And the spot of green in the binding, as well as the piece, of low volume. What a beautiful finish!

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