Graphically Modern

I've been thinking that I needed to design something new.  I've been revisiting old patterns and giving them a makeover, but I was ready for a new adventure.  

The design is something that I've been working on for months and months.  I would work on it, tweak it, change colors, add more, delete some...you get the idea.  It wasn't until recently where I finally felt like I arrived at the right mix and I was itching to put the design to the test!

52" x 66"

It's bold, graphic, bright and I might just love it!  The picture almost looks like a computer generated design, but I assure you it is not!  That's fabric!  At 52" x 66" I think it's a good size lap quilt.

This is the actual computer generated design.  The design is the same in my quilt, but I switched a couple colors from the computer photo.  

 

Picking the fabric was pretty easy.  Even though this photo doesn't convey it, I went with bright colors.

If you have ever sewn together long strips (like jelly roll strips), you might have the same problem I usually have which is: inevitably they end up with a curve or the strips are not straight on the top and bottom.  I didn't want that.  I needed everything to line up and be as perfect as I could be.  My solution was to divide the quilt into sections.  That would give me a better chance at accuracy.

      

After countless hours of planning, I finally settled on the best way to section the design.  Six panels.  The left and right side panels are the same width, but the lengths are all over the place. 

      

The panel idea worked great, but I then had to match the vertical stripes.  

      

I thought I'd glue baste the seams, but that did not work at all!  So I settled for good old fashioned pins!  I lined up the seams and stuck the pin in the seam.  

As you can see pins win!  Every seam lined up and with that...I poured myself a big glass of wine to celebrate!

The most time consuming part of this quilt besides designing it, was the math.  Oy Vey!  My head was spinning!  Usually I think I got all the piece measurements right, only to find I made a mistake.  Not this time!  I managed to get each and every piece figured out.  

Breaking down the quilt into panels was the key to getting the math right for me.  Cutting was the other time consuming part.  With so many pieces I used painters tape to label sizes and sections.  I knew I wanted it to be fool proof and almost a grab and go project.  

The strips are 3" wide and you might be wondering why I just didn't use a Jelly Roll?!  First, I don't have any Jelly Rolls!  Second, I'm sure I wouldn't have had the right colors or enough.  And third, I would have had to redesign the quilt and have even more strips to piece!

When I finished piecing, I almost felt let down!  It went together so fast and was so easy that in a way I felt like I cheated!  It's hard for me to stay objective, but it looks like a simple, yet complicated design to me!  Or maybe not!  

It was the best project to conquer after writing patterns!  

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