This latest quilt began as an idea for a long term project, but soon spiraled out of control and I found I couldn't stop making blocks! Good intentions! I don't know what made me think I could make a block or two here and there. In the end it doesn't really matter since I ended up with a fun and pretty lovely quilt in the end. As for the woven stripe stash, let's just say there will be another quilt or two in the future!
This photo almost looks like its computer generated! I promise it is not! I've sewn together all the blocks and sashing thus far, but plan on adding a border. When it will get quilted is another story. Maybe that should be my long term goal since I always seem to let these quilts sit for weeks on end until I quilt them!
I had a lot of the stripes already cut in strips in my stash, but there was more work to do. Cut more! If you've ever worked with Kaffe Fasset woven stripes you know they can go wonky just by looking at them! I always starch before cutting and hope for the best. I doesn't take much for this fabric to become distorted no matter how much starch you use.
My plan was to use a foundation of paper in an effort to keep the stripes as straight as possible. I found some newspaper print in the basement that was originally packing paper that I ironed flat, cut to the size I wanted and marked with guide lines in pencil. Drawing the lines ended up being a big waste of time for the most part. I could have saved myself time by drawing one line to work from as I really didn't use the other lines at all. It was all for the greater good of keeping things straight.
My strip width varied from 2 1/4" to 1" for the sake of variety. After I stitched the first two strips on to the paper using the center marked line, I could make my way across the block by adding the remaining strips which turned out to be a pretty quick process. I did have to fold the foundation paper back and trim much of the time, but I found my rhythm and couldn't seem to stop.
After making a stack of blocks, I would neatly trim each one to 7". I used the 45° line on my cutting mat in order to keep the diagonal the same on each block. Again, once I found the rhythm of cutting it went fast.
Something I don't often do with my quilts is add sashing. This was destined to be a quilt that required it in order to bring it all together. I auditioned several color options, but ended up using my go to accent color for woven stripes...Kona Chocolate. It always seems to be the perfect compliment to the colors of the stripes. Plus it feels 'comfortable' to me.
The sashing is 1 1/4" finished, with a different color setting square in the center of each one. A little added pizzazz! The blocks are pretty gorgeous I think!
Even though this is a random scrappy quilt, I still laid out the blocks before sewing could begin. I wanted to be in control until the very end scrappy or not!
As it stands it's all pieced. But I think I'll add a border for containment sake! It'll be a big surprise in the end!
With all the starch prep, there was still a lot of stretch with the stripes. I hope when it's time to quilt it that it won't be an issue. I see lots and lots of pins in my future!
LINKING:
WOW! I love that - the stripes set off by that sashing is perfect. Great selection of fabric used in this
ReplyDeletevery pretty!
ReplyDeleteI had wondered how you handled piecing these blocks, Jayne. Using newspaper print and starching was definitely worth the time and effort. I think the sashing really sets off the blocks, and I look forward to seeing how you finish and quilt it!
ReplyDeleteI tried my best to keep the woven controlled. Even with all the prep there is still some distortion, but hopefully after quilting it won’t look like too much of a mess!
DeleteLOL in the days of telephone books we used the pages for our foundation.
ReplyDeletesuch an inspiring quilt! I have lots of striped and solid shot cottons and I now have an idea of what to do with them. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love woven stripes and shot cottons, but boy do they like to do their own thing! Even with all the prep! However I love how it turned out and hope that quilting it won’t make me crazy!
DeleteWonderful! I love the pops of color in your sashing. I really look forward to seeing your projects; they just make my day. I used newsprint that came in a tablet for kids to make paper pieced potholders. I want you to know that the ones where I forgot to pull out the paper washed up just fine and I don't know where the paper ended up in the end:)
ReplyDeleteI love Kaffe stripes, but I do get the wonky factor. This is another fantastic quilt. I might need to add some Kona chocolate to my stash :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is such a beautiful And inspiring quilt! At which stage did you remove the paper? Maybe after adding the sashing would be easier?
ReplyDeleteMyrto
It's great to see how you used your stripes stash to make these blocks look so graphic. Love that! And I know that "tingly feeling of accomplishment" you referenced because I have been doing the same thing! I managed to empty three containers of strips - selvedge, and raw edge - peg loom weaving rugs! Such a fun way to use-up quilt-y leftovers. Now I've dug into UFOs and WIPs and continue to make. My vow is to not start anything new for the remainder of the year, so each finish is another "tingly feeling of accomplishment!"
ReplyDeleteLOVE it, Jayne!! Such a cozy quilt in the making.
ReplyDeleteso gorgeous! love all your stripes
ReplyDeleteWow! Love what you have done here!
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous, Jayne! I do have to admit that I did think the first photo was your computer plan for the quilt, lol! Kona Chocolate might be my new favorite color - especially combined with those brights.
ReplyDeleteOh this is so striking Jayne! I agree it needed the sashings and the little corner stone just made it all pop.
ReplyDeleteLovely Jayne. I have a giant drawer of these stripes and plan on making a couple quilts with them soon. You should know you can't make just a couple string blocks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!
Such beautiful rich fabrics in your quilt, they just glow!
ReplyDeleteWow, you're fast, Jayne! Yes, I do that, too -- the "leaders and enders" or "just a block here and there as a palate cleanser" projects always wrest control and demand to be completed RIGHT NOW. I have some of those same KF woven stripes and plaids in my own stash, and had been thinking of pulling them out to "whip up" (ha ha) a quilt for the other son's bedroom, if/when I finish the one currently in progress. Thanks for the tips about starching. Our guild had a speaker from Free Spirit Fabrics last week (online meeting) and she explained that those fabrics behave differently because they are hand woven in India rather than being the same type of base fabric they use for their print fabrics.
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt. I see that having a plan is necessary even with a scrappy quilt. That sashing really makes this quilt the awesome piece of art that it is. You didn't talk about taking off the newsprint. I wondered if that caused a problem with distorting the stipes at all.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely quilt! When I make string blocks, I use a foundation square light muslin, old bed sheets) and since I don't have to remove the paper, there is NO distortion. I have a lovely lady who does my longarm quilting and she always laughs because these quilts are pretty heavy and she has to set aside extra time on them. I have made lots of these, including selvedge quilts, and they look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Beautifully gorgeous. I love Kaffe anything. You did a excellent job. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. I've never used Chocolate before but it's striking and such a fantastic alternative to black. I may have to copy that idea!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt!
ReplyDeleteI love making string quilts---quilt as you go. I had thought before of the foundation blocks in between. Those are what brought me over.
ReplyDeleteQuite a beautiful quilt! It reminds of of the coat of many colors. Thank you for sharing your process! I've found that quilting does take care of so many of my own errors, though your quilt looks fabulous! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI love this! It's a great use of all of those beautiful stripes!
ReplyDeleteLove how you used your stripes. It's beautiful with the sashing and colorful cornerstones. I have a stack of Kaffe stripe fat quarters and a pattern I want to use but am hesitant about working with the woven fabric. Paper foundation doesn't work for the pattern. Any other tips on working with woven fabrics other than tons of starch?
ReplyDeleteLove the sashing with the strings. It looks terrific.
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt top. It's gorgeous! I made a quilt with shots and wovens and added a flannel backing. Talk about stretching. Lol. After a couple passes with my walking foot, I decided to hand quilt with perle cotton in different colors and loved the result. Good luck with yours. I'm sure it will be awesome!
ReplyDeleteHow eclectic of you after the pink/orange curves and the HRT! I love that quilt, and the sashing with colours centers really adds something
ReplyDelete