Vitality :: Improv Madness

I finished this quilt a while back but didn't get photos until recently.  It's a pretty large quilt and I was not looking forward to taking pictures of it!  Eventually the stars aligned and I found my wall along with the exact right time of the day for the light to work for me instead of against me!

I always have trouble taking photos.  But I can't let that stop me from sharing just the same. 

VITALITY
57" x 87"

What a year! 

Emotionally drained, social distance fatigue and election overload have taken a toll on everyone.  I needed a fresh burst of energy to continue the fight and do my part.  

Choosing strong energetic colors convey renewed vitality and give me the strength to take a deep breath and continue on.  This improv quilt starts and ends with the fading of color that represents exhaustion.  The center is vibrant and energetic which gives me renewed strength and hope to continue fight.

The top part is full of yellow that fades into light oranges.  Improv allows me to blend the colors creating an ombré effect graduating from dark to light.  Each block is first framed with Kona Natural and then a solid that completes each row.

The center is the most vibrant!  I love the combination of pink and orange so you know this made me happy!

I was hard pressed to find enough pastel fabric for the final fade.  Somehow I did and I couldn't be happier with the final results!

Well...maybe I could be happier!  I debated on whether I should add the top and bottom row of the lightest colors.  After several days I decided it was exactly what was needed.  Had I not, the colors in the quilt looked like a barrel!  Not what I was after!  The downside to adding the final rows was that it make the quilt much longer than I wanted.  

The positives out weighed the negatives.  I had to go with it.  

Let the quilting begin!  I machine quilted organic straight lines using mostly an off white thread.  The width between the lines varied as did the straightness.  In order to make sure there was some sort of consistency and I didn't go completely off the rails, I marked horizontal lines approximately 4-6" apart with my hera marker.  

From there I filled in with mostly the off white thread but included random lines of coordinating thread colors.  

I pieced together the back because I didn't have a single piece of yardage that would be large enough.  I'm a fan of pieced backings, so it was fine with me!

It coordinates with the front and that's really all that matters, right?!

You can barely see it but there is a section of binding on the top and bottom that brings the lightest sections to the edge of the design.  Always a nice touch to have pieced bindings.  At least this one didn't need to be perfectly matched as some bindings do!

Some quilts are a labor of love, and I can say this one certainly was.  I was wanting to do a large improv quilt for a long time and finally found the perfect time to scratch my itch!  While I think the size of this quilt got away from me, I couldn't stop myself and had to go with it regardless of the outcome.  Quilts are crazy like that.  They sometimes dictate exactly what is to be done and who am I to argue?!

 LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING 
MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD 

PEACOCK PARTY  ● TGIFF ● WHOOP WHOOP FRIDAY

BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY