While I'm waiting on a brilliant idea (or any idea) on how to quilt my Drunkard Path quilt, I decided the best thing I could do was play with the scraps and see if I could make something out of nothing!
When making Drunkard Path blocks there is always a lovely pile of scraps that happen no matter how careful you are not to waste valuable fabric real estate! Orange peel shapes seem to be the predominate shape scrap left after it's all said and done. My mission was to take the scraps and see what I could construct, configure and imagine. I think most people might have thrown the scraps out, but not me!
ABSTRACTION
16 1/2" x 22"
Instead, I worked through the pile and created a fun quilt that let my imagination go wild! Which after making a quilt that's all about accuracy and precision it can be a nice diversion and clears the mind.
The fabric in this quilt is Kona Ash Gray and Michael Miller Neon Pink.
I really enjoy the process of mindless sewing. Most of the time I don't really have any expectations or clear ideas when I start a project like this. I cut, sew and repeat until it's time to puzzle pieces together. At that stage ideas start to form and I can begin to figure it out. Perhaps that's a crazy way to work, but who's to say!
You can see how the orange peel shapes were used to create some of the shapes. I didn't want the neon pink to overwhelm the space so I tried to keep it at a minimum.
When I finished the center I decided I'd inset it into a large Ash Grey piece. I did a wonky oval shape and did just that...which worked but I didn't like it. It was too stark. Not only that but by the end I could have saved a lot of inset circle headache and just added strips on all the sides.
The left side really brought it together for me. That's the beauty of improv! Don't like where it's going? Cut it off and do something else!
I'm not a great free-motion quilter and my capabilities are limited, but I'll never back down or shy away from it especially when it's a small quilt like this. I can do whatever I want, and in the end be very happy about it!
I didn't quilt on any of the pink, just the gray. I might have had I had a matching thread or something close.
Lastly, the binding. I considered doing a faced binding for a minute or two, and then thought better of that idea. Half and half with the neon/gray but take the time to match one little spot! Matching the binding was the only precision skill in this quilt!
Now that this is finished and all the scraps are used I can move on to quilting the Drunkard Path quilt! I don't plan on doing 'crazy' with the quilting, so expect straight line geometric quilting!
Beautiful and creative way to use remaining scraps! I love your binding too, and your FMQ is perfect, it adds a lot of movement.
ReplyDeleteI love your process! much like mine when it comes to improv. the more I look at this I see a face!
ReplyDeleteI don’t think my method is any different than a lot of improv quilters, but it always surprises me how it all comes together! I love hearing what other people see when they view a quilt!
DeleteI love this one; how clever you are to think of using your scraps like this with a limited palette.
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I just love using binding to accent the design!
ReplyDeleteA binding like this is always a fun choice, especially when it worked on the first try! I’ve had matched bindings take many tries and it can be frustrating!
DeleteThis is another lovely piece! I respect your ability to just cut and sew, consider, cut and sew more, and reconsider. While you make that sound like an easy, everyone-can-do-it process, I know for a fact that's not true. Good for you to thrive and enjoy making this way. Your quilting is lovely, and the way you chose to piece and add binding is perfect.
ReplyDeleteHaving a play with the scraps looks like a lot of fun and a great way to let you mind think and consider the quilting for the other quilt in a low pressure kind of way. I get a feeling of vertebrae and stability from the piecing and binding on the left side of this mini. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job turning those scraps into something fun. So glad you shared it with Oh Scrap!
ReplyDeleteFabulous! That's quilting is just divine and I'll be the texture is lovely when you run your fingers over it.
ReplyDeleteI love your work with neon pink and gray! It's so striking! The little details that you add in, like the matched binding in that one spot, are always a special part of the whole finish.
ReplyDeleteOh you know I'm liking this! The process of cut, sew, consider is far and away my favorite creative play. It's just so fun to see where it takes you, and this one came out really well, Jayne! Looking forward to seeing how DP tells you it wants to be quilted!
ReplyDeleteI really love taking basically nothing and seeing where it takes me. Sometimes improv can be so easy and every element fits together like a glove…then there are ‘walk away’ and take a break improv projects! I know you know what I mean!!
DeleteKnock my socks off. . .WOW! Love your piece, Jayne.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to use up scraps, Jayne!!
ReplyDeleteYou make improv looks so easy. This is a spectacular use-it-all-up quilt. I especially like the half and half binding. It brings joy to just look at this wonderful quilt. It makes sense to step back from a project (ie, hold off quilting your DP and do something else while the back of the mind starts figuring out what you want.) We all will be excited to see what your fertile mind comes up with for your drunkard's path blocks.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and wild quilt. What fun! Love the quilting and how you bound it, too.
ReplyDeleteWhen something is abstract (not obvious) like your quilt, it makes me look harder. And I begin to notice things that I would have missed in an obvious quilt. I linger longer at every picture. Maybe you should call it Meditation Quilt :-) I think I see a mother looking at her baby with so much love...it breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteLove it! What an interesting quilt!
ReplyDeleteGreat use of scraps, I love the neon pink against the gray! The quilting highlights the piecing really well.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me where I can find the Michael Miller Neon pink? I’ve tried looking everywhere!! Thank you!!
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