Illuminate :: Pantone Color(s) of the Year

Often I put off quilting a quilt for multiple reasons.  It's big and daunting, I haven't a clue how to quilt it or I just plain and simply don't feel like it!  When your only option is to quilt on your domestic machine it can be overwhelming.  Then there are those times when you know exactly what you want to do.

This quilt falls somewhere in between.  I knew I need a quilting redemption quilt and this was the piece I thought might be the one.  Geometric line quilting was the first and only idea I had.  

ILLUMINATE
17" x 17"

It's playtime!  With a quilt this small I can play with lines without having a bulky quilt to shove, push and pull through my machine.  Always a welcome change and one that I tend to enjoy a lot!

I started with the dark grey using a dark grey thread.  Simple 1/4" lines that are either straight or angled to different points.  Geometric wizardry!

I found the perfect thread that matched the Kona Bright Idea fabric.  It's a Coats & Clark thread that is nearly neon, but worked very well.  

When I'm doing this kind of quilting I focus on one section at a time.  I'll take a look at the section draw some lines with my hera marker and duplicate the design to each mirrored section.  If that makes sense!!  Sometimes I might delete a line, add more or angle a line to different points.  There can be a lot of 'dot-to-dot' with a geometric quilting design. 

Working from the center to the outside helps with this kind of design.  I can use the ideas from the center and apply them to the outside creating a more cohesive design.  

The back...the truth teller!  The best part of sharing the back is you get to see all the quilting without having to look past the actual design on the front.  

And the cherry on top is the matched binding!   It isn't much, but I think the perfect touch to bring the quilt to life.  Matched bindings are a labor of love!  They aren't always easy and take much longer than you think they will.  I'll admit that I had to use my seam ripper a few times until I was happy with the results!  

With this finish I got my quilting redemption!  

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

Pantone Color of the Year

This year Pantone came out with their color of the year as they always do, and surprised us all when it was really two colors of the year!  These colors that sparked my imagination and it didn't take long for an idea to form.

PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR
ILLUMINATE & ULTIMATE GRAY

After catching Debbie Jeske's post on Instagram @aquilterstable where she researched which manufactures colors matched her Pantone color cards, I was 100% committed!  Debbie came up with Kona Bright Idea and Cotton Couture Pewter for the closest matches.  Kona Overcast was a close second for the gray.

Knowing the colors that matched was all it took for me.  Especially since I had two of colors in my stash.  I added Kona Dove into the mix to round out the design.  

I designed a paper pieced block the end of 2018 that I love and decided it was worth revisiting for the Pantone challenge.  I've made two quilts with this block, each time the block was a different size and arranged differently.  By flipping, rotating and fabric colors the possibilities are endless!

BLOCK PRINT

PINK HAZE

This time I'm using 4.25" blocks.  Weird size, right?!  I went with a size where I could print two blocks on a page...save paper, save ink...I'm being cheap!!

The first thing I did was write the block placement number on each paper, along with an arrow so I knew which way it went.  Then I highlighted the yellow and wrote where the dark grey was to go.  It helps so much to do this!  Although I will say I flubbed up a time or two!

Next I figured out the size of fabric I'd need for each section.  It takes time but in the end I think it makes the paper piecing process easier and dare I say quicker?!

The points are near perfect!  I love having the 1/4" inch ruler for trimming seams.  I also have a 1/8" ruler which I did use for the skinny point sections.  The bulk is obscene!  Especially when it's time to sew the blocks together.

 The hardest part is matching the sections!  

I paper pieced the center section first only because it's the focal point.  I'm going to have to be careful when it comes to matching those seams!

And...then it's done!  I'm going to admit that matching the dark grey seams was tough.  I had to try a couple times and even then it wasn't perfect.  I also totally messed up when I laid out the blocks!  So much for taking the time to write numbers on each block!

After I had the rows sewn together my son, very gently and cautiously, asked if I meant to have certain sections like 'that'!  ARGH!!  No I did not!!  I had to rip out some seams, anyone who paper pieces knows how much fun that is, and basically reconfigure it.

With that behind me I ended up with something that I love!!  Maybe what I love is how one seemingly simple block can be used to make so many different blocks.  Or maybe it's the colors?  Whatever it is I'm deep into the quilting phase right now and can't wait to redeem myself with this quilting after the last quilt!

Are you going to make something using the 2021 Pantone Color of the Year colors?

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