Whimsy and Onyx—a fabric blender dynamic duo

Whimsy and Onyx. Sound like names of comic strip characters, don't they? 

In the quilting world, Whimsy and Onyx are two blender collections from P&B Textiles. And I'm using this dynamic duo for the 100 Days 100 Blocks 2022 sew-along.

Fat quarter bundles of Onyx (far left) and Whimsy from P&B Textiles.

What's to like about Whimsy and Onyx

When Whimsy was first introduced as a P&B basic, I was immediately drawn to it because:

• it covers the full color spectrum without being overwhelming—there are 50 pieces in the collection.
• the collection includes a range of grays—with both cool and warm grays.
• there is a variety of prints with a 21st century aesthetic—ditzies, florals, and geometrics.
• these small-scale prints are well-suited for "supporting cast members" to coordinate with larger scale designs and other focal prints.
• however... the designs are unique enough to stand on their own!

Onyx is a tonal black-on-black basic that also offers a variety of designs—dots, lines, bursts, grids, geometric and organic patterns. This collection definitely provides a contrast and counterpoint to the colorful Whimsy.

Onyx is a black-on-black blender collection from P&B Textiles.

In addition to the 12 different designs, other characteristics of Onyx are:

• the base cloth is dyed black—check the "wrong side" of this fabric! There won't be any white threads or whiskers showing when cutting, piecing, doing fusible appliqué, embellishing, or quilting by hand or machine.
• because it's black throughout, you can use the back side of Onyx if you're in need of a solid black.
• the collection's versatile designs. This blender can be used in traditional quilts, contemporary/modern quilts, college and T-shirt quilts,  and "guy" quilts. Several of the designs are geometric or gender-neutral.
• and who doesn't love an accent of black—or black and white—to add sparkle and zing to a quilt???

Not having used much tonal black-on-black fabrics as a major part of a quilt, incorporating Onyx into the 100 Days 100 Blocks project this year is a challenge I set for myself. (So far, it's going well.)

Making 100 blocks with Whimsy and Onyx

The 100 Days 100 Blocks sew-along started August 1 (but anyone can jump in at any time!). My first blocks were pieced with the cool colors from the Whimsy line with accents of Onyx. 

Whimsy and Onyx blenders with Bloc Loc half-square triangle and flying geese rulers.

A sampling of the cool color blocks on the design wall...

33 patchwork blocks of the Kinship Sampler quilt. Blocks are 8.5" square and 4.5 x 8.5" (unfinished).
Whimsy and Onyx fabrics from P&B Textiles.

As I approached cutting pieces for Block 50—the halfway point—I dipped into the warmer hues of Whimsy.

Warm yellows and oranges from Whimsy and black-on-black Onyx.

A sampling of the warm color blocks...

Several blocks using the warmer hues of Whimsy.

Batch processing

For efficiency, I create the blocks in batches—ahead of the posting schedule. I cut a bunch of blocks... piece that batch... photograph that batch... and format the photos for the Instagram posts. Then I post the block on its appropriate day.

This is an example of a stack of blocks ready for piecing.

Batch cutting the blocks.

There is a 100 Days 100 Blocks tracker available for the program. I haven't kept up with filling in the "post" column, but it's fun to color in the other activities as I do my batching processes.

100 Days 100 Blocks 2022 event tracker.

Make it your own—throw in a little Onyx

The Kinship Sampler pattern is shown in three shades of blue + white to give a sense of the patchwork. Sometimes I follow the value [lightness or darkness of a fabric] placement provided in the pattern... sometimes I don't. 

Sometimes I use leftover pieces (or mis-cuts) from previous blocks. And sometimes I remind myself, "Hey, throw in a patch of Onyx!"      Zing!

Onyx (top) and Whimsy blenders from P&B Textiles.

Whether these 100 blocks make it into a single quilt, two or more smaller quilts, or something else... the Whimsy and Onyx blenders from P&B Textiles are producing dynamic patchwork results for my Kinship sampler blocks. 

Ask YLQS [your local quilt shop] for these fabric collections. They should be on everyone's color wall and in every quilter's stash.

I’m in! The 100 Days 100 Blocks 2022 starts August 1

Are you ready for the 100 Days 100 Blocks 2022 sew-along? It’s my 5th year participating!

100 Days 100 Blocks 2022: fabric bundles [P&B Textiles] and block tracker

I’ve got:

• three lusciously squishy P&B Textiles fat quarter bundles, 
• my Block-Loc rulers for half-square triangles and flying geese units, 
• the Kinship Sampler pattern on my iPad, and
• the 100 Days 100 Blocks event tracker printed.

I’m ready to go!

Specs and prep for the Kinship Sampler 2022

This year, I’ll be using fabrics from the playful Whimsy basics line from P&B Textiles. Whimsy sports a variety of small texture-like patterns and a full color gamut of warm, cool and neutral hues. 

My Personal Challenge will be experimenting with combining these rainbow hues with black tone-on-tone fabrics—P&B's Onyx basics—rather than using white or light colors for contrast. This will be a new exploration for me in this year’s sew-along. Where's the "spice in life" if you don't mix it up a bit??

I've begun pulling and cutting fabrics for the first few blocks in preparation for the August 1 start date. The sew-along goes through November 8, 2022 and uses the Kinship Sampler pattern (available from Gnome Angel). 

Fabric pull: cool colors from the Whimsy collection and black tone-on-tone fat quarters from Onyx collection [P&B Textiles]. Bloc-Loc rulers for flying geese and half-square triangle units.

The Kinship Sampler is a fun, skill-builder project

There are 50 square blocks that finish at 8”x8” and 50 rectangle blocks 4” x 8” in the Kinship Sampler quilt. Here's why I like it:

• The sampler is appropriate for confident beginners but the two block sizes keep it interesting for advanced quilters.
• Angie at Gnome Angel describes the blocks as "borrowing from the traditional and reflecting the contemporary."
• It’s great practice for perfecting your 1/4” seam.
• You can make it scrappy or plan a controlled color scheme.
• The pattern has suggestions for block layouts, or you can see what others have done using the #100blocks100days or #kinshipsampler hashtags for previous years.
• Doing the 100 Days 100 Blocks sew-along with others is always motivating, encouraging and inspiring. Everyone uses different fabrics and we cheer each other on!

Watch my daily block posts on Instagram [@veronica.fiberantics] and on Facebook.

Slow stitching with fabric panels

What stitcher or quilter doesn't love all the wonderful colors and weights of threads available for both machine and hand sewing? I certainly do! Recently, I decided to take these threads and incorporate slow stitching into a beautiful bird fabric panel from Songbird Serenade by Robin Mead Designs for P&B Textiles.

Songbird Serenade by Robin Mead Designs for P&B Textiles.

Pull out an embroidery stitch dictionary 

It's time to pull out an embroidery stitch dictionary—in paper or digital format—and learn a new stitch or two. This 1963 edition of Needlework Stitches by Barbara Snook was a recent find at the Book Exchange of Foley.

Needlework Stitches by Barbara Snook, published in 1963.

Songbird Serenade has a 3-block panel, with each bird image approximately 13.5" x 17.5" (including the border). This bird's wing is a prime canvas for a sampler of hand embroidery stitches—seed stitch, blanket stitch, back stitches and others. Have a stitching embellishment party with your bird!

Various embroidery stitches embellish the wing of the bird.

Needles, threads and tools for hand stitching

As long as you have a hand sewing, crewel, sashiko or embroidery needle that accommodates the thread weight (thickness) and has a sharp point that will go easily through the cotton fabric panel, your thread choice is wide open. I'm also using an embroidery hoop for this project.

A sampling of threads and tools for slow stitching and hand embroidery.

As I have been an avid "collector" of machine and hand sewing and quilting threads for a number of years, I have a healthy thread supply from which to choose. A few favorites that I've used on my bird:

• 5 wt. and 8 wt. perle cotton [Eleganza from WonderFil Specialty Threads]
• 12 wt. cotton [Spagetti and Fruitti by WonderFil Specialty Threads]
• 6-ply embroidery floss—using 3, 4 or 6 strands

Other options are cotton sashiko threads [Cosmo from Lecien], Ellana 12 wt. Merino wool/acrylic blend [WonderFil Threads], cotton floche, silk and silk blend threads or anything that catches your eye for enhancing your bird. 

Songbird Serenade projects

The Songbird Serenade collection will be available at your local quilt shop [YLQS] in April 2022. The 3-bird panel is accompanied by 11 colorful coordinating prints and an exclusive 108" wide backing designed specifically for this collection. 

Songbird Serenade panel from P&B Textiles.

What can you make with this fabric collection? Quilts, wall hangings, pillows, a tote bag, zipper pouch, a cover for your sketchbook, appliqué it to a jeans jacket, mount your embellished bird on foam core or wooden frame for wall art... are all creative possibilities. A quilt pattern will be available in April under the Songbird Serenade collection name at P&B Textiles.

Contact YLQS for needles, threads and Songbird Serenade fabrics from P&B Textiles. 

Songbird Serenade by Robin Mead for P&B Textiles.
Embellished with hand embroidery.

Keep stitching and serenade a fabric panel with colorful embroidery stitches!

It's a new day for the USA!

November 7, 2020: to commemorate yesterday's presidential election news, I abandoned piecing the hexagon blocks I'd previously prepared... to make these. 

Election 2020 patriotic hexagons.

Whatever red, white or blue fabrics near the top of the stash pile were pulled for cutting and assembly.

Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris hexagon block.

President-Elect Joe Biden hexagon block.

Some units were thead basted... then I turned to the glue stick to expedite the basting process as we awaited the President-elect and Vice President-Elect televised speeches.

Hexagon block backs show thread and glue basting.

It's a new day for the USA.

Kantha stitched and hand embroidered Flag Girl.
Shall we name her Kamala?

Fabrics:
birds on navy—Small Things Pets from Lewis and Irene

girl faces—Friends and Faces from Paintbrush Studio

tonal red blender—Suede from P&B Textiles

flowers on red—Alexander Henry Fabrics

small flags—unknown, from my stash

31 days of stitching... 6" blocks by hand and machine

For 2020, I've been tracking daily stitching activities with this fabulous project management calendar for makers. I'm happy to report that July had a full month of stitching! 

Project management Success Tracker for Makers and Creatives.

What's been the projects in July?

Curiously enough, the month of July was filled with making 6-inch blocks—some by machine and others by hand.

• 100 Days 100 Blocks Challenge—This sew-along started July 1. I've kept up with the daily postings and have pieced 40 six-inch patchwork blocks to date.
• English paper piecing [EPP] hexagons—this is a UFO from 2016 called Glorious Hexagons that re-emerged during the pandemic lock down this Spring. It now includes block patterns from both of Katja Marek's The New Hexagon books... and a few I've designed myself with leftover EPP bits.

40 blocks from #100days100blocks project and 12 EPP Glorious Hexagons.

I was surprised to discover 12 EPP hexagons were completed this past month. It just proves that if you do a little stitching each day—even 5 or 10 minutes—it adds up! This project is also very portable. I have paper templates, fabric bits, pins, needles and threads parcelled into sandwich size baggies that can be taken outside, or thrown into a purse or suitcase.

July's success on 6" English paper pieced hexagons.

My hexie collection has amassed to over 100 hexagons so far! I embrace the accomplishment of each small composition and find it very satisfying to give purpose to an accumulation of fabric swatches. 

The need for blenders

I enjoy the challenge of pulling together prints from various fabric collections for each block, but occasionally I realize a "calm coordinate" is needed to complement them or unify the palette. A quick trip to a local quilt shop [YLQS], Chattanooga Sewing Machines, filled this blender gap with a few Canvas and Shimmer Radiance fat quarters. 

Blenders and prints for 100 Days and EPP Glorious Hexagons projects.

Yeah, I picked up two other prints because they were from Paintbrush Studio (Over the Rainbow—for my 100 Days blocks) and Lewis & Irene (the bunnies—that I thought would be fun for EPP fussy cutting). Diversity is good, right?

In the hunt for something in my studio, I also uncovered some fat quarter Suede blenders [P&B Textiles] from a previous project. Aha! Another welcome addition to my EPP blender stash.

Suede blenders from P&B Textiles. 

So now I'm stocked up and ready for a stitching-filled August! What's been satisfying your stitch cravings?

The fruits of small compositions

I connected with two quilting friends this week—one via social media and another in person. 

Block 37: Monette. Center fabric from M&S Textiles Australia.
Coordinates from Forest Fancies by Lisa Kirkbride for P&B Textiles and Meridian [P&B Textiles].

Tari, my quilting friend in Florida, commented on all the fun fabrics in my EPP [English paper pieced] Glorious Hexagon blocks I've been working on since the lockdown. Using scraps and discontinued fabric samples for the blocks, I'm reacquainting myself with fabric collections and taking solace in the hand piecing process.

Variation of Block 3: Sarah.
Fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics, Lewis & Irene.

Some blocks are from The New Hexagon book. Others are cobbled together from various pieces and unused paper templates.

Block 49: Irene
Fabrics from P&B Textiles.

I don't have a big picture plan, layout, or color scheme for this EPP project. I'm just creating one small composition at a time: choosing fabrics from the scrap basket and coordinating colors and prints as I go. 

There is feeling of success and accomplishment with each completed hexagon.

Improv Star in batiks

I ran into the other quilting friend, Jamie, in a quilt shop. She follows my blog and we're friends on social media. She told me that my blog posts have inspired her to start sewing garments. 

Block 5: Caroline
Fabrics from Lewis & Irene, P&B Textiles.

Jamie was wearing a lovely denim-blue dress she had made using a border print fabric. She did a great job and the dress looked so cute on her. Her pattern hack was the addition of pockets in the side seams.

Block 41: Betty
Fabrics from Lewis & Irene, Art Gallery Fabrics, P&B Textiles.

I commended her for making an outfit to suit her creativity, needs and lifestyle. It's a few of the many perks to sewing one's own wardrobe!

Small compositions.

We chatted briefly about our current fabric passions—mine was rayon and hers was linen. As we parted, we encouraged each other to keep sewing and looked forward to each other's next makes. 

A gallery of small compositions. 

Enjoy the successes of small compositions

The world today is overshadowed with severe health threats, political chaos, physical and emotional trauma... it's stressful, draining and so tiresome. It's a relief that our crafts and hobbies can deviate and distract from the news of the day—providing stability and calmness, if only for a short time. With each project or composition, we get to learn or see something new. We can make choices to modify a pattern—add pockets, change the sleeve length, omit a collar, rearrange the pieces in the patchwork. 

I am enjoying the creation and success of my small hexie compositions. It's refreshing to have choices, make decisions, express a personal vision, and have control over the process and outcome. 

Hexagons.

Are you organizing your fabrics or generating more UFOs?

"How are you holding up?" has become the common greeting these days instead of "How are you?" 

As makers—quilters, stitchers, sewers, etc.—I think we're lucky to have an outlet for coping with the mandates of the Coronavirus pandemic: being creative, using our hands to make something tangible, and feeling in control... if only over a piece of patchwork we have in our hands at the moment. 

Auditioning scraps to coordinate with a small floral vignette from a fabric panel.
Fabric from P&B Textiles.

I have retreated to my studio... attempting to organize fabrics, tidy the space, and hoping to make progress on several pieces. Through this (partly successful) exercise, I have found simple enjoyment through the reacquaintance of past fabric acquisitions and pairing them with selections from the never-ending scrap pile. Here is an example...

Discovering a fabric panel

These are 5" x 7" flower vignettes from a fabric panel from P&B Textiles that was in my stash. (If anyone can identify this fabric line, I would love to give credit to the fabric designer.) The colors of the wild flowers are cheerful, lively and reminiscent of nature's promise of renewal and new life.

Two floral vignettes from a fabric panel from P&B Textiles.

Auditioning fabrics
This is my fabric auditioning process. I've pulled strings and scraps that coordinate with the colors of the wild flowers in the vignette. I include light, medium and dark values in the fabric pull. Some of the fabrics may not be included in the final pieced block, but it is better to have more than needed so you have choices.

Auditioning scraps to coordinate with the center fabric motif.

What's so fabulous about the Log Cabin block?
The Log Cabin block is a versatile and forgiving block technique. It's easy to piece and lends itself to all kinds of design possibilities:

• it adapts itself to any number of shapes, 
• it can be scrappy or have a planned fabric sequence, 
• the strips can have a consistent width or various widths,
• it's great for improv piecing,
• there are a multitude of variations for color, value, log and block placement.

I used the flower vignette as the center, or "hearth," of my Log Cabin block. In the classic light/dark fashion, fabric strips were sewn around this center—lights on two sides and darks on the other two.

Scrappy Log Cabin block with pink, yellow and white wild flowers.

From the 5" x 7" center, my blocks grew to approximately 13" x 15".

Scrappy Log Cabin blocks with yellow wild flowers near a pond.

I made four blocks. There were likely more vignettes on the panel, but I must have used them in another project.

Scrappy Log Cabin block featuring pink wild roses.

Scrappy Log Cabin block with blue Irises and a yellow bird.

Does this project have an end goal?
I don't have a specific plan for these blocks. They could be:

• a wall hanging, table or bed runner, or a tote bag,
• combined with other blocks for a larger quilt,
• I think they are too large and the wrong orientation for placemats... maybe,
• If additional "logs" were added to make them square, they could be made into pillows, 
• It might be fun to use trapunto on the central motif, especially on the larger flowers and the bird,
• It could be interesting to do thread painting or strategic stitching to enhance a focal point,
• they could be fused to the cover of a sketchbook or journal,
• used as a canvas for surface embellishment.
• ?
• ?

It doesn't matter what the future plan is for these blocks.

They are important for right now.

Fall Quilt Market Recap, part 1: Garment sewing

Fall Quilt Market 2019 is now down in the books. Here's my photo capsule of things you'll be seeing in YLQS [your local quilt shops] and independent fabric stores in the months ahead.

A view of the Market floor at the George R. Brown convention center.

Garment sewing going strong!
The vendor booths illustrated that quilting cottons aren't just for quilting—but also for sewing. The Diamond Textiles booth had a mini "garment district" display featuring tops, jackets, dresses and childrenswear made from their yarn-dyed textured wovens, World Fabrics, and their curated collections of ikats, embossed cottons and pintuck cottons.

A mini Garment District at the Diamond Textiles booth.

I wore my navy Nine Lives top [The Sewing Workshop pattern] made from Diamond Textiles' pintuck fabric collection on the second day of Market.

My Nine Lives Top [The Sewing Workshop pattern] in a Diamond Textiles navy pintuck.

The Australian aboriginal designs from M&S Textiles Australia are eye-catching in apparel. This Classic Caftan [pattern from Indygo Junction]—featuring two aboriginal fabric prints—is an easy, breezy top that can be worn alone or over a long sleeve tee.

Classic Caftan in aboriginal fabrics from M&S Textiles Australia. 

Have you considered batiks for garment sewing? 
Why not?! This zippered hooded jacket (below, left) showcases a Banyan Batik from the Kilts & Quilts / Addicted to Plaid collection by Patience Griffin. I sooo love that there are pockets on this jacket!

For warmer temps, consider the sleeveless Hannah Dress [Victory patterns] in rayon or cotton fabrics from After the Rain by Sara Boccaccini Meadows for FIGO. Contrasting fabrics highlight the Hannah's angled side seams and front pockets. The neckline is finished with a double fold binding—a technique quite familiar to quiltmakers.

Zippered hooded jacket with Banyan Batiks (left)
and sleeveless Hannah shift dress with FIGO rayon fabrics.

Another FIGO display vignette showed garments alongside quilts. Check out FIGO lookbooks for additional garment, accessory and quilt inspiration.

The Glasshouse collection comes in two colorways and includes
four 53"/54" rayon prints.

P&B Textiles borrowed my new favorite Siena Shirt for their booth at Market (unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the booth). This shirt showcases a fabulous digital print from the P&B Off the Grid 45 collection (Off the Grid is also available in 108" wide backings). You can read about my making process for this shirt in this blog post.

Off the Grid Siena Shirt. Digital fabric print from P&B Textiles.
Pattern from The Sewing Workshop.

In one of the Northcott booths, new designer, Brett Lewis, had this man's shirt on display. It features a print from the Stag and Thistle collection for Northcott.

Stag and Thistle print from Northcott.

Are you a garment maker? Re-use your patterns for efficiency and economics.
Before leaving for Market, I was able to get two pairs of pants and a new top made. I reused my Collins Top pattern [from In the Folds] and paired it with my yardage from the green colorway of Off the Grid by P&B Textiles. It was fun to wear this top to the P&B sales meeting.

The Collins Top was my first 2019 Make Nine finish, so I was already familiar with this top's construction. Re-using garment patterns makes efficient use of your time because:

• the pattern pieces are already cut out, making the pattern piece layout quick and easy, and 
• the muslin-making steps were completed on the first make. 

When there's a time crunch, it's so nice to have a go-to pattern that is familiar and already fitted to your body!

The Collins Top from In the Folds. Fabric is Off the Grid from P&B Textiles.

Be sure to make notes on your pattern so you'll be reminded of any helpful tips for the next make—another time-saver! And, with the second... and all subsequent makes... that $20 pattern is also FREE to use! We all like that. 

Bank that savings and apply it to great buttons, a useful tool or new fabric!