"Oh My Stars" guild Challenge offers possibilities for exploration, learning and development

My guild's annual Guild Challenge for 2018 was called "Oh My Stars." My entry, which won a 3rd place prize, was inspired by Australian aboriginal fabrics [M&S Textiles Australia] and aboriginal Dreamtime designs. 

2018 Choo Choo Quilters Guild Challenge by Veronica Hofman-Ortega.

Challenge Requirements
The Choo Choo Quilters Guild Challenge is presented to guild members at the beginning of the year. It allows a good 7 to 9 months for members to contemplate, plan and execute their piece before the big reveal in November. The requirements for the 2018 Challenge were minimal... and the size was quite manageable:

• Design: the quilt must have at least three different star patterns.
• Size: minimum of 12" on any side; maximum of 45" on any side
• Must be quilted and finished.

With about a week before the deadline, I realized my "Stars" solution had been traveling with me since February—samples of English paper pieced [EPP] hexagons using Australian fabrics. (See this blog post.) Using these blocks in a guild Challenge would give them a purpose, I thought, and they could be showcased in a finished piece. My EPP sample blocks included two star designs so I just had one more star variation to come up with. (The three star variations can be seen in the photo above.)

English paper pieced [EPP] stars using Australian fabrics
from M&S Textiles Australian. 

The Process

The EPP hexagon stars were hand pieced and the blocks were hand stitched together. I experimented with a few layouts and block placement on a background. The circle patterned fabric was chosen for the background because circles are a major design element and symbol in the Dreamtime designs, and the lime green was the complementary color to the reds and oranges in several of the stars.

Auditioning layouts of the stars.
(Note: fabric colors are not accurate due to inside lighting conditions.)

Once the layout was determined, guidelines for the quilting were drawn on the background with a chalk marker. 

Guidelines for quilting are marked.

The quilting techniques include walking foot quilting, free-motion quilting and rulerwork. The English paper pieced star blocks were appliquéd to the quilt after the background was free-motion quilted. The stars were then ditch quilted with a 60 wt. polyester thread.  

Background free-motion quilting.

The quilting designs were inspired by the motifs in the Australian fabrics and the story of the Dreamtime designs.

Detail: free-motion quilting.

For the backing, I used a leftover piece of a 110" wide backing [Westrade Textiles]. The color and value of this fabric made it easy to choose a bobbin thread to match the color of the top thread that was used for the quilting. Here are views of the quilting from the back.

Back detail.

A facing was used rather than a traditional binding. The same 110" wide backing fabric was used for both the backing and facings.

Back detail: free-motion quilting and quilt facings.

The finished piece: 26" x 38.5"

26" x 38.5" finished size.

Quilt Stats

• 80 wt. soft poly thread for EPP hand piecing hexagons (DecoBob from WonderFil Threads);
• 50 wt. cotton top thread (Konfetti from WonderFil Threads) for quilting; 
• 60 wt. poly top thread for ditch quilting (Bottom Line from Superior Threads); 
• 60 wt. poly for bobbin (Bottom Line); 2-1/2 bobbins.
• 13 hrs. quilting: walking foot (curves and circles); free-motion for background and fillers; ruler work for ditch and outline quilting.
• fabrics from M&S Textiles Australia (pieced hexagons), Art Gallery Fabrics (background); Westrade Textiles (quilt backing and facings)

Why participate in a guild Challenge?

One of the things that my guild does during our Challenge Reveal is to have each Challenge participant give a brief explanation of their piece before the prizes are awarded. Their explanation could be about their inspiration, their thought process behind meeting the Challenge requirements, the trials, roadblocks and successes of the creation process, the materials used, or any pertinent information they feel contributes to the "story" of their Challenge entry. I think you can always learn something from listening to another person's creative path to solving a problem—especially when we were all faced with the same problem to solve.

One of our newer members commented that she could never enter a piece in a Challenge. Quick yet gentle encouragement came forth in response.

• Guild Challenges are a great way to experiment with new techniques and concepts in a safe environment (in the presence of your fellow guild members who support you and your endeavors).
• You can learn from working on your own piece as well as from what others present.
• What better way to try new things than a Challenge? You will become proficient and gain confidence by doing.
• Challenges keep your brain active as you problem solve and research solutions to make your vision a reality.
• The Challenge Reveal is a "quilt show" we give to ourselves as a guild. It's a well-deserved treat for the entire group!

Congratulations to all the Choo Choo Challenge participants! Well done.

Heirloom Quilting Superior U workshop

Have you tried heirloom machine quilting? I've learned so much from working on this little sample and preparing for a Superior University mini workshop that I'll be guest teaching at Hyderhangout this evening. 

Heirloom machine quilting with silk thread and wool batting.

I'll be talking about the ingredients used for Heirloom Machine Quilting—like silk thread and wool batting—what I've discovered through this fun little project, pointers for free-motion quilting and I'm bringing some of my quilts for Show and Tell. Susan at Hyderhangout mentioned there was one last-minute cancellation, so if you are interested in experimenting with a new free-motion quilting technique, contact her right away to snatch up that class kit! We'll have a fun group of quilters at the shop... hope to see you there.

Free-motion heirloom quilting with Silk Thread workshop

Happy first day of Spring! Brush away the cobwebs and open your mind to the possibilities from trying a new quilting technique. For me, it was sampling Kimono Silk Thread by Superior Threads with a few heirloom machine quilting tips from Joanie Zeier Poole.

Free-motion heirloom quilting sample (approximately 6" x 6").
Kimono Silk Thread and wool batting.

Susan Hyder over at Hyderhangout Quilt Fabric and More asked me if I would be interested in teaching this project through her Superior University monthly program. (Free-motion quilting… silk thread… how could I not???) Absolutely!

This wholecloth mini quilt is a small project that is a perfect introduction to several techniques and supplies:

• free-motion quilting with 100 wt. silk thread
• heirloom quilting by machine
• quilting with wool batting
• using cotton sateen fabric for a wholecloth quilt

and I will be presenting it as a guest teacher for a Superior U workshop at Hyderhangout next month on Tuesday, April 1. Call Susan at (423) 715-2908 to reserve your kit. Yes, you get everything you need to make this project—fabrics, batting, pattern and silk thread!

The silk thread was a dream to work with and the sample quilted up beautifully. This 100 wt. thread is excellent for small, tight background fills and stippling—providing a luscious texture without thread build-up. I usually use 60 wt. Bottom Line by Superior (a poly) for stippling and the silk is just as wonderful... it also feels a little exotic to be quilting with silk. Joanie recommends using Bottom Line in the bobbin, which I did.

The wool batting and cotton sateen also elevated this quilting experience. It was a new adventure for me to try heirloom wholecloth quilting using a design that I marked on the quilt top. My usual free-motion quilting is more intuitive and spontaneous with no or minimal marking.

So, if you're interested in experimenting with silk thread and wool batting with your free-motion quilting, come and join me on April 1. Diane Gaudynski (the Queen of free-motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine!), Joanie Zeier Poole, Gina Perkes and other quilting gurus use silk thread for their machine quilting—come and see for yourself what it's all about.

Radiant Triangles

"Radiant Triangles" 21" x 29"
Radiant by RaNae Merrill for Blank Quilting

One of the newer, more compelling, fabric collections from Blank Quilting is Radiant, by designer RaNae Merrill. This two-piece collection comes in four colorways, and the graduated, ombré panel can create dynamic results with simple patchwork.

This is a modified version of the pattern, "Infinite Triangles" by Tracey Brookshier at Brookshier Design Studio [of the Bento Box pattern fame]. As you can see, the quilt top is comprised of only half square triangles. How easy is that?

I have paired the amber color way of Radiant with Eclipse jet black and let the glow move across the quilt to create a backlit silhouette.

Five or six different variegated and solid 50 wt. cotton threads were used for the free-motion quilting.

Free-motion quilting with solid and variegated threads
by WonderFil and Aurifil.

On different areas of the quilt top, the top thread was changed to correspond with the color and value (brightness or darkness) of the patchwork.

Free-motion swirls and pods quilting pattern.

I also changed the bobbin thread so the color matched that of the top thread.

The bobbin thread [Superior Bottom Line] color
is changed to match the top thread color.

Stats:

Finished size: 21" x 29". Thread: Aurifil 50/2 cotton and Wonderfil Tutti and Kotton 50 wt. in the top; and Superior Thread Bottom Line 60 wt. poly in the bobbin. 8.25 hours of free-motion quilting. Two bobbins. 

The color extends into the binding so there is no break in the design. The binding has butted corners rather than mitered. (Thanks to Geri, Mary and Karen, my design critique group, for the input on this aspect of the composition.) 

The color break extends into the binding. 

The backing is Blank Quilting's Fusion Illusion 108" wide backing (color: cherry). Yes, this quilt didn't need  the 108" width, but I have become so spoiled using wide backings, so even my smaller quilts use fabric from these collections. The cherry color complemented the front and the subtle, tone-on-tone pattern allows the quilting pattern to show. You can see the "swirls and pods" pattern on the back as well as the color change of the bobbin thread.

"Radiant Triangles," back view.

To see other examples of RaNae Merrill's Radiant quilts, visit her web site. A free pattern using this collection can be found on the Blank Quilting web site.

Moon Garden, a joyful quilt

I'm calling this one Moon Garden.

Moon Garden, detail

This quilt was an absolute joy to make! It offered me so many opportunities to try different techniques, revisit machine appliqué, cross pollinate new fabric collections, and experiment with exuberant, variegated threads and free-motion quilting designs. You may recognize it from this post.

A variety of background fabrics set off the
graphic black/white appliqués.

The quilt is based on the pattern, Dresden Star, by Edyta Sitar. I opted to use the companion acrylic templates—which, by the way, are the perfect size and shape for Blank Quilting's pre-cut Fabrications strip sets! 

I used the black/white strip collection for the star points/petals and couldn't stop sewing the 3-D Dresden rings... two, three... five, eight! Concerned about the sharp points? With this technique, it's a no-brainer. Even beginners would be successful.

Several background fabrics set off the graphic black/white Dresden stars.

The backgrounds for the appliqué blocks are coordinates from the Dahlia collection by Frances Newcombe [Belly Buttons Boutique] for  Blank Quilting and one of the new colors (pear) from Fusion Illusion.

Free-motion quilting on the setting triangles (in Desiree).

The sashing and setting triangles are from Desiree, a large floral tone-on-tone fabric line. The butterfly border is a focal print—also from Dahlia—while the colorful appliquéd circles, as well as the binding, are Blank's popular Splash blenders.

Auditioning the threads and the quilting designs:
After the top was pin basted, I auditioned threads—40 wt. and 50 wt. variegated cottons—for quilting the Dresden blocks.

Auditioning the threads.

A page from the sketchbook: working out potential motifs on paper is always a good place to start.

Sketchbook page of potential quilting motifs.

The free-motion quilting employed outlining, various fills, tendrils and a stylized zig-zag in the black sashing.

Variegated 40 wt. and 50wt. threads (left) and detail of the block quilting (right).

Sweeping and curling free-form feathers were quilted and randomly interspersed with patches of swirls and bubbles throughout the setting triangles and the borders. An antique gold, lighter weight 2-ply 50 wt. cotton thread (Master Piece (Botticelli) by Superior) was used for this quilting. 

Free-form feathers, swirls and bubbles quilted in
the setting triangles and the border.

Here is a full view of Moon Garden.

Full view: Moon Garden, 57.5" x 75"

Stats for Moon Garden:
Finished quilted size: 57.5" x 75". 22.5 hours for free-motion quilting, 10.5 bobbins. Threads (all cotton): WonderFil Tutti (50 wt.), Superior King Tut (40 wt.) and MasterPiece (50 wt.), YLI (40 wt.) and Superior Bottom Line (60 wt. polyester) for the bobbin. Hobbs Tuscany 100% cotton batting.

On the back:
My latest favorite 108"wide backing is the Sparkle line. (Yes, I am a fickle free-motion quilter when it comes to the wide backings—I like a lot of them.) This warm brown (java) color was a perfect complement to the ocher yellows and spicy red-oranges on the front. The subtle texture of the print—like cafe-au-lait infused with pure vanilla bean—provides interest, but still plays second violin to the quilting.

Sparkle java 108" wide backing. Back view with label.

Here are a few more pics of the quilting from the back (taken at various times of the day and night under different lighting conditions).

Free-motion quilting (back view).

Free-motion feathers, swirls and bubbles (back view).

Free-motion quilting (back view).

Finishing touches:
To finish, this quilt deserved a binding of equal calibre—a flat piped binding—using Splash (coral) with a solid black accent. Along with the label, I think it is a perfect ending [binding] to a joyful quilt. Wouldn't you agree?

The flat piped binding on Moon Garden.

Always put a label on your quilts.

Another Fabrications Strip Quilt

Fabrications strip quilt.

After whetting my quilting curiosity with Fabrications 2.5" strips and making Quasar 45, my mind has been whirling with ideas and possibilities for these fabulous pre-cut gems.

How easy can it get? A beautifully coordinated variety of colors and prints is already chosen... the cutting is done... all you have to do is open - the - package and off you go!

This time I chose the Inspiration colorway: white and teal. This Fabrications bundle is one of Blank Quilting's signature fabric collections that supports ovarian cancer awareness. The dragonfly print and the other coordinating blenders are cool and fresh and the white strips add a nice brightness.

The pattern I used as a starting point is one of the many FREE downloads on the Blank Quilting web site. My version does not have borders and I chose an assymetrical design for the two inserted "flippies" (the vertical black strips).

Here is a view of the full quilt. I like how the random black diagonals create contrast and movement.

Inspiration collection strip quilt.

Below are closeups of the inserted folded black strips—similar to flat piping. The pattern designer calls them "flippies." These folded strips are sandwiched between two adjacent wider strips during the piecing process. (Sure beats trying to sew a narrow 3/4-inch strip! And, much quicker.) These inserts accent the vertical style of the quilt and define a space for two different free motion quilting designs.

Folded strips are inserted during the piecing of the quilt top.

You can see the two different quilting designs below. The narrow black strips define the space and offer a logical separation between the motifs.

Detail of the free-motion quilting.

Yes, there is a thread color change in the center section. [I admit it. I am a color hound and a thread junkie.] The pebbles were quilted with two different colors of Sew Fine, a 50 wt. poly by Superior Thread.

The wind-like swirls on either side of the off-center section were quilted with Tutti, a variegated 50 wt. long staple cotton by Wonderfil (one of my favs!).

View of the free-motion quilting on the back.

The backing fabric is Madison—one of Blank Quilting's 108" wide backing fabrics.

Sketches of free-motion quilting designs.

I often sketch potential quilting designs before I drop the feed dogs. The design process for this quilt was no different.

Sketching allows you to relax while you figure out and fine tune an appropriate design. There are no stitches to pick out if you don't like it, and it serves as a test run before you put needle to the quilt sandwich. Don't bother using an eraser when auditioning your designs on paper... just flip over to a new page in your sketchbook and keep sketching.