Wednesday, October 15, 2014

All the Colours - Ta Da!

All the Colours

I have been slow to show off All the Colours. She was made using the Chess on the Steps pattern my friend Krista - Poppyprint - designed for the Modern Quilt Guild Pattern of the Month, go here to see Krista's fantastic version, do, I will wait. My quilt is about 43" square after a good wash and dry.

All the Colours

When the pattern was released, I had a charm package of Michael Miller solids sitting on my sewing table. I had been given this beautiful set of fabrics at the MQG's Sewdown Nashville so I decided to use them for the pattern. Krista has shared the fastest, fun improv technique. In no time I used up all the charm squares and had the middle section all done.

All the Colours

Despite my desire to use all the colours, I am not very comfortable with quilts which are totally scrappy or totally a riot of colours. So I grouped the colours by warn and cool. This is not something I made up, I first saw the impact of this technique in Malka Dubrawsky's quilt book Fresh Quilting - I'm not sure she invented it either but she is the person I learned it from. Just this small colour sort makes this quilt so much calmer to me.

All the Colours

I wanted this quilt to be for one of the new babies arriving in my family. So I picked out some larger pieces of Kona Solids that were on my shelf and added them on, carrying on with the court house steps concept that Krista used in the pattern.

All the Colours

When I started quilting this quilt, I thought I would practice swirls and such but almost immediately I decided that was not what I felt like doing that day. Instead of tearing out the bits I had done, I just transitioned to wavy then to straightish lines. When I got the other end I reversed the process and ended with more swirly bits.

All the Colours - dragonfly detail

I included a dragonfly - which is a motif that Jamie Wallen taught me at the American Quilter's Society show in Grand Rapids. These are surprisingly easy and fun to quilt.

All the Colours - back

I picked the back before I knew the gender of the baby.

All the Colours

This photo gives you a bit of scale, taken in the stairwell at my office building. All these photos are after the wash and dry, which really brings out the crinkle and pushes the lightly variegated King Tut cotton thread into the folds.

All the Colours

I bound her with a black sketch fabric, which I think works very well with all the colours.

All the Colours

I am not sure which way up I like better, this way or the yellow on top as in the first photo. It does not really matter, it is for a baby, not a wall.

Krista's Chess on the Steps pattern is currently only available to Modern Quilt Members - you can join a local MQG or join as an individual member. All the MQG Pattern of the Months have been wonderful, but I have to say this one is my favourite so far.

If you have not entered the generous giveaway of beautiful Moonshine fabrics sponsored by Sew Sisters Quilt Shop, go here and get your entry in.

And I hope you will add your link to the Scraptastic Tuesday second Tuesday of the month link up Nicky from Mrs. Sew and Sow and I are hosting here.

Best,

Leanne

38 comments:

Debbie said...

Oh this makes me want to hole up in the sewing room! Just lovely. I love ALL the color and need to put Krista's pattern on my list...

OPQuilt said...

Agree with Debbie's comment--such a terrific quilt. That baby will love the riot of colors and shapes, as do most of us. Another fabulous finish!

Judy@Quilt Paradigm said...

I have to admit, when I saw the pattern I was not feeling it. . . but I LOVE what you have done with it!! It is now on my list :)

Poppyprint said...

I love, love, love it Leanne. What a perfectly joyous quilt for a little one to play on, cuddle with and drag around. Your quilting is amazing!!! Thank you so much for all of your kind words, and for trying out the piecing technique to produce such an awesome quilt - it is fun, isn't it?

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...


Beautiful Leanne...I love the quilting you did

Jo Jo said...

It's beautiful and I love the backing too :)

Kim B. said...

This is stunning. It was fun too to pop over to Krista's and learn about her inspiration for the quilt and to see how different your two quilts are!

elle said...

Nice. I really like the variety of quilting!

Lorrie said...

It's gorgeous. The interplay of cool and warm colours is wonderful. The green/blue strips on the side remind me of sky, sea and mountains, with the brighter colours of gardens and flowers.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I love it!

cakath said...

Leanne, your quilt is a real stunner! Love your choices. Even though there is alot of color, your decisions resulted in a bright and happy quilt. Lucky baby!

Mystic Quilter said...

Beautiful, beautiful quilt - I love the glorious colours you've used and the pattern. I did take time out as you suggested and visited Poppyprint and another stunner there!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Stunning!

Susan said...

Wow! That is incredible! The colour choices are spot on! That is one lucky baby....

Katy Cameron said...

Love all the colours!

Judith, Belfast said...

This is so bright and beautiful, lovely for a baby! And I love the cute dragonfly, a lovely touch! Jxo

Esther said...

I now follow you on Bloglovin!

g.dunn@shaw.ca

Vicki said...

Absolutely beautiful! I love solids, and this is a wonderful way to show them off.

What Comes Next? said...

such a great quilt! I like how you transitioned the quilting to straight lines and then back again. I know that "not feeling it" feeling, this was a great way to handle it. This quilt will be much loved, for sure!

FlourishingPalms said...

Oh, but this is SO pretty! The colors. Thanks for saying that you grouped together warm colors, and then cool colors. I would never have thought to do that, but it's obviously very effective. The quilt is so happy that I'm sure it's difficult to give away. You definitely put a lot of time into it with all that quilting. It's completely lovely.

felicity said...

I love this so much. The quilting especially.

DeborahGun said...

This is so so gorgeous Leanne. I love it!

margaret said...

how I like scrappy quilts and this is no excemption, all those glorious colours in the centre and the odd shapes etc yes so pleasing on the eye

the running hare said...

Stunning! Love how the quilting adds so much texture

pennydog said...

It's lovely- I do like multicoloured quilts (as long as there's not too much black or white) and it still hits the mark for me sorted into cools and warms. You're quilting looks fab too, I want to stroke it!

janequiltsslowly said...

Wow. I usually don't buy precuts but I may do so to try this.

Jayne said...

Now this caught my attention...as do all your projects! The colors in this is amazing, love the bright colors you added around the center. Bright and gorgeous! The quilting really brings it to life! Gorgeous, gorgeous and beautiful! My crazy mind is racing after seeing this...keep it up...I'm inspired!

myBearpaw said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE! love the pattern (best MQG monthly pattern EVER!), love the colours and love the quilting!

Catherine said...

Amazing Leanne. I just love the colours

SewPsyched! said...

Oh my goodness!! Love love love, love love, love love!! Lol!!

Michele said...

It really is fabulous and just for the record, not that it matters at all, I for some reason prefer the photo with the yellow at the top. :)

Vera said...

The colors and texture are amazing. Well done!

Unknown said...

This is beautiful! I like the yellow on top :)

Rachel said...

Impressive!

Laura said...

Love all of the colors! Just lovely!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

That is just beautiful. I agree with the way you did the colors - it has a great effect. And the dragonfly - Yum!!!

Unknown said...

love love love

Unknown said...

I am in love with this quilt! I love the colors, and the quilting is fantastic. I love the entire thought process and the outcome. Just lovely! (celiaambrose@hotmail.com)