This baby-sized project is a whole cloth quilt, meaning that there are no pieced elements-- just one piece of Kona Snow for the front, and Kona Coal for the back. I loved having a blank slate for a bunch of hand-stitching, and the time to just sit and stitch away! It's a perfect winter project.
My inspiration? Staring at full boxes of embroidery floss, arranged in perfect order, and just needing to do something to showcase the color possibilities offered. I wanted to experiment with a quilt where the stitching, not the fabric, would become the focus.
I sandwiched the two pieces together with some batting and machine-quilted a 5-inch grid. Then, I set about filling every other block with squares of hand-stitching in green, gold, aqua and blue tones.
It's patchwork without the actual patchwork! The hand-stitching provides both design and texture. I think it's the most deliciously textured quilt (or other item, for that matter) I've ever made.
I just want to squeeze it!
I think it's very simple and modern, but also intricate and interesting. Subtle. It was very refreshing to work on this quilt, free from prints, with a limited palette.
Because the stitching shows up on both sides, it's pretty much reversible, too.
It's bound with a gold print from Heirloom by Joel Dewberry. I like the contrast of the print against the solids, and how it coordinates with the stitching.
What to call this... post-modern quilting? Deconstructed patchwork? This quilt is a little philosophical. To me, it is a real fusion of modern and traditional quilting, and I hope to make more like it.
Genius idea! Such a sweet and simple little quilt, I love it!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful! I love your quilting, what a fantastic, and frankly, classy baby quilt!
ReplyDeletethis is freaking adorable...love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great idea and has gotten the wheels turning in my head. The stitching is gorgeous!
ReplyDeletei love this! the colors and everything! I really like how you add little touches of hand quilting to your other quilts as well.
ReplyDeleteI love it! One question, the knots for the floss would be thicker. Are they pulled in and hidden? Or do you use another technique to secure the stitching?
ReplyDeleteThanks!! I pull the knots through the back layer of fabric, just like with regular hand-quilting. Sometimes it's pretty tough, but any pulls in the fabric are erased with the first wash. I only loop my the floss around once for the quilter's knot, instead of 3 times, as I would with regular thread.
DeleteI'm not really too bothered what it is called...other than Simply Stunning!
ReplyDeleteFound you from Sew, Mama, Sew... this is beautiful! I'm inspired!! christina112358 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteFound this through Pinterest--I *love* the minimalist beauty of this piece! It's sort of the opposite of deconstructed patchwork, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOh, I love this quilt! What a fantastic idea.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I found the picture through see mama sew as well, and I'll have to make one of my own.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration inspiration.
Sarah
So nice.
ReplyDeleteI really love this. I'm not a quilter ... yet, but this is going on my must-do list.
ReplyDeleteAnna, it is stunning! I have quilted with Perle 8 and loved the results. Did you use all six strands? What size needle did you use? There are so many more color choices with floss. I can't wait to try it. Thank you so much for sharing your talent.
ReplyDeleteSusan
Thank you, Susan! I use 3 strands of embroidery floss... just the regular DCM kind usually used for cross-stitch, I think! So many colors :) As far as needles... I just use the smallest one in my pincushion that I can get three strands through, sorry I don't know exactly what kind. I've seen size 24 chenille needles recommended, though. Good luck!
DeleteThis is one of those projects I have laid awake thinking about, since I saw it on pinterest (I hope you know what I mean, and I don't sound like a nut job)!
ReplyDeleteI was going to make myself finish my first free motion before I started this, but they are totally different, so it probably won't happen.
YUM!
This is absolutely great. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI'm knee deep in deadlines at the moment, but I keep day-dreaming about this quilt and finding myself sourcing the perfect solid fabric for post-deadline. I can't wait to get started!!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like japanese sashiko quilting. Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteAnna, I love it and am going to make one. The stitching is great.
ReplyDeletesandra
Does anyone know what type of thread she used ?
ReplyDeleteI used regular embroidery/cross-stitch floss, 3 of the six strands :)
DeleteLove it! simple yet beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the simple beauty! Thanks so much for sharing your creativity. Did you pre wash your fabric?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I don't pre-wash quilting fabric because I like when the entire quilt shrinks a bit after the first wash/dry, which makes it very crinkly and squishy. (The quilt in this post was made this way, and photos are after the first wash/dry). For a flatter final product, I would recommend pre-washing.
DeleteThat's just what I wanted you to say:) I love that comfy cozy feel, too. Thanks for your quick response.
DeleteHello! I'm wondering if you used a stencil for your stitching or just went for it. Thank you! Beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteI just went for it :)
DeleteThis is so pretty. Often the simplest things are the most glorious! My question is did you pencil in squares within squares so you had a guide for your embroidery thread quilting?
ReplyDeletei love the clean lines. I tried it with wool batting, however i had a hard time sewing the grids so this is on hold at the moment, I might try it with a flatter batting. Any suggestions will be appreciated. thank you for a great simple design. they are the best!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous!!! I must attempt one!
ReplyDelete