02 April 2012

Why Hello, Lovely! Improv Chevrons Quilt!

After making about four improv chevron blocks, I'd had enough.  The blocks take a bit of time, and my attention span for working with strict colors is pretty short, even though these happen to be some of my favorites!

This sweet little quilt is what I made from them!  Sashed in snow, bordered in more Kona cerise (I can't get enough!), and bound in a nice medium gray, which I think makes a clear, precise frame.  I sort of wish I had made a little white flange along with the binding, that would have been wayyy over the top.

I arranged the four blocks so that the chevrons would sort of rotate, in terms of what direction the middle strip was "pointing." I think it makes an interesting, almost pinwheel, effect.  Wouldn't this be the craziest window to look out of? It measures about 40"x40".  Sadly, its too small for me to hog up.
  
I see a LOT of potential for these blocks.  Going monochromatic, using a much more limited palette, or  alternating colors between chevron strips, etc, could cause all kinds of amazing secondary patterns to emerge.

For example, if the middle chevron strip of each block was made up of dark, or very saturated, values, while the side chevrons were lighter fabrics, that middle strip would really stand out, and become a strong design element.

So.Many.Ideas.

To offset the crazy wonkiness of the blocks, I quilted this in simple, (fairly) precise 2-inch squares using the quilting guide bar on my walking foot.  No marking!  I just started with the vertical line of one of the white sashing strips and used that as a guideline.  


It's backed in my favorite print from Lotta Jansdowner's Echo line, with a strip of Kona Snow along the bottom.  I think it's really beautiful on its own, and it makes me want to make a whole cloth quilt from this fabric alone (yikes, ideas!). It looks SO PRETTY with the gray binding!

Hey there, what are you doing just sitting there in the corner? Looking pretty?  That's what I thought.

Pin It!

10 comments:

  1. So, so pretty!! I LOVE the colors, with that great pop of berry! Great job!

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  2. My first thoughts upon seeing this all had swear words....so I will go with "LOVE IT!" A lot. I knew I loved the block when I first saw it & now this - I am no dummy, that's for sure.

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  3. Wow it really turned out great! I like that cerise color too. This block is still on my "to try" list! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Wonderful quilt! I love that you have the blocks running in different directions, that's brilliant! It really keeps the eye moving around the quilt and it's very interesting! I enjoyed making these blocks so much that I hope to make a scraps quilt with your design throughout the next several months. I really do LOVE it!! Thanks!!!

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  5. I really love this quilt----lovely, calming colors with a frenetic, energetic pattern of movement! I may give this a shot soon myself. Thanks for posting your beautiful work!

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  6. I love this quilt! I hope you don't mind that I pinned it!

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  7. I love all your work, and this is no exception!
    I also wanted to let you know that I've given you the Liebster Blog award. You can read more about it here:
    http://www.play-crafts.com/blog/?p=148

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  8. This is a super duper amazeballs quilt. Lovely colors and technique.

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  9. I love this quilt! I saw your improv chevrons tutorial and have just finished making one in Christmas fabric for a block swap. I am so pleased with how it turned out!

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