My Scrap Dreams Coming True

I’m not sure what is going on lately, but I have been having some very vivid dreams. It’s happened to me before, but medication was the cause. This time, I have no clue what is happening, but I’m leaning in to it. So when I had a dream about a quilt, I had to make the quilt.

Seriously, I had a dream about a very colourful quilt made from traditional blocks. The block itself wasn’t distinct, but the colour was. That day, when I arrived at the studio I immediately went searching for a potential block. I grabbed a favourite book - Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns - to browse for ideas. Rather, to search for what I might have dreamt about. In the end, I settled on one specific block, which she calls the Crocket Cabin Quilt.

Sadly, my dream wasn’t super specific on the block in question. Or maybe that was a good thing? I mean, what if I didn’t like the block? Regardless, I chose block 1123a, the Crocket Cabin Quilt block. Why? Mostly because it was simple, graphic, and just felt right. The math was pretty easy to figure out as well, considering the block only has half square triangles and plain patchwork.

The first experiments were straight out of the scrap bin. That is, I dug in to the colourful bins on my cutting table and picked two contrasting fabrics. Block 1 was a success so I tried another one, and another. I played around with values, making the dark the bowtie, then making the light fabric the bowtie. I couldn’t decide which I liked better, so I went with both. After only a few blocks it was apparent that I was indeed starting a new quilt.

When I made that decision I also put some limits on my fabric selection. This is primarily to satisfy the vision I had in my dream.

• No low volume fabrics

• No black backgrounds either

• Value is only relative within the block (it doesn’t matter if what is light in one block would be a dark in another)

• No repeating fabrics, each one is only used once

There is no special reason for these limits, it’s only just what feels right for me, for this project, for right now. I am shopping for the fabrics from my scrap bins first. I’ve found some classic gems doing this! Of course I have loads of scraps, but they aren’t always big enough. Then I go to my stash and pull out fabrics that might need to be trimmed a little or not. It will not be hard to get enough fabrics without spending a penny.

How big will I make the quilt? My default size is usually 80” x 80”. I made the blocks to finish at 8” square, so that means I will need 100 blocks (and 200 unique fabrics). I’m currently sitting at 43 made, with a few more cut out and ready to sew. I’ve been making 1-4 each day that I am in the studio. No great rush, but it is a nice way to round out my days before returning home.

Dreams really can come true.

Ariel - A Cut Sew Repeat Playdate Finish

Ariel

56” x 56”

Ariel is a wild child. She comes from a solid suburban background but never felt like she fit. Not that she wants to turn her back on her childhood and her family, but she is itching to move beyond. She wants to taste pomegranates in the Middle East, swim over the Great Barrier Reef before it disappears, hear the crunch of snow underfoot in the Arctic. Her parents long ago gave up/gave in to her wanderlust and can only watch from a distance as she travels the world, trying new things. That’s because she always comes home.

This particular quilt started life as a bit of play. Then again, that’s really how most of my quilts start! I was teaching the Cut Sew Repeat technique in a Quilters’ Playcation Playdate and these were samples. Full disclosure, I went through a few iterations of blocks before settling on this particular Cut Sew Repeat Process. I loved the fabric together, but the earlier trials weren’t that exciting or were messy. As soon as this one was done I knew we had the winner.

Two of the fabrics were from deep in the stash - an original Architextures from Carolyn Friedlander and this lovely ‘dot’ from Angela Hooey. I think the the gold and pink were more recent fabrics from Ruby Star Society, but don’t quote me on that. Maybe Allison Glass? Regardless, I remember having to buy more of the gold to finish off the blocks before I ran out of the other fabrics too.

For quilting I attempted some point to point work on the long arm. I had the appointment and wanted to finish the quilt. I knew, however, that an all over design wouldn’t help the quilt any so I decided to play. It’s clear that I am beginner at this point to point stuff, but you have to start somewhere, right? I used a pale pink thread that didn’t stand out too much on any of the fabrics.

The backing came together with an older piece from Carrie Bloomston that was sitting in my stash. The swatch/paint chip fabric had all the colours, and then some. And, in usual fashion for me, I went with a contrasting binding. The teal speckles were just perfect for finishing off this bold piece.

I’m teaching this technique again in a Quilters’ Playcation Playdate in April. I can show you how to make this specific style of block, but we will explore a lot of options. For example, you could go a lot more random like this one, or really showcase your fabric like I did here. You can join online or in person at my new studio.

Cut Sew Repeat Playdate

Online - April 8

In Person - April 12

Register here.

Zoe - Park Applique Quilt

Zoe

90” x 90”

Preferring the background to the spotlight, yet refusing to be outshone, Zoe is a strong woman. She will always work hard, with or with out credit, but never dismiss her. She was there at the beginning of the fight and is still there, supporting those with more energy for the battles. Quick to hug you, a twinkle in her eye, and just the right touch when you didn’t even know you needed it. She is the mom who knows you better than you know yourself, even though she never had kids of her own. Not really an option for her, truth be told. Now, though, she is mom to all her girls.

A long time ago Carolyn Friedlander convinced me to try applique. She promised me that I would like it with the right tools, patterns, and techniques. She was not wrong. I know the basics, even took a class or two as a beginner quilter, but it never stuck. What I didn’t like about it was that it was so much prep before I could even get to sewing. At least, the way that I was taught required a lot of prep. But Carolyn’s way is straight from cutting to basting (which is sewing) to stitching. Plus, her patterns are modern and gorgeous. I started with her Alturus pattern and learned a lot.

Over 10 years ago I started using her Park pattern to teach applique here in town. Park is a great pattern for beginners because it has inside and outside corners, curves and straight lines, and looks cool. To make my initial samples and the blocks I used in classes I chose from a stack of fabric I’d sent to Lisa Flower, which she painted. Quite quickly, I decided to keep making blocks. Inspired by my initial pull sent to Lisa I added fabrics as I went.

Somewhere along the way, one of my husband’s cousins moved to the Province. We would visit in Edmonton and they would visit here. Quite quickly, it was clear that her girlfriend was definitely going to be her wife one day. I don’t remember exactly when, but I decided that these Park blocks would be a wedding quilt for them when they did get married.

The top was finished in 2017, more or less. It took me another year or two to trim the fabric from behind the applique so there was no shadowing. It’s always a nervewracking process. Then the quilt sat and sat. I came across the Suzy Quilts wide back at a local sale and matched it to the quilt. All of this before the wedding happened. That came in 2020, a small pandemic wedding.

Yes, I did just finish the quilt.

The fabrics include so many favourites and such a yummy colour combination. I enjoyed pairing fabrics and then figuring out a layout that works. It’s bold, with the odd quiet moment. Some blocks are very high contrast and some are a bit confusing. In pairs, though, the combinations are always interesting.

It’s always a little tough to quilt an applique quilt. Or, at least, to decide how to quilt an applique quilt. Or is that just me? Rather than outline the shapes I went for straight lines in a grid, each line 2” apart. It’s easy and will be more than good for holding everything together and still be cuddly.

I went with a great contrasting binding. The ladies’ house has a lot of green accents so I decided to add that colour to the quilt. Thankfully, it works well with the existing fabrics.

In all honesty, I don’t know why I procrastinated so much with this quilt. It took less time to make the 25 applique blocks than it did to turn the top into a finished quilt! (Aside from the two months I lost quilting when my machine broke and went in for service.) Oh well, it is done now and I am already getting photos of the family (yes, they have a kid now too) snuggled. That’s all that really matters.

And now, I’m already making more blocks! When moving the studio I discovered a couple more blocks. Leftover class samples? Regardless, I realized that with these blocks and a few more additions I could make a small version of the quilt. The little guy of the family only wanted a baby doll for Christmas so I am making him a quilt just like his Mamas’ for his baby.

Yesenia - 'Modern' and Minimal Log Cabin Quilt

Yesenia

70” x 70”

This girl is a bundle of energy, when you get to know her. She is warm and welcoming to all, but saves the best of herself for her friends. But don’t worry, she is quick to make you her friend. With an infectious laugh she can make anyone smile. With a great hug she can make anyone feel loved. She gives so much there might not be enough left for herself, so this quilt is a way to give herself a hug.

A good family friend, my MIL’s best friend, is going through a challenging time and deserved to be hugged, to be reminded that she is loved by many. When I heard her news I immediately wanted to make her a quilt. There were some time constraints so it had to be a quick finish. In consultation with my MIL I went though the available quilt tops to see if any of them would work. Turns out the answer was no, our friend is more of an earth tone person than any of my quilts. Unphased, I went through sets of blocks and samples to see if any of them would work. This collection of log cabins was the winner!

The set of six blocks were made as a sample for my friend Janine at Uppercase Magazine when she was launching a fabric collection. I’ve made a few things for her over the years, but with this set she wanted in progress, not finished quilts. The blocks have sat for years since, with me only pulling them out as samples when I teach my Traditional Variations class.

The bonus challenge set by this project is the use of sage green. You see, sage green is probably my least favourite colour. And it is our dear friend’s favourite. Thankfully, these blocks played well with sage. There is a touch of a yellow green in a few of the fabrics so I added yellow and green into the mix. I did have to make more blocks so it was an easy add. This only would make the quilt 60” square, however. In my opinion that is on the small side for a snuggly quilt. Instead of making more blocks I opted for a border.

What? A border? You, Cheryl?

Sage green and a border, I don’t know who I am anymore.

Oh right, I’m someone who wanted to give out a hug that would be truly appreciated. I’m still me, though, so I had to do the border my way. That’s why it is only on the two sides, creating an off balance composition. It’s a bit of tension that seems to work.

The whole thing reminds me of the rise of modern quilts 20 years ago. For quite a few years a modern quilt was defined by a log cabin, wonky or not, with a lot of negative space. This quilt comes across as a little throwback to those times!

To quilt her I opted to contrast all those right angles with flowers and swirls. Most of the fabrics are tone on tone so the quilting is very visible. And to up that sage green I picked that exact colour in my thread for the stitches. The whole thing was done in a few hours on a rented long arm at one of my local quilt shops, My Sewing Room.

I had no good fabrics for binding either. I wanted a softer edge versus high contrast. Did I have that in my stash? Of course not, thankfully this beige was perfect and found at My Sewing Room as well.

From blocks on the design wall to a delivered quilt it was only 3 weeks. A record for me, especially in December! Totally worth it as it is coming in good use to give hugs through a trying time.