We interrupt our Christmas in July/August paper piecing project to present a palette-cleansing scrappy, double Irish chain, low-volume quilt finish.
Cindy and I were estate sale shopping last year (or the year before — is your concept of time messed up too????) and I stumbled on an old quilt in need of some love. The quilt was in pretty rough shape, but it just called to me. I bought it for the tag price of $5 because I loved the uniform bold blue squares and the clever quilting. I mention the quilting because what looks like many small white pieces, is, in fact, large muslin pieces quilted to mimic the size of the blue squares. Clever, right?
I knew I wanted to replicate the pattern, but I couldn’t muster up enough dark blues to make it work. So I decided to go with a scrappy, low volume approach. I went through my pre-cut stash of 2″ squares and pulled enough to build the quilt.
When I had a few finished blocks, I started to doubt my scrappy color approach — it just didn’t feel vibrant enough in proximity to the original. But y’all encouraged me to keep going, so I did.
When the top was finished, I was still on the fence but I went to The Backyard Quilter, a new-to-me quilt shop nearby, to look for a unifying backing fabric. They had some wonderful wide bolts to choose from and I fell in love with a beautiful teal fabric with a distinctly modern pattern. (Truth be told, sister Sue helped me pick it out — she has an amazing eye for color. She saved me from buying some subdued green swatch of blah.)
With backing in hand, I let the fabulous Ms. G do her quilting thing. I used the same teal fabric for the binding, and — oh my — that teal color made the whole project just pop!
I had this teal thread on hand to use for the binding. I wonder why
I ever bought that color???
This may be one of my all-time favorite finishes. Maybe instead of giving it away, I will keep it for myself….?
Its absolutely beautiful and i love the teal backing/binding. Just perfect!!
Thanks, Elizabeth! This definitely taught me to be more adventurous with my backings.
Beautiful quilt! I love the backing!
Somehow this backing makes the whole quilt! Thanks, Graciela
Oh, I would definitely keep that one! How pretty!
Thanks, Wendy! You encouraged me to keep going!
It is beautiful and I love the teal – of course it is one of my favorite colors so there is that – lol
Susan — I think it’s my new favorite color!
Actually I love any shade of blue but am known for my love of teal so my friends buy my gifts or make them in teal – any shade or tint or hue! Lol
Hi, Sandy, I am enjoying exploring your blog. We met in class this weekend. Would like to send you an email, but the contact us info doesn’t work, probably due to not having an @ in it? Not sure….I also signed up for notifications about your posts, so you will see my email address there.
Sharon — we worked so hard this weekend! I would love to stay in touch sandra_dennison@hotmail.com