Thursday, December 8, 2016

Fractured Cathedral Window: A Finished Quilt

I always forget how satisfying small quilts are. Not just mini quilts, but small quilts in general - baby quilts, wall quilts, and the like. I've spent a long time with an automatic "go big or go home" mindset, so it was refreshing to start this project and realize that it didn't NEED to be bigger (it's 29" x 24")!


I am infatuated with traditional cathedral windows quilts. I even made one once (below - "Circus Tent"). Mind you, it was a mini quilt, but it was very precise, took forever and a half, and used a lot of fabric (3 things I usually try to avoid). Plus, I'm always excited about pulling out traditional blocks and modernizing them. So, I took inspiration from a single block and remade the diamond, using pieced curve techniques that I teach in my Waterfall quilt class (not bias tape applique, though I could have done so).

 "Circus Tent" mini quilt, made for a Flickr swap back in 2012

It's certainly hard to imagine that the quilt once looked like this! These were simply bricks of solid fabric that the Central Jersey Modern Quilt Guild swapped last year. I only took out a couple of colors from the stack to arrange them vertically in a visually-pleasing rainbow formation.


One of my most valuable takeaways from this project is the improvised background. I am always mesmerized with improv quilts that are cut into and changed, because the piecing spreads all over the quilt. There are a couple of spots on this quilt where just a tiny shimmer of fabric shows, because that's where an arc was pieced in. I explained the process of how I pieced the background in this post from August.


The "fractures" in the diamond were actually a happy accident. These curves are long and unwieldy, so the quilt top had severe ripples (this is common for curves). I calmed them using a technique from Sherri Lynn Wood's lovely Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters, and those "fractures" were the result. I thought about cutting into the quilt more to make it even wonkier and more off balance, but it seemed subtle enough to shine through.


Okay, the quilting. So much to say about this little quilt and I haven't even talked about my favorite part of the process yet! My goal was to emphasize the orange peels that happen as a secondary design on cathedral windows.


I used a healthy mixture of thread colors and weights for machine quilting - Aurifil 2600 (Dove Gray, 50 and 28 weight), 2024 (white, 50 and 28 weight), 2520 (light purple), and 2805 (light blue). The purple and blue give the middle of the quilt (below) some extra shine. I also decided to only quilt the middle with my free motion foot and without marking to give those diamonds some extra "wonk" or crookedness. Imperfection is perfect.


The heavier weight threads served a purpose in the orange peels; combined with very thick hand stitching with DMC floss and perle cotton, the outer part of the quilt is very textured. I LOVE it. I could have added even more quilting but this stopping point felt "right."


My fabric stash thanked me for making this quilt (I actually heard it speaking to me - maybe I need to get out more? :) ). Not only did I utilize almost all the solids from that guild swap - I used up my last large piece of this Anna Maria Horner print for the backing (from the Dowry fabric line).


This was only the second time I blocked a quilt. Instead of following 1 tutorial, I took a bunch of tips from several and tried something. I threw the whole thing in the bathtub to start and soaked it in Synthrapol so that the solids wouldn't run on the white (that would have ruined the whole effect, and no, I'm not a prewasher, and no, I don't plan on becoming one). Then, I pinned it flat on my carpet and let it dry out for an entire day. The result was a VERY flat quilt, which is a huge improvement! Plus, the crinkle is lovely. I'm thrilled!



This project is one of my very favorites from 2016. It looks to my past (improv, curves, machine quilting) and to my future (hand and machine quilting combinations). I'm so pleased to finally share it with you today! Lesson learned: make more small projects.

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts, TGIFF, Needle and Thread Thursday, Fabric Tuesday

23 comments:

  1. I love the variety of stitching and change in thread weights, both machine and hand.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Small projects are a lot less scary to try new techniques on (and are super satisfying as finishes). It's lovely, Jess!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is awesome! I love the idea of using the tucks as an opportunity for a design element rather than trying to eliminate them. I definitely had this issue when working with some wonky blocks a while back.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think it may be one of my favorites this year too! Gorgeous design Jess! The take on the traditional is amazing, the quilting is fabulous but the addition of the hand quilting puts it over the top for me! Congrats...very well done!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very interesting take on an old classic.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is really cool and modern. Nice

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love the way you approach your quilting ideas so fearlessly. That's a huge lesson for me to take to heart.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Way cool, Jess! I don't think I'd ever take on a cathedral window, but this. . !

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love this. It is prettier than the "old classic"
    Maybe I just like perfect imperfection ♥️

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow what a great go at that hard block. I love your interpretation of it in improv.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very modern! And what a lot of detail and variety has gone into this quilt! Great finish!

    ReplyDelete
  12. When I saw this quilt in my Bloglovin' feed a few days ago, it stopped me in my tracks. There are so many great things about it, but it's the piecing that won my heart. I, too, like quilts that are cut into and changed -- you never know what the end result will be until you get there! The textured quilting is a bonus to an already awesome project.

    Is it one of your best finishes of 2016, though? I have to vote it is *the* best.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've never made cathedral windows. I like your improv version. Thanks for linking up with TGIFF hosted @ Anja Quilts.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This quilt is very 'you'! I love small projects too and the mix of hand and machine quilting is really fun.

    ReplyDelete
  15. great quilt - i love its wonkiness and the texture of the various stitching. the women of gees bend took tucks in their quilts too, and theirs are my favorites. yours is right up there with them. what size is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! I couldn't locate your email so I hope you see my response here. Oh, I love the quilts from Gee's Bend - that's so cool and I'm honored to be compared (I hardly think I'm worthy!). It's 29" x 24".

      Delete
  16. Ooh I love how much movement this quilt has from the piecing and quilting!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love this quilt. Love your ideas and sense of color. Really hoping to get my guild to get you up here to the Berkshires!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle, I could not locate your email so I hope you see my reply here. :) Thank you for your kind words! This one is a favorite of mine. I'd absolutely love to come and visit your guild! Please feel free to contact me via email or my inquiry page with more information. Thank you!

      Delete

Let's start a conversation! I love comments and I'd be happy to reply to all who have an email address accessible. Thanks for commenting!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...