Abstract modern quilt number 5

I received the first of these 5 quilts on 25 July of this year and after doing the first one, trying to sense the picture the seller had in mind, I had to adapt to her desires which were mostly straight lines with the odd curve.

Initially, I thought, great, it would be easy, very little planning needed but I never anticipated how boring this would become.

Whenever I have to interrupt my quilting process to do other things, I usually look forward to getting back to the frame but after doing 60 or so straight lines, knowing I have to return to more straight lines, was somewhat of a deal breaker.  I think what I’m trying to say, is that I could have finished these faster if I didn’t so much look up to the following straight lines.

With this top, however, I noticed possible problems beforehand when I laid the top out on the bed.  See the little pleats around the curve?  These can become major issues when being quilted.  I decided to plan my lines to match the pleats and instead of going across them, I took the quilt off the frame several times to turn it and be able to work with the wrinkles and from the centre outwards.

Finally done with all 5 and now I do believe at least my quilting life can return to normal as the seller is currently in Fiji until the end of September; these first 5 were simply experiments to see if anyone would be interested.

This photo shows some of the straight lines going in different directions.

Abstract modern quilt number 4

Now this one posed a severe problem with puckering around the curve.  The quilter and I discussed every possible reason why this one went so horribly wrong.  It could be simply fabric cut with a curve, these sometimes cause problems even in much smaller quilt blocks; the fabric was not cut/pieced on the grain or the grainlines not running in the same direction.  It could also be me, having started with the outer straight edges before quilting the curve, thus not leaving it anywhere to move.  Whatever the cause, the quilter was prepared to redo the quilt but after thinking it over during the night, I decided to give it one more try.  This shows the puckering.

I had to unpick all the stitching in the curve, lay it flat on a bed and saturate the curve with spray starch.  I then used a hair dryer to dry the fabric while manipulating the puckers more to the centre.  Once dry, I also changed the design in the curve to enable me to start the lines on the outside and work my way to the centre.  Leaving a pocket in the centre would compensate should there be any more puckers and IT WORKED!

The completed design can be seen on the Gallery page.

Abstract Modern quilt no 3

I cannot say much more about these quilts apart from sharing pictures.  The straight-line quilting, roughly one inch apart, continues.  This one, however, seemed to go on for ages, not as much time spent stitching but I had so many interruptions, I thought I’d never finish it.

Number 4 is already on the frame and poses its own problems but more about that once done.

Abstract modern quilt no 2

I think with this quilt, I have a slightly better idea of what the seller wants.  I did try freehand straight-line stitches on the taupe but did not like it at all.  It looked wonky and unprofessional, so I still used a ruler but did not measure the distance between lines to be absolutely perfect.

The rest of the quilt was done with only lines in the orange and lilac with only having followed the shape in the centre red piece.

On my Gallery page, the completed quilt can be seen in totality and it looks so much different than the seller's vision.  The scatter cushions in this photo still need inners before the shop opening tomorrow but I would have never guessed or chosen these.  My tiny brain tends to make everything to match but I think the seller has a much more modern vision than I have.

Abstract modern quilt

My quilting has taken an interesting twist with this one.  A shop owner with an online store asked a local quilter to make modern quilts which the shop owner designed.  This quilter then needed someone to do the actual quilting and contacted me.  The instructions for quilting were mostly straight-line stitching all over the quilt.

This being the first, was a test to see if I had the right idea and the seller came by yesterday to look at the finished quilt.

I tried to follow the basic shapes of the fabric and the request was also to use a contrasting thread.

We discussed future quilts and I’ll have to make some changes, straight lines should rather just run all over the quilt as opposed to following the shape and lines should not be too wide or too skinny.  I must try to keep them roughly 1 inch apart.  We both agreed that matching thread to the fabric colour would look better.

She also wanted me to use fewer rulers for those perfectly straight lines but do some freehand lines to make it look homemade.  I am somewhat nervous about the last request.  My dad always joked that only a crazy person can draw a straight line or perfect circle and I am not sure how my free-hand consecutive lines would look with having to try and keep them 1 inch apart.

Four more quilts will be delivered tomorrow and then I will be fully booked for at least 6 weeks as the first quilt, with having to mark it beforehand, was at my house for 9 days before completion.

The completed quilt can be seen on the Gallery page.