Have you ever gotten mid-way through quilting a project and realized
you hated the direction you were in?
All the hours put in and you feel like you’ve just ruined
your quilt top?
And so, you decide you’re going to change it up, even at
such a late stage in the game?
Read on to find out how I found myself in such a quilty
pickle!
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HOW THIS QUILT JOURNEY STARTED
This one all started after I finished my Geometrical Flight Plan quilt and had the fabric scraps sitting there tempting me to play.
If you’ve been around for awhile, then you know I love
switching things up from working on more structured quilt patterns and then
letting loose and letting my creativity just flow with some improv.
It keeps me balanced.
And I definitely needed the play time after all that
template testing for the Flight Plan quilt pattern – ha!
I mainly do improv with solids, but here I totally went for
it will all those bold and very graphic prints in the Geometrical Bundle Up
from Art Gallery Fabrics.
AURIFIL ARTISAN CHALLENGE
As an Aurifil Artisan, we have some challenges we can sign up for. This month’s
happened to be about using 5 or more thread colours in one project. I knew
instantly this quilt would be perfect for that challenge.
I already had most of the thread colours I needed on hand
and then added in this gorgeous Jade colour.
WHEN DID IT START GOING WRONG?
It often happens during the quilting process that I’m on the
fence as to whether I’m going to like the end result. There’s something about
that quilting stage that I get unsure about my choices. Sometimes it comes down
to my capabilities. You have a vision, but your skills aren’t quite up to par
yet. So disappointing.
But here, while I didn’t love my lines, I was actually
questioning the execution of the idea. I wasn’t thrilled with it.
I was super pleased with my thread colour choices.
But it was my execution of it all that I wasn’t loving.
And so, I decided after quilting about 2/3 of her that I was
going to change directions.
This was a total first. Normally I just stick with it and
hope for the best.
But not this time.
This time I went from quilting straight lines in an
organized pattern: 3 lines of yellow, then 2 lines of orange, followed by
another 2 in light turquoise, then 4 of jade and 2 pink. The spacing was all
very specific too. All things I love. It just didn’t seem right for this improv
quilt. It felt busy. And inharmonious.
I wanted the texture from the quilting, but not glaringly
obvious stand out lines.
WHAT I LEARNED
I share this with you so that you know not all quilty
experiences end up where and how you hoped they would. I’m still very happy
with my quilt. I just know I could have done better.
Had I had more time, I would have unpicked a lot of my
stitch work, but I’m kinda thankful for that deadline. It means that this quilt
is done, and I’ve learned something.
There’s no shame in changing directions midway.
That’s ok.
Not all quilt journeys need to end with a quilt you love.
That’s ok too.
I did learn that I enjoyed the detailed quilt work I added
in the last 1/3 of the quilt. Despite all that thread burying (tips on how to do
that here), it was quite an enjoyable process. Not as fiddly as I initially thought
it would be. I find this encouraging for future quilt projects. I won’t let the
thought of lots of thread and bobbin changes + thread burying deter me from
taking on a more intricate quilt design.
MATERIALS FEATURED
Here’s an overview of all the materials and notions I used
to make the House of Cards quilt:
50wt #2021 Aurifil Thread for piecing and hand binding
My go-to batting
Thread gloss - for hand binding
Needles - for hand binding
This ruler for plotting my quilt lines
There’s nothing demure or simple about this one. And despite the quilting challenges I faced, I love how she came together.
I look at her and there’s instant happiness.
I hope this quilt encourages you to see “problems” as
opportunities to learn, grown and expand on your quilty skills. I could have
given up and just put her aside. I could have just kept going with my initial
quilt design. But sometimes you just gotta shift gears and go for it!
Happy quilting!
xo
Shannon
PS I’ll be knocking this one off my Q4 FAL List!
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I sometimes find the same feeling when I am doing a lot of straight line quilting. When it just doesn't jive with the quilt top, I like to mix in some free motion quilting between some of the lines and that has helped me in the past.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the tip, Yvonne! I'm going to try that next time I encounter this quilty problem!! I feel better knowing I'm not the only one who's struggled with this 🤗
DeleteThe finished quilt looks awesome Shannon! It's happened to me a few times as well. I've unpicked quilting stitches and I remember one time, I hated the quilting on the first block on a quilt and then drastically changed direction but left that block as is. Definitely an interesting design "choice". :-)
ReplyDeleteHa! But it makes it unique, right?! Thanks for sharing that you too have changed your mind about the quilt design you were going with and opted to change course. I think it helps us all remember that nothing is set in stone and there’s nothing wrong with switching things up – even mid-way through a project 😊
DeleteShannon, will there be a pattern for Modern Imorov Quilt for sale. I was inspired with the Aztec Table Runner I now have your pattern (thanks) and also the Sonata fabric supplied by Hawthorne Supply.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have a pattern planned for the House of Cards improv quilt, but I am working on a creative series that might help you use your fabric scraps from your Modern Aztec table runner! Stay tuned 😊
Delete