Friday, January 5, 2018

Refraction

Refraction is my first quilt finish of 2018. I discovered Quilt Theory one innocent day while I was browsing aimlessly for patterns instead of actually quilting, and Cheryl Brickey's Arrow Point Path drew me in. It looked complex at first, but really was a single block. The way the blocks were laid out had almost a kaleidoscope effect, and I loved that!

The quilt top was completed quite awhile ago, and then it just sat there. While other quilt tops got made and then subsequently quilted, I was stuck in some serious quilter's paralysis with this one. But finally, I decided to load it onto the frame and just wing it. I experienced good results the last time I loaded a quilt with no plan, so I decided to try my luck again.

Something funny happens when a quilt is finally on the frame. Since nothing else can be quilted while it's there, that gives me the push to just come up with something. I knew I really wanted to emphasize the geometric nature of the piecing, and also play with contrast.

In each diamond, I also divided up the space and used a starburst motif along with some fillers. In alternate rows, I used a lotus feather instead of the starburst because, well, variety is the spice of quilting.

Well, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I think I went a little overboard with the quilting though ... this took way too long to do. Sometimes I think of the quilting design before I even start cutting, and other times, like this quilt, I have to force myself to get it on the frame and then come up with something. But that winging it strategy seems to work. So the conclusion of the day is ... If you load it, they will come. (And by they, I mean the ideas!)

And that's my favorite photo of this quilt. This quilt was ridiculously hard to get pictures of. I blame the cloudy grays and moody purples!

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Link parties joined: Busy Hands Quilts, Powered by Quilting, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Crazy Mom Quilts, My Quilt Infatuation, and Sew Can She.

15 comments:

  1. I have been eyeing this pattern myself and I absolutely love the colors you chose for it! The quilting as usual is a perfect complement for the quilt -- you truly have a gift! <3

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  2. I love the colors you chose for this quilt. It's beautiful.

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  3. I am breathless with this one; it's more than beautiful and all of the photos were stunning. There must be a wall in your house this can be displayed. All the things I said in the past about you know who and you could be teaching and why are you going, times that by three. I know, you must enter a quit show, this is one that has to be displayed and viewers must experience the beauty. Okay got to go, my head is spinning.

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  4. oh my gosh!!! Liz, this is fantastic!! The quilting you've done is brilliant, not overdone at all. I'm seriously in love with it. :)

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  5. Liz! I'm so glad to see you made this quilt! I have this pattern and have been planning on making it, too. Yours is so stunning. I'm with Rose--enter it in a quilt show. How about Minnesota Quilters quilt show, modern category? Very pretty.

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  6. Well that is quite a welcome to 2018 with that quilt. The pattern is great, but the quilting pushes it over the top. Too much quilting, phht no such thing! Love all it, especially the quilting

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  7. Wow ... what a great job ... especially the quilting has become great. :)

    Have a nice day the Nähbegeisterte

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  8. Oh Liz, this is a beauty! The quilting is just stunning. I agree with the others, you need to enter it in a show, and I think Nancy's suggestion of the MN Quilt Show would be awesome! Than I could see it in real life! :-) I love the colors in the quilt!

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  9. OMG this is a beautiful quilt. The colors are perfect & the quilting is phenomenal. I wish I had this quilt on my bed.
    Becca G

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  10. Wow! Your quilting is so inspiring! You really do make the quilt come to life. I love everything about it. Nice finish to start the new year.

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  11. Your quilting is so inspiring! I would never have thought to quilt the design like this (I could not think of a quilting design for mine and went with a simple allover design). I am so in love with this! Would you allow me to highlight your quilt on my blog (with credit and links to your blog)?

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  12. DIBS! I want this quilt. Like seriously, can I have it? The quilting is divine!!! <3 <3 <3

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  13. OMG! Your quilting is AWESOME! What a work of art!!!

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