Handiwork (Build-A-Block) Quilt

I'm always shocked by how quickly time passes, and I'm definitely reminded of it when I decide to pull out a quilt to finish it, and realized I pieced the top 4 years ago. It just didn't feel like that long! But it does feel like time has been on a speed warp ever since 2020, it's like COVID warped my view of time forever.

I finished piecing Handiwork in November of 2019. Handiwork is a Build-A-Quilt (block of the month) run by Angela Walters, and the fabric is Handiwork by Alison Glass. I really loved working on this one because the fabric is stunning, and of course, the final layout is very interesting, definitely not like a typical sampler quilt.

I've worked on just a few sampler quilts in my time, and one of the things I really enjoyed is going to town designing something interesting for each block. If I didn't enjoy quilting it, it doesn't matter because there's only the one anyway!

The background of this quilt definitely calls for swirls. I do love filling large swaths of the background with swirls, and though I occasionally I think I overuse this design, most of the time, I'm fine with it.

I did leave out a border from the original design, because I didn't like the way it looked, and I hate putting borders on anyway. I really love the end result, and of course, the cherry on the top is the lovely binding fabric!

I think I've already finished more quilts this year than all of last year, and it's only the middle of the year, so I'm really happy with my progress this year! But now that summer is in full swing, all bets are off, as I know I tend to get really slow in the summer and then have a hard time revving back up the engine after.

Singularity

It's been quite a few years since The Midnight Quilt Show ended, and to this day I still miss it. It was always a delight watching Angela Walters every week with her beautiful quilting and her humor! I have made quite a few quilts from The Midnight Quilt Show, some of which are on my to-quilt pile still, but my latest finish is Singularity.

Singularity, designed by Jenn Nevitt, is such a great name for this quilt because it does feel like a geometric wonder. It is in fact mesmerizing to look at with the tiny piecing in the center and the way the blocks expand in size outward. The colors are gorgeous together.

I struggled for several years to figure out how to quilt this, trying and scrapping so many designs, but at the end, I decided the quilting isn't important in this quilt, it's the beautiful geometric look of this quilt that matters, so I stuck with a very simple diagonal design that followed the piecing without being overwhelming.

I tried to keep the spacing between the lines half an inch, but I have a pretty strict "mark only when absolutely necessary" policy so for this quilt, I eyeballed everything. Though I know the spacing is far from perfect, somehow when it's all done, it looks pretty good.

In Angela's video of Singularity, there's a running joke about stress-relievement. I did find the quilting process of this quilt to be extremely zen ... to the point of boredom. But at the end of the day, I'm thrilled that I finally finished this, and I have no regrets about choosing a simple pattern to execute. It's truly mesmerizing to look at!

Handiwork ~ Build-A-Quilt #2

Handiwork is the 2nd colorway from the Build-A-Quilt program by Angela Walters, and unlike Urban Grid which felt a bit like a risk, I knew I loved this color palette the minute I saw it.

I mean, it's Alison Glass, how could I not love it? What did scare me a bit more than Urban Grid is that I chose a layout I've never tried before: a braid quilt.

This was definitely more challenging than the flying geese layout of Urban Grid, but I'm glad I chose it because it is definitely an interesting and beautiful design!

I was quite apprehensive about this layout, and it was definitely not easy, but I'm very pleased with the way it turned out! Unfortunately I couldn't get a full picture as it's so huge, but I can't wait to quilt this!

Urban Grid ~ Build-A-Quilt #1

Late last year I decided to join the Build-A-Quilt program by Angela Walters. I had trouble deciding between 2 colorways, so I decided to just do both of them. The first one I've completed is Urban Grid.

What drew me to Urban Grid immediately is the really funky fabric. This is not a palette I would usually pick for myself, but something about it was intriguing to me, so I decided to give it a shot.

I enjoyed receiving fabric in the mail every month and making the blocks a lot. I followed the pattern except for one curved block that I substituted.

The best thing about this Build-A-Quilt is that the layout is so interesting! I really enjoyed the look of all those giant flying geese framing the blocks.

At first I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this quilt, and to be honest I'm still slightly on the fence, but one thing's for sure ... the more I look at it, the more it's growing on me.

Never Say Never

I said I wouldn't do another block of the month next year because I'm still tired from the last one, Stargazer, which did turn out beautiful but was so exhausting.

So what did I do? I've thus far joined 3 block-of-the-months next year for a total of 4 quilts. I should have known I wouldn't be able to resist when they come calling!

The first one I signed up for is Angela Walters's Build-A-Quilt. I fell in love with 2 colorways and 2 of the layouts ... which means I'm making 2 quilts! The fabric will be mailed to me every month so I won't have a lot to work with at a time, which helps keep stress down.

The Stargazer quilt I did this year was run by Rebecca Bryan, who does these beautiful and intricate designs. But it was challenging and a lot of work, so I decided not to do another one next year. Of course, as soon as Rebecca showed off her design, Solstice, for next year, I caved. It is so beautiful and unique looking, and I really need a purple and orange quilt in my life.

And finally, I also signed up for a block of the month from Freshly Pieced called Paper Chain. I plan to audition my own fabric for this one.

And I already got started on Angela's build-a-quilt, since that kicked off a few weeks ago. The first month's blocks came together nice and easy:

I'm so excited about these block of the months! I hope I will find ways to manage the journey and not burn out too quickly.

Fragmental

Fragmental is the easiest quilt top I've ever pieced. That's because it's cheatercloth! I was browsing on Quilting Is My Therapy one day when I saw a quilt kit that consisted of a few panels of this really pretty geometric design, and I knew it would be fun to quilt.

Piecing of this took about 20 minutes, and most of the time was spent on pressing the fabric. But the real purpose of making this quilt top, of course, is to quilt it.

When I loaded this quilt top, it was actually a piggyback. I use wide backing, so frequently after finishing a medium-sized quilt there's still room for a small top. This one just barely fits after I finished Lakeshore, so that's why I quilted it next. Unlike most of the quilt tops where I have some idea what I was going to do before I started, this one I really just winged it and made it up as I went along.

I did continuous curves in the colored shapes, and then went to town on the negative space filling it with all kinds of fun filler designs. Whatever I did once ... I just had to repeat it across the quilt so it looks somewhat symmetrical. But I vary the motifs across the quilt so it doesn't look too symmetrical.

I don't think every design I did was necessarily successful, but I didn't rip. Whatever I did, I just made sure to repeat it somewhere. As Angela Walters always says, 'Once is a mistake, but twice is a design choice.'

But my favorite part is the triangles on the side. Instead of quilting just a filler, I divided up the space with different quilting. I think it looks much more impactful than if I just filled it with a swirl or such.

I originally intended this to be a practice piece, and since I didn't sink a lot of money or time into the quilt top, I figured it'd be low pressure. But it turned out much better than I expected, so winging it wasn't a bad idea after all. It'll end up being a wallhanging when I get my quilting room finished ... one day. I just have to pick up the phone and call a contractor. Sigh

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Well, this is going to be my last quilt this year! I'm going to take a break from blogging and social media for the rest of the year. It's been a great year for quilting for me, and I'm so encouraged by the visits, the comments, and the follows from you all. Thank you so much for making my blogging and quilting journey so much fun and so enriching. I'll see you all in the new year!

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