Here's my entry for Blogger's Quilt Festival! I know I seem to be making a lot of circle quilts lately, but this is the first circle quilt I ever planned on making...so those other quilts were like...research. And it is FINALLY done. I started plotting this one a couple years ago--shortly after I had my first baby and I spent a lot of time looking at this:
Yes, the wipey box! After glancing at it several times a day for 4 or 5 months, I decided that this design would make a really cool quilt. So I kept thinking about it every time I looked at it for about the next 6 months. Then I made a little mock-up in Inkscape, messed with the colors for a while and finally decided on black, gray and greens. I spent some time trying to find the perfect fabric but in the end I decided to use all solids because I thought prints might compete with the design a little too much.
Once I had the fabric, I printed out my little mock-up from Inkscape, blew it up on the copy machine and figured out the scale (i.e. 1/4 inch on paper = 1.25 inches on the quilt). To make the circles I used the same method I have used on my other circle quilts (see those here, here, and here)...fusible interfacing. It worked out really well since I was stacking several circles on top of one another-I didn't want it stiff or bulky and this method eliminates extra fabric layers.
Since some of the circles were huge (the biggest one is 24 inches in diameter) I had to figure out a way to make nice round circles that were pretty big so I could trace them onto my fusible interfacing. I did this by taking a piece of mat-board and tacking one end of a long thin piece of cardboard to the center of it. Then from the spot I had tacked the cardboard, I measured 1/2 the diameter of the circle I needed, stuck a hole in the cardboard with a sharp pencil, and drew a circle. It worked great! I pinned the background up on the wall in my dining room (since that's where I am going to hang it) and every time I finished a circle, I would slap it up on the wall and leave it for a few days, move it over a little, leave it for a few more days (repeat) until I liked it. This went on for about 3 months before it was done.
And then finally, my favorite part: the quilting! I quilted lots of different patterns, circles and swirls into the different circles and did 1/2 inch straight lines in the background, so it's kinda fun to look at. It took me a while to quilt since I changed thread colors (and bobbin thread) several times and used rulers a lot. Then my quilting machine decided to have a little meltdown right in the middle so it took even longer than I planned to finish it!
Oh, and I used some more of my awesome $2 per yard fabric for the backing--no picture but it's black, green, gray and white stripe. By far the best part about this quilt is that I am keeping it! (YEAH!)
Check out some amazing quilts at the Blogger's Quilt Festival!!
This turned out really cool-looking...Much cuter colors than the box that inspired it.
ReplyDeleteLove your roundy quilt! Clever of you to come up with the idea from the box and do like the colors really well. Another idea I need to filecin my questcto make a circle quilt. Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
ReplyDeleteLove your circle quilts.Beautiful colours.
ReplyDeleteThis is really great. I love the way you put the circles together and the colors.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous quilt and hurray for keeping it :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the different quilting patterns and the striped background
A striking quilt, beautifully quilted.
ReplyDeleteI love it!
Deborah
Wow - this quilt is fantastic! I love circles, too - I am going to go check out your other circle quilts for tips on using the interfacing. Happy BQF!
ReplyDeletep.s. I'm now a follower - I *love* your quilts!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a great quilt!!!
ReplyDeleteViele Grüße
Kerstin
A festival favorite for me. Just all around in love with this quilt!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is fantastic, super, super:)
ReplyDeleteLove the colors, love the design! Awesome!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteyou made me laugh - I just came back from the shops where these boxes kept catching my eyes :-))
ReplyDeleteyou made a lovely quilt, one never knows where inspiration will next come from :-)
Kristina
www.priscillacraft.blogspot.com
A great post. I love the quilt, the design, the colours. The quilting is stunning too, I love the way you have quilted each piece differently.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt! I might have to try circles now that I've been inspired by your quilt!
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Love all the quilting patterns!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful, striking quilt, and I love where you found your inspiration! Such fun!
ReplyDeleteSaw you at the BQF and had to stop by and say that this is a fun design that I'm sure everyone would love to make. That quilting is insane! So much detail. Way to go.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing were inspiration can come from!
ReplyDeleteLove this quilt and your quilting designs just add that finishing touch.
What a fantastic quilt. I love the colors and how you did the circles.
ReplyDeleteGreat inspiration.
Amazing! All of the planning paid off. It is just perfect.
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt. I love the quilting lines and the colors you've chosen. It's absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteIt is very striking. Beautiful colours :)
ReplyDeleteI really love this! Fantastic design and bold color choices! Very cool
ReplyDeleteI seriously want this quilt. I was going to make a zigzag quilt for my bed but now, I want this one. This. Exact. One. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous! Fantastic job!
OH wow! I love this - it's amazing!! Fantastic work. I love everything about it. You need to do a QAL of this!
ReplyDeleteSo much fun ! I have to try this in my favorite colors :)
ReplyDeletecircle design is awesome! has inspired me to make me a quilt
ReplyDeleteLove it.Colours great.Superb inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous- I love everything about it- the colours, the design, the quilting! Circles - brilliant!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this quilt. It is my favorite from the festival. Wow. It's stunningly beautiful! Wow.
ReplyDeleteWow! You did a great job! The quilting is fantastic! Did you quilt each circle as you applied it? It almost looks like a quilt as you go. Love the colors!
ReplyDeleteLove all your circles quilts but the firs is alweys special!Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt. It reminds me soo much of Olives in a martini! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I love the colours. It really is more lovely than the inspiration! I admire your patience and wonderful precision.
ReplyDeleteamazing design! I bet plenty of quilters would love a pattern or QAL!
ReplyDeleteAmazing design and you did it all yourself. Great job
ReplyDeletearen't circle quilts fun? I've just started one now...it's on the cutting table.
ReplyDeleteWow! It's awesome! And I love your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing modern quilt. I love every aspect of it. Great work!
ReplyDeleteStunning! thank you for sharing your quilt....
ReplyDeleteI love your design.
I haven't ventured into circles yet but I love hearing where people get their inspiration. I am currently mesmerized with spiral staircases, though I haven't figured out how to incorporate it yet! LOVE this quilt!
ReplyDeleteI not only love this quilt, but all the ones in your header. Can't wait to have time to come back and explore your whole blog!
ReplyDeletehot diggity, this is awesome. I love it! I'm going to have to see how you used interfacing to eliminate layers. Sounds like a great idea!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt and a wonderful design! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt. Love the striped background and the quilting is perfect.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is stunnng. Love your design and the colours you chose. It was interesting to read about your design and construction process.
ReplyDeleteSo cool!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I missed this post!!! I LOVE this quilt;) You come up with the coolest stuff;) And I love your inspiration;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Quilting!!
Beautiful Quilt! Very striking.
ReplyDeleteWOW! That is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour circle quilt is STUNNING! Love the colors.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how I missed this?? This quilt is amazing, very nice job and the quilting is perfect!
ReplyDeleteVery cool!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I love the quilting you did! LOVE! I am not normally a fan of solid, but boy oh boy do they show of the quilting nicely. I may have to rethink using solids!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe offset stacked circles you did served as MY inspiration for some pillow covers for some twins. I have linked back to you from http://notyournormalsteam.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/double-the-fun/
Love this design! Congrats on being published!
ReplyDelete