Some days just call for some fabric play, yes?
I'm always on the lookout for ways to use up my scrappy stash, and for a while now I've been contemplating trying out Sujata's quilt 'Organised Chaos' {see here}. It's a special twist on the old Kaleidoscope pattern. As usual, I didn't have an actual pattern, but I based my measurements on Ann's quilt, see her directions here. And luckily I already had the special ruler, which made it all very easy.
I wanted to make a quilt featuring Kathy Doughty's fabrics released last year, Wandering Mind - a collection with uniquely different and modern designs. Not being a big fan of all-one-designer quilts, the challenge I set myself was to use the large bird print as my focus fabric and to combine my fat quarter designer bundle with assorted scrappy fabrics from my stash.
After looking at a few versions of the quilt online - this quilt here and this quilt here - I decided I needed to work within a few boundaries. 'Sewing scrappy' can sometimes end up sewing chaotic, so I selected a fairly restricted colour palette. I found by trial & error {and quite a bit of unpicking!} that value played a big part here, and that I also needed to add a few geometrics, spots and solids to help calm the chaos!
Here's a few progress pics...
- fingers crossed this will actually work!
-and look, making little flowers on some of the corners
{thanx Ann, Lee Ann & Sujata for all these extra ideas!}
- and then adding a few more of those corner triangles really got this quilt top spinning!
It's a very clever variation, I love it!
And with so much to keep me focused, I'm just going to keep on playing with this for a bit longer!
Linking up this week with WiP here at freshlypieced
- pop on over to see what everyone else has been busy sewing.
15 comments:
I like the colour palette - it has a vintage feel to it, also a calm feel to these colours :)
It looks great in your color palette! The most fun part is adding the corners. You go, girl!
Oh, this does look great. Love the blues and the bird fabric. Values does play such a big role in this design. I think we'll see many more kaleidoscopes this year!
I have a feeling that this will look awesome Linda, love what I am seeing so far.
I was tidying up today and found my kaleidoscope template/rulers. Now I know how to use them. This looks good!
I love this block and your faric choice is really nice !
I love that big bird in the fabric and yes it would look so nice in the border without being cut up. I have one of Kathy's books but have not made any of the quilts although I keep meaning to
I'm making kaleidoscope blocks for RSC this year, but your gorgeousness here is inspiring me to change my approach. Hmmm... It's only January, so change now? Or make two different sets? Hmmm...
I love love love your colors and fabrics - this quilt will be stunning!
Snap! I ordered some of the new Victoria Findlay Wolfe fabric three days ago to make a Kaleidoscope quilt. I love yours with the feature fabric from Kathy it's perfect for the border with your fabric choices. Isn't the Kaleido Rule great, I've used mine for a few quilts over the years. Looking forward to seeing how this beauty progresses.
This is a fun one to play with. I made a variation can be found here,http://emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/search?q=nautical.
I'm looking forward to watching yours progress.
i love the kaleidoscope block, and as you said - this is a clever variation! i love how you tackled it without pattern and just worked your way out with the measurements. that's something i like to do, but usually with simpler blocks! haha. good work, lady.
Wow, your version is simply stunning! Working without a pattern, I thought I was going well until I saw all the other possibilities with this!
Hm-m- will need to rethink this now.
The corner triangles have me stumped at present – should I go bold or blending? Decisions, decisions! Linda
What a great fabric play day you've had!
Very fun fabrics!
Love your kaleidoscope blocks! I have a UFO with kaleidoscope blocks. I really should get back to them...
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