My Mystery Quilt Layout

As this Applique Mystery Quilt Along is soon to be completed, here is how my quilt is shaping up; as I prepare each lesson to share with you.


COMPLETING THE QUILT TOP

With the applique blocks and pieced blocks ready and sewn together to make up the quilt top; here is how adding borders will complete the project, and update the look.


BORDER ONE
Using a narrow border, in a darker color; works well to add a framed look to the activity in the blocks; like a frame on a painting. The blue-green fabric was also used on the domino framed blocks.

BORDER ONE

BORDER TWO
The second border provides the surface area needed to apply my chosen swag applique; and give it added interest on this busy quilt.

I chose to use three colors (blue-green, yellow, and pink) on the domino frame and also bring it to the outer borders. My blocks needed to be brightened up and the pink definitely provided that intensity.

BORDER TWO

BORDER TWO--APPLIQUES
I wanted to add interest on this border; and so applied a swag applique to help showcase the handiwork of all the appliques used on the quilt top.

Here, I used a yellow; and instead of the bright yellow used in the domino framed blocks; I decided to use the same yellow as was used on the sun applique.

APPLIQUE DETAIL ON BORDER TWO

BORDER THREE

There are always decisions to make as one builds a quilt. Here were a few good reasons to consider adding an additional border:

1.)  It was only after I has added the swag applique, that I realized I had cut the strips for border two; at two and one-half inches, instead of the three inches wide they should have been. (That's what happens when I want to quilt late at night.) So I had less space between the applique and where the binding would be added. What should I do about this?

2.)  I found I had indeed brightened the look of the quilt; however, now it was just way too pink for my liking. So if I added a darker color, it should bring down the intensity of the pink. (Your computer screen may make this border look more red or orange. But it is very pink!)

3.) I was considering adding piping or lace, on the outer edge, so wanted to have more distance between the swag on this border two and the binding. And I didn't really know how wide this border should be, either; so made it two inches wide, so I could make this decision later.

4.) As a general rule, it is a good tip to have the ability of trimming the final border narrower, if desired; and to ensure it is even and has square corners, when trimming all three layers. Here, I would have possibly cut into my swag applique, if my quilt needed extra squaring up, before adding the binding.

So, here is how my quilt looks with the extra border in brown:

BONUS: BORDER THREE

I decided that I really did need to add an extra border; and this color will provide a better background for my chosen binding fabric.  So, my quilt will be a few inches larger than the original pattern indicates.

The final post on this mystery quilt, will show up in a few weeks, when the last lesson has been posted on the website. Thanks for coming along on this quilt journey with me.

Happy Quilting....

Selvage Quilts

Book:
QUILTS from the SELVAGE EDGE by Karen Griska

Okay... time has come to share my review from this book and reveal my finished project. My main reason for its inspiration is that is takes something that we used to discard from our fabric (the selvage edges) and with this technique we can create beautiful projects!

I am not sure where I discovered it, but when my mouse clicked onto Karen's selvage blog, I was truly inspired. I ordered the book before Christmas and it arrived about 3-4 weeks later. Then it was time to make the decision on which project I would choose to make...

Book, Selvages

Here is how it unfolded:

First, I paged through the book from back to front, and then read it completely from front to back. Deciding on a project, can sometimes be the hardest part of the process. But, of course, to make any of the quilts in the book, it was recommended to have a one-gallon plastic storage bag full of selvages. This I did not have. So, what do I do... wait until I have enough or just jump in and have some fun.

I'd say, "why wait" for anything fun? Do it now!! Therefore, since I didn't have enough selvages, for a project from the book, this time, it shouldn't stop me from making a selvage quilt. Right?

So, I took out my small ziploc bag of selvages that I had and followed the basics in the book. Oh, such FUN, indeed. Since I did not have many selvages, I decided to see what developed!!  A small quilt project is a great way to experiment and try out a new technique. Here I go...

My inspiration came from the quilt called, "Glass Tumbling Blocks". It has two borders and one is done with selvages. So, this was where I began. I figured I had enough for a border and so I made some long strips and some squares. At that point I didn't know what I'd put in the center or anything else about what I'd make. However, the idea soon came to me and this is why I made the following blocks.

My long block

Block cut into strips

At first glance, the long block with all its messy ends didn't look very interesting. However, it transformed before my eyes, after I trimmed the sides and cut it into the four strips that I wanted. I also had a narrow strip leftover. Then, I also made four small squares, as shown below.

Small squares

Instead of using the selvages in an inner border, as the quilt project showed, I decided to use it for the main border and used the remaining narrow selvage strip for the flower stems. The circles (flower centers) were left over from another project I had made several years back. The polka dot fabric I received from my mother's fabric stash that were bought many, many years ago. The bird and leaves came from the scraps that resulted from the cutout flowers. The small circles, green with blue center (in the background) are from the fabric used in the narrow inner border and quilt outer corners. I used black embroidery stitches to sew on the black lines.

I named the quilt, "Garden's Edge". It was such a fun quilt to create and will enjoy making more selvage blocks, in the future.

Those squares became flowers!

The selvage blocks turned into this design!

Binding

My suggestion: If you don't have enough selvages for any of the projects, just try out some of the selvage blocks following the instructions under "The Basics" section. That way you get a feel for how the technique works, make blocks as you can until you have enough blocks to make a complete quilt.

After all, as I figured, once I've completed my 2010 quilt challenge, I will have plenty of selvages to revisit this book and make one then. The selvages that I collected from my fabric scraps drawer were done after I had finished my project. So, my supply is starting to grow!!

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Close-up of the flowers

My Selvage Quilt: "Garden's Edge"

(Finished size: 25" x 25")

I have been a fan of "green" living and contributing to creating a more beautiful world for all to live for quite a few years now. For me, it is uplifting to know that I can play a small part in this way by following the 3R's of reduce, reuse and recycle. I believe we can all be responsible and caring citizens of the place we call home.

Now, I realize we all do this in a multiple of ways and when I discovered a new way to use fabric scraps, well, that was just plain fantastic. I do love shopping at fabric and quilt shops but if one already has a whole cabinet full of beautiful fabrics, one should start using them. Anyways, that is my personal goal this year and I am enjoying the process, thus far.

I certainly look forward to creating more selvage quilts. This is my first quilt made from selvages. I did make six mini Christmas stockings in 2009, as I awaited my copy of the book with anticipation. To view the stockings, go to this blog and type into the blog search box, "Christmas stockings" to see those projects.

Next week...

My next book choice and then a reveal the following week. If you wish to see what books are being featured you can also check out my website for more details.

Happy stitching!!