It’s been a while since I’ve seen a quilt made from really huge, sprawling blocks Burgoyne Surrounded, of which this is just one variation, comes to mind, but this week I did notice this wonderful entry into DQS 8 made by what I never said.
I’d call this a single block – which it is – but it’s also much more than that. Nine-patches, rail fences, a bit of starriness in the corners…. It’s the best kind of miniature quilt, really, in that it contains everything a larger quilt does. But it’s pared down so you can really concentrate on the integrity of the design.
The fact that some of my favorite fabrics have been used certainly doesn’t hurt, but the more muted color scheme isn’t what I’m used to in the exuberant celebration that is your average doll quilt.
Then again, this is no average doll quilt. I’d like it in solids, but I wouldn’t love it, not in the way I love the blend of playfulness and sophistication she’s achieved here. But if you want to make a quilt like this, note how perfectly precise the piecing is.
How seductive are these rows and rows of tiny hexes by Alexia Abegg?
These are only .5″ per side, which is TINY. And crazy. And awesome!!! Look at the cute prints! They work together beautifully. And the alternating solid cream hexes add so much to the overall design. Not sure what the end result will be, but it’s shaping up to something amazing!
As time goes on, and the fabric we love becomes more and more rare, its increasingly tempting to hang onto our favorite prints indefinitely. Which seems like a good idea at the time. And then your sewing room begins to look like mine, and…. yeah.
This adorable doll quilt by davenjilly is just the inspiration I need to remind me that scraps can go a long, long way.
The fussy-cut bits of Heather Ross don’t make up much of the surface area of the quilt, at all, but they are the most prominent design element. The wonderful accent borders really build the design out, and add interest, without pulling focus. I really love that the overall effect isn’t too matchy or symmetrical – I think, with fussy cutting, it’s better not to be too fussy, otherwise.
Using a few scraps and a purchased scrap pack from Starlit Nest, Jill spent a minimum of her fabric resources to create something that is destined to be an heirloom. Like I said, it’s the perfect inspiration for the rest of us to get cutting!
