Friday, November 4, 2011

Miss V's Strip Quilt [Bloggers' Quilt Festival]

I've been hemming and hawing over which quilt to submit for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival.  I had lofty goals of finishing a new piece but as usual my real life interfered and while I am so close to being finished...alas I still have to bind the Hummingbird & Hexagon quilt.  So, what to choose, what to choose...

I revisited Amy's guidelines for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival and when I read "share one quilt and it's story" I realized that one quilt really stood out.  Miss V's Strip Quilt.

Miss V's Strip Quilt
Miss V's Strip Quilt


While pregnant with Miss V I began a baby quilt that I just couldn't bring myself to finish.  I had started it with high hopes but by my 3rd Trimester I realized my heart wasn't in it.  I still loved the beautiful fabric but the piecing I had chosen didn't complement the fabric design and I knew it wasn't working.  To make matters even more frustrating...I knew I wouldn't be happy unless I started a new baby quilt completely from scratch!  New fabric & New Design.  Yes, I do like to make things difficult!

I still adored the complex wavy log cabin design I had used for Miss E's quilt and wanted Miss V's quilt to be as intricate and unique.  After endless online image research, using historical quilts as a source for inspiration, I came across an image of the Phoebe Quilt designed by Valori Wells.  She had based her pattern on an 1800s strip quilt and I immediately knew I had found my quilt design.  Instead of buying the pattern [available at the Stitchin Post] I examined the image of the Phoebe Quilt and drew some of my own sketches to create my own version.  After lots of math, bleh, and a few draw out versions I had come up with my own plan.

Miss V's Strip Quilt Striped Backing


The quilt consists of one center square, Valori Wells Nest fabric, surrounded by alternating strips to create a swirl movement around the center. Within each panel of strips is a square which acts like a corner pivot around the main square.  The design continually moves without a beginning or end.  The alternating strips and smaller pivot squares are made with Amy Butler's Lotus collection.

Miss V's Strip Quilt Detail


I considered quilting by stitching in the ditch but decided to reinforce the intricate piecing by quilting right over it in a simple diagonal design instead.  By working completely against the movement of the strips the quilting seems to disappear when your eye is looking at the piecing.  Plus, ultimately the diagonal quilting gave the quilt a really soft and pliant feeling in the end.

Today I look at this quilt and think WOW, this is really busy.   I don't know that I would make something so pattern crazy without a solid or neutral to rest the eye on today...but when I consider what I would do to change it I can't think of a thing.  It suits Miss V so perfectly, she is cheery, bright, loud, pink and squishy just like her quilt.  And when I lay it over her during her nap time I know it was just the right thing for her.

Miss V's Strip Quilt

Hahahahaa, for the first time while writing this I have realized another anecdote about this quilt.  The baby quilt I had originally started is not the only thing I had serious doubts about in my 3rd Trimester of pregnancy.  I also doubted the name we had chosen for the baby.  Just like the quilt I completely changed my mind and went with a new name too.   Hahahahaa, who knows who Miss V would be today with a different quilt and a different name.  Thank goodness I went with my gut and decided to change my mind.  I wouldn't change her for anything in the world!


Amy'sCreativeSide

I'd like to thank Amy for the opportunity to join the BQF.  What an amazing gift to all of us quilting bloggers to be able to share our favorites with each other.  I am really happy to see so many of my friends quilts already posted and am psyched to be able to post one of my own quilts alongside!

If you haven't already...go check out the Bloggers' Quilt Festival!  What ARE you waiting for???

15 comments:

Erin @ Once Upon a Donkey said...

Ooo that is simply lovely. Yes, even with all that pink. ;) I bet Miss V will treasure it for many years to come. Been trying to think which quilt I should include for the BQF. Oh, that's right, I've only ever made one. Jeez... time to get a move on. :)

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

Gorgeous quilt and a lovely post!

Rebecca said...

What a beautiful quilt and a unique design!

Carla said...

Very nice! I actually have some of that fabric. Thanks for the inspiration.

Heather D. said...

Love this, it's just lovely. The fussy cut center is just perfect.

Katie said...

Beautiful! The busyness works on baby items, I think, because babies can be, um, not so clean at times. ;)

Annabella said...

I think it`s utterly stunning. You know me, I like crazy mixed in altogether but this is one classy quilt and I love that you used an old quilt for inspiration. Thanks for sharing it and the story behind it. Hope you are feeling better Becca.

Janet said...

What a great story and a beautiful quilt. I love the movement. I trust you'll record this story for Miss V to read in the future....

Pam @Threading My Way said...

Simply gorgeous...

Mom said...

Sweet!

Margaret
msolomo1@maine.rr.com
www.quiltsoflove.blogspot.com

Patti said...

Hey Becca! Such a wonderful story to go with the quilt. Miss V is a lucky girl.

Live a Colorful Life said...

What a great story. I really enjoyed reading this so much!

stitchinpenny said...

I love the story and the quilt is so outstanding, the busy factor is totally lost as interest when I see the quilt. The fabrics and design work so well together that there is no distraction, but rather a drawing in to discover all that there is within the pattern.

Quilt Genius said...

I really love your focus fabric. The pattern definitely helps highlight it!

Mary
http://www.quiltgenius.com

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

This is such a beautiful quilt! I don't think it looks too busy at all. The centre square with the bird is such a strong focal the rest looks, to me, like a really pretty background. How lucky for Miss V that she ended up with the perfect quilt and the perfect name :)