I occasionally find myself in an odd place in the quilting world style wise – I am not super modern, yet to a traditional quilter I look modern. I think one of my old guilds determined I was “modern” simply by my age. I have embraced the “modern traditional” moniker, but it’s not always an easy category to fit in.
This is my first go at a more definitively modern piece. The pattern is not mine (probably takes away from the modernity, right?), but was a piece for the Carolina Longarm Association. They are trying to put together a display with modern and traditional mini quilts that will all be the same two designs, but with a wide variety of fabrics and quilting styles. It should be a really cool display once it’s done.
Quilt Name: Nature of Purple
Size: 29″ x 29″
I really enjoyed quilting this piece. I loved combining the straight lines with the curves to create contrast within the piece. I also really like the design I used inside the rectangles. It’s a straight-line spiral, for lack of a better description, but is fun to use in a space like that.
I did learn some good lessons from this quilt – such as purple is extremely hard to photograph and the quilting does not show up well unless you are really close to it.
Dense quilting would also probably show up better with either a double layer of batting, or a higher quality puff or mixed cotton/poly blend. I used a cheap cotton/poly blend I had laying around because I wan’t planning on quilting it this densely when I started.
Unfortunately, it is not an impressive piece when you see it hung next to other quilts. There is a certain beauty in its simplicity, and the negative space leaves a lot of room to quilt, but it’s still a very simple quilt with very little piecing. I feel like the photo below is a Where’s Waldo game, but you are looking for a small purple quilt that blends into the black background curtains. (Photo borrowed from Christa Quilts, link to her NQA experience roundup).
I entered it into the National Quilting Association show this year to get feedback and try to improve my quilting. As far as feedback, I found the comments to be very useful. The judges found a couple things on this quilt that I had missed, and called me out on errors that I knew existed. It was also nice to receive more than one or two comments, which is more normal for a local level show.
Entering this quilt was a worthwhile experience, and it is pushing me to be better. When I received the quilt back in the mail, I saw that it had been held for the category and a judge’s choice. It’s bittersweet news in a way – it was good, but not good enough. It just means I need to improve my work and make a better quilt next year!
Even if it didn’t win anything, I still like it. I have it hanging above my longarm in my new setup. I still love the purple. I wish it quilted better so I could use it more often, but as you can see below the purple just absorbs all light and makes it look like a purple black hole. Eventually, it will find its way back to North Carolina, but I’m not quite ready to give it up yet.
Linking up to some of the following: Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story, Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts, Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River, Let’s Bee Social Wednesday @ SewFreshQuilts, Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts, Whoop Whoop Fridays @ Confessions of a Quilt Addict, TGIFF, Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Ft. Worth Fabric
I love the quilting – it really shows beautifully in the first photo!
The quilting is just beautiful. You can definitely see it in the first photo in the outdoor lighting but I’m sure it’s much more difficult inside. I’d give it high marks and someday hope to send a quilt to you to quilt for me!
Your quilting on this is so stunning!
Imaginative Quilting!
I was reading your “not quite modern” and wondering what you were talking about as I looked at the purple quilt. Then I got to the comment on it. Phew! She does know modern. Minimalism is my favorite form of modern, and I really like your quilt and quilting. I personally find it very hard to be both simple and interesting in my designs. I think you managed.
The Carolina display does sound interesting. It seems like the judges’ comments were really encouraging – the fact that you were so close to a judges’ choice award!
I completely identify with your comments about being a modern quilter vs. a traditional quilter. Personally, I don’t think we really need labels, we are all quilters. Congratulations to you for entering your quilt into a show, that is a huge step and I think it’s a great one to help you understand where you need improvement. I’ve been thinking about making that a goal of mine for next year.