I was going to try to hold off on sharing the samples that I made for
Sewing Summit until after the fact, but I just can't hold this one in any longer! I am so deliriously happy with how this mini-quilt turned out :)
I'm calling this mini A Light in the Dark, after the feeling of the vibrant colors against the dark background. I've always wanted to tackle Mariner's Compass blocks, and I'm so happy that I did! I love everything about this mini-quilt, from the fabrics I used - that handwriting print from Violet Craft's Madrona Road collection is quite possibly my favorite fabric ever! - to the quilting stitches, which I'm really proud of.
These blocks were made with free tutorials I stumbled upon at
Quilting on the Square, in working to set up a fun
Pinterest board with
Lee to inspire our foundation paper piecing students. The top row, left to right, are
Which Way North and
Wheel of Fortune. The bottom row, left to right, are
Kaleidoscope and
Spinning Points.
When it came to quilting this mini, I really wanted it to be something special, so I tackled each block individually. I pulled a zillion different threads to coordinate with the fabrics, a la Angela Walters, and had a lot of fun trying out different FMQ designs. One gripe about quilting something like this with matching thread: burying all the thread tails!!
I absolutely
love this mini quilt, and I'm planning to submit it for
QuiltCon, thanks to some Instagram encouragement from
Heather. I've never entered a quilt in any kind of competition before, so I'm sure it's going to be an interesting experience!
And I may not be done with Mariner's Compasses - my husband has asked me to make a quilt for him filled with Mariner's Compass blocks! I told him it'll take me forever, but I will try :)
Quilt Stats:
name: A Light in the Dark
size: 24" square
pattern: Various Mariner's Compass blocks from
Quilting on the Square
fabrics: Memoir in Black from Violet Craft's Madrona Road, ombres from V & Co's Simply Color, coming out very soon!
quilting: many different continuous line FMQ designs, by me, in various shades of Aurifil 50 wt and Madeira threads
binding: Memoir in Black from Violet Craft's Madrona Road
Stay tuned for more
Sewing Summit sample reveals tomorrow :)
P.S. - If you love this quilt, it's entered in
Bloggers Quilt Festival Fall 2012 and you can nominate it for a prize
right here. I'm #398, and can be entered under Favorite Home Machine Quilted Quilt or Favorite Mini Quilt.
So lovely! Mariner's compasses are on my to do list for sure. Great find in that BOM.
ReplyDeleteWow! That is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThis is simply gorgeous !. You are so talented !
ReplyDeleteThe entire quilt is spectacular - every bit of it! The part I love most of all is the attention you paid to lining up the text prints just right so that the fabric itself forms the secondary pattern with another star bursting forth from the middle. I absolutely love to see that level of care in a quilt!! Great job - it is perfect!
ReplyDeleteThis is simply stunning!
ReplyDeleteFabulous! The quilting is as spectacular as the paper piecing.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing!! Perfect!
ReplyDeleteIt's stunning! Easy to see why this one is your new favorite. Your quilting looks great too. :) I think the directional writing in the background adds so much to make your stars radiate.
ReplyDeleteIf I were going to Summit, I'd take your class. These are stunning blocks.
ReplyDeleteDownright beautiful! No wonder you were so excited to share it!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty Elizabeth! Love the text print as the background, just stunning!!
ReplyDeleteYou should be deliriously happy - those stars are amazing! And I've been looking for a stunnning paper pieced star pattern for my mouthy stitches swap tote for days. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful! You really did a great job with this little quilt!
ReplyDeleteIt's just beautiful. I think I've told you this on every social network you've posted it on. I can't get over it. It'll win Quiltcon for sure!
ReplyDeleteAmazing. I can see why it has topped your list. Thanks for the tute link.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting! It's beautiful! I have been looking for a Mariner's Compass and here you've provided a link for multiple options!
ReplyDeleteNice work! I love how the background fabric is even pieced just so. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThe Madrona Road text print makes this quilt just pop. It is stunning and definitely worth entering in a contest...and winning it!
ReplyDeleteglad you let us see it ...........i have just as in just now finished my first compass block i love it and it will be a wall hanging !!yours if beautiful :))
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt...seriously one of my favorites I've seen =)
ReplyDeleteI love how those words look! fabulous!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, it is stunning! You should definitely enter it for QuiltCon. It's amazing!!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love! Totally beautiful!!!!yes, do enter this one in the contest!
ReplyDeleteYou should absolutely enter this quilt for QuiltCon!! I LOVE it!!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I love that you used solids for the block and a print for the background. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!!
ReplyDeleteit's fantastic!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you didn't wait to share! It's incredible!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty! I love how the handwriting lines of the background form a star in the middle of the quilt! Absolutely famtastic!
ReplyDeleteThis is so fabulous. I love the secondary pattern that the text in the black fabric makes. :) I hope Quilt Con excepts it!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love how the text print creates such a beautiful background.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I LOVE IT! I can see why it's your new favorite!
ReplyDeleteThe way you worked with the text print to create that secondary pattern is brilliant!
Absolutely stunning! I love the colors and the use of the black text print is amazing. Great job!!!!
ReplyDeleteFabulous, Elizabeth. I can definitely understand why you didn't want to wait to share and I'm so glad you didn't - I LOVE it! Your placement of the text print is perfect and adds so much to the quilt. The quilting is fab, and this mini is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteFor SURE you must enter it in the QuiltCon show!!
it is absolutely stunning. the solids and the black text... perfection! xo
ReplyDeletewhat a great quilt! It almost looks like 3D, the colours really pop, I like the pattern the background fabric produces. I like that you tried different quiltings. I can understand why you are excited about this quilt.
ReplyDeleteThis just so incredibly beautiful! Can't wait to see it at SS!
ReplyDeleteSuch a stunning quilt. The txt background really makes the solids stand out! =D
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! Very nautical looking. I love the colors.
ReplyDeleteIt honestly blows my mind, Elizabeth. It is stunning. I love your fabric choices and the special touch of the quilting. When you started quilting, did you ever imagine you'd be able to make something like this???
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with the blocks for the hubs. That should be your next bee quilt. :)
That is one amazing quilt! I can't wait to feel confident enough to copy it!!
ReplyDeleteLove! The secondary pattern created by the text fabric (the star) is brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThat is lovely, Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely spectacular!! Violet's print is the ideal background and I just love the pattern the lines of text produce in the middle of the quilt. Beautiful job! Many years ago I coordinated a guild raffle quilt of Mariner's Compass blocks and it was super popular with show attendees even though the old ladies were afraid the departure from blue and white raffle quilts was risky. It's such an impressive block and I love yours in solids.
ReplyDeleteOh it looks fabulous, no wonder you wanted to share! Can't wait to see it in person :o)
ReplyDeleteI love it! And your quilting is fantastic!!
ReplyDelete*sigh* Gorgeous. I can't even pinpoint all the wonderful things......
ReplyDeletethis is so beautiful. i love the way the text print looks in the quilt.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I especially like the bottom left block - I think it's the colors. I also think I need to start buying solids. Ooooh did I just write that, after taking myself to task over not using what I have already?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the tutorial!
What a beautiful quilt! You should be very proud of it!
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen. Love how the text looks like the night sky. So pretty! : )
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thanks so much for sharing the patterns!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely stunning! Of course it mixes my two all-time favorites--texty fabric and solids!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS doesn't do enough to explain my love for this quilt. It is so perfect!
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful! I hope that you win a prize, you deserve it! Thanks for sharing the link! A hug!
ReplyDeleteIts lovely, lovely and lovely and I love your quilting you can tell you put alot of artistic work into it.
ReplyDeleteI downloaded the patterns what an incredible find, gorgeous and great PDF instructions. I started EPP and PP this mo and I am hooked. this is quilting and designing.. thanks for sharing and sending us to the right places to find the gift.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful quilt! I love how the black text print outlines the star blocks. How did you plan that or was it a very happy accident?
ReplyDelete