Monday, May 25, 2020

Let It Be

After my last couple of quilt projects being created from repurposed fabric, I found myself in the mood for scraps. Usually that will mean heading straight to the scrap basket full of print scraps. But my solid scrap bin was also overwhelmingly full, and that's what called to me this time. Specifically, scrappy stripes.


I love stripes, and there's no shortage of stripes, especially improv stripes, amongst the many quilts I've made. For this project, I came up with a simple block design - basically a slab of coordinating stripes, finished with a strip along the left edge in one of the stripe colors. For a long while, I just worked at filling my design wall with them, a variety of all shapes and sizes, all mandated, of course, by the scraps themselves.

So eventually I had pretty much filled the wall with blocks, and used up the scraps that would work. I mentioned on Instagram that I had no idea what was next, and the overwhelming response was one of 'leave them just the way they are!' Well that wasn't totally a bad idea, but there were gaps here and there so I set to filling in the gaps with 'design wall gray' aka Kona Overcast. Kind of crazy, maybe, but I really liked it! [Below is the 'before filling the gaps' photo; the next is the completed top.]


The most unusual thing about this entire project is that once I got all the blocks together, the quilt 'top' was nowhere near square. And the notion that that was ok began to grow.


A backing was pieced from stash, with the majority share-holder being a long-hoarded (since 2012!) Jay McCarroll Center City print. Even now, I'm kinda sad it's 'gone' but then again, it suited the quilt so well.


For quilting, I did a horizontal-ish organic straight-line using a variegated Aurifil 50 wt #4653 [spring prairie]. It actually felt pretty perfect, obvious but subtle amidst the array of color.




Binding was a little wider than my normal 2" strips, as I had some jellyroll strips that suited the quilt perfectly. I used six shades of blue and green loosely coordinating with the blocks they touched. And happily the slightly wider binding felt like a serendipitous choice. And by the way, there were curves. Meaning I chose not to trim this quilt 'square' in the least, but followed the edges of the blocks on each side. Trimming off any more than necessary bits of the striped blocks seemed totally inappropriate and unnecessary this time around.


So finished, the quilt measures, starting with the top and moving clockwise: 70" x 55" x 67" x 50". I can honestly say that creating my wonkiest quilt ever was nowhere in my mind when I started out a few weeks ago. But does it make sense, or what? To me, in these times, it totally does.


A little postscript if you will... I did a little poll on Instagram. Just fun to see where other folks are at.



Interesting, no? I think so. And glad, this time at least, I just let it be.

Linking up with Meadow Mist Designs' Favorite Finish Monthly Linkup!

26 comments:

  1. Everything about this quilt is so fun and I enjoyed reading about your decisions along the way. Also cool idea to insert the grey of your design wall! I'm not sure I could make a wonky quilt as I'm in the squaring up camp but it's nice to know it can be done!

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  2. I think this quilt is amazing - and in this time of "restrictions" and "lockdowns", the universe really needed a wonky "Let it be" quilt. Great finish!

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  3. this is a charming quilt--I love those wonky stripes and that it didn't HAVE to be squared...
    ~ ~ ~ waving from afar Julierose

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  4. Perfect name for your "quarantine quilt". Enjoy your finish and the wonk :) xo

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  5. Best decision ever to leave the quilt unsquared, to me it is barely noticeable anyway. I will have an ear worm of Let it Be for the rest of the day :)

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  6. Very interesting poll results! I really like that you filled in the gaps with "design wall gray"; until you pointed it out (again), I didn't really see them and was delighted in seeing all the stripes and how they fit together. The quilt hangs nice and flat and is well constructed; "square" isn't always the right choice!

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  7. Beautifully exciting quilt, and you let it speak for itself. The 'wonkiness'
    echoes all the curves going on inside. Excellent design choice.
    Here's to embracing your inner artist!

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  8. I'm so glad you went with the wonk! IRL, it feels pretty wonky with what's happening in the world! I admire that you embraced it, and for a quilter that's saying a lot! Beautifully done Debbie. It's much bigger than I thought it would be!

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  9. What a striking quilt! I so love all solids that create quite the pattern by themselves. I agree not all quilts need to be squared, I am guilty of that as well and once my quilt bowed at the bottom and I just left it as a feature, it was also an improv quilt.

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  10. Your quilt is such a thing of beauty.

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  11. Yeah for the wonk! LOVE your quilt.

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  12. Your work on this quilt reminded me of Nancy Crow and her modern quilts. If you've not heard of her before, just Google her name. She's a legend here in Ohio.

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  13. I love this!The colors are wonderful, just like an art piece!

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  14. Wonderful use of your scraps! I'm trying to be more open to the idea of 'wonk'. Who actually cares if a quilt is perfectly square!:)

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  15. Love the wonky so out of the box but works perfectly with this quilt. Great job

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  16. This one is just amazing! I love it so much!!!

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  17. I love this one! The colors are perfect.

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  18. As usual...Well done!!! Love it!

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  19. Love your process. Do you mind if I use your block design idea? That left side strip truly gives each block presence and definition. Fun, fun, fun quilt. Liz in Houston

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  20. Love how you embraced the serendipity of this piece each step of the way. Probably one of my favorite quilts you've made. I admire those who can go with the flow of wonky.

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  21. I loved seeing this quilt come together and how you made all of the different sized blocks work together. Great finish!

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