Mango in Multiples

When I shared the Mango block last week, in no way did I expect to see it in use by others immediately, but I did! First there was Jeannie who whipped up her own version in no time at all!

Not far behind was Anneliese with a mini Mango of her own.

And what random timing - but Tina/seaside stitches posted the original Mango on Instagram, where it was hanging at the Stitching Stars Quilt Show presented by the Ninigret Quilters in Westerly, Rhode Island. How fun is that?

It got me thinking that maybe I should get to work on another Mango of my own . . .

The Mango Block

A while back along my quilting journey, I joined the For the Love of Solids Swap. At the time, it was a really big deal for me - a challenge to come up with something unique, all in solid fabrics of course. After much trial and error, self-questioning, and debating, I came up with this quilt.

I have always thought of it as "Mango," since that was my partner Tina's favorite color and what started me on this palette. At the time I posted the finished quilt, I got quite a few inquiries about a pattern. But that was nowhere on my radar at the time - it was only by guess and by golly that I even got Mango put together, making it up as I went along.

But I've thought off and on since that I should at least make up a pattern for the basic block, and thanks to the efforts of my friend Marci/Marci Girl Designs, that is now a reality. Though the block is my design, Marci has created easy-to-use templates for us all. {You can find them here and here.}  Let me take you through construction and then I'll share a mini quilt I made to showcase the block.

Each block measures 6" finished. Start with a 7" square of both your background fabric and corner feature fabric. Right-sides together, mark a line diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. Stitch 1/4" on either side of the marked line, and then cut on the diagonal line. Press your two half-square triangle blocks, with seams open

This time around, I chose to make the center of my block in the same fabrics as the corner, with fabrics reversed. In that case, you can cut templates A and C from the same square. (If you'd like template A in another fabric, start with 4 1/2" squares and make hsts in the same way.)

Cut your block arc using template B.

Here's what you'll have for 1 block. Note that the arc is pressed in half.

If you are experienced in stitching curves, you may choose to do it without pins. But if not, start with 1 pin in the center.

Match up one edge and pin carefully. Match and pin the opposite edge, and then continue to pin with edges even. I found a couple more on each side was plenty. Stitch center triangle and arc together.

Press well. I chose to press towards the arc.

Add corner piece in a similar fashion, beginning with a single pin in the center.

Press well. 

Tutorial available in pdf format

And that's it! As a sample of how the block can be used, I made a mini quilt using 4 blocks in alternating fabrics. 

Prints are from Jeni Baker's Nordika; solids are Couture Cottons in Charcoal and Mermaid combined with Kona Snow. I find that the Couture Cottons and Art Gallery fabrics are an especially good mix texture-wise, and they both have a similar sheen. In my limited experience with both, I find them luxurious to quilt. I took this opportunity to try a few new patterns, quilting-wise. I used Aurifil 50wt Spring Green Acquarelli #4662, whose variations in color added such a visual interest that I wish you could see in person. As an added touch, I added a binding flange a la Jaybird Quilts.

I feel a little guilty, but I just had to use the Nordika panel on the back. I'm really glad I did, though, as it and the quilting compliment each other and just plain make me smile.

If you use The Mango Block in a project of your own, I'd love to have you share it in the Quilting with A Quilter's Table flickr group. And Marci! Thank you again!!

This project was listed on my FAL Q4 list. Linking up with Little Quilt Monday, Fabric Tuesday, and Finish It Up Friday.

Mango Revisited

After much thought about which project to enter in the Bloggers' Quilt Festival, I decided on my "Mango" quilt. It was a challenge in many ways, and was created specifically for my secret partner in the For the Love of Solids swap. We were all given our partner's favorite color, and an inspirational mosaic. We were able to cruise through their blog, and snoop around their flickr photostream. And then, we were to create something special, backed by all that quilty knowledge. Talk about pressure!

Besides the color mango, my partner liked circles, and had somewhat modern tastes. Thankfully, her answer to "Likes" being "whatever you enjoy" gave me some relief and a sense of freedom.

An idea developed in my  mind, and when I couldn't find a pattern that was just right, I went to my cutting table, surrounded by my tools of the trade and drew, cut, sewed, recut, resewed, etc., and finally came up with a small block I liked.

I tweaked one more time to enlarge the arches, and finally set to work making the little blocks.

I distributed three shades of orange evenly through the blocks, both in the rings, and in the "pinwheels." Four shades of gray went into each block center, then were used to frame the blocks somewhat arbitrarily. 

Finally, it was time to quilt. I chose to use variegated thread for the first time to tie all the oranges together, with a wavy quilting stitch to enhance the curves in the blocks.

Bound up in medium gray, off it went to my partner, Tina of Seaside Stitches. 

Though the process of making this quilt was nerve-wracking at times and filled with indecision, it stretched me in good ways. Using only solids and creating my own design were gratifying steps forward in my quilting journey.

Fabric is KONA cotton; batt is Warm and White Cotton Batting. Finished size approx. 42" square. If you would like to see my original post about this quilt, including a look at the back, see here. Thanks!

Linking up to the Bloggers' Quilt Festival! Hope to see you there!