Octo

Octo started out as unadulterated fabric play.... pull a favorite mix of fabrics, be inspired by a vintage quilt, and go at it creating some improvisational blocks. It all began with a glance through Bold Expressions: African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley: May 15-November 6, 2011, a book my daughter, Rachel/@snippetsofsnippets, purchased for me when she was fortunate enough to view the exhibit. The quilt that directly influenced mine was "Giant Octagons with Dividing Bars Quilt," made by an anonymous maker in Mississippi in the 1930s-40s. 

It didn't take much to figure out the improv "snowball" block, as it's commonly known. And made up in some coordinating prints made it super endearing. I'm not usually a fan of sashing and borders, but considering my original inspiration, I just went with it. I made it my own with the varying widths in both, with the added fun of some piecing in the borders.

For the backing, I found the perfect ombre stripe in my stash, Lulu by Chez Moi for Moda Fabrics. Measuring 38" x 51", the quilt top barely fit my chosen backing, but I was careful, and it worked. 

For quilting, I debated, and finally settled on Fancy Straight Line, a favorite from Jacquie Gering's  WALK, ETA: using Aurifil 50wt #2975 [Brass]. Having used a combination of solid quilting cottons and Diamond Textiles' yarn-dyed cottons, an exceptional amount of texture was created during quilting, and I'm not quite sure if it was my basting or the fabric mix, but in the end I find it fits the mood of the quilt just fine. That, and the yard-dyeds lent a luxurious and soft drape that I love. Batting in this one was Quilter's Dream Select, which may have also added to that drape, but at any rate, it's a soft, cuddly quilt.

I meant to mention, to bolster my memory if nothing else, that the beginning bit of inspiration for my fabric pull for this quilt was a piece of Martini in Mustard from Midwest Modern by Amy Butler. It's the lighter print in the above photo. I've enjoyed this print over the years in more than one colorway, and used most of what I had left as the back for my recent Bow Ties No. 1. For this quilt, I made as many blocks as possible with my remaining bits, so now there are truly only scraps left. So expect to see the last of it in at least one more small project.

It felt like this simple quilt took me forever. For some reason, machine-sewing time has been more limited than usual, so on one hand it dragged on; on the other, it was always nice to come back to. And it reminded me just how much I enjoy the modern traditional aesthetic. Here's to more of it.

I Love Random

Here's some fun randomness I've been collecting up to share with you!

First up, an awesome Polaroid quilt from OccasionalPiece-Quilt! Isn't it fun? Read all about it here.

Snippets of Sweetness shared her "Top Ten Things I Learned at Sewing Summit", and they are definitely worth checking out!

Katie from Katie's Korner invited several of us bloggy friends to join in making a quilt for a special little boy a while back. Just look at the colorful Snowball quilt she made! It was awesome to be a part of this project!

Oh, Fransson! posted a really helpful post about making patchwork panels for a structured bag this week. Ie. Think Weekender! Though the technique would be useful in a myriad of other projects too! Just look at the sweet wristlet she made!

Speaking of Weekenders, verykerryberry shared recently about crazes, and I agree with her about that bag!

Lastly, somehow the fall Blogger's Quilt Festival totally snuck up on me! It starts tomorrow!!

To Participate : : 
1 – Write a new post the week of the festival, featuring one of your finished quilt.
2 – In your post link back to the festival.
3 – Share a link to your post, in the linky on the festival post.
4 – Leave a comment on the festival post to be entered into giveaways.
5 – Visit the other quilters sharing their quilts and be inspired!

In your Blogger’s Quilt Festival post, be sure to include a few specifics about your finished quilt: 

Quilt Measurements 

Special Techniques used, if any 

Quilted by… 

Best category it fits into (see here)

If you haven't participated before, this is a huge online event! You really don't want to miss it!

Linking up with Really Random Thursday.

W.i.P. Wednesday

Time in the sewing room have been pretty slim this last week, but that doesn't mean W.i.P. Wednesday doesn't show up right on schedule!

Completed projects
September bee blocks are back in the mail, along with some Snowball blocks for a special charity project.

Polaroid block project - This little bag got its own post, and still makes me smile when I see it on my sewing table. I'm anxious to play with more Polaroid blocks, but it may be a while.

Ongoing projects
Caught by a nasty virus this last week, I honestly didn't have much energy to sew, so what little I did do was flit between projects.

Modern Crosses quilt - Blocks are all cut out now and three more stitched together.

Mod Pop Quiltalong - All my cutting is done(!) and I had great success using my templates and smallest rotary cutter. I couldn't help but piece just enough curves to test a block up on the design wall. Promising!

Christmas quilt - This probably doesn't look like much just yet, but I do have a plan, and these are the 9 center blocks of it, and yes, it's what I had in my mind's eye. More to tell as I get more blocks done.

Dresden project - no progress.

Upcoming projects
* nametag for Sewing Summit
* scrappy Metrolink - who knows when, but I still really want to!
* another frame purse
* use Polaroid blocks
* placemats
* Binary quilt using blocks from Modern Blocks Bee
* Sew Lux Challenge project NEW
* UR Priceless Blog Hop project NEW

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.