Thursday, April 13, 2017

Freefall Spring Quilt Along



Freefall Spring Quilt Along 2017



My dear friend, Sandra, at mmm! Quilts is in the midst of her Spring Quilt Along, and I'm finally getting to show you my progress. Details can be found HERE, and the second linky HERE. The pattern is being issued biweekly for free so be sure to download it as it comes out.

About that black leaf: First of all you're thinking, "That doesn't look very spring-y." And I would fully agree with you. But I would also say I thought this project through ahead of time--for once, and knew I would be more inclined to use this as a late summer/early fall wall hanging than spring. The first fabric I had to choose with that in mind was the background. Moda Grunge in a rusty orange was an obvious first pick. Then I raided all my Art Gallery Fabrics, and without regard to color or print, I combined them. It was like making Kitchen Sink Soup. They were all going in. The one factor that they would have in common was they had nothing in common. But these are really beautiful fabrics and gorgeous prints! I had faith. It would work.




I started off by making one simple test block from cheap fabric. This saved me more times than you could guess! I'm a visual-spatial person, and work best by looking at how something's constructed.



Mock Up

Then I cut out all my fabric according to the instructions, laid out the Moda Grunge piece of fabric intended for the giant leaf, and laid the small leaf palettes on, off, and half on/off to determine placement. 

Is it scaring you yet? (I was a little worried at this point, too.)



Then I started making blocks.
The colors do not 'go together', but they do 
exist like this in nature.


There were a few mishaps with the leaf points. I had made my own paper templates to paper piece with, cut my fabrics for the outer portions much larger than called for, and I still screwed it up. Remember there are no Quilt Police! I just added a flap to the corner with a scrap, and if I hadn't pointed it out you would never know. This isn't the only block I had to patch either.



It almost makes my eyes hurt. No, really, by this 
point I was convincing myself the fabrics went together.



Art Galley Fabrics feel like silk, and have 
outstanding graphics.


One does actually match!


Beautifully appropriate with 'deers In the woods' as one
young son used to talk about while going to sleep.

This is the end of the first sewing installment, and I'm eagerly looking forward to making and sharing the next. Like all blocks that get a little complicated, I had to relax and take my time. The blocks did take time to sew, but I found that laying out several at once was helpful to me, and then chain sewing. I think it's going to be a very beautiful, if not flat out interesting looking piece when finished. I hope you check back in a few weeks. 

Where it's never boring.
Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.

Linking up with~
Crazy Mom Quilts
mmm! Quilts




8 comments:

Jen said...

I think your leaves are fabulous! I love the color scheme. I think they still "go together" even though they don't match. It will be very striking when put together.

Tish Stemple said...

I love it! Really when you think about it, fall is just nature's large scrappy quilt, so these fabrics make perfect sense to me. I can't wait to see it all come together. It kind of has me rethinking my color palette. I wanted to spring and fresh and sweet smelling flowers very badly, but you leave me craving fall, and pumpkin, apple pie and the smell of fresh fallen leaves :)

SandraC said...

I love your fabric choices!

works4me said...

Definitely cool looking, no pun intended. It's going to be a fabulous quilt.

Janice Holton said...

Well, you didn't give us a peak of all the blocks together but I think the fabrics are really fun! And they give that fall vibe. I think it's going to be very striking! I have been watching this QAL with great interest. I wanted to join in but just have too many other things to do at the moment. But I think I'll probably end up making this. Sandra's design is genious!

Sandra Walker said...

Gorgeous blocks dahhling! Thank you for being a trusty tester, and for linking up! This has a Fall vibe, but a modern Fall, as only AGF can do-LOVE them.

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

It may not be traditional colours but I love it. Great contrast and I especially love the black leaf, and the pale blue one with the mustard and orange, love that fabric.

Barb Neiwert said...

Shoot - I'm doing this QAL but I'm already behind. I've got the pieces cut out, but nothing sewn. Guess I'd better get to it! Your blocks will be very Fall-ish!