A year ago we were in the thick of preparing for a four-month camping trip through the northwest including two months in Alaska. Commemorating the trip through fabric was on my mind. Collecting fabrics or designing quilts that reminded me of the trip or collecting row by row quilt kits from shops on the route was the question. Of course, I did all three! I took the collected patterns and kits and fabrics to our winter home but did little work on them as Texas projects emerged to take priority. Back home this spring and reflecting on the trip I have started pulling them out, one by one. First on the list was the moose pattern purchased in Juneau. A number of quotes came to mind as I planned the project: “It moost be a moosetake”(what I told my husband when I had the proposed fabrics spread out); “Time out for a brief moosage from our sponsors”; “Charmoose” (the fabric connection); and, of course, “Chocolate moose”. It couldn’t be traditional as nothing about the trip was traditional so it had to be done in funky, fun fabrics but all I had collected from the trip were Alaskan-themed batiks and lots of them. They could be the backing. What’s brighter and less moose-like than Kaffe Fasset, of course!! So the blocks are ready for decorative outline stitching which must be done in the most brilliant thread colors I have. Oh , this is going to be so much fun and therefore provides the incentive for getting busy to finish soon!

Week 4 of 4

“It’s A Mystery” Quilt Challenge by Sharon Wasteney, Something Stitched

Always use a ¼” seam allowance. Press seam allowances toward the solid.

Block E requires these pieces:

(2) 6 ½” x 21 ½”;

(1) 6 ½” x 9 ½”;

(1) 6 ½” x 6 ½”;

(4) 3 ½” x 3 ½” squares, one of each print numbered 1through 4.

 

Sew #1 print to #3 print, press seam to #3; sew #2 print to #4 print, press seam to #2. Join #1,3 to #2,4 forming a four patch block.

Sew 6 ½” x 9 ½” to left edge of four patch and 6 ½” square to the right edge.

Sew 6 ½” x 21 ½” to top and bottom of enhanced four patch block.

 

 

 

 

 

Finished size of Block E will be 21 ½” width and 18 ½” height.

Block F requires one each of these pieces:

(1) 3 ½” x 18 ½”;

(1) 6 ½” x 9 ½”;

(1) 9 ½” x 18 ½”,

(1) 3 ½” x 6 ½”;

(4) 3 ½” x 3 ½” squares, one of each print numbered 1 through 4.

 

Sew #2 print to #4 print, press seam to #4; sew #1 print to #3 print, press seam to #1. Join #2,4 to #1,3 forming a four patch block.

Sew 6 ½” x 9 ½” to left side of four patch block and 3 ½” x 6 ½” to the right side.

Sew 3 ½” x 18 ½” to top of enhanced four patch.

Sew 9 ½” x 18 ½” to bottom

 

 

 

 

 

Finished size of Block F will be 18 ½” width and 18 ½” height.

Sew block E to block F. Sew E/F to A/B/C/D piece.

You’re done!! I told you it was simple. I hope you enjoy thinking about how you might quilt this project. As with many modern designs it leaves a lot of negative space for stitching.

Prepare top to be quilted by layering backing, batting and top. Baste as desired and quilt as desired. I quilted mine with interlocking squares in various sizes corresponding with the sizes used in the top but it could also just use some vertical and horizontal lines with a heavier or decorative thread to stand out or hand stitch with big stitches in a contrasting thread. This is a great opportunity to let quilting take center stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My morning and early afternoon was spent dyeing vintage linens and over dyeing other fabrics with a Texas friend. While she likes bright colors I tend to stick to the more grayed organic tones. I like to dye fabrics with someone who is my opposite in color choices because it compels me to pour those bright colors over my linens and enjoy the surprising results. I can’t think of any vintage linen I have dyed that I haven’t liked when I finally took it out of the dryer. They may not be as bright as I had hoped, they may have been brighter than I hoped, but they always have an amazing beauty that pleases my artistic muse and I seem to find a use for them. Because I like to make nature inspired art quilts I find I need those bright bits of color to make the project more interesting. Bright bits of color in friendships make my life more interesting as well.