I am so excited to share my latest finish with you today: my entry for the Modern Quilt Guild Fabric Challenge using “The Cottage Garden” by The Quilted Fish from Riley Blake Designs, which I am calling the Lucent Quilt! The more I worked on and thought about the quilt, the more I realized that this quilt is is not really a Swoon block, nor a Star of Magi block, but the quilt design stands on the shoulders of these two awesome block designs. Camille said she saw the traditional (Star of Magi) block, made it big, and broke it into more parts to eliminate the Y seams when she came up with her “Swoon” block. I saw Camille’s Swoon quilt, made the block even bigger, and added back a select number of Y seams to allow for continuous cuts of fabric.
Lucent Quilt
I signed up for this challenge because I really liked the fabrics (teal, grey and white go so well together!) and because the challenge rules really spoke to me as well.
The rules for the challenge are:
- Make something fantastic that is quilted.
- Make something you have never done before.
- Challenge yourself to learn something new.
- Use only Riley Blake “The Cottage Garden” fabrics and coordinating Riley Blake basics and solids.
I hope you agree with me that this Giant Swoon quilt is fantastic.
Lucent Quilt
I had never made a swoon block before this quilt, and if “The Cottage Garden” prints are not swoon worthy, then I do not know what would be (although the quilt is not a swoon block as it uses full cuts of fabric instead of HSTs)! Because some of the prints in “The Cottage Garden” series are so large and graphic, I up-sized the swoon block to 72-inches square to really show off the prints.
Lucent Quilt
Prior to this quilt top I had also never sewn Y-seams. The challenge I presented to myself was for each print fabric in the swoon block to be from one continuous piece (again, to allow the prints to really shine), which required 8 Y-seams in the piecing method I created.
Lucent Quilt
The fabrics I used in the quilt top are:
- Cottage Main in Gray (the center of the swoon block)
- Cottage Newsprint in Teal (the flying geese around the center and binding)
- Cottage Wallpaper in Teal (the vertical and horizontal “house” blocks)
- Cottage Birds in Gray (the angled “house” blocks)
- Cottage Wallpaper in Gray (the angled points / diamonds)
- Cottage Aster in White (the cornerstones of the swoon block)
- Riley Blake Basics – Solid Clean White (the background and backing)
Lucent Quilt
I pieced the quilt top with 50wt Aurifil 2610, my go-to piecing thread. In retrospect I probably should have used 2021 (white) when I was piecing the white.
For the quilting, I used a combination of 3 50wt Aurifil threads that I color matched to the fabrics: 2021 (natural white), 1148 (light jade), and 2620 (stainless steel). I coordinated my bobbin thread with the thread I was using on top, so the quilt back has a subtle color scheme that matches the piecing on the front of the quilt. I estimate that I used 2275 yards / 6825 feet / ~1.25 miles of thread in the quilting!
Lucent Quilt
I spent the better part of one morning (probably 2-3 hours) just mapping out my quilting plan.
I opted for straight line quilting across the background, and while I outlined each major component of the swoon block, I wanted the block to “float” with the extension border I added, so I did not define the outside edge of the block to border transition.
On top of the center block, I chose to use a flower pattern to echo the beautiful floral print. I love how the Aurifil stainless steel thread blends in so perfectly on the front but how the quilting pattern I chose then pops on the back to echo the print from the quilt top.
On top of the text print I used a meandering loop in light jade, and for the teal wallpaper print I chose to use a stipple. I like how the change in size of the quilting reads on the back of the quilt and indicates the scale of the fabric from the front.
For the gray wallpaper print I used a combination of paisleys and pebbles, and the stainless steel blended in so well that it was a challenge to see where I was going while I was quilting this portion!
I thought that a meandering leaf / vine pattern would best compliment and suit the bird print.
Finally, for the asters and cornerstones, I decided to go with a little bit of dot to dot quilting and then filled in the secondary design with arcs and swirls. I quilted over the aster print with white.
Lucent Quilt
The pieced swoon block finished at 72-inches square, and the quilt top finished at 80-inches square prior to quilting. After quilting, trimming, and binding the quilt is now 79.5-inches wide by 77.5-inches long. I believe that the horizontal matchstick quilting allowed the quilt to shrink a bit more vertically.
Lucent Quilt
I really enjoyed this fabric challenge, and I am excited to have a beautiful quilt as a result!
Lucent Quilt
Linking up to TGIFF, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, and Finish It Friday.
You met the challenge with flying colors! Its beautiful Yvonne! The quilting is amazing!
the colours are so calming and restful Yvonne, very very nice. I would love to do a swoon quilt sometime even though I am not 100% sure what they are…. one quilt that comprises one big star block? Would love one on my bed
forgot to say, good luck with your entry.
You designed and created a spectacular quilt! I have seen whole quilts using only 1 block before, but not very often and I really think that yours is beautiful! Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
You definitely met all the requirements. It is fantastic and swoon-worthy. Love it! Especially all your quilting details. The added border space is a wonderful addition.
This turned out SO beautifully, Yvonne!!! I agree with the other comments that you absolutely met all of the requirements, and resulted in a fabulous quilt finish. Your quilting looks wonderful. Maddie’s favorite is the square-on back of the quilt photo “I like THAT quilt”, and Max’s favorite is the photo with your swoon in front of the swoon-worthy mountain scene. You live in a gorgeous place! Best of luck with the entry!
Loved your Giant Swoon from front view Yvonee! And I’m practically flipping out after seeing the back and the close up details of your beautiful quilting. You did a great job of meeting this challenge!
Sorry about the typo on your name. Klutzy today.
I agree that it is fantastic!! You did an awesome job. Now I want to make a giant swoon.
Yvonne, this turned out fabulously!! Love the colors and your quilting just makes it sing! I think you went above and beyond for this challenge! Good luck in the challenge 🙂
Looks spectacular! I know how hard you must have worked to finish it up and get the photos yesterday. I am amazed!!! The quilting is gorgeous. I know everyone will love what you’ve done with it. And I CAN’T WAIT for your tutorial.
So thankful (even though it’s not Thursday) that the needed fabrics got to you in time. It turned out beautifully. The scale of this single block quilt really gives one a chance to admire the large scale of some of those challenge fabrics (a fat eighth doesn’t give one much to work with!) and your quilting is… well, awesome. Well done!
That is some dense and gorgeous quilting! Really fits the design of the block.
Bravo! The quilting is such a lovely compliment to this gorgeous design. Great use of the fabrics! Good for you taking on those Y seams. You have outdone yourself and surpassed all the required challenges! This is one big and beautiful quilt!
I seriously cannot wait for your tutorial!!! You have inspired me with this gorgeous quilt
Absolutely gorgeous finish! Loved how you kept the fabric intact, even though it involved Y seams. Very inspiring.
I love the colors, the quilting and the whole quilt. Mastering Y seams is an accomplishment. Instead of shortcutting the top you went the whole way!
This is just darling! The quilting is spectacular. I love your “coloring page” to plan the quilting, too.
So, so beautiful. I love cottage garden. I have a layer cake that I’ve been holding onto trying to find the right project for it.
I LOVE giant quilt block quilts and yours especially. What a perfect design for that line of fabric! And your quilting is gorgeous. That’s a winner! Good luck and thanks for linking up with TGIFF!
This is a great quilt all the way around. I love the colors and all the quilting texture you brought to it. Good luck with the challenge.
Oh it’s spectacular! I love that you used complete pieces for each block, it really makes the star pop!
This is one beautiful looking quilt! Hope it does well!
I love a single block quilt! Up-sizing is a whole different way to appreciate a design. Swoon is one I’d love to try, but I’m not sure my skill set is ready for that.
I’m wondering if you did your horizontal matchstick at the beginning, during, or end of your quilt, and how you moved from area to area. I’m new to machine quilting and have only done straight line, but don’t know how to “jump” over a different element in a block or quilt. Any guidance would be appreciated.
This is beautiful! Your quilting complements the piecing so well. I have been pondering lately supersizing some other traditional blocks. It really gives lots of real estate for the quilting :).
I think you really nailed the challenge. This is a beautiful quilt! From the choice of colours to the fantastic quilting. The whole quilt flows.
Gorgeous! I love how you’ve used the fabrics so well – the solid pieces really lets them shine!
This turned out great! I love that fabric line. And a giant Swoon, a great match 🙂 The quilting looks wonderful. That’s a lot of thread!
Yep, I agree with you that it is fantastic! I love that you mentioned how much thread you used…it’s rather amazing when you think about it, isn’t it?
Definitely fantastic, such a great design for those lovely fabrics. And your quilting is just amazing, I really love how it looks from the back with those subtle colour changes.
I love the grey and teal and your quilting is divine! I really enjoyed seeing the process photos on IG. What a beautiful finish!
It is beautiful on both sides! You are getting really good at it! Well done!
A stunner!
Love big block quilts and this looks fab – beautiful way to show off the fabrics. Really like the leaf quilting too
I just love what you did with this fabric and the challenge! You really made the prints shine, and the quilting patterns you chose look so pretty with them!! And the mix of straight line and FMQ is perfect! What are you going to do with the quilt after the challenge?
Beautiful! I love the quilting on the back too!
Oh I love the pattern and quilting. Congrats on conquering those y-seams!
Yvonne, If I owned this, I think I would spend most of my time, looking at the back rather than the front. Not that the front is not beautiful and totally swoon worthy but really, I am in love with the intricate and fanciful quilting you chose. It might make me be inspired enough to learn how to machine quilt. Again, Bravo!
This is gorgeous! The way you placed the fabrics really *does* let them shine, but it’s your quilting that steals the show. Simply stunning.