Jaftex 85th Anniversary Blog Hop – Prismatic Rainbow

Co-sponosored by: Aurifil Threads, Schmetz Needles, and Janome

I am so excited to help continue the blog hop to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Jaftex. If you are a new visitor to my site, welcome, and I hope you come back to visit again soon!

I had the pleasure of receiving a 20-piece fat quarter bundle called Fusion Illusion from Blank Quilting.

Blank Quilting Fusion Illusion 20-piece Fat Quarter Bundle

I played with organizing groups of colors when I received the bundle, and I was strongly pulled to a delicious rainbow grouping of 12 of the 20 fat quarters.

Fabric Pull and Prep

I worked hard to maximize the use of each fat quarter for the quilt design, and I am so happy to get to share my 48-inch by 64-inch quilt, Prismatic Rainbow with you today! The angled rainbow play of this quilt design reminds me of the prisms I hang in my kitchen window to catch the morning sun and cast rainbows across my home.

Prismatic Rainbow

The Prismatic Rainbow quilt was my original inspiration for creating my Selvage Binding tutorial. When preparing to cut the fat quarters for piecing the top, I started by trimming 1.25-inch wide selvage edges off of each of the 12 fat quarters I selected for the quilt top to set aside and save for a special binding. I think the white edge with touches of color are a special frame and finish for this quilt!

Prismatic Rainbow – Selvage Binding

I tried something new when I started quilting this project; I decided to baste around the quilt edges and sew around each block and triangle first before coming back and filling in the quilting detail. As I was progressing along, I was really concerned about how well I was stitching in the ditch around the blocks, especially along the 45-degree angles. Even with a ruler, the angles were tough, and I was doing my best to keep the quilt super square as I worked my way down. Feeling disappointed with my workmanship, I took a break to flip through one of my favorite books for quilting inspiration, “Shape by Shape” by Angela Walters. As I was looking for inspiration on how I wanted to quilt the triangles, I noticed that Angela also outlines her blocks when she quilts. And you know what? Her stitch in the ditch isn’t 100% perfect either. Seeing those photos of Angela’s work and with her motto, “Better finished than perfect” ringing in my mind, I was excited to get back to quilting!

Prismatic Rainbow – Quilting Detail

I used the beautiful 50wt Aurifil 3817 variegated thread to compliment the beautiful rainbow jewel tones of the Fusion Illusion fabrics. I wanted the quilting to compliment the design and add another layer of depth as well. My hope is that the beautiful rainbow colors and arrangement draw you in, and as you get closer, the alternating quilting designs catch your interest and give a depth and almost 3D effect to the design. The 3817 variegated Aurifil thread tones are also the perfect compliment to that desire.

Prismatic Rainbow

I used the remaining 8 fat quarters (plus a few extra fat quarters) to piece together a backing for the quilt. I just loved getting to see Prismatic Rainbows hanging in the sunshine next to my stained glass window overlooking my backyard.

Prismatic Rainbow

Giveaway! Enter to Win a 20-piece Fusion Illusion Fat Quarter Bundle

***UPDATE*** The Giveaway is now closed.

Jaftex / Blank Quilting Corporation generously donated an additional 20-piece Fusion Illusion Fat Quarter Bundle for me to giveaway to a reader of my blog. To enter, simply leave me a comment letting me know how you follow me (email, Bloglovin, Facebook, Instagram, etc.). The giveaway is open to anyone with a domestic U.S. shipping address, and the giveaway will be open until September 19th at 11:59 PM Eastern. I will use a random number generator to pick a winner, and the winner will have 1 week to respond with their U.S. shipping address or I will select a new winner. Good luck!

Fusion Illusion

September 1 – Kim Diehl guest posting @ American Patchwork & Quilting
September 2 – Pepper @ Pepper at the Quilt Studio
September 3 – Anjeanette @ Anjeanette Klinder
September 4 – Leanne @ The Whole Country Caboodle
September 5 – Mark @ Mark Lipinski’s Blog
September 6 – Heather @ Heather Kojan Quilts
September 7 – Heather @ Trends and Traditions
September 7 – Martha @ Wagons West Designs
September 8 – Linda @ Linda Lum DeBono
September 9 – Heidi @ Red Letter Quilts
September 10 – Jill @ Jillily Studios
September 10 – Dana @ My Lazy Daisy
September 11 – Penny @ Sew Simple Designs
September 12 – Ida @ Cowtown Quilts
September 13 – Liz and Beth @ Lizzie B Cre8ive
September 14 – Melissa @ Sew Bitter Sweet Designs
September 15 – Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl  <== You are here!!
September 16 – Amy @ Kati Cupcake
September 16 – Barbara @ QuiltSoup2
September 17 – Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting
September 18 – Leona @ Leona’s Quilting Adventure
September 19 – Margot @ The Pattern Basket
September 20 – Sylvia @ Flying Parrot Quilts
September 21 – Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts
September 22 – Kim @ Aurifil Threads
September 23 – Rebekah @ Don’t Call Me Becky
September 24 – Julie @ The Crafty Quilter
September 25 – Mary Ellen @ Little Quilts
September 25 – Mary Jane @ Holly Hill Designs
September 26 – Daisy @ Ants to Sugar
September 27 – Melissa @ Happy Quilting
September 28 – Janet @ One S1ster
September 29 – Jenny @ Martingale& Co.
September 30 – Teresa @ Third Floor Quilts

Win Prizes Here: 85th Anniversary Giveaway <== Click to Enter!

There are 13 ways to enter! Prizes include a Janome S5 valued at $1500, an Aurifil thread box valued at $300, a Schmetz needle anniversary tin filled with needles valued at $75, fat quarter bundles, and bolts of fabric for your favorite quilt store!