The design group I am a part of is working on a group quilt. The overarching goal is to create a group quilt that is both cohesive in design while reflecting each quilter within the group.
I would like to thank Painter’s Palette and Hobbs for supplying fabric and batting. I had a beautifully washed, pressed, and stacked fabric bundle that I had meant to photograph, but apparently I did not before cutting and making blocks. Oops! Below are the color swatches for the representative fabrics that I pulled from the Painter’s Palette website.
Upper row (left to right): Midnight, Lapis, River, Cracked Ice
Lower row (left to right): Colonial Blue, Wind, Fireworks, Lipstick
So did you catch the part about pre-washing? As soon as I received the fabric it went straight into the wash. However, it then sat waiting to be ironed for several weeks. I am fascinated by how I have resistance around fabric prep. I don’t mind ironing my seams, but prepping fabric (that goes for cutting when I’m ready to start a project, too) really is something I am not eager to begin. Once I get started, though, I’m off to the races. So much so that I apparently don’t pause for photography!
F is For Block Design
So what did I do instead of ironing? Well, design, of course! Here are the design rules we are all working with:
- Full log cabin or quarter log cabin blocks may be used.
- Blocks must incorporate half square triangles in some way.
- Width of the strips within the log cabin blocks do not need to be equal.
- Block can be square or rectangular (any aspect ratio can be used) and finish between about 4″ to 18″ on each side.
- No wonky seams or blocks.
- All seams to be pressed open.
Keeping the idea that the blocks should represent me in some way, I set out to doodle letter shapes using log cabin blocks. I couldn’t get a good looking Y (although I may have just given up too early), but I was able to quickly create a block that incorporates an F (for my last name Fuchs).
F is for Block Construction
For each block, I took a photograph showing that I was indeed following the log cabin style construction for the final block assembly. I used Midnight, Lapis, River, and Cracked Ice, and the F is for Block finishes at 10″ square (10 1/2″ unfinished).
Quarter Dogwood Block Construction
The next block I designed is a nod toward Tennessee, the state where my family still lives and where I went to college. One of my favorite times of year in Tennessee is spring time when all the dogwood trees are in blossom. I used Fireworks, Colonial Blue, Cracked Ice, and Midnight. The Quarter Dogwood Block finishes at 12″ square (12 1/2″ unfinished).
Transparency Cabin Block Construction
The final design that I came up with has a bit of transparency play. I used Fireworks, Cracked Ice, River, and Midnight in the block. The Transparency Cabin Block finishes at 18″ square (18 1/2″ unfinished).
First Three Group Quilt Blocks
Some final thoughts about the blocks I have made: I love that the F’s in the “F is for…” block are subtle. In fact, it looks more like an equal sign, which also plays off my technical/math loving side. My blocks range from having 1 HST, to 3 HSTs to almost being fully constructed using HSTs, ha! I also spread the block sizes apart and used the largest block size for the transparency design because I do love large, graphic quilts (I like big blocks).
I will be sending my blocks off to the group. Just because I made these blocks doesn’t mean they will make it into the assembled quilt top (note: at least one block from each member will be used). Because the goal is to make a cohesive quilt, we are making a few initial blocks and based on how our initial blocks look together, we will each take stock and make a few more blocks to contribute. I had a lot of fun working within the design parameters and look forward to coming up with a few more blocks later in the summer!
I’m guessing I might need to work on the smaller side of the piecing scale next time. And maybe I’ll play with varying the log width within the block. I also haven’t used Wind or Lipstick yet in any of my blocks, so I’d like to incorporate them during the next round.
Have you ever worked on a group quilt before? How did the process evolve for your group?
Really interesting project. I really like the design guidelines – so many possibilities with these lovely fabrics
I really like your F block! The HST in the middle gives it extra flair. I’ve contributed to one row robin and enjoyed the blocks that I made for it. Unfortunately, it seems to have stalled with the final person, but I hope to see a finished quilt someday.
Love the bright intense colors. Had to check out the site to look at collections of designs. Their solids are wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
I’ll be very interested to read about how this progresses. I’ve not done something like this before and it is fascinating.
I like these blocks….a LOT. You have thought it through and they turned out great.
The only thing close to a group quilt that I have been involved with is a Friendship quilt and I was the last to contribute. The blocks for the quilt were made by a group of ladies many years ago. The “friend” had long since passed and so had others. The remaining friends wanted the blocks to be put together and asked me to do it (don’t ask me why, I guess they thought I could do it. So, I made 2 more blocks to get the numbers right and then put the whole thing together. I have moved from there (Elkins, Arkansas) and don’t know if they got around to quilting it or not. I enjoyed it though. 🙂
Those are great blocks. Very creative on the F block.
oh I especially love your Transparency Cabin block!
I think your blocks are all fabulous. It will be interesting to see what the quilt looks like with each designer’s own interpretations. I have done quilt a few group quilts – ones where we did a round robin, charity quilts, or even bee block quilts. All are fun, and each experience is so different.
Such fun blocks and I like the duality of the F block–excellent. I NEVER pre-wash my Painter’s Palette Solids. I don’t need to as Linda Hungerford has such done fine job of explaining why not (and I’ve never had any troubles, either). Since you are Wabi-Sabi-ing it, that may come as a relief as you cut and sew while traveling.
I like this way of approaching a group quilt – it will be very interesting to see how it all works out. Your colours are very appealing too, lovely blues with those orange-y pink-y tones. I try to be disciplined about the washing/ironing now, but I do struggle with it. Ironing is just boring for starters but also when I want to start, I want to start, not mess about for 24 hours or more waiting for things to dry!
Love the symbolism in your blocks Yvonne. It will be interesting to see the quilt as a whole!
Never worked on a group quilt in this way. I do love how un log cabin your blocks look. It’s quite interesting to me…the process.
I would have recognised these as yours straight off. The rules made me smile. No wonky seams. You never sewed a wonky seam lin your life.
forgot to add, the nearest I have been to group quilts, is group charity quilts. I used to sew quite a few blocks for those, none recently
I absolutely LOVE how everyone is so encourage in comments on BlogLovin posts. Thanks everyone for lifting my spirits! I like them all, but I must say as your Mama, I especially liked the nod to Tennessee! In case people didn’t know, Tennessee is often referred to as the land of Big Orange. Yvonne’s alma mater, University of Tennessee, school colors are orange and white. Yvonne has often said day glow orange!
I am loving your color palette. You come up with amazing, unique designs. Thanks for sharing your ideas.