When I read the Project Quilting 17.4 prompt, Of Another Era, last Sunday, I immediately knew I wanted to consider something with a 1960s graphic design aesthetic and color palette. So, after poking around Pinterest for palette inspiration, the first thing I did was select my fabric for the project.
PQ17.4 Fabric Pull
I chose Kona Cotton in Chocolate for the background and selected Aqua, Pool, Nectarine, and Canary for the pieced elements. But what would those pieced elements be? While I was searching for color palette inspiration, I did also look for general vintage graphic design inspiration. There were a lot of curves and layered lines used in that era. I also remembered how popular bead curtains were, and decided to base my design on that.
PQ 17.4 Bead Curtain – Sunday Progress
After creating the design, calculating cut pieces needed, and cutting all the fabric, I still had plenty of time on Sunday to piece the alternate blocks and one of the beads.
PQ 17.4 Bead Curtain – Monday Progress
Monday after work was all about piecing the remainder of the curves.
PQ 17.4 Bead Curtain – Tuesday Progress
Which set me up to have a pieced quilt top on Tuesday afternoon.
PQ 17.4 Bead Curtain – Wednesday Progress
Wednesday was for basting and for watching the QuiltCon Awards ceremony.
PQ 17.4 Bead Curtain – Friday Progress
I spent Thursday and Friday quilting. I stared by stitching in the ditch around all of the pieced elements using the thread I pieced with: 50wt Aurifil in 2360 (Chocolate). For the rest of the quilting, I quilted pretty gentle curves using my walking foot in 50wt Aurifil colors that matched the pieced beads:
- 1148 (Light Jade) to pair with Kona Cotton Aqua
- 5006 (Light Turquoise) to pair with Kona Cotton Pool
- 6729 (Tangerine Dream) to pair with Kona Cotton Nectarine
- 1135 (Pale Yellow) to pair with Kona Cotton Canary
Bead Curtain, 38″ wide by 40″ tall
I chose to bind Bead Curtain with more Kona Chocolate. The quilt finished at 38″ wide by 40″ tall.
Bead Curtain – Quilt Back
I really struggled with the organic curvy quilting – I usually keep things a lot more precise, so this feels pretty jarring to me when I really get close to the details. But I think it’s a fun quilt that will make a great baby quilt in the future.
Yvonne with Bead Curtain
It’s pretty amazing to go from prompt to finished quilt in a bit less than a week. I’m glad to have another baby quilt ready to gift in my stash!
Linking up with Project Quilting 17.4, Of Another Era.
Love your inspired take on the prompt, and your execution!
Beaded curtain is perfect for “of another era”. Your curved piecing is always gorgeous and the quilting you did is just the right emphasize on the design. Its a reallly fun quilt.
I love this quilt! It’s very reminiscent of the 50’s to 60’s color palettes.
This is beautiful, Yvonne! It reminds me of the bead curtain my grandparents had when I was a kid!
While I never had beaded curtains, I do remember them, and I can still hear their sound. You captured this prompt well – the colors and the subject! Nice work! (The only thing missing might be a cool 60s headband in your photo – haha!)
oh this is very fun! I love the beaded curtain idea, and though you might not be 100% with the quilting, I think it really adds to the feeling of all those dangling beads. Nicely done!
A very fun interpretation of the prompt. Those yellows, blues and corals look really good with the brown. You definitely nailed the 60’s vibe.
You are absolutely the master of curved piecing!!
I love your interpretation of this prompt, Yvonne! I had a flashback to my childhood when I first saw the title of your piece and then when I saw the entire quilt, that flashback became more real. I envisioned and could almost smell my visits to my great aunt in the 60s. She had bead curtains from her dining room into her kitchen on one side and another going from her kitchen into the den on the other side! And she always had something on/in the stove that smelled wonderful. Thanks for that memory. I’m really smiling as I type this! Your bead curtain is fantastic and your piecing is so perfect. Great job. I really love this.
It’s delightful and so creative.
Wow, you always have great execution for your thoughtful designs for Project Quilting. This one is perfect for the challenge and I think your organic wavy lines look great. Reminiscent of the beads swinging when disturbed.
You chose a great inspiration, Love how this one came together. the color combo takes me back to what I think the 60’s were like – so cool!! and your organic quilting is perfect on it, glad you stepped out of the box ;-)
What a lovely gift that will be when the right baby comes along! I was surprised that you opted to piece those circles. Love the design and the quilting, too! NewsFlash, Yvonne!!! The baby won’t care if the quilting isn’t as precise as you like it.
I saw your quilt at quiltcon and it’s gorgeous! Nice job!
Hi Yvonne, That is a really cute baby quilt, so evocative of the 60’s.
I love this one Yvonne! Ha on the beaded curtains–that definitely took me back, though I never had them, much as I wanted them. Love the unusual colours which work so well together.
I’ve been saving your posts to read when my life slowed down, and I loved reading this one first. I do remember bead curtains, but mostly from movies from the era of the late 60s — so perfect for this prompt! I do love that quilting: it shapes and outlines the elements at the same time, creating visual movement for your bead. And perfect colors! A win-win all the way around.
Fabulous pattern, color palette, and quilting! It’s just fabulous!!
Yvonne, I truly love this quilt. Everything about it speaks to me, and wants to have it in my room. There is absolutely nothing jarring in either the design or the colour palette. Often I find I am attracted to one part of a design, but then that is where the appeal ends. not so with this one.I’m here wondering if I could possible make something similar for my cosy chair. I’ll be 80 in July, and definitely like a cosy spot to greet the dawn after an uneasy night of not sleeping. or as respite after a strenuous day. Thank you Yvonne for sharing this
This is such a fun quilt!