So far, this year has felt like the it should be entered as part of the definition of topsy-turvy. As in…
top·sy-tur·vy
adjective
1. being in a state of confusion or disorder, with many unpredictable changes or reversals. “in one topsy-turvy week, they cancelled a vacation to Italy”
adverb
1. in or into a state of confusion or disorder. “things turned topsy-turvy in 2026”
Topsy-Turvy – Testing Idea
The day we were supposed to fly to Rome to start a 10 day vacation, I instead dug into some scrap fabric and started playing. I’ve had this idea in mind from the beginning of the exposed seams process, but I knew I was going to need time to explore the idea and see if it would work. The general idea is to use gentle improv curves. Because I also fell in love with the hourglass blocks in Half In Half Out, the natural place to begin was with improv hourglass blocks. I also wanted to explore using larger seams and see what would happen if I varied the seam allowance. I’m definitely open to using a larger seam allowance, but the variation in seam allowance in combination with these gentle curves meant the fabric didn’t really lay flat, so for now I know that I will stick with a uniform seam allowance.
Topsy-Turvy – Pieced Mini Quilt Top
Once I knew where I was headed, I was able to piece together a mini quilt top later the same day. For the Topsy-Turvy mini quilt top, I used 4 different prints, continued my exploration of right side up versus wrong side up with the prints, and kept the exposed seams to a finished ¼”.
Topsy-Turvy
I failed to mention another goal of this piecing: to leave large enough volumes for me to add more quilting than in my previous exposed seams quilts. I simply echo quilted inside the shapes, which created a really wonderful texture.
To keep the quilt as large as possible, I trimmed the mini quilt organically (non-square). The mini quilt finishes at approximately 19″ wide by 16½” tall (at the widest/tallest points).
Topsy-Turvy
For the binding of topsy-turvy, I alternated binding strips right and wrong side up and used exposed seams to join binding strips. Instead of machine finishing the binding like I chose to do with my previous exposed seams mini quilts, I stitched to the front of the quilt and opted to hand stitch the binding to the back of the quilt. The quilt was pieced, quilted, and finished using 50wt Aurifil in 2600 (Dove), a light gray.
Topsy-Turvy
The back of the quilt uses up the last of several of the scraps from the quilt top and piecing test. I really like how the quilting helps emphasize the areas where the exposed seams are on the front of the quilt.
Yvonne with Topsy-Turvy
I worked on hand binding Topsy-Turvy while my husband and I were traveling for a family funeral.
I am ready to continue playing with this idea and plan to start piecing together a larger quilt soon, tweaking a few things based on the lessons I learned from this mini quilt. Basically, I’m ready to use a lot more color, change out my thread to be color matched, and see where this idea evolves!
For more back story and details on the exposed seams technique and series, visit my previous posts:
Linking up with Finished or Not Friday, Beauties Pageant, and Favorite Finish.
The quilt is very cool, and the idea is amazing. I’m sorry for your loss – both of the family member and of Rome. Sending all my love.
Sorry for your loss! I find this piece interesting, in ways non conforming but constrained. Not sure if that makes sense. But I love it!
Quilting is good therapy when life turns topsy-turvy, and I can see you enjoyed the creation of this little quilt. I’m sorry you lost a family member and the trip to Rome.
I’m sorry for your loss. Hugs to you.
It’s certainly an apt statement piece for these unruly and uncharted days, and I’m glad that it provided quilting therapy for you.
So sorry for the loss your family has experienced. That’s never easy.
Your Topsy-Turvy experiment is very engaging. I’m glad you were able to try some new things with it. I really like that you trimmed it organically, and the way the quilting shows off the seam lines on the back is really interesting too.
What a fun piece. I look forward to seeing how this idea evolves in the future. So sorry for your family loss and your missed vacay. I hope you can make that trip soon.
I’m really enjoying watching you experiment with this technique, Yvonne! I’m sorry for your loss, and that you didn’t get to travel to Rome.
Your quilting shows up so well on the reverse of Topsy Turvy. Visually, I prefer the flip side.
I am sorry for your losses, your family member and your trip. Sometimes life is topsy turvy, and I do love how you created something out of that. The curves are so fun to see in the exposed seams quilt and I, too, love the way the seams are shown in the quilting on the back.
I’m sorry for your family loss and having to cancel the trip to Rome, too. Life feels pretty topsy-turvy these days even without those life events happening. Quilting is good therapy, though. This piece is fascinating and fun! I love the shape and texture of it.
Being the high-priestess of perfection, this piece is so unlike YOU. Not that it is not precise, but that it comes across as topsy turvy when that was exactly your intention. There has to be a different name for these special seams – they are neatly tucked under, not really exposed. Sending hugs. Hope you can have a vacation of your choice soon.
A very successful experiment. The quilting really does add a lot. Hopefully this year gets less chaotic going forward.
Aww man!!! I love this piece and the way that you worked the curves. So sorry about the family member and your trip to italy – I hope you get to reschedule
As always, reading your post and following along on your explorations feels like a Master Class in quilting. Thank you, as always. I also love how you experiment with your ideas, letting those experiments blossom out into the next iteration — and while the quilt is named Topsy – Turvy, the process is divinely ordered.
Two sorrows in this post: the death of a family member and the letting go of the Rome trip. I hope good memories surface about your family, and look forward to when you can create your own good memories on a rescheduled trip. Thank you again for this post!
I’m so sorry for your losses, Yvonne. Quilting is comfort, as you’ve shown us in the making of this creative quilt.
My sympathies to you in the loss of your family member, and I am sorry you missed your vacation, too. Those must be hard in this already definitely topsy-turvy year. I am fascinated by the way you are pushing the boundaries of quilting with your new ideas. These seem to represent 2026 well, except that they are much more satisfying to consider. I like the neutral look, but am eagerly anticipating your experiment with color. (Also, I like Preeti’s designation of “tucked seams” as I was at confused about what was exposed when you first talked about the exposed seams in your earlier posts.)