Friday, August 12, 2016

Round Peg, Square Hole - a New Quilt!

You've seen this design from me before - I made a 4-patch version and called it Quarter Round last year for the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild's Modern Mini Showcase exhibit. It also proudly hung in the Small Quilts category at QuiltCon 2016. I did a digital mock up of the design in Touchdraw and I got so excited about all of the design possibilities available just by colour-blocking certain strips and making more blocks to repeat the pattern.

When I sent a picture of the 4-patch to my creative genius friend Berene looking for name suggestions (Quarter Round was her idea), she also thought I should try making it with an ombre effect. I held that thought.

Recently, RJR Fabrics asked if I'd like to participate in their What Shade Are You? feature on their Quilt With Love blog. The blog hop showcases their Supreme Cotton Solids. This was my chance to choose as many colours as I wanted to make any project my little heart desired. "Yes please" was my reply!  Of course, actually choosing the fabrics took me f.o.r.e.v.e.r.

Cotton Supreme Solids from RJR for my Round Peg, Square Hole quilt.

The last couple of years I've been enjoying working with the contrast of warm and cool colours in my improv work, so I thought I'd do the same with this quilt. Here are the colours I finally chose from the Supreme Cotton Solids colour card.  They are listed in ombre order from lightest to darkest in their colour groups.

Shell Pink 175T
Candyland 86T
Hot Pink 217
Rhododendron 181T
Ruby Slippers 286

Glow in the Dark 204
Peridot 342
Wimbledon 205
Clover 128T
Kelly Green 127T

Goldenrod 92T
Carrot 131T
Tangerine Dream 276
Mandarine 159T
Chili Pepper 49T

Seafoam 301
Nile Green 90T
Toy Boat 366 C&S
Horizon 354
Twilight 353

and finally, Kerchief 364 C&S as a warm white background.

Round Peg, Square Hole by Poppyprint

And here it is! All 38" square. Because I can't stop myself, there's a lot of straight line quilting 1/2" apart in concentric squares and it's all on the bias grain of the fabric. There was definitely some distortion of this little quilt (even with ditch-stitching the edges of the blocks to stabilize them first).  A full wash and blocking was in order, so I did that prior to finishing the edge (see below). I can honestly report that these fabrics are 100% colourfast in cold water. No running, no fading. I used a mild, unscented powder detergent in a front loading machine and the colour catcher came out completely white. 

Round Peg, Square Hole by Poppyprint

The quilting is all done with Aurifil thread #2026 in 40 wt (with white Aurifil 50 wt in the bobbin). 

I love this positive/negative star that happens when the 4-patch blocks meet in the middle! Every one of the sixteen 10" blocks in this quilt are built with the same pieces. The resulting illusion of round edges within the square block are all about the colour placement and which strips are designated "background", or in this case white.

Round Peg, Square Hole by Poppyprint

I just couldn't bear to border the blocks in with a binding, so I chose to face the quilt. I've done this before using different techniques and always been very pleased with the results. This time, I followed a tutorial by fellow VMQG member Terry Aske. You get such nice, sharp corners! (I used the method of cutting out a 1/2" triangle of batting in each corner of the quilt).


Round Peg, Square Hole by Poppyprint

Round Peg, Square Hole by Poppyprint

Here you can see both a front corner and what it looks like on the back where the facings overlap.

I'd like to thank RJR for the opportunity to work with their lovely solids. I'm excited about issuing a pattern for the Quarter Round block with some layout suggestions and colouring pages so that you can try it, too! I've got a couple of pattern testers raring to go, so hopefully I can finalize the pattern early in the fall.

Round Peg, Square Hole by Poppyprint

33 comments:

Leanne said...

This is fantastic! It would be fun to make with prints too but I so love it in solids.

paulette said...

WOW!! Visually stunning!! Way to go!!
P

karen said...

I love all of the secondary and tertiary patterns that show up and the little hearts in each block - facing was a great choice

Arita said...

Turned out beautifully. Love the ombre effect.

pennylanequilts said...

This is so beautiful! I love the secondary pattern where the blocks meet.

What Comes Next? said...

This is truly beautiful. I love quilts with curves where there really aren't any!

MariQuilts said...

I love how this turned out........such fabulous colours!!!!!

Claire said...

Very cool, Krista! You are so talented...

Sharon said...

I've been using RJR solids for years, but I rarely see them in stores. your pattern is super cute!

Sandi said...

Absolutely gorgeous it is definitely a showstopper! Thanks for sharing all your hidden secrets regarding the construction!

Patty said...

Gorgeous quilt! Congrats on the finish.

Tiffany said...

This is incredible. Will you be writing a pattern for it? ����

Carin@Ullhärvan said...

Really stunning, I love it!

Tamie said...

Wow! This is stunning.

Verykerryberry said...

Wow! Such strong visual impact. Wondeful!

SarahZ said...

What a super quilt! So much to see! How fun to get to play with all those colors!!!

Lisa J. said...

This is an awesome design and a beautiful quilt.

Mary said...

I love the design of this quilt and would like to have a pattern with coloring sheet. I, too, like the way you achieve the curved centers yet what I like most of all is the diagonal "hour glass" wave starting from the upper left. I can't wait to see what it would be in a larger version where the wave continues. I wonder if I'd see the same wave re-created when you had more blocks to make the quilt wider and longer.

Afton Warrick said...

Wow! What a striking design! Let me know if you need any more pattern testers.

PeggyinNO said...

Wow, wow, wow!!! This quilt is amazing! Wonderful colors!

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

Stunning! Beautiful job.

Kathy P said...

Love this Krista! Your work always takes my breath away, and this one is no exception. Can't stop looking at it.

Amy ("the Mommy") said...

This quilt is stunning! Can you tell me the reason you chose to use two different thread weights when quilting it?

Lise-Lotte said...

It's so fabulous! I just love it!!

Kris said...

So amazing!!

rstogether said...

Krista, I can't stop looking at this quilt. It is SO amazing! You've done it again with this beauty.

Bearpawquilter said...

Such a dynamic quilt. I love it.

Unknown said...

I love this Krista, What an engineer you are.
I love the mix of solid and white vs. ombre and I love the mix of warm and cool colours. Really beautiful

Debbie said...

I'm behind in my blog reader so just seeing this version and I love it! Really a cool design!

PatchworkPottery said...

It's stunning Krista! I keep seeing the little hearts too! I love the varying tones of each colour. I'm glad the washing went well! xoxo

janequiltsslowly said...

The illusion is so cool in this design! Love it!!!

Tammy said...

Love it! Can't wait for the pattern.

trudys_person said...

It's beautiful! I love that star that pops out in the centre! Can't wait to see it in person!