Hi! The May Island Batik Ambassadors challenge was to go outside of the box, and use triangles.
I love all shapes, and enjoy the geometry and math part of quilting, so this is just fun for me. I recently purchased the new book, Quilts for Baby and Beyond by Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts, and decided to make the Gradient pattern for my new great-nephew. I have a copy of the book for sale in my Etsy shop, if you're interested. Julie has designed a variety of projects for pillow to lap size, all using her Super Sidekick ruler. I did a number of her patterns last year for Journey to Nebula, and loved the simplicity of the ruler. You can cut multiple sizes of triangles and diamonds with one tool, all cut from strips. Gradient uses 3 shades, a light, medium and dark, of 6 different colors, so I went through my scraps to find enough of each shade. I used some scraps from collections and lots of the 1/2 yard cuts that have been in my Ambassador boxes over the years, with Solid Grey for the background. I did end up changing the red collection I first picked, as it was too pink based, and changed out the lightest lavender, as well. I even looked through the Stash Builder rolls, as they would have provided enough fabric for most of the cuts.
The design looks complicated, but Julie's directions are so easy. Cut triangles and diamonds, sew the background to the color, add the diamonds, make a larger diamond, add more triangles and make a larger triangle. Do this 6 times and you have a top! Add borders, quilt and bind.
Triangles and diamonds make a larger triangle. 1/6 of the top is done.
In the design of this quilt, it's the colors that make the design so pretty.
2 triangles make a parallelogram. I didn't take photos of the next 4 triangles, but couldn't wait to share the finished top.
You can't tell here it's actually a hexagon, but it was late, and the bed was occupied by my sister-in-law, lol. I didn't want to share a lumpy quilt, lol
I take a photo of my tops on the pole of the long arm, and use that photo to super-impose the possible pantograph design choices and thread colors before I quilt it.
I chose the ABC123 panto by Nancy Haacke included with the Handiquilter Amara and Prostitcher. I used Aurifil 40-3 in Marrakesh, the rainbow variegated thread, for the top and Dove for the bobbin, since the back is grey minkee.
Heather's ears think the triangle theme is perfect.
Close up of quilting and thread.
I hope my newest great nephew, Christian Sawyer, loves his present! I'll see if I can get a photo of him on the quilt soon.
Please take the time to visit the other Island Batik Ambassadors to see their Triangle Trick projects. We love sharing them and inspiring you to try something different. I'll be sharing some other recent finished quilts soon! Thanks for stopping by.