hot summer quilt

I'm quilting myself a hot summer. It's probably the only way I'll get one.

I've been thinking of making a 'Floral Column Quilt' as shown in Kaffe Fassett's V&A Quilts for a long time, certainly longer than I care to remember. After all, how difficult can it be to sew nine strips of fabric together to make an over-the-top textile wallpaper? Well, a lot more difficult than you would guess.

It sounds easy-peasy; just go to your stash and bring out nine half-yards/half-metres of big, bold florals and get on with it. But it's not like that in reality. Because I wanted to make something that looked impressive, something that exploited the scale of the strips (approx 90" x 8" inches) and showed off some large-scale patterns to their fullest extent. I spent ages studying why Kaffe's two versions work and it's to do with eye-movement and clashes but also flow and harmonies. What I needed was a great starter fabric and then I knew everything else would fall into place next to it.

Then I found this wickedly hot-summer, kitsch Alexander Henry fabric on eQuilter. I make no apologies for my taste; I love this fabric, and I thought it would be be a laugh to work with and to see whether I could get it into a quilt which was relatively tasteful but with a nice touch of irony.

It has taken months to find eight fabrics which work with it. I've had to abandon many which I thought would be OK (too small, too orange -yes, it's possible - too dull, not the right blue) and it was only yesterday that I finally put the right combination in the right order (above is one of the attempts). It was Phoebe who found the missing piece - the very pretty Denyse Schmidt floral from the Katie Jump Rope collection in a lovely, deep sky-blue that I bought in Purl Patchwork.

I have now cut out and lined up the fabrics in their final order and I am ready to put these buxom ladies into a 'Hot Summer Quilt'. I can feel the temperature rising already. 

Comments

[Glaucia]

I love your choice. I think it's very hard to work with large scale prints, in vivid colors, but when we reach the right combination it gives a great pleasure, for the eyes, and for the soul.
I'll be waiting anxiously to see the result!

[Mary K. in Rockport]

Wow, you're brave! I especially like the one with the bright blue background and the hot pink and orange blooms. Very Hawaiian. Or Caribbean, maybe.

[Mary K. in Rockport]

Wait, are those cacti I see behind the ladies? So, maybe Central American?

[Ellen]

You make such fun and vibrant quilts, knitting projects and recipes (not to mention your gorgeous flowers). Question - do you think you could provide some visual tips on how you go about cutting out all those pieces for the quilts? It's seems like so much work to me.

[Amber]

Ha! I've got those not-apologizing-for-taste-senoritas, myself. They were just too much to pass up.

[Sarah]

Wow, all those fabrics are beautiful. Can't wait to see the finished quilt!

[Juti]

That's an eye-scorcher! In a good way.

[Tamara]

I just love your sense of colour. Every post is a shot of joy! Thanks!

[rac]

Way to go!!! Or like they say in Mexico:
Andale!!!!

[Marianna]

Hello,

I made a similar strip quilt a couple of years ago for my little niece. It turned out really neat. I had a great deal of fun putting all of the different fabrics together. Unfortunately I went a little overboard and made it too big for her little bed (92 inches by 76 inches) it is now a wall hanging. Here is what it looks like. http://www.dochtermann.com/mandm/hello/1631212/1024/IMG_1493b-2005.04.26-22.50.57.jpg
I hope you have as much fun as I did watching your gorgeous fabrics come to life. I am looking forward to seeing the final results.

[stinkerbell]

impeccable taste, and don't let anyone else say anything otherwise!
I cant wait to see how it comes together :)

[Gigi]

Ooo, I love those senoritas! Cannot wait to see the finished product. It looks to be fair spectacular! =-D

[rita]

Beautifull as always!
:)

[newgreenshoes]

divine kitsch fabric, I love it and the colours work beautifully together, I can only imagine how long it has taken to get them just right

I have a half finished hand sewn quilt tucked away somewhere and you've inspired me to get it out and get going on it.

thanks!

Sarah

newgreenshoes

[Jenny]

WOW! Looking great. I love your colour choices and think it will make a sassy and brilliant quilt!

[WiscJennyAnn]

Love it! Tropical-tastic!

[Eva-Maria Treichel]

Wow, can`t wait to see it ready-made. Wonderful fresh, loud and funny!
Eva

[Christy]

I LOVE that quilt. I can't wait to see it finished. It's very "Florida" (where I live) I may have to hunt up some of that fabric!

[Sonnja]

I love your choice, beautiful fabric. I are curious to your Quilt!

Regards,

Sonnja, from the Netherlands

[dalis]

Love the hot, hot, hot colors of the fabric! I'm back in Maryland from spending 5 cool months in England and I'm happy to send you some of this heat. Let me know if it works! Dalis

[dalis]

Love the hot, hot, hot colors of the fabric! I'm back in Maryland from spending 5 cool months in England and I'm happy to send you some of this heat. Let me know if it works! Dalis

[Sara]

Great post - I also love A de B (and domesticity) and am looking forward to your book. Will it be available through Amazon US, do you know?

[Kim L]

Hi! Long time reader first time poster! Must say I love your fabric choices for the Kaffe Floral Column Quilt! I, too, am plotting and planning for that one! I was at small group last evening and one of the ladies in our group is handquilting her column quilt. They're all so wonderfully different! I enjoy your blog!

[Linda]

I have liked that quilt since the day I bought the book but not been able to find big florals that look good together. I should just copy you by pulling out a couple and perservering over a longer time instead of throwing in the towel so negatively.

[Kathleen]

As usual yr color sense is spot on.