It sounds like I may have bitten off more than I can chew but I'm not too stressed about it simply because if I do make the deadline then I will have forced myself to complete projects that I had been wanting to do anyway which would be wonderful. If I don't end up with a suitable entry by the deadline for one (or more) of the categories it doesn't really matter; the entry fee for each category was next to nothing so I'm not losing tonnes if I don't make it.
I already know what I'm doing for the bag and knitting categories, those are just a matter of getting stuck in and doing it; the quilt categories though? I have so many ideas running around in my head!
I've entered in two quilting categories:
- LAP QUILT max size 1.5m x 1.5m
- PICTORIAL ART OR WALL HANGING, (pictorial quilt must portray a recognisable subject). Maximum size 1.2m x 1.2m. Exhibits must demonstrate some of the following elements: creative piecing, embellishments, creative stitching, and innovative quilting.
As well as the official requirements I've also got a few of my own parameters:
- Must not be too intricate or time consuming - I've only got 5 weeks to pull this off so I don't want to be spending weeks cutting and piecing millions of tiny little blocks!
- While being simple in design/piecing they still need to be interesting enough to draw in the viewer/judges.
- At least one of the quilts must incorporate shades of green solids - I bought several shades of green fabric last weekend and I need to justify the purchase by actually using them in the near future (the other half was with me when I bought them).
- Must use washable fabrics and no large expanses of pale colour (the exception to this would be if I decide to do a wall hanging or really arty quilt for the 2nd category). If I keep the quilts after the show I want to be able to actually use them. I don't want to have them languish in a cupboard or drawer because I'd need to clean them all the time or be worried that a small coffee stain or something might ruin the niceness. A quilt is meant to be seen and used and loved.
I've narrowed it down to six options (listed below in no particular order) that would be viable as a lap or baby/cot sized quilt. Some of these are very heavily based on the inspiration quilts but with differences in colour choice, quilting and placement of elements they should end up fairly unique.
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| Lap quilt option 1: Green Gradient |
Pros:
Its simple (therefore super fast to put together)
Should be offset nicely with really simple straight line quilting
Cons:
Is it too simple?
If I mess up the alignment of blocks or quilting even slightly its going to be glaringly obvious when its hung up and on show.
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| Lap quilt option 2: Grass Clippings |
Option 2: Grass Clippings
Inspired by all the shattered glass quilt that I've been eyeing off recently.
Pros:
Intricate quilting probably not needed on the bulk of the quilt..
The slash and strip method to make the blocks doesn't need accuracy or lots of measuring (variation is a good thing with these blocks).
Cons:
Is it too busy looking?
Will it be too time consuming?
There's a lot of pale fabric (might be possible to invert the colours?)
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| Lap quilt option 3: Stars |
Pros:
Simplicity
Great opportunities for interesting quilting in the background areas.
Cons:
I haven't done stars/triangles in a quilt yet - it would be a steep learning curve.
Green doesn't really work with this design (but I could use the greens with the other quilt category or the bag).
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| Lap quilt option 4: Bubbles |
Pros:
I love circles
Cons:
Too retro?
Has potential to look messy.
Perfect circles are tricky.
Could get a bit bulky and stiff where all the circles lay on top of each other.
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| Lap Quilt option 5: Marble Run |
Pros:
Simple
Cons:
Possibly needs up to 3 different quilting techniques/patterns on the different elements
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| Lap quilt option 6: Drippy |
Pros:
It looks simple and elegant
Cons:
There is a bit more cutting and piecing involved in this one than some of the other options
All of the possibilities are probably achievable in the time I have available and I really like them all. Unfortunately there is no way that I will have time to make six different quilts just so I can have the option of being able to decide later which one to enter. See the dilemma?
Which one do you like best?
K
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