The house group challenge

By Paula

Now I have to confess a couple of things here . . .

I am new to the “modern movement” in quilting. But have been quilting now for 11 or so years and, that while I am quite computer savvy, I am new to blogging. I have set up my own blog page, but need to remember among all the other things to do is post on it!

So here goes with this one. . . .
Sometime late last year I joined a house group and volunteered to host the “Xmas Do”. One of the many activities played was “Charm Square or the Bag” where I negotiated with charm squares. Oddly enough they all picked the bag . . . . but unbeknown they were all to receive the “Charm Square Challenge”

Basically I popped into a local craft store and brought around 80 cm of 4 fabrics that co-ordinated. Cut them into 5” Charm Squares and divided between the 8 members (21 squares each).
Nothing too hard but the rules were –
 Make something of your own choice – quilt, bag, table runner, etc
 May add any other fabrics, but must use at least 1 of each fabrics included
 Must be completed by 5th February

So we each started with 21 squares that looked like this:

I had decided from the start to make a modern looking quilt for charity, as I really didn’t need another quilt to lay on the spare bed (14 to remove before anyone gets in is enough).

To achieve this I knew that I had to quickly simplify and at least double the fabric I had. And the neutral colour and availability of seeded muslin would suit the overall look of the quilt.

I worked out that if I cut 7 dark Charm Squares into 4 and added triangles my 7 squares would become 28. I played around in my head with different options, working out numbers and making sure I was going to get a lap quilt size at the end.
And it did get a bit confusing in there. I came up with a scribble that would represent my quilt. This is pretty much how all my quilt start. Scribbled notes on graph paper.

To make my 2½ “ squares bigger, I added 2 triangles to opposite sides pressed and added two more to the other side and trimmed the blocks to 5 “ square. Like this.

Using the design wall I placed all the blocks and alternated them with a solid square to create the open spaces of modern quilting until I was happy with the balance of the prints and solid.

I stitched them all together and added a 1 ½” finished border of extra fabric along with a 4 ½ ” finished solid border to keep the balance of solid areas and the scale of the block size together.

When it came to quilting, I knew the modern look was to push towards simplified quilting, straight lines, etc. . . . but I cheated. Due to limited time and unlimited U.F.O.s, all over pantograph quilting saw it quilted in no time. Solid binding completed the minimal look.

This quilt used solid fabric and just 20 charm squares and measures 52” square.

I am yet to see the members work and what they have made with their squares. For now I am keen to explore and share in the world of “modern quilting” and see where it leads.

Happy stitching from the Horowhenua, Paula