Primary Plus Quilt in progress

By

Ages ago I pulled two stacks of fabric both based on the primary colors, one for each of my sons for a winter quilt.  My younger son is getting the cascade quilt.  I knew all along that I wanted to make a plus quilt for my older son but I I felt the prints I’d pulled were a bit stark.  Then I had the brilliant idea to pull in some solids and the whole thing went from hohum to passionate chopping and excitedly filling the design wall.

(mostly) kona on the left, original pull on the right

Big love to Pink Chalk for their awesome Kona Color Box stack.  I bought it almost a year ago and it is PERFECT for this project!!!  The only reason I had waited so long to use it is that it is so pretty that I couldn’t chop it up LOL

reds first followed by orange

I cut three (where possible) pluses of each print (each plus is made up of 1 x 3.5″x9.5″ and 2 x 3.5″x3.5).  I knew exactly the layout I wanted so I just started throwing things on the design wall as fast as I could :)

I filled in all the colours first, spilling over each other, getting a nice blend of colour.  Without the text print it was lacking but I have a thing about needlessly cutting up fabric so I filled the design wall and then worked out what sized strips I needed of the text print.

My lovely friend Jane sent me some of her clever row markers ages ago so I decided to give them a whirl.  You press the seams in the direction of the arrows (although I press open) and I found them super helpful for getting track of everything.  I was seriously worried about messing with my original layout and having to redo it – not a window was allowed to be opened until I had the pieces off the design wall and safely pinned!

I find quilting quite exciting, but I have to say that this one was extra special to watch as it came together.

Serious love right there folks.

I haven’t sewn the rows together yet.  I love the movement of them hanging there and moving every so slightly in the breeze.

I think I love this quilt in progress so much because I used a select few of my favourite prints, stuck to a defined palette, broke into my pretty solids and did the whole thing on instinct.  I didn’t change a thing from my original layout and I think this quilt reflects how much I love colour but also how fun the primary colours can be all by themselves.

as

I’m linking up with Work in Progress Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.  I hope you’ll join me tomorrow for my iquilt linky party.  Tomorrow we’re talking quilting process and I have a few fun ideas gurgling around in my brain to share with you :)

 

32 Comments on Primary Plus Quilt in progress

  1. Celtic Thistle
    October 9, 2013 at 8:25 pm (8 months ago)

    It’s fantastic Gemma.

    Reply
  2. Kathy S.
    October 9, 2013 at 8:55 pm (8 months ago)

    This is my favorite plus quilt — ever! I love the way the colors sort of “run” together because there is little contrast, yet it makes you look at it again to see there really is a plus. LOVE LOVE LOVE! Can’t wait to see how you quilt it!

    Reply
  3. Malini
    October 9, 2013 at 9:38 pm (8 months ago)

    Wow! this is looking really great! Love your color gradation as well as the design.

    Reply
  4. Amira
    October 9, 2013 at 9:49 pm (8 months ago)

    It’s gorgeous Gemma! I love that text fabrics addition! You just simply know what to add to give it life!

    Reply
  5. Serena @ Sewgiving
    October 9, 2013 at 10:25 pm (8 months ago)

    Reminds me of sitting on my favourite beach watching the sun set over the ocean …

    Reply
  6. amy
    October 9, 2013 at 11:08 pm (8 months ago)

    Oh I really like the colors and how bright and cheery it is.

    Reply
  7. DeborahGun
    October 9, 2013 at 11:23 pm (8 months ago)

    Absolutely gorgeous. And dumb question – how do you get your fabric to stick to the design wall? Thanks :-)

    Reply
  8. Marla
    October 9, 2013 at 11:35 pm (8 months ago)

    This is so beautiful, like a sunset over a lake. I love seeing your progress.

    Reply
  9. Caz
    October 9, 2013 at 11:54 pm (8 months ago)

    This is so so you!! Love the primary colours. Great job XX

    Reply
  10. Renee
    October 9, 2013 at 11:58 pm (8 months ago)

    This quilt is lovely!! Love the colors and layout, can’t wait to see how you quilt it. :-)

    Reply
  11. Cheryl
    October 10, 2013 at 12:10 am (8 months ago)

    Your quilt is wonderful looking, I love all of the strips of colors. I also love how you combined the prints with the solids

    Reply
  12. Cheryl
    October 10, 2013 at 12:11 am (8 months ago)

    I just subscribed to your wonderful blog!

    Reply
  13. Caryn
    October 10, 2013 at 1:03 am (8 months ago)

    I love everything about this quilt! Every time I read a post of yours, I think I MUST get a design wall. It’s amazing what a different perspective it gives you. I rarely see my quilts from afar until they’re completely pieced.

    Reply
  14. Rachel
    October 10, 2013 at 1:25 am (8 months ago)

    So pretty! I love all the color and I really like the birds and the fish in the tanks. The blue has something of an i-spy going on.

    Reply
  15. Lynette
    October 10, 2013 at 1:47 am (8 months ago)

    Ahh!! Yep – those solids really make it. This is going to be fabulous.

    Reply
  16. Nicolette
    October 10, 2013 at 2:16 am (8 months ago)

    Gorgeous and colourful!!

    Reply
  17. Polly @ Pieces by Polly
    October 10, 2013 at 2:21 am (8 months ago)

    Ohhh…this is so pretty!

    Reply
  18. Vera
    October 10, 2013 at 3:29 am (8 months ago)

    It’s absolutely beautiful! I’m just wondering why did you leave green out? :-)

    Reply
  19. Sabrina
    October 10, 2013 at 7:03 am (8 months ago)

    This is so gorgeous!! I can imagine the strips look awesome blowing around. :)

    Reply
  20. Elise
    October 10, 2013 at 9:16 am (8 months ago)

    Loving how this is going together! So beautiful.

    Reply
  21. Adrianne
    October 10, 2013 at 10:03 am (8 months ago)

    Such a gorgeous bright quilt Gemma – your son will love it!

    Reply
  22. Jan
    October 10, 2013 at 12:04 pm (8 months ago)

    Fabulous!!! Love the bright, happy colors. The quilt is awesome now, but when it’s finished it’s going to be gorgeous. Can’t wait to see the finished quilt.

    Reply
  23. Sarah
    October 10, 2013 at 12:15 pm (8 months ago)

    The fluidity of the warm-to-cool gradient is oh-so-impressive.

    ;)

    Reply
  24. Lindsey
    October 10, 2013 at 12:36 pm (8 months ago)

    Wow! That is amazing! Can’t wait to see it done!

    Reply
  25. Stephanie
    October 10, 2013 at 12:56 pm (8 months ago)

    I love that you used primary colors! So many plus quilts lately have been pastel, your’s really sticks out. I almost feel like I’m looking at a sunset. Can’t wait to see how your quilt it!

    Reply
  26. Ian Morrison
    October 10, 2013 at 4:31 pm (8 months ago)

    Absolutely amazing, the colours run perfectly together, just so easy on the eyes. How do you do it kid? Where did you get that creativity streak from?

    Reply
  27. Jeifner
    October 10, 2013 at 5:36 pm (8 months ago)

    Oh gosh, I Love it too! Such a wonderful cascade of color, value and fabrics. Just fantastic.

    Reply
  28. Green
    October 11, 2013 at 4:18 am (8 months ago)

    Really, really, really lovely quilt. I just can’t say enough wonderful things about it. Congratulations and I can’t wait to see what it looks like as a finished thing.

    Reply
  29. Jennie @ Jennie's Threads
    October 11, 2013 at 5:27 am (8 months ago)

    I love this quilt – it’s looking fabulous!

    Reply
  30. Fiona @ Finding Fifth
    October 11, 2013 at 9:33 am (8 months ago)

    Such a bright and happy quilt Gemma. It has a feel of Noumea in it.

    Reply
  31. Rachel at Stitched in Color
    October 12, 2013 at 6:30 am (8 months ago)

    What a stunning quilt!!!

    Reply
  32. Sarah
    October 21, 2013 at 11:54 pm (7 months ago)

    I love this quilt so much! It combines my favourite things, a plus quilt and colour. My sons would love it too.

    Reply

Leave a Reply