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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Bloggers' Quilt Festival-Spring 2012

  Hash Marks

Welcome Festival go-ers!

Amy's Creative Side

I don't have too many finishes here at the Type B Crafter (not shocking, given that blog name, right?!). I have a lot of tops (last count, maybe 25 to be quilted - eek!). But will re-share one of the rare finishes for the Spring Festival.

This is my Hash Marks quilt from October of 2011. I was inspired and motivated by the Project Modern Challenge hosted by the Modern Quilt Guild to finally put this idea into fabric.

I used three colors - Kona Khaki, Eggplant, and Pepper. There are 312, 4" blocks in this quilt (counting the ones on the back). Instead of piecing each block separately, I cut width of fabric strips in varying widths and sewed them together. Then, I used my 4.5" square ruler set at different angles to cut out the blocks. (Lots of bias with this technique - starch was my friend!)

Solids WIP

It is a visual interpretation of counting the days while my husband finishes up his graduate degree. (Hash marks are also called "tally marks' - one horizontal line through four vertical lines signifying a count of 5.) I must have been feeling pretty down when I thought up this quilt because you often see prisoners in old period movies scratching marks like these into the wall for each day they're on the "inside" :) We've been moving around a lot in the last three years and haven't yet found a place to land. At one point it was looking like New Mexico, but now it's up in the air. Currently, we are in Madison, WI. Once my husband finishes his degree, we'll be off into the great wide open. Until then, I'm just counting the days :)

Hash Marks

Back to the quilt. If you look closely, you'll see that every fifth block is a wonky horizontal block.  I purposely made the quilt 17 blocks across, so that the fifth mark would land in different places on the columns of the quilt. In the photo below, you might be able to make out the mistake I initially made on the fourth row because I didn't add enough wonky verticals (there should be another one at the beginning of row 4). (There are two blocks hanging off the right hand side of each row - I had to pin the rows to my design wall/table cloth.) So, yes, I went back through the rows and detached and reattached to make the five block scheme work out. If only I had made the mistake at row 15 or 16!

Kona WIP1

I had a comical experience trying to spray baste this quilt. It involved packing tape, my textured bedroom wall, and hope. But somehow the quilt was basted and I quilted it on my 1980's New Home. A major reason for me not finishing my quilts is basting room, as in, I don't have any. I live in a carpeted one bedroom loft apartment and despite living here for over a year now, we still have stuff in cardboard boxes (I'm always anticipating the next move!) and the stuff is everywhere! The other reason is that I don't have a machine on hand that likes quilting. Yes, my machine has personal preferences and quilting is not one of them. My Juki, which is in storage, on the other hand, loves quilting. But that doesn't do me to much good since she's in New Mexico.

Hash Marks is 68"x68," so kind of on the big side for me. I did "organic" straight lines at varying widths in an offset X pattern. I used mostly cream/off-white thread with purple and blue accent lines thrown in.

Hash Marks quilting detail

You can see the quilting better on the back - not sure how I feel about that, given the quality of the quilting. But I feel every quilt is a learning (or re-learning...) experience. The more I do it, the better I'll get, right? I hope, so! :)

Hash Marks back

And that's the story of my Hash Marks quilt. I love it and we enjoy it here in our home-for-the-moment!

Thank you so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the festival!!

Hash Marks

24 comments:

Molly said...

Fantastic quilt! Very original, graphic AND beautiful. Knock-out combination :)

CitricSugar said...

It's really funky and modern - love it!

I know there are some tutorials out there for basting in small spaces. I remember a book I had once that recommended doing it in quarters on the dining room table...

Quilt+Bitch said...

Absolutely stunning. Your choices of colors really makes this quilt.

kathy said...

Fresh and modern! Great quilt!

Anonymous said...

Very modern, I like it! I keep reading about spray starch and basting spray I think I may have to look into learning to use them...

amy said...

Wow, this absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I positively want one of my own.

purduepam said...

Love your quilt.

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

Definitely one of my favorites. I usually want more color but you pulled this off beautifully with a limited set of colors. Very nice.

bethanndodd said...

Pretty freakin' awesome! I love the story that goes with it as well. Hopefully it won't be long before your hubby is done and you can find a place to call home :) SMiles~Beth

Nicky said...

Stunning - just think what you will do when basting space becomes avilable and the Juki that loves quilting! Love this monochromatic study - bit of an artwork!

amy dame said...

this is freaking amazing! i love it so much, and i love the inspiration behind it of the hash marks. it's gorgeous!

i'm really curious about the basting experience, because i've totally wondered about vertical basting too!

QuiltinGal said...

These modern quilts are growing on me. Very attractive. I think my next quilt will be a modern quilt. Quilting is so addictive.

Splendorfalls said...

Your quilt is stunning. I love it!

Camilla said...

Great graphic quality and so much movement created by the varying blocks

Robin said...

I love this! So graphic and bold. And I just love the story behind it, too. Being in limbo is tough-- but at least you've got an awesome quilt to cuddle with! :)

**nicke... said...

i love this so much i want to marry it! seriously, i love it!

**nicke... said...

and the quilting... oh hell it is perfect!

Taya@TypeB said...

Thanks for the kind comments everyone! This is what I love about the Festival - meeting new folks, checking out different types of work, encouraging and supporting one another in our obsessions/hobbies :) I've been trying to get back to everyone as the comment - I'll even track down those no-reply folks. Hopefully I didn't miss anyone!

Linda Beth said...

I remember seeing your quilt months ago and LOVING it, but now reading the story behind it makes it all the more impressive! What a journey this illustrates, and you did it so well!

felicity said...

GREAT quilt - thanks for sharing its story, too. Fingers crossed that you'll get some clarity around future abodes soon!

MariQuilts said...

this is such a fabulous quilt...I just love it!!

cat in tassie said...

Wow, I love everything about this quilt! Thanks so much for sharing.

quiltmom anna said...

Love the graphic design of your lovely quilt. Hope that you soon land in your new home..
Thanks for participating in the blog festival. It is fun to meet others from so many different parts of the globe.
Regards from Western Canada,
Anna

Gail said...

That is one gorgeous quilt! I really enjoyed reading about your design and construction process. I haven't made a quilt in years, but you may have inspired me to start a new one!