:: Psychedelic Baby Quilt Top | Improv Strip Piecing ::

Regardless of the pile of quilts in need of quilting, I’ve got a finished quilt top to show you!  Another using what I call the Psychedelic Baby Quilt Block.  It has just the right amount of improvisational technique mixed with a traditional on-point layout.  I can’t seem to get enough of this string block, so after teaching this workshop for a bit now I’m trying to wrap my head around fabric amounts to make a quilt pattern.

Where I get my color way inspiration for my quilts is a common question.  Since I’ve had a languishing half-written post about the various avenues I take for gathering it, I’ll just share a bit here and there as quilts come together.  Like my last quilts of this nature, this color way was out of my comfort zone (step away from the purple Katie;).

For this version I found inspiration in a Land of Nod catalog.  I often go this route because it gives me an opportunity to work with color combos that are trending or not on my radar.  I’d recommend subscribing to catalogs that lean towards modern design (or traditional for that matter) and just like the endless bucket list of quilt ideas, you’ll never lack for a mixology of color.  I generally rip out what catches my eye and pin it to either my quilt design wall or my Color Way Pinboard stocked with art, quilts and randomness, all inspiring.

Once I’ve got a color way solidified I try to shop from my fabric stash as much as possible and fill in the holes from there.  I try to think of it as a good challenge when I run out of fabric and mix something I have in (even a shade or tint lighter or darker).  Though not as drastic as some, this quilt had that going on when it came to the white.  I supplemented some white flannel and off-white adding some texture and depth.

These blocks are BIG (15″ x 15″), and come together so quickly.  The fun really is in seeing this block represented in each student’s fabrics and how excited they get about what’s happening on the design wall as the blocks are created.

This month I’ve got out of town students coming to take the workshop while on vacation in Seattle.  Because I needed new step-outs to teach, them coming provided me with the perfect excuse to play with another color way.  This time around the colors actually work with something in my home.  I tease I get my color out when it comes to making things.  You’ll be seeing this block here soon with a little twist and a binary scheme.

Because of the method in the workshop we actually can create two quilts (like my No/Know Quilts) at once.  These blocks are great for teaching paneling and free-piecing.  I hope to show you them soon as a finished quilt.

You can see more of the Psychedelic Baby block in use here, here, here and here😉 and I’ve added one more Saturday workshop to the website.

Happy week peeps!