Project Monochrome is a challenge to work with a wide range of colors, focusing on one at a time. I'll be constructing a series of sewing and quilting projects to explore each color. Feel free to join me! More information here.
I have always liked traditional friendship braid quilts, and after seeing Amanda's take on the pattern, I knew I needed to try it out! I decided to use it for the red project, because I am going to try to make some connections between the different projects. This quilt has direction, just like the geese, and the orange project will use "strings" like this one! :)
I used skinny little strings for this, 1.5"x4.5". The quilt ended up at about 10"x16" finished.
I don't have a lot of reds in my stash, this is about all the red I own! About half of this stack is vintage cottons. I seem to have good luck finding vintage red! Most of the fabrics I used are red + white, but a few are red and cream. I think they mix in pretty well!
Making the braids require that you trim off a decent amount on all four sides. I couldn't throw out those little bits, so I sewed together a few of the smaller ones and made these little blocks for the backing. I framed them in more white like the front and finished it off with this vintage red and white dot.
I attempted to quilt it a la Malka Dubrawsky, but I'm not sure how successful it is. Her quilting feels so doodle-like, organic, and natural, but mine just felt messy! I went with it anyways, but I think I need a little more practice! I bound it in one of my favorite vintage reds, this giant polka dot! They just don't make a lot of giant dots like this nowadays!
Despite the quilting weirdness, I am really happy with the finished project. I love red and white together, they're just made for each other! Red is so bold, it stands so well on it's own! I think I need to incorporate more red into my projects! :)
Project Orange is planned out, but there are quite a few other things coming up in the next few weeks, so I'm not sure when I'll have a chance to work on it! What colors are you thinking about exploring?
very nice, jeni!
ReplyDeletei have been thinking of making an all red quilt out of hexagons with linen. just need to finish a few projects first! :)
It's beautiful. That alphabet print is fun. Is that a vintage print?
ReplyDeleteLove the red and white!!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised to see how well the white and cream play together -- thanks for the lesson!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! Love the braids, need to try those one day.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I like the braids, too. :)
ReplyDeleteJeni - these are neat. what will you do with them? I am experimenting with 'making fabric' a la Bumble Beans "15 minutes play" in green.
ReplyDeletefun fun! I like the quilting, good job trying something new!
ReplyDeleteMalka's quilting is definitely inspiring, and I'm sure, not easy! Yours is a good first attempt. I need to be gutsy and try something like that!
ReplyDeleteI love the red. Your vintage finds are always inspiring!
oooo i love this one even more!!!! i know I said aqua but what about a mustard yellow? I know bright yellow can be hard to see sometimes, but darkening the yellow is so cool i think! can't wait to see the orange next! great job once again!
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous! It is amazing what you did with just the two colors. Thanks for an inspiring post!
ReplyDeleteThat is just gorgeous!! I love it!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that this look was a traditional friendship braid pattern. Cool!
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