Painted Quilt *Finished*

 
It's Autumn in my part of the world so I decided to challenge myself to create a painted quilt to cover my legs while I am sitting reading a book (my other favorite activity- I am currently reading The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens-).

The finished quilt measures 45 inches by 36 inches. Let me share with you my quilt-making process.




I knew I wanted a painted quilt so I started experimenting with different type of paints and soon I discovered a *new* way of printing which I called *surprise printing*.
The name says it all: it is a serendipity process where you get different color design with each print. Perfect technique for making a pieced quilt top.

Well, if you have been reading my blog you must know by now that I usually make art quilts to be hanged on the wall which are heavily stitched by hand and machine with different kind of threads. For a utility quilt, I learned that you must take a different approach: less dense stitching!! And did I also mention a pieced quilt top???



  
After all the blocks were printed, washed and trimmed I started to play with them on my design wall. I was stuck so I decided to dye the backing fabric.
 


I used the ice dyeing method. The dye colors I chose: midnight blue and bronze from  HERE
Observing this fabric where the two colors meld in some areas and they stay separate in another creating an harmonious design with lines I knew what to do next!
 
I painted a stripe fabric with the same technique and with the same colors used on the blocks. Oh, I like that.

Cut also narrow strips to add movement and balance.

 
Once the pieced top was finished, I stitched in the ditch around each seam.

I am offering this as a workshop. Check details under the workshops category in my blog.

 
And here I am using my quilt and reading a new book. Exciting news about this book in my next post!