Thursday, July 10, 2008

blue bento box


This quilt top measures 72" x 48".

I have no idea how to quilt it. My standard stippling doesn't seem right. Or does it? Any ideas?
(can you believe that I actually made a quilt top that doesn't contain any pink?)

53 comments:

Diana Banana said...

I love your quilt top. It has all of my favorite colors

John said...

I love Bento Box quilts. I recently bought the pattern and some fabrics to make one, but it hasn't made its way into my queue yet! : ) I always envisioned quilting mine with straight lines of some kind.

QuiltedSimple said...

Oh I love it - what about quilting it in straight lines, or squares startingin the center and getting bigger? It is beautiful!!
Kris

Anonymous said...

I'm envisioning concentric circles within each "box" - maybe four or five would fit? Then maybe stipple in the space in between where the four corners meet. Does that make sense? Really like the color scheme!

Anonymous said...

I love it! Great colors. And if I'm not mistaken, isn't there a bit of pink in there? It looks that way in the picture anyway, but I know that colors don't always turn out true to life in pictures. How about quilting it in a squared spiral effect in each box? I did a square doll quilt with one squared spiral all the way from the center out and I think it would look great in a bigger quilt, with a "spiral" in each box. Just an idea!

Anonymous said...

Wow. Now THAT is cool! You could always stitch in the ditch, which would give this quilt a more comforter-esque look, I suppose. What about a grid on the diagonal? Maybe with the lines at varying widths, to contrast the uniform shape of the blocks.

Whatever you do I'm sure it'll be amazing :-)

jacquie said...

I would do random intersecting circles...kind of like bubbles. it has so many lines I think something round would compliment it...don't I sound like I know what I'm talking about...lol

Lily Boot said...

Oh my! That's full of mystery and magic! I too like the idea of concentric circles in each box. Amazing colours! :-)

Sandi said...

Love it. That is so gorgeous.

dutchcomfort said...

Love the bento box quilt! I think diagonal quilting will be great. I’m sure all you decide to do will be great!

Crafty Mama said...

This is great! I would do the water drop effect (like random concentric circles that intersect). That would be pretty neat. Can't wait to see what you decide!

Kristin said...

I agree with the folks who suggest circles that have their center at the intersection of four squares. It's a nice visual tension to have circles contrasting with the squared piecing.

Maria Stahl said...

Another vote for diagonal lines, here.

PAMTASTIC! said...

I like the circle idea... you'd be putting square pegs in round holes kinda.

Beautiful job on the top. It's going to look great no matter what you choose. ;)

Anina said...

Circles sound wonderful! Or you could do something like what I did in the Stash Dash quilt.

MichelleB said...

I kind of like the diagonal line idea! It looks great and I'm sure it will turn out great whatever you do.

Nichole said...

My mother-in-law actually made my husband and I a quilt with this pattern for our wedding. She just echoed to squares in her quilting. I think it looks great.

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Love the colours! I vote for the circle quilting but if they are too fiddly, diagonal quilting would also look effective.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE Bento Box quilts, and this one is gorgeous! What about doing something circular or wavy to break up all the angles, like maybe starting a spiral in the middle of the 4-patch and working your way out? Looking forward to see what you choose!

QuiltNut Creations said...

LOVE this! i like the idea of doing something circular to break up the angles

KZK said...

I love it! I have an un-quilted Bento Box I need to get to, also. I love a lot of the suggestions you got!

- dlm. said...

I definitely like the idea of concentric circles as this will add "movement" to your quilt. Lovely pattern and lovely colours!

Candace said...

How about a combination of squares and ovals, see the real bento lunch boxes:
http://www.airandangels.com/bentobox/gallery.html

Nanette Merrill said...

Hmm good question. I love the bento box. I've wondered that myself - how I'd quilt it. My daughter made one but its not quilted yet. I'll be watching to see what you do.

house on hill road said...

i don't know what to tell you to do...you will choose the perfect thing. it looks great, amanda jean.

Regi said...

Awesome quilt!!!! I love the colors. I kinda like the idea someone suggested of spirals, but then Im a spiral kinda gal. I cant wait to see what you do with it.

Alice Grace said...

I love this quilt, and the colors! Can't wait to see the finished product!

lera said...

I love the pattern on that quilt. It's unique. Good luck quilting it!

Linda said...

Amanda! This is so pretty! As far as the quilting goes? I don't know, I'm not good at that. I thought just echoing the squares, but maybe the circles would be neat, too?

Unknown said...

I have been wanting to make a Bento Box and you have just inspired me again! Looks great - I don't have any different ideas for quilting it, but I know it will be fabulous :)

Jen said...

I love this pattern. And I found this interesting quilting on flickr.

Amy said...

WOW! Another beautiful quilt...will you ever stop!? Love the color choices even without any pink!

Thimbleanna said...

Very Cool! How on earth do you get so many quilt tops done? You're amazing! That's a tough quilting challenge -- how 'bout something like clamshells or fans to soften it???

Needled Mom said...

Great quilt top. I love the geometric feel to it. I, too, like the idea of circles on it. It could look very cool with the contrast of circles and geos.

mikawendy said...

This looks so pretty!

What about concentric squares that begin in the *intersections* of the squares?

If you have scraps left over, you could piece a miniature 10"x10" version and test different quilting patterns on it. Bind it up and it becomes a pot holder when you're done.

I may just have to make one of these!I'm making a lap/TV quilt as a wedding gift, and the recipients have modern/Asian/Scandinavian decor....

Thriftin and Craftin said...

Hi Amandajean-

Thanks for stopping by my blog to see my latest quilt. I am happy with it. It's fun to see all thDon't forget to link it te hours of work come together. I was wondering if you finished your Bento Box quilt. If you don't mind, add it to the Mr. Linky challenge on my blog! Happy quilting!

Carla

Thriftin and Craftin said...

Obviously I had some technical issues when I left the above comment. It will be a fun puzzle for you to decipher what I meant to say. LOL!

Carla

Leslie said...

that quilt top is so pretty. I don't have any ideas for quilting, i am just busy admiring it. i love the colors!

2ndAvenueStudio-Rachel said...

intersecting squares would be modern or a wreath in each square. Not a formal wreath but kind of wonky one with stippling around it.
The top is great! congrats can't wait to see it quilted.

Tine said...

That is so beautiful! I've been wanting to make one of those for a while....and it'll probably be another while before I get started. LOL!
As quilting goes, I'm no expert, and you have so many great suggestions already. I think the wavy lines you did on your blue quilt (from the monochromatic series) would look great with all the straight lines in this!

Paula said...

I'm thinking me and 40 other people will say stitch in the ditch. But ha...I'm the least creative!
Paula

Louise said...

It looks fabulous but don't stipple it. Go check out Tree Fall's latest - squares in squares. I love it! I'm having a two day machine quilting class with one of Australia's best teacher's this week and really looking forward to it! Soon I'll be whizzing through them like you - ha!

Anonymous said...

woo! It looks great! I love the bento box pattern, I'd love to make one sometime.

Anonymous said...

I love it, you have so much patience. Though purple is neeeeeerly pink ;)

Rebekah said...

beautiful! I say, go for the stippling! It will break up all of the hard lines. I'd love to make one of these one day : )

Sherry said...

Oh, Amanda Jean, what a beautiful quilt! Perhaps some kind of echo quilting would work? Or maybe do a combination of echo quilting the the center and outside of each block & stippling or some kind of curved quilting in the center band?

I really have to make one of these quilts. . . I love each one that I have seen. . .but yours is one of the best I've seen lately (could it be that I am partial to purple???!!!)

Great work!

Sherry V.

Anonymous said...

I join the chorus for diagonal lines.
Does your machine have any quilting stitches in it. As in 'wavy' ones?
They could be fun.

Quiltin Jenny said...

This quilt is beautiful! A Bento Box is definitely on my WIMs list.

Count me as another one who thinks circles would add motion and break up the geometry. I like the idea of concentric circles around each block, but the post above that mentioned random sizes like bubbles sounds even better!

Claudia said...

May not have pink but there's lilac (at least look like it in the photo) and I think it counts in the colour spectrum. :D
The quilt is beautiful and I loved the blocks and colour mix.

sulu-design said...

Wait a minute. When did you make this one?!? It's such a cool pattern - I love the name.

Cheryl Arkison said...

I think the suggestions about circles are good, or concentric squares. Another suggestion is to stipple, but make it right angle stipples. You know, square off all your corners instead of all rounded. It is easier than you think once you find a rhythm.

Katherine said...

I have been wanting to make the bento box pattern myself, and seeing yours has me thinking it should be the next one I make! Yours is just lovely, Amandajean.

I like the suggestion to quilt this one using circles or wavy lines because I like the contrast the curves will give to all the straight lines. I'm certain you'll come up with just the right quilting design to suit this latest beauty. I can't wait to see what you decide upon...

Amy said...

I really like blue bento box.Enjoy it