Monday, October 04, 2010

blue

Blue is such a creative name for this quilt, isn't it? It's made from various (42 to be exact) Kona cottons. Simple straightforward piecing, with lots of little fussy quilting.
Actually, how to quilt this one had me stumped for awhile. Some of you suggested variegated thread, but variegated thread scares me. (It's true!) I thought about straight line organic quilting, but with the large graphic blocks, I wanted to add something that would soften it up rather than accentuate the bold lines. They didn't need any additional help. :) My solution? First, I stitched in the ditch to stabilize my seams. I used nylon thread on the top (it blends with nearly all colors) and a silvery grey thread in the bobbin (to match the back). I wanted the stabilizing stitches to blend in with the various colors as much as possible, since I'm not the neatest stitch in the ditch quilter. Then, I changed threads to match each color block when I filled them in with a simple meandering pattern. For that, I used the same thread color in the top and the bobbin. I started stitching in the top left corner of each block and ended at the bottom right of each corner. With all the thread changes, I needed to keep some kind of order. It worked like a charm.
I used lots of thread (12 colors!), but the only one I had to purchase was the royal blue. The rest I had on hand already. That was a little startling.
I used Kona Ash for the backing. Since I changed the thread colors with each block, the back has it's own pattern going on. It's pretty subtle, but the darker ones do pop a bit. I like the dimension it adds to the back. It's also the reason I went with a solid rather than a print fabric for the backing. All in all, I think it was a great quilting solution. I love it when a hair-brained idea like this actually pans out. I was holding my breath until the very end, though. I did NOT want to screw this one up.
I used some sort of Kona grey for the binding (not sure of the exact color), because it would have been too hard to pick a blue. :) I love how it frames it all in.
The quilt measures about 57" x 70".

This quilt is going to be the grand prize giveaway for the retreat that is coming up next month. It's going to be hard to let this one go, but one lucky retreat attender is going to go home with a brand new quilt. Now, THAT'S pretty exciting!

72 comments:

Laurence said...

Very beautiful quilt.
Quilting is gorgeous !

Son said...

Wow an amazing quilt! I love it! Can I ask you where you managed to find 42 different KONA blues? I can't seem to find anyone that stocks the entire Kona collection.

Margaret said...

Hmmm .. I like it ! Simple yet effective. Did you do the stippling yourself, or do you get an external longarm quilter to do it?

Amanda Jean said...

son,

i used two fat quarter packs, but took out some of the whites and creams and added in a few bluish green ones in their place. i mainly used the my blue heaven and denim colorstory bundles.

hope that helps!

aj

Amanda Jean said...

margaret,

i did all the quilting myself on my domestic machine.

aj

Quiltjane said...

What a beautiful idea using one colour.

Clair said...

Fun quilt. I need to baste my quilt so that I can then SLEEP under it.

Tara said...

Love, Love, Love it! Do you have plans for lunch on Saturday, October 16? Will be driving the second leg on our trip to Ely and will be going through Minneapolis. Wondered if you and your family might like us to make a little jog?

shannon said...

Wow! I love this quilt, I could see it in a variety of colors. Beautiful work.

larissa said...

Really gorgeous. You've got me thinking it's time for me to do an all-solids quilt; something I've never been too interested in until recently.

beth said...

That is gorgeous!!! I love it!!! I'm off to save that image to my favorites. After stippling last weekend for the first time I am amazed at how compact and neat your stippling is!!

Beth said...

OMG!! I love blue, any blue, all blue. Your quilting looks just perfect! Wish I could be the lucky winner. LOL

Wilma Lee said...

Really nice job.

Thimbleanna said...

GORGEOUS Crazy Mom! I love the quilting -- really beautiful. (Now...if we can just get you switched to bella... ;-) )

Sarah Craig said...

How beautiful! I love the peaceful blues....

Pat Sloan said...

i love hearing your thoughts on how you approached the quilting.. super!

Karen said...

This has turned out so well. Beautiful blues and stunning quilting. I admire your patience with all the thread changes!

Linda said...

Very pretty! Someone will be very lucky to be going home with this quilt!
J would love it, he thinks the entire world should be blue. :)

Nicole said...

That looks gorgeous, I do quite like how the stippling pops on the back - great job and love your site

Catsngrams said...

What a wonderful quilt. I love the quilting. Good job

Traci said...

That quilting is so impressive and inspiring. I tend to try to get the quilting part over as quickly as possible, but this makes me want to look at it as a make-or-break part of the process!

Rose M. said...

I love this quilt! cuz blue is maybe my favorite color!lol lucky winner whoever ends u with it.
Rose

Suzanne said...

When I look at this quilt I think two things: Wow! and You are patient! You did such a lovely job. As usual. This quilt would be hard to pass along but someone is going to be so lucky.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

That is VERY exciting - and I'm not even going to be at the retrea! It's a beauty Amanda!

MichelleB said...

I love it! Someone is going to be so very lucky.

Kari V. said...

Great quilt! I love your use of the thread colors. I may have to steal that idea sometime. :)

Jennifer said...

This is just beautiful! I love the quilting and how you used the different threads.

Jennifer

machen und tun said...

lovely quilt - simple and charming! i never worked with just solids but this one may change that soon..
thanks for sharing and inspiring!!
claudia

Emily said...

Beautiful work! I love all the blues and the grey binding (I love grey in quilts!) One day my stippling will be as good as yours! So perfect!!!

MEG BAIER said...

absolute BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

Unknown said...

Someone is going to be a very very happy participant at the quilt retreat

Westfalenmaedel said...

Wow, thats's really gorgeos!
Simple and modern and wonderfully arranged! And the stippling fits perfectly!
Congratulations and thanks for
inspiration!!

With regards,
Karin

Mama Spark said...

It's beautiful AJ! Love how it came out. Hey did you get those patterns off in the mail to me yet?

Chris {frecklemama} said...

Thank you for going into detail about how to decide on a quilting plan. Will you please post a picture of the entire back? I would love to see the pattern the various thread colors made! I can't imagine how long that tight stippling took but WOW what a result!

Esch House Quilts said...

Lovely quilt! I have been drooling over those new Kona fat quarter packs. Grey was an inspired choice for the binding!

KateKwiltz said...

Blue -- any kind of blue -- is my favorite color. This quilt is GORGEOUS!

Sue K said...

So simple and yet so beautiful! Your stippling is incredible. Just curious about your threads - are they all the same weights and types (cottons, poly, blends) or did you mix and match?

Anina said...

It's amazing how stunning simple can be. Beautiful quilt!

tellad said...

Oh my - how gorgeous - and how inspiring to try new things - I am so predictable in my quilting and quilting thread choices - now I am ready to step out and challenge myself more after seeing this! Teri Dingler

Amanda Jean said...

sue k,

i used all types of thread. at first i thought about using just one type/weight, but the practical side of me used just what i had on hand. the weights and differences aren't really that apparent in the end.

aj

Andrea, the little collector said...

Love love it! Hooray "hair brained" quilting plans. It works. Hmmmmmm....maybe I need to go to this retreat for a chance to win it all! :)

Danette said...

Amanda Jean,

This is a wonderfully serene and lovely quilt. excellent work as usual. I have a stack of blue kona and this makes me want to use it!

Terriaw said...

It's just beautiful! I can't believe you changed thread colors that many times - very impressive. Really gave this quilt quite the effect too. How wonderful to be offering this as the giveaway at your retreat in November! (wish I could go!)

JaneRH said...

Wow! I feel so lucky that I'll have a chance at winning that beauty...how did you know that blue is my favorite color?! Looking forward to the retreat and meeting you...thank you for making such a wonderful giveaway prize.

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

That is one stunning quilt! As simple as it is. It's gorgeous and what a labor of love - changing the thread colors when quilting. What a lucky, lucky winner!

Jantine said...

The stippling makes it softer indeed! Love the blue..
Why is it that we have so many colours and still are scared when we realize?

Shannon said...

Wow it really turned out great. I love the little stippling.

Alexis said...

It is simply stunning! Another great finish- congrats! The quilting really makes it.

Quiltbenaco said...

Quanti bei blu...il mio colore preferito in tutte le sue varianti
Ciao
Domenica

Shelly said...

Wow! it's gorgeous. I've recently been challenged to make a blue quilt. Maybe I should come to the retreat and try to win it, and then I'd be DONE!

Sally said...

This is so beautiful and to think you are giving it away, I don't think I could give it away - awesome!

Lori said...

A really beautiful quilt. I love blue- cant get enough of it. This would certainly work in my bedroom. I wish I could go to this retreat- if not just for the chance of owning this quilt.

Brenda said...

Another beautiful quilt for a very lucky someone. So ... another thing to admire about you is that you are practical. : ) I sure could use some of that.

Anonymous said...

Would love to see a picture of the back, to see the pattern going one. Cool.

rosehippo said...

It's so simple, yet beautiful. The first picture makes it look like fuzzy fleece.

sarah, rsm said...

boy, if i could i'd go on the retreat just for a chance at the giveaway! :) it's really lovely.

Teodo said...

MERAVIGLIOSO - amazing!!!!!!!
ciao ciao

bioyarn said...

thank-you so much for sharing the process you went through, it helps me in my processing!! I absolutely love the blues and the quilting is the perfect touch!

Down to Sew said...

I just love how attention to the details in the quilting can bring a simple looking quilt up to a whole other level.

THanks for all of the inspiration--I have created several projects from your blog, and dont plan to stop!!

http://downtosew.blogspot.com/

Quilter Mom of 3 said...

I would LOVE to be able to go to this retreat!!!

No such luck this year...maybe next year.

pinsandneedles said...

Love this quilt using only solids! The quilting looks great! Way to go!

Live a Colorful Life said...

I really like this quilt. And your stippling technique is amazing! Good thread choice and gray is perfect for the binding.

Haha. My word verification was "gushei." Gushy. That's kinda how I feel about this quilt. It makes me really happy.

Rhonda said...

I like this quilt! Very unique, and that was interesting to read how you did it all. Very cool!

Michelle said...

That is absolutely gorgeous!

peawink said...

It turned out fabulous - the quilting really makes the quilt! Makes me wish I could come retreating with you. Have fun!

Shauna said...

Can't believe all of the quilting on this one. It would take me forever to do that! Love the simplicity of the colour arrangement - you have a great eye for putting it all together.

Rebekah said...

this is gorgeous! I love the blues and the cool feeling of this. Beautiful work!

Victoria Paige @ Boutique Uniquely said...

That is so beautiful!

I can't wait till I'm experienced enough to do pretty, detailed quilting like that.

Absolutely gorgeous. I love the blues.

Bee said...

I am in love! Love this quilt...love the colors...blue is my fave....love love love.

Marcia Mersky said...

Love the Amish look and simplicity of so many shades of one color.

Diane said...

Hi!
I am planning on a making blue quilt for my kid's school auction and here is the perfect one for inspiration! If you don't mind my asking, what size rectangles did you use? I tried to read everything carefully so sorry if I missed. I just love the proportion of them, very appealing.

Thanks! Diane

Laurel said...

I am in love with this quilt and the awesome look...but i am a new quilter (very new! aka-straight lines are a lil tricky sometimes) and would love to work up to this quilt for my bed (queen) or my son's bed (twin)...in different colors of course but I do love the blue! did you pick out each of the 42 colors or was this a kit,etc? Are these silly questions? Any help you can offer would be fantastic!