Sometimes I feel the need to apologize (or perhaps justify) my love of simple quilts. I feel like I should be sewing fancier, more complicated things. When it comes down to it, simple quilts (made with beautiful fabric) get my vote every single time. That's just the way it is! This quilt is about as easy as it can get and I love it so very much!
A few weeks ago, a mere 3 hours after I was expressing to a friend that I had too much fabric and that I needed to sew faster, I was in JoAnn's at the cutting counter ordering up a beautiful stack of Picadilly fabric by Denyse Schmidt. I know I'm not the only one! I found two fellow fabric junkies at the store with the same issues. :) I didn't have a plan for the fabric, but for some reason I was determined to sew it up right away. I usually let the fabric cure in my stash for years before cutting into it. It's nice to change things up. Ha!
I knew I would need more fabric than my original 8 quarter yard cuts to make a quilt, so I pulled these additions from my stash.
I put them all together and it seemed like an unlikely combination, but I started cutting anyway. You never know how they will work together until you start sewing. I made a few blocks, then a few more, and before I knew it, I was done!
The only changes I made to the original fabric pull was the addition of the navy metro circles on the left and I didn't find a place to use the pink fabric on the right.
Turns out the fabrics played nicely after all! Of course white Kona cotton would tie almost anything together beautifully!
You can find the measurements for the quilt
here (way back from 2008!) if you would like to make a pretty, simple quilt of your own.
69 comments:
I also love simple quilts, great fabric framed is sometimes all that it needs to be perfect and the colours and prints you've used are beautiful.
Glad to hear you had a good break and welcome back, you've been missed.
Simple but beautiful! Welcome back after a well deserved break!
OMG, you are back and you are strong! This quilt is beautiful!
I *totally* hear you! I'm making something as a donation to an art auction and I feel like I need to make something "fancy" or "complicated" but in the end, I went to an old favorite: log cabins!
you are quick!!! is so pretty, love the colors. :)
This is pretty and there isn't anything wrong at all with simple quilts! I think people sometimes go to the opposite extreme and the results are not always wonderful.
i abandon all fabric diet rules when it comes to DS quilts. And I have been craving some simple patchwork! just some squares to sew together nothing complicated but rows and 1/4" seams. Your quilt top is lovely! thanks for sharing!
I love simple quilts. I declared a few years ago that I'm only going to work with squares and rectangles (although I have slipped a few times to triangles), and it's amazing how much you can do with just those shapes. Love your quilts!
With great prints I like simple best too!
what?! no apologies necessary at all. =) my first thought when I saw this was, "oh, how refreshing! Amanda did something more simple than she usually does. it's lovely!" a quilt is a work of heart no matter how much we have to labor over the piecing or how much time is spent making it. putting more time into it doesn't make it a better quilt, the quality of the work and the design/fabric choices are what makes it a good quilt. and if every once in a while good design choices are quicker than usual to make, that's awesome for the quilter!
I love it! There's nothing wrong with simple.
Isn't it funny how some of the most beautiful quilts come from fabrics that don't look like they go well together?
beautiful!!!! I love the simplicity of this quilt. It's perfect.
Glad you are back! But now I'm going to have to make a stop at Joann's! ;) I see the perfect fabrics for a purse I've been envisioning. Last thing I need is more fabric ... I don't even have a working sewing machine!
I religiously follow your blog. Two reasons why simple is better than complex
1. Simple designs are great for newbies. You inspire lots of newbies. You have no idea.
2. Simple designs best highlight the fabric, or the quilting. They have the most stunning effect.
If it is too complex, I don't know where to look.
You are amazing and thank you for everything that you do (and share)!!!
Don't apologize! This quilt is awesome.
Of course, your fabric choices really make it. You are so good at putting fabric together that I wouldn't think of.
Simple is good.....your quilt is so lovely!!!
I'm all about simple! Your quilt is just the right amount of bright, and it's beautiful! thanks for the link for the measurements.
love love
You are such an inspiration and please don't apologize for simple. This quilt is beautiful - you have such a way with putting colors together. Your projects always inspire me to find new ways to use my fabric.
All my friends make wonderful and complicated quilts. Makes me feel like an underachiever. Still, I agree with you about the simple ones. Fresh and clean and best of all, they get finished! Your latest one is beautiful!
You're so funny! and it seems I always agree with you on everything! :)
Yay! What a fresh combination.
Less is more - simple quilts most often gets my liking. I really like your new quilt!
love it! i've used your tutorial for this kind of quilt so many times. it's the perfect simple pattern!!!
Love it - definitely no need to apologize !! Great choices in color and fabric.
Really, really pretty and just the shot of color this snowy Sprinter day needs! :-)
Love it! Variations of patchwork are always a fave!
This is such a fun quilt! You are so good at colors and fabrics and patterns. When there is much color and pattern, you seem to use a simple pattern that always brings out the beauty of the fabric or color combination so that it works so well. Your quilts are lessons for me, as I feel as though I just don't have an eye for what works together. Thanks!!!
I made my first quilt with a lot of white and am hooked. It is so fresh. But there are lots of choices. What is your preferred kona white?
Gorgeous, vibrant fabrics + Simple design = Perfectly pretty Quilt!
Looks sew good hanging from the close line... And hiding that little bit of stubborn snow!
So, so pretty! There's nothing wrong with loving simple quilts. Vanilla ice cream may be simple, but it's pretty fabulous too.
I love simple quilts too. So pretty.
The perfect pattern to let the beautiful fabric shine! I love the navy.
Your pattern, colors and fabric speak to my quilting soul. You've nailed it in my book! And to top it off, your photos are stunning. Inspiration times a million.
Welcome back. Great mentoring on your part. You say what you are going to do and you do what you say. You show that Chaos can be friends to Simplicity, and it is a good thing!
It's perfectly delicious...and you got new fabric cut into it right away, got a top finished AND you used some of your stash.. I'd call this a WIN/WIN situation!
Simple is always beautiful. Doing what you love will always give a better result anyway. xx
Simple is always beautiful. Doing what you love will always give a better result anyway. xx
Nice and beautiful. It is great to have a simple quilt to go to!
Beautiful! No one needs to 'justify' a simple quilt - anything that makes someone happy is always a winner!
What a great quilt! I keep looking for a "pin" button so I can pin it to one of my boards. Must remember to look up this pattern when I am ready for an easy, scrappy quilt! Thank you for the inspiration.
Very pretty! I love the addition of the navy with all the pinks. Just for the record, I like simple too. I revere all the work that goes into a complicated quilt, but there is something that is just peaceful about a simple quilt, too.
I like trying different patterns but the "simple" quilts always touch me the most. Along with that uncomplicated quilting. Nice quilt:)
with fabric like you have used simple is good
I agree more often than not, I prefer a simple quilt pattern, especially when I have great fabric to show off. I'm trying to decide on a pattern for my daughter, but I am hoping to avoid white... I expect it to be used for quite sometime.
I think that simple quilts have the most stunning effect as you can see the beauty of the materials. I love bringing different unlikely pairings of fabrics together and yours work beautifully. I am amazed at how quickly you can make a quilt though!
Never feel like you should apologize for making beautiful things in the style you love. I love and prefer to make simple quilts, too. Complexity is overrated, I say. And it's definitely hard to let ANY Denyse Schmidt fabrics 'cure' for very long! Your fabric choices play perfectly. Lovely quilt!
Me gusta mucho este diseño!!
Las cosas simples y coloridas son mis favoritas.
Disfrute de su hermosa colcha!
This quilt is beautiful! I also love simple quilts and white backgrounds to set off the fabric.
I absolutely love your quilt. I too love modern simple quilts. They do not seem to be as busy as most of the older patterns. I also like your use of white it makes for a clean crisp quilt to relax under. Great job.
As a pattern designer myself, I'm a firm believer in simple. Simple not only lets the fabric shine, but it also can really let the strength of the design stand. The other thing I love to do is explore how a simple design can look so very different when done with different fabrics. Your simple quilt is just lovely. No apologies needed ever. I also have to say I loved your phrase of letting fabrics cure in your stash. I have A LOT of overly cured fabrics by now. Made me smile. Thanks.
Very appealing quilt. I've been wanting to do a squares quilt and must have collected 20 different ones, but this one could be THE one - thank you so much!
Love it and I am like you and am drawn to simpler quilts...so, if it aint broke, don't fix it :)
Amanda
I also love simple quilts! Just a simple square patchwork quilt is probably my favorite.
Whoohoo. I knew Denyse Schmidt was going to have a collection at JoAnn's but did not know if it arrived. Now I know and now a great quilt by you for inspiration. Thanks.
Beautifully simple - the best kind.
I make a lot of simple quilts as well.Sometimes they just suit the fabric better.
Love the quilt. I like simple designs and simple quilting on quilts. Really like the fabric....Will have to check out some of that DS fabric.......I have some pieces of hers that I bought last year at Joanns.
I love the idea of leaving your fabric to "cure" for three years. Well put!
I love the idea of leaving your fabric to "cure" for three years. Well put!
I love it that you are an accomplished quilter and still make "simple" quilts. Look at the beauty of the "simple" Amish quilts. Never apologize for what you love. Welcome Back!!
Simple quilts steal my heart every time. Your fabric combination is lovely!
I like the simplicity of this quilt! And I also like that you allow your fabric to "cure" in your stash before you use it . . . that gave me a little chuckle!
I love it! I love your process too; buy, cut and ta da! There are so many beautiful fabrics available that it seems a shape to complicate them beyond what is beautiful.
It's beautiful! Less is more :)
Simple and quick quilts are my favorite too. I am smitten by these new denise schmidt. You are not alone.
I love this quilt! The color combination is quirky and happy and just perfect! How lucky are you that you could find all those Picadilly prints at your local Joanns....ours usually gets one or two bolts in the beginning and then a few more later after the line has been out a while, but never all the bolts in the collection.
I am so happy to see you back, and really happy you got the rest you so deserved!! This quilt is probably one of my most favorites ever. So beautiful. Thanks for giving me a source for such beautiful things to look at!
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