Monday, May 23, 2016

scattered showers quilt top

I've been working on a lot of small projects lately, so completing a quilt top that has been in progress for a long time feels especially good! (It's been awhile!)
I don't often sketch out my quilts ahead of time, but when I do, it's super high tech. Ha! This was my original plan. I had a very deliberate plan for how many white patches were in each block, and the placement of those blocks. About 2/3 of the way through, I decided to just let loose and make blocks on a whim. You know what? It worked out well and it was a lot more fun! After all the blocks were completed, I arranged them in a way that looked good and sew them up. Easy as that. Sometimes I am amazed at my ability to make things harder than they are. :)
All of the blocks were improvisationally pieced and each one finishes at 12". I used a variety of white and cream scraps and indigo solid from Connecting Threads as the background. 
The quilt top measures 60" x 72". I am planning on doing a combination of hand quilting and machine quilting to finish it off. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out so far and I think quilting will really bring it to life!

Happy Monday to you!

50 comments:

Pat said...

It's really neat.

Anonymous said...

Yes. Visually stunning!

Leanne said...

What a fun improv project, I love it!

Kat said...

Love it! Such a great design choice.

Pamela said...

This is amazing and I'm in LOVE with it!

ann said...

Love it!

Mango2 said...

I really love this quilt top! What a great idea. It really looks like snow.

Sarah@123quilt said...

It's nice to finish a top every once in a while. It's a lovely finish!

Anne said...

I LOVE IT!!!! I love the "randomness" of it!

Patty R said...

Please don't forget to show it off after it's done. :)

Allison said...

Love this one!!!

Janie said...

Beautiful design, classic!
This is a wow quilt.

Robby said...

Maybe I just have Summer on the brain as school winds up, but I look at this and think of Summer nights laying on a blanket looking up into the sky full of stars. Terrific stuff. Love to see it when you're finished.

Debbie said...

LOVE it

Jean Burke said...

This is so cool!! I really like it...can't wait to see what the quilting adds to it.....nicely done!

Herding Grasshoppers said...

I love it! But I think it's snow instead of (rain) showers ;D

Denise - Jewelry By Denise said...

WOW! I really like that!

Rose Prairie Quilts and Farm said...

Stunning. Your design is wonderful

Little Quiltsong said...

Love this! Enjoyed seeing your high-tech planning of the quilt - just my style too :)!

Danice G said...

What a unique quilt, with a unique name. I love this quilt.

Christine said...

Oh, its gorgeous! I just love it!

Charlotte M. said...

Very nice!

Amy said...

Did you prewash your indigo fabric? I am not a prewasher but I do use the shout color catchers. Beautiful quilt!

Kate Chiconi said...

Fabulous quilt, but... Who are you, and what have you done with Amanda Jean? Where's the colour...? We so rarely see work from you that's not a vibrant rainbow that it comes as a shock, and it's fascinating too, to note that your handling of monochrome is just as masterful as your colour work.

pingraham said...

This is really fun to see! Thanks for showing your process. It allows me to be more playful in planning my quilts, and do what works for me. Love this one!

Karen said...

If you so decide to make this a pattern, I would buy it. I am too lazy to do math. I REALLY like this. Minimalist, but very interesting.

Amy B. said...

I really love this quilt, it's beautiful!

Chris said...

That's a really fun quilt!

Anita said...

Gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Fun idea - and I agree it will be even more stunning after you quilt it. Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration. I prefer improv style and even when I start with a plan it always changes midway. I am going to start one stemming off this idea today. I always need another WIP ;-)

Nancy said...

This is stunnng n its simplicity. Love it.

P11otter said...

I think it's stunning! I am in love!

Laura said...

Amanda Jean, I love seeing ALL your works, but this one....so out of you usual range and style....is particularlly striking and evocative. i love that you are always trying new things. Can't wait to see the finished version of this already wonderful piece! Laura

Sam said...

It is always a challenge to work with just two colors - well done!
I, for one, am hoping you SELL this pattern because I want to try it.

myrtovl said...

Stunning! I also feel like looking up into the sky at night as Robby mentioned above.
Myrto

BrendaM said...

I LOVE! that quilt top

Jan @Cocoa Quilts said...

Love this quilt. Great for the boys!

Aliceart said...

I love this quilt! It's so much fun to just let precision go and play, isn't it? Great result. Thanks for sharing it.

Marla said...

Love the quilt and the concept. Thanks for including your sketch, too. I find that my sketches are just a basic idea and I don't want to "waste" time drawing because I just want to start cutting and stitching!

Kaaren said...

Amanda, this is SO cool. I think you'll set off another firestorm of sewing among those of us who take inspiration for your work! Congratulations!

Cindy Maki said...

When "simple" turns beautiful you have a winner! Nicely done. I think I need one now!

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

Yeah or letting go and letting it evolve. It turned out wonderfully. Letting go doesn't come easy to me. I'm a planner.

Cathy Melancon said...

What a cool quilt! I love it and it could be a night sky with stars or even fireflies! So,stunning! I sure would love to make one!!!

piecefullane said...

How cool is that! I've never seen a quilt like that, it's brilliant

maryandpatch.blogspot.com said...

Perfect!!!

Shona Barbour said...

Love, love, love this! Please continue to post creativity!

Unknown said...

Love this! And I love seeing your creative process - I'm highly technical in my process, too ;)

Live a Colorful Life said...

I really love this one. I took a lot of pictures on a tile installation along the walls of the convention center in Austin last year at QuiltCon, somewhat similar to this, and always planned on turning that inspiration into a quilt. This inspires me and gives me direction. So thanks. :)

Jen said...

This is so different from your usual colorful projects and wow, it's fantastic! I think you were smart to improv the blocks. Can't wait to see it finished!

Tracybug Creative said...

It's really good, when I first saw it I thought of a midnight snow!