Monday, February 16, 2015

Color Me Scrappy

Hello, readers—both regular visitors and newcomers from Scraptastic Tuesday.

Scraps are like laundry: As soon as you get them under control, there’s a new pile to deal with. And like laundry, my scrap-busting efforts are ongoing. 

I’m excited about a scrappy project that’s been simmering on the back burner for months. It’s my take on Laura Jane Taylor’s Obsession quilt, from her book Quilt-opedia:

Obsession, from Laura Jane Taylor’s Quilt-opedia

I’ve already culled through my scrap bin once, cutting squares for this beauty. Three months later, my scrap collection has grown. It’s going to take another thorough pass, locating prints that will work, before I have enough to start piecing. I’m hoping the Art Gallery charm swap I’m organizing with Chelsea, which wraps up in the next month, will fill in any holes. (Sorry, folks: the swap is full.)

The more imminent project, however, is my first color wheel. Originally blogged about here, this quilt is an assignment for the Curves Class I’m enrolled in. I started piecing before the class began and had to put it down for a month to work on other quilts. That time apart did me and this quilt some good. I was able to consider the color transitions with fresh eyes and, taking the good advice I received from readers to heart, made some changes.


I added an orangey-yellow wedge, edited out a blue tribute to Denyse Schmidt and Carolyn Friedlander (sadness!), and reworked my pink wedge. I’m feeling good about these colors and this layout and all the scraps I’ve used. It’s time to sew these slices together and finish this quilt up!

My last snippets of Denyse Schmidt’s Chicopee line are in the teal wedge.


The scraps from a Sew Together bag and a wonky star
compose the new orangey-yellow wedge.

I make it sound easy, but I suspect that I’ll be making some last-minute changes here—it’s not the wedges, but the overall size. A 40” x 40” quilt seems big for a wall hanging. (What do you think?) I may end up enlarging this project and make it a full-size quilt. Because that’s just what I need, right? A full-blown quilt project to quilt and bind.

I am really excited to see this come together and hope to reveal a finish by the end of the month!

Update: You can view the final quilt here.

Linking up to Scraptastic Tuesday, Sew Cute Tuesday, Let’s Bee Social, WIP Wednesday and Needle and Thread Thursday ...

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28 comments:

  1. OOOH! Go bigger!!! That would be amazing! (That doesn't help you, does it?) :)

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  2. A colour wheel quilt sound amazing - might help you dream up some stunning colour combinations! Thanks for joining us at #scraptastictuesday

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  3. I like your color wheel. Although I think I would be a good size for on of your kids!

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  4. Gorgeous! I love the color wheel, keep going! Scraps do tend to multiply...how does that happen?!

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  5. Oh, I love color wheel. Just yummy!

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  6. No matter how many scraps I have, when I have a color specific project, I never have enough of something. Your "Obsession" quilt will be great fun when you get "enough."

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  7. I love the way you tweaked your color wheel, and i'm looking forward to your scrappy projection, whichever direction you decide to go with it!

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  8. Looks great - hard sometimes to make it all the way around successfully but I love that there are so many wedges to help! Curves is a great class too!

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  9. A color wheel might be nice to hang in your sewing space but I do agree 40" square is big for a wall hanging. Lovely fabric choices.

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  10. Rainbow LOVE! I need to cull my scraps too... but first work on those other WIP's in the house.
    If you love the rainbow, just hang it up as a "mini". Why not, if it makes you happy? Whay should wall art be small?
    Have fun!
    Esther

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  11. Wow. Somehow I thought the wheel was smaller. Much more fun to have a large 40" wheel. It's lovely!

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  12. Fun project! I would love to make a wheel of color someday too!

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  13. Great color wheel, the fabrics make it stand out. Really like it.

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  14. Lovely! I need to start working on my scraps--great idea!

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  15. Ooh, a color wheel quilt! Very nice!!

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  16. This color wheel is just gorgeous Michelle - all your tweaks have paid off! You know, I hadn't realized it was this large.

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  17. Your color wheel looks great, and I think that obsession quilt is going to be amazing!

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  18. What a gorgeous colour wheel. I went back to look at the first one to compare, and it's really interesting to see what a difference those tweaks made!

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  19. Lots of colorful scraps in your color wheel, it looks great!

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  20. What a perfect analogy! My scraps are like laundry too. Good thing I love scrappy quilts. :) Your quilts in progress look lovely. www.quiltartbymegan.com

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  21. I have always thought of scraps being like weeds -- they are always there and when you put them into the compost (scrap basket), they are the starter for so many wonderful quilts!!

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  22. Hmm..well, I have several quilts that wall hangings that are bigger than 40 inches. They sort of become the focal point of the room, so if you have the space and desire, go for it. But it would be pretty as a bigger quilt, too. Color wheel quilts are always so cheerful--and yours is looking good.

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  23. That Obsession quilt is so beautiful! I can see why you are drawn to making a quilt like that one. Your color wheel looks scrumptious. Can't wait to see it all together!

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  24. I love your color wheel, I need to learn to sew curves so I can make one! It is really pretty, can't way to see how it turns out :)

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  25. I love scrappy projects. Your color wheel is just amazing.

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  26. Your color wheel looks great, great hues and value.

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