Quilting with nano particles

New things are just too good to let go. Take my mini obsession with metallic threads. Thanks to Superior threads and their helpful sales staff, I have a new found love for sparkle. I have used their threads in many quilts stitched in 2014 and continued the trend into 2015.

Ditto for inset seams. They do add a few more steps to a finished piece, but the extra effort was totally worth it. They showed up in projects late 2014 (both quilts and quilt blocks). Looks like I wasn't the only one intrigued by their striking impact- the judges at QuiltCon liked them too. If you want to give them a try, I have a tutorial here.

But it's 2015 now, and I was looking again for that something that I would use again and again in different ways, perhaps even mixing it with inset seams and metallics. And I found it. It's magic, truly.

Let me first say, that this quilt was conceived in my head, but I quickly realized, it was not a quilt I could just go and piece. I did (gasp) draw a picture on a piece of note book paper. I then (while in the car but not at the wheel) transferred this design to graph paper (free hand). I toyed with colored pencils, but abandoned that because I kept changing my mind on the colors. I even decided on a size before starting. I did some basic counting and calculating and I did follow (for the most part) my own directions. I cut some pieces the wrong size, and forgot to cut other pieces all together- (not surprised at all). I encountered errors on the way (ha), made some design revisions to make the piecing more practical and ripped out several areas more than once when I just couldn't get the parts to align. I persevered. I mixed mediums, toyed with transparency and pulled out some skills I had become familiar and comfortable with over the last year. In the end I made a quilt. Once again inspiration comes from something utilitarian….. derived once more.

We have all seen the high visibility reflective strips on vests and work clothing. Makes the wearer more visible at night when light hits the silver strips. Safety first right? But, leave it to some top designers to be weaving these hair thin reflective yarns into their clothing lines making a beautiful custom suit illuminate when light hits it. I've also heard it's becoming a bit of a fashion trend with the often photographed. Once a flash hits the fabric the result is startling, showcasing the clothing but obscuring the wearer.  But I was wondering, what makes this fabric so special? How does the fabric work? Is it even fabric? Well, I never thought I'd get some hands on experience with nano particles, but that's just what this fabric is. Teeny tiny glass beads embedded in fabric. Space age technology meets old fashion craft. I wonder what a quilter who is open to trying new things could do with some of that very precious material?  Shall I tell you? But first, the story of the fabric because it is the best part of the whole process.

I did my research, called manufacturers, spoke to people who really didn't understand what I was looking for until I decided to just tell my story ("Hi, I'm a quilter and I'd like to use some of your material in a quilt"), to a lovely man who listened and then sold me some. Luckily he was open to me not buying the entire run of fabric (I think somewhere in the arena of 1000 yards). I just wanted a little, you know to try it, see how it worked. He sent me a small sample. I touched it (lovingly), showed it to my friends and family, used a flash light on it, ironed it even. I was smitten. So I called him back and talked myself into 2 yards. I talked him into 2 yards too, but  at the price I was paying 2 yards was a HUGE commitment.  It is the MOST expensive fabric I have ever purchased, I have big plans for this precious material, but first I needed to make one quilt and see how it went. I opted for minimal use, maximum impact, because one thing you need to know about this fabric before you start sewing with it, is that its one big drawback is sewing needle marks. Once you sew and make a needle hole, the hole is there forever, like leather, and paper, just way more expensive.

"Retroreflective"
Derived inspiration No. 4

Front, no flash
there is a tiny inset piece in the lower right corner that is almost invisible without a flash.

Back, no flash

49 x 53 inches
original design (designed/pieced/quilted)

Front,  with flash
The fabric becomes reflective (actually retroreflective- throwing the light right back at the viewer).
The fabric "changes" properties from dull gray to bright white!

Fabrics:
       top: retroreflective glass nanosphere fabric (seriously never thought I'd get to use that descriptor anywhere never mind in quilting). Without a flash the material is a dull almost pewter gray. With the flash, well it's magic.

before quilting/ front. Yes, I got really excited when I turned on the flash.

       Kona 100% cotton solids in snow and shadow.

       back: IKEA gray check duet cover, deconstructed, 100% cotton. Inset remnants of Kona cotton       quilting solids and reflective material left over from piecing the top.

Back, flash on.

Threads: Metallics- Superior threads: silver; Marathon Metallic 3015 (white)
               Cotton-  Aurifil 50 wt, 100% cotton in: 2021, 2630, 1158, 2606, 4020, 1153, 2810, 2600
                             Mettler, 40 wt  in 594

Batting: Hobbs heirloom 100% cotton

Quilting: dense straight line quilting with random areas of FMQ in the colorful insets with color matched threads all on a Bernina domestic machine (1630 as my 180 was in for service).

New things: reflective nano particulate material, pattern sketching, earnest attempt at direction following.
I used every little bit of that precious fabric. For reference the inset length is 1/4" the width, 1/8 ".

pieced inset seams. 

pieced inset seams with flash
There is not batting behind this s you can see the piecing details.

Tried and true things: inset seams,  inset binding, metallic threads, keen sense of adventure, more than occasional disregard of "directions".

Inset seams all the way into the binding.
Aurifil thread on the white, superior metallic thread in the gray.
A little sparkle makes this special.

Stay tuned for more projects using nano particulate reflective fabrics and reflective yarn (oh yeah, I talked my way into some of that too).

Marsala 2015, Big and little

I'm not one to pass up a challenge and in a color that I'm comfortable with.
So comfortable that while creating, I generated scraps for another….
3 Marsala projets, 1 Big, 1 little, one still a WIP
Here goes…..

The  {big} QUILT

"Chihuly Days and Nights"

Front

Size: 66 x 52"

Fabrics: Top all Kona 100% cotton solid scraps in: Cinnamon, Cocoa, Crimson, Brick, Garnet, Burgundy, Mahogany, Paprika, Curry, Lagoon, Aqua, Pomegranate, Chinese Red, Glacier, Tangerine, Flame, Nightfall, Prussian, Cyan, Turquoise, Ocean, Surf, Caribbean, Mediterranean.

             Back: see top- pieced from scraps, playing with the day/night theme as well.

back

Batting: 100% warm and Natural

Thread: Top (Auriful 50 wt 100% cotton in 2460, Superior Metallics in Red #N62, Bronze #N59 and 

                     Copper #N56)

             Bobbin (Aurifil 50 wt 100% cotton in 2460)

Binding: 2" pieced straight of grain

Quilting: Bernina modified stitch No. 4 stretched and widened, walking foot.

Quilting adds texture

Derived Inspiration: The Chihuly exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens was a feast for the eyes and I visited it three times, both during the day and at night. The colors, shapes and patterns really made an impression on me.

front improv piecing details

back details

I purposely kept the quilting textural since the piecing is busy. I used "Marsala" as the negative space and the canvas to showcase the improv pieced quilt blocks. I drew again from a 2014 bias and added gradations of Superior Metallic threads in 3 colors to one side of the quilt. The binding is pieced, but subtle. Again, like the quilting a cohesive component but not what the eye stops on. I wanted the "blocks" to remind me of the exhibit during both daylight and evening hours and hope that I achieved that when all was said and done. 

Details, small improv triangles  at quilts edge and a detail of the wavy quilting

Which then brings me to the second of my Pantone Color of the year entries…….

The {little} Quilt/Pillow

Front

"Storm Coming"

18 x 18" square

Fabrics: remnant scraps from "Chihuly" quilt above

Densely FMQ changing threads to match the Kona fabrics, Aurifil threads in multiple colors, Superior metallic thread in a blue/peacock. 

FMQ, metallic threads in blue/peacock at top

more FMQ, each section quilted differently.

2" straight of grain binding in a colorful stripe

Fusible batting

Couch sitting (it is a pillow after all)

And the FINAL Marsala Project, I promise, a work in progress from an amazing talented group of Bee Sewcial Quilters- I'll give you the basics, pretty much just the top, as there is way more to come on this quilt, so much so, I don't even have a name yet…..

Bee Sewcial- January quilt top
62" x 68"
This will be mine to keep, as January was my month. The inspiration, once again was the Chihuly exhibit at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The talented ladies of this group were asked to work within a color palette and with a set of photos for inspiration. Improv was the "flavor" of the month and everyone worked from solid fabric from their stash.

closer view

Miraculously enough, and even with all the crazy "Y" seams  and oddly shaped "blocks", I only had a minimal amount of trimmings.

 I used every bit and piece made for me by these talented ladies.

a block from Hillary scraps and a few extras

 Let me introduce the group: Leanne (shecanquilt), Debbie (aquilterstable), Hillary (entropyalwayswins), Kari (quiltsforthemaking/crafthappy), Melissa (weshallsew), Latifah (latifahsaffirstudio), Felicity (felicityquilts), Diane (randomthoughtsdoordi), Marci (marcigirldesigns) and Me!

Did I mention I like Marsala????

I am linking this blog post to Adrianne On the Windy Side and Play-Crafts  for the Pantone Color of the Year Quilt Challenge. Please visit and see all the wonderful and creative Marsala quilts, big and small! Pictures on Flickr and IG (#pantonequilt2015) as well.

Happy Birthday Bob!

My father in law turns 80 in a few days. He's a great guy and most deserving of his own quilt. Actually a quilt is not nearly enough of a thank you for all he has done for me, but it's what I do best and I want him to have one. I didn't make a giant quilt. This one is for him alone. He can use it while siting in "his chair" or even bring it to his favorite foot ball (CU) or field hockey (East HS) games. I want it to be a quilt that travels with Bob. His favorite colors are not necessarily my favorite colors but they did make a pleasing mix to work with and it's what he likes.

Palette: Tan/cream/2 tones of gray/ navy. I used Cotton&Steel fabrics and their complimentary solids and did some improv with a quarter log cabin "theme" more or less. I snuck in a bit of metallic and linen and quilted it all with a light tan cotton thread. Understated,  timelessly classy with a surprise here and there. Just like Bob.


"Four score"

60 x 60"
Fabrics (top): Cotton&Steel:
             (back): longyi in 100% cotton plaid. Remnants of Cotton&Steel from the top.
Thread: Aurifil #  50 weight 100% cotton (matched top and bobbin)
Batting" 100% cotton warm and natural
Binding: 2" straight of grain

the binding and the quilting

Quilting: Modified Bernina #4 stitch stretched 5 x  quilted on my 820 with a differential feed foot.

pinned basted and ready to go quilting

New: The backing plaid fabric comes from Myanmar. It's from a traditional longyi and was purchased by Bob on a recent trip. I thought it would be a nice reminder for him to have on his quilt. I washed and pressed the fabric prior to use just in case it was prone to shrinking. It's a loose weave and incredibly soft. The simple understated plaid is not unlike some of Bob's casual shirts and it was almost big enough to cover the entire back.

Marching ahead

The month of March was busy.
Got my groove on in some fun and fascinating Bees:
Bee Sewcial- Transparency was the theme this month for Melissa at weshallsew.
I found that I like transparency although when you layer yellow and blue Kona solids, do you get green or darker blue? Whatever, I did sketch both blocks (not my usual plan of attack and found that it was fun to fit within Melissa's guidelines for one 14" block and one 9" block.

I ripped this out 2 x before I got the look I wanted. Totally worth it.

I'm demonstrating my poor math skills. Getting real…..

I did fix my mathematical problem

 and finished with 2 blocks that I must say, made me want to get right back into this whole transparency theme.

Birthday Bandy Swap this month was for Lizzie (agalinsweden). I went with 2 suggestions from the birthday girl and made a round 20.5" table "runner" or topper in mustard and aqua (and cream). The design was a tester for the X-Factor swap which is Drunkards path for this round. I purchased some Drunkards path Loc Bloc's and thought I'd give them a try. They worked like a dream. I added a bit of improv and some dense FMQ and viola!

Front

Back

 I found the binding a bit challenging, and had a waited a bit longer might have found this tutorial from        S.O.T.A.K handmade most helpful. But my gift was in mail before this helpful tutorial. I made it work. I like what I made.  I went to town with the FMQ and I hope Lizzie likes it.

Close-up FMQ

More FMQ

I also included a few little surprises just for the birthday girl one with a nod to her love of photography, but I'll let her have that surprise privately.

Haven (do.good stitches). Blocks designed by Courtney (courtypie/ monpetitlyons). Pretty and quick and lovely for spring. My stash leans heavily away from florals, but I found some fabric that worked. The quilt will be scrappy so these should fit right in.

I also gave an small tutorial at my local guild on inset seams. If you missed it you can find it here.  The title is catchy if nothing else.
Taught some at Fabricate Boulder, received all my quilts from QuiltCon and started working with some fun new fabric. I got my Riley Blake MQG challenge fabric in the mail. I currently do not have a plan. I need to get one.

I finished 3 quilts (late February and March) and have been sharing bits on IG. Finished quilt photos and stories here soon.
One is for my father-in-laws 80th birthday in his colors (translated = not my colors; BUT I did love working with that palette).
One for the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year (Marsala) Challenge.
One is a test quilt using some fun new fabric, more metallic threads and color play.

In addition, I'll be popping in occasionally at the Denver Art Museum on Sunday Afternoon for the  SewFA Lounge @ the DAM Thread Studio 12:30 till 3:30 pm. If you are at the museum, please come and say Hi. I'll be on the 6th floor, Textiles Thread Studio.

More scrappy goodness- a prelude and an ode to QuiltCon 2015

Although come and gone, I busted out the scraps again and again in the days leading up to QuiltCon 2015.

Made a few lanyards. I missed out on the swap, since I decided to attend late, but that didn't stop me from going to the solid scraps and some special scraps ( vintage Japanese Kimono silks) to make 2. And like I couldn't help myself I quilted both densely with metallic thread from Superior Threads. I can't say enough about how pleased I am to have given metallics another try.

Made some QuiltCon buttons which were well received. I gifted most and traded a few. Each was unique and most had a bit of sparkle compliments of some awesome Superior metallic threads. (I'm sensing a trend here).

I didn't make a tote or a duffle but I did sew some clothes, and not from scraps. I liked the top well enough that I made it in 3 different fabrics.  A pinstripe white and black (with a bit of sparkle), a Vera Wang lawn shirting in mustard and gray and getting a little fancy,  a navy blue and cream constructed from  3 different Cotton and Steel  fabrics pieced to showcase the back detailing. I visited the Cotton & Steel booth at QuiltCon

Front

Back

with Aexia Abegg (@alexiastitches on IG)
look at her pockets!!! This is her fabric.

The pattern- "A little something Xtra" (custom fit from the standard tissue paper pattern) by Dana Marie design co. Can be made in three lengths (top/tunic/dress). I like the tunic length with skinny jeans. I do plan to make the dress as well.

Met lots of talented friends from the world over

Deb Trail, Rachael McCormack and me at early morning coffee
(you can find Deb @deb_trail and Rachael @rachelwoodenspoon on IG)

Christine @ccpquilts, Kathryn @kupitis, me and Teresa @Treelotta in front of
 Kathryn's Michael Miller Challenge Quilt

                                   

Susan @susansantistevan, Christine, Teresa, me, Kathryn in front of my
Colorado 4x4 Quilt sent from the International Quilt festival MQG special exhibit - Houston to Austin
compliments of the Modern Quilt Guild

"Fade to Gray" at QuiltCon, 2015
I promise it will be coming back to Denver after  being gone for almost a year.

While at QuiltCon, besides meeting friends,  and marveling at all the creativity, I won a ribbon.

"Read between the lines"
3rd place ribbon for use of negative space.

Since many have been sharing judging comments about their quilts, I will as well:
"Good play of dimensions. Quilting is great and compliments design; great attention to detail, especially in binding; good use of negative space; dark fabrics shadowing under light".  I love that note was made of the binding since it took a bit of encouragement and more than a few tries to get that to work. Seemed like such a minor detail at the time and yet to took a major effort to pull it off. I did go back and look for the fabric shadowing and well…. I guess no matter what if you put bright pinky oranges and dark grays under lighter (almost white) fabrics you will see that now and again. I'd liked to say that there was something I could do to make that better, but even trimming the seam allowances doesn't always solve the problem. It's not blatant and if it's the one thing the judge chose to point out I can live with that.

Because all the quilts are amazing, and professional photos are just better,  you can see them all, here.  https://themodernquiltguild.wordpress.com/2015/02/18/congratulations-to-our-2015-quiltcon-winners/

Lastly,  sometimes you have to escape quilts and find another medium to work in,

A visit to the Modern Art Museum.
Wonder what the MQG might say about this for their new logo?
Transparency paper on a light box.

Thank you to all the lovelies who made these memories with me! Friends new and old. It made the days more special, sharing them with all of you! I know we all left with ideas galore. I look forward to seeing what monkey business you all get yourselves into!