So in the name of resourcefulness, I pulled out some fabric that has been sitting in my stash for over three years. Now, that sounds like a long time, but I had wrist surgery a year ago, and in trying to avoid that surgery, I took almost two years off from quilting before that. That was a bummer. So, in my defense, if you subtract all of the time I wasn't actually quilting, the fabric hasn't really been sitting around that long.
This is April Cornell for Moda fabric and I think it's called Poetry (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) except for the gingham which is from my stash. It really is amazing how my taste in fabric has changed. Not that this fabric is unattractive, because it's actually very pretty, but I'm fairly sure I wouldn't buy it today. Lately, I've been drawn to more bold colors with a more graphic vibe (think Soul Blossoms or Carnaby Street). That being said, it was just sitting in my cabinet and not hideous, so something really had to be done with it. It would be ignored no longer.
I decided a simple HST quilt was in order since I've never done one. Raspberry Limeade was a chevron quilt, which I know is kind of the same thing, but for some reason, I don't really count that since the finished look is totally different.
It really needed a fresh burst of white to make the colors pop since they are muted and the white HST's I threw in just weren't cutting it, so I added a white border, which also had the added bonus of making it a little bit bigger. I think it makes it feel a little more fresh.
What about you? Do you have fabrics sitting in your stash that don't wow you anymore? What are they?
By the way, week 3 is underway at Plum and June's New Blogger Blog Hop. Check out the fantastic blogs up this week!
Leigh Ann @ Ella's Cottage
Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt
Sarah @ Quilt Candy
Jackie @ NW Patchwork
Erica @ Happy Fabric
Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity
Lauren @ Seraphym
Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts
Looks great! I really should work on things that go a little quicker than the projects I pick. This is so cute and I bet it didn't take a million hours!
ReplyDeleteYep, my tastes changes all the time. I'm pretty much always drawn to circles and curves and never really pick up florals unless it's just right for what I need.
that is great, a nice mix of colours, and you are right, the white border was just what it needed
ReplyDeleteGreat you are back for quilting again with such a nice Project!
ReplyDeleteI love your mission statement - I might just print that out and put it on my craft room door! Cute quilt, and I agree the white boarder makes the colours look fresher.
ReplyDeleteWe have the exact same mission!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks great, and good call with the white border...perfect!
Very cute and perfect for using up fabrics in your stash. The border also gives a nice finish to the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI smile when I read this because my tastes have changed so much in the past couple of years- yep more graphic, large print, more mod. I am so happy that a few years ago I adopted your challenge and I used up all of my collections and large pieces of fabrics. I have a couple of totes of truly scrap pieces. I am so liberated to buy what speaks to me now without guilt.... Your quilt is lovely, the piecing sets off this collection so much. LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty and I don't think you can go wrong with HSTs... whenever I'm stuck on what to make that's what I do! I guess I'm lucky because I still love my older stash (I have some of this line - thanks for reminding me!) but also love the newer fabrics too. I guess I just love FABRIC. LOL
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty combo of fabric! Your sick of it, I love it. And yes there's things in my stash stash that make me go EWWWEEE!
ReplyDeleteI love your stash stack and totally agree with you on taste and preference changing without detracting for the loveliness of older fabric!
ReplyDeleteYour HST's are so soft and beautiful and the white does make things "pop".
What a great idea, using less-loved stash fabrics in a simple quilt pattern. Sometimes I use that less-loved stash for totes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting before-and-after-border photos. I have never voluntarily done a border, but sometimes I see that it is the right thing to do. Like here--you totally made a wise choice. Very cute!
ReplyDeleteYes, I have a lot of fabrics that I bought because I thought that I couldn´t live another day without them!
ReplyDeleteThe April Cornell fabrics that you are using is some, but I actually sewed a quilt with them a couple years ago.
They are pretty, but not anything I would like to buy now!
My studio is full of pretty fabrics that I once loved.
However your quilt is cute and the HST´s are a great pattern to work with when you doesn´t know what else to do.
I have some stash currently that I am steering away from lately too. They will most likely end up in quilts in one way or another or else the hubby may start wondering what I am going to do with them;)!!
ReplyDeleteI always have a yearning for some HST goodness!
Gorgeous quilt Kelly:)
It's funny how our tastes change, sometimes I am like...what was I thinking! I suppose if i wait long enough I will love it again:) Great quilt, the white was a really great choice.
ReplyDeleteThis came out so pretty! Love it! I have a stack of Ty Pennington's Impressions in my cabinet and I'm not sure how much I like the prints anymore. Still love the colors though (yellow, purple, orange on white).
ReplyDeleteThe quilt looks great,,you mix the colours and fabriks Beautiful!!Hugs Bambi
ReplyDeleteA great mission! I too have put myself on a fabric diet. I have fabric sets that go back three or more years. I'm still in love with them, and maybe that is why I haven't cut into them yet. I do have an entire collection of moda urban chicks that I am over though. I may just sell it as the inspiration is no longer there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful quilt Kelly and HSTs are always so much fun! I have some really, really old fabrics in my stash....I quit quilt for over 10 years and I'm still trying to use them up while......buying new fabrics! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFreemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday
Cool quilt, good mission. Meanwhile I had to chuckle. How about fabric in stash since the 70s, some still 36 inch width? My fabric is my retirement fund, buying it now so I don't have to after I retire. That's my story. And I have retired, and lo, fabric styles have changed...need new rationalization.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful!!! I'm glad you made something with the fabric even if it isn't your thing anymore!! Somebody will love receiving that as a gift!!
ReplyDeleteI have been afraid to try free motion quilting. Spending hours making a quilt only to screw it up in the quilting process, didn't appeal. So I went through my stash and grabbed all of my "what was I thinking" fat quarters and pieced a brick wall quilt, to practice on! Joke was on me though, once I had pieced it, I liked it!! lol. Took me another week before I broke down and FMQ it. Far from perfect but I did it!!
I had some charm packs of April Cornell's Nature's Chorus... practically impossible to find yardage to go with it. Some of your colors look like some in my charm packs. I just sewed a patchwork with them and am adding borders to enlarge it.
ReplyDeleteI have tons of fabrics that I no longer care so much for. I have some from my Grandma that others probably would think are hideous and I may not necessarily like them but I hang on to them anyway.
I have issues with figuring out how to handle my scraps. What is the best way to sort them? cutting them straight away into certain size squares or by colors?
I had some charm packs of April Cornell's Nature's Chorus... practically impossible to find yardage to go with it. Some of your colors look like some in my charm packs. I just sewed a patchwork with them and am adding borders to enlarge it.
ReplyDeleteI have tons of fabrics that I no longer care so much for. I have some from my Grandma that others probably would think are hideous and I may not necessarily like them but I hang on to them anyway.
I have issues with figuring out how to handle my scraps. What is the best way to sort them? cutting them straight away into certain size squares or by colors?
I think it's personal preference, but I sort by color. I've started using all of my scraps from a certain set in the backing though so that it's completely gone. I've really tried to get rid of some stash like this, and it has worked!
Delete:) Kelly
ps- you're a no-reply blogger, so I'm responding here!
I love this quilt. I really want to do an HST twin size quilt for my daughter. But I am so confused as far as all the measurements. I've read tutorial after tutorial. I love the size of these. Would you mind telling me the beginning size square, end size square and what the seam allowance should be? Did you do the traditional method or the 4 in 1 triangle method? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks for your help!
ReplyDeleteOk, I found the easy peasy chevron quilt tutorial..I think I get it! But when I sew the blocks into rows and the rows together what seam measurement do I use? Thanks!!
ReplyDelete