As the name suggests, this quilt was inspired by boardwalks, crashing waves, hot sand, and gentle ocean breezes. The palette is so soothing; it's really no wonder that so many people choose it for their homes.
The background of this quilt is Kona Prepared for Dyeing, and the creamy white looks right at home with these softer colors. The Kona Chocolate Brown contrasting strips give the quilt depth and add to the woven effect in the pattern. Gentle wave quilting continues the beachy theme, and the Aurifil 50 wt. #5006 (Light Turquoise) adds an extra little touch of color and texture.
I don't use a ton of tan and taupe in my quilting, so once I started sewing, I discovered that I needed to supplement my scraps a bit. Luckily, Stash Statement includes simple tips for doing that, just in case you find yourself running short on a specific color. On the back, I made a chunky, scrappy background, keeping the colors together in bold stripes.
If you saw my NTT post last week, you might already have a clue to my second version of this pattern. I'm calling this rainbow version Popsicle Party. Something about the shape of the blocks makes me think of the icy, brightly colored treats.
The background of this version is crisp Kona White, and instead of solid contrasting strips, I chose a black and white polkadot, which is so much fun against the rainbow of color.
Instead of an allover free motion design, on this quilt I opted for figure eight loops in the black and white polkadot strips and matchstick quilting in each of the colored blocks, using matching thread. A dense stipple in the white background finishes it off!
The thread lineup, all Aurifil 50 wt.-
#2625, Arctic Ice (polkadot strips)
#2024, White (background)
#2260, Wine
#1133, Bright Orange
#2135, Yellow
#1231, Spring Green
#5006, Light Turquoise
#2720, Light Delft Blue
#4225, Eggplant
#2530, Blossom Pink
I love the texture added with the quilting, and it shows up really well on the back of the quilt. This is my first attempt at figure eight loops, and even though some of them are a little lopsided, I'm pretty happy with the result.
Instead of using a single consistent thread on the back of the quilt, I carried the colored threads onto the back as well, giving just the slightest hint of a rainbow against the Kona Ash and polkadot fabrics. I wish it showed up better in the photo, but in person, the effect is so neat.
The Beach Retreat quilt looks awesome whether you love modern, bright fabrics, or you have a stash full of softer tones. It can easily be made to match any decor, and the design is quick to put together. Liz at Savor Every Stitch and Sarah of Sarah Goer Quilts each made their own versions of the Beach Retreat quilt, and their chosen color palettes are so much fun. Head over there to check them out!
After you've checked out the other quilts for today's stops on the blog tour, pop over to my Etsy shop HERE to get your very own signed copy of Stash Statement. It is also available from Amazon, Connecting Threads, or you can ask about it at your local quilt shop.
Don't forget to keep up with the blog tour each week. Next week, we're moving into the second section of the book, and this lineup is filled with awesomeness that you won't want to miss!
4/16- Grand Bazaar Shelley @ Cora's Quilts
4/23- Louvered Lindsey @ Primrose Cottage Quilts
5/7- Beach Retreat Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts
5/21- Detour Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
5/28- Murrina Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl
6/4- Scattered Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal
7/9- Take Flight (free bonus pattern) Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches
Both of your colorways are pretty. I kinda like the aqua and brown the best though.
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilts! I'm partial to the brights - feels like a fun summer day!
ReplyDeleteThe more I see, the more I know I must get this book!
ReplyDeleteJust lovely! The rainbow one speaks to me!
ReplyDeleteI love both versions.
ReplyDeletePopsicle Party just might be my favorite so far. All the color fits my scrap bins so well.
ReplyDeleteGreat design! So versatile, it looks beautiful in both colorways.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done. Love the colors!
ReplyDeleteI really like this modern design, adding "Stash Statement" to my list of must-buy quilt books!
ReplyDeleteBoth versions are great, but I love the rainbow one.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt inspired me to use up my green scraps.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.instagram.com/p/Br8DB1jnc7a/
Being donated to QOV. Thanks for such an easy but precious pattern.
Liz in Houston