Fire Pit

When I teach classes, I always introduce newbies to improv piecing with just a handful of scraps, which is a little easier to do when you're working with only one color at a time. Thus far, we've seen four quilts from Stash Statement that were all designed to help you dip your toes into structured improvisation by dealing with scraps of just a single color at a time.

It doesn't take very long to get comfortable with the process though, and then it's so easy to start mixing them into a free for all of color! The second section of Stash Statement includes four quilts with mixed color scraps that are so much fun!  The Fire Pit quilt is the fifth quilt in the book, and the first quilt in the Grab and Sew section.

I have always loved the look of warm/cool quilts, and when I started sketching this quilt, I knew I wanted to design a warm/cool quilt with some real wow factor.  Believe it or not, this quilt is made from a single, 12" block!  The hexagon shape in the negative space is so interesting, and gives the quilt the illusion of being much more difficult than it really is.

I used Kona White in the background, and I love how the fiery warm squares jump right out, while the cool triangles surrounding them recede against the stark white.  The Kona Coal solid strips give depth to the quilt.  They also add to the metal fire pit feel, and anchor the warm squares within the white space.  I decided to quilt this one with an allover dense paisley motif using Aurifil 50 wt. White.  The quilting gives a great impression of smoke swirls around the fire, and I love how well the texture shows up on the back!

On the back, I opted for a light gray tonal print, but added this awesome Art Gallery fabric.  This print is really awesome, and it compliments the front of the quilt so well (I just wish I could remember the name/collection).

Rather than choose a competing color, I decided to stick with a Kona Coal binding for consistency.  It really allows the pattern to shine, and I love that it is just a shade darker than the gray backing fabric.

This quilt is one of my favorites from Stash Statement.  In fact, even though it wasn't the first quilt I made (that honor goes to the Grand Bazaar quilt on the cover), it is actually the first quilt I designed for the book.  Like all of the quilts in Stash Statement, this pattern makes a big impact, and is a fantastic way to use up plenty of your own cherished scraps.

Preeti from Sew Preeti Quilts and Alison from Little Bunny Quilts each made amazing versions of the Fire Pit quilt, so hop over and get your scrappy eye candy fix.  Then, be sure to get a copy of Stash Statement for yourself.  What are you waiting for?  You know you have lots of scraps, and Stash Statement is sure to help you tackle them in a unique, fun way.  I promise- it's so much easier than it looks, and the book will walk you through the process step-by-step!

You can get your very own signed copy of Stash Statement in my Etsy shop HERE, including the FREE Take Flight bonus pattern.  Or, you can find it on Amazon, Connecting Threads, or even at your local quilt shop!

You can follow along with the blog tour every Monday, when I'll be featuring a brand new quilt from the book.  Check out this awesome lineup of quilters!

4/16- Grand Bazaar    Shelley @ Cora's Quilts

                                      Connie @ Freemotion by the River

4/23- Louvered  Lindsey @ Primrose Cottage Quilts 

                            Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

4/30- Precarious  Jess @ Quilty Habit                       

                              Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts

                                                            

5/7- Beach Retreat  Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts                               

                                  Liz @ Savor Every Stitch 

                                                           

5/14- Fire Pit   Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts                                          

                         Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

                                                            

5/21- Detour    Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts                         

                         Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

                                                            

5/28- Murrina    Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl             

                            Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

                                                            

6/4- Scattered    Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal                      

                           Christine @ Triangles and Squares 

                                                            

6/11- Bloom Chicka Boom   Chris @ made by ChrissieD            

                                               Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

                                                            

6/18- Regatta   Susan @ Quilt Fabrication                             

                          Debbie @ A Quilter's Table    

                                                            

6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework        

                                              Anja @ Anja Quilts

                                                            

7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 

                                Lori @ Crossquilt

                                                            

7/9- Take Flight (free bonus pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 

                                                             Paula @ The Sassy Quilter