Another Quilt With the Feel of Africa

I decided that Kalahari Fire Ring was very flat and lacking in the detail that I like, so I decided to try something using the Cathedral Window block. I think these fabrics are more vibrant, and that satisfies my interpretation of African textiles. I had to dedicate a piece of fabric for the windows that was earmarked for a vest lining, because I fussy cut the windows. The repeat on the fabric was so large that I had to break it down to 3 sets of 4 windows each. The center four were one, the remaining 8 were two different cuts. I like the red/orange in the center of this a lot. The fact that the windows were cut from leaf shapes also echoed the leaf prints in the black fabric, and I like that kind of continuity in my work, if I can make it happen.

My closeups always look distorted...but this is 12.5" square

These 3 black fabrics were companion pieces that I got from a shop in Columbus Ohio, and I liked that they all felt organic in the design. My method for hanging these small pieces is to get a wooden dowel, and cut it to fit inside the sleeve. I then wrap tape around the ends and screw in eyelets. The tape prevents the wood from splitting, and I  can use a smaller dowel that doesn't distort the front of the quilt. There is no weight to speak of, so this can be hung with straight pins. They don't leave much of a mark, and it can be moved around without too much wall damage. It's how I hang all my pieces here, and it works very well. I also like that there is no visible hanging hardware.

My next Cathedral Window experiment will include rectangle blocks that impart a bit of a 3-D effect. This pattern uses a LOT of fabric and needs a LOT of hand stitching, but I like the result, so I think I'm going to work on another piece.

Moon Quilt Top

Sometimes my camera distorts the image, like this one where the edges don't look square. It is square, though. Rotary cut, 1/4" guide on the presser foot makes this as square as humanly possible, but it still looks crooked. Oh well, even if it weren't, after Lyric gets ahold of it, hopefully it will be loved, dragged around and broken in properly!

I usually opt for brighter colors over pastels, and this is a good example of those choices. My Mr. went with me when I needed to get a few more blues to plump up my selection. He found the one that has the yellow and orange in it, and I'm glad he did. It shows up because of the yellow/orange in the center panel. I like a mix of prints, and these are all batiks, my favorite fabric. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the right from the wrong side on them, but I love the feel of the it. It has a smooth, tight weave, and I was surprised to notice the differences in un-batik printed fabrics after having sewn with batiks for a while. There's a noticeable difference in the quality most of the time. I think this will wear well. I have a feeling it will be going through the wash more than a few times.

The quilting plan is free-motion in the center panel, and diagonal straight line in the squares. My Babylock machine is great, and makes it easy to accomplish all these things with ease.

I have to put it aside until Monday, but I hope to have it finished by the end of next week, and in the mail to Lyric's mom and dad in Ohio, where they're eagerly awaiting his arrival.