After a slow start to the season when I didn't have time to participate in the first challenge, I'm happy to share my completed quilt for the Project QUILTING Team Colors challenge.
Now, I don't have strong sports team affiliations, so I had to think a bit before getting started on my project. But with a one week deadline, there isn't much time to think. I could have gone with Team Gryffindor, Team Jacob, or some other literary or art reference. In the end I decided to pick a sports team with colors I like. ;-) So, I chose the local San Jose Sharks (ice hockey). Teal and black for the win! I pulled everything used on the front of my quilt from previously used scraps. 100% of my project is from stash (probably common in a one week challenge!). You just can't go wrong with black, white, and one color as a palette.
With only the slightest of planning in my Planned Improv, I knew I would do one improv log cabin for the mini quilt. I opted for the teal (Christa Watson) print in the center since I felt that was the closest to the Sharks color. I pieced a shark fin of the same fabric into one of my strips. Beyond that there wasn't a plan for color placement, and I opted for wonky with regard to my strips. When I started in the middle I went clockwise around the center piece for the first eight strips before that broke down. I've really been enjoying Cassandra Beaver's improv blocks, especially her skinny strips. I included a couple in my log cabin. My only other conscious consideration was that I like high contrast, so I tried to avoid putting fabrics next to each other that blended.
Next up, thread and quilting. I chose Aurifil 50wt Light Turquoise (#5006) and Dark Turquoise (#4182) with a plan to use a variety of motifs in the different strips and start with the dark thread in the center and swap to light closer to the edges. I consulted three books for quilting motif ideas (affiliate links):
- Shape by Shape by Angela Walters
- Shape by Shape 2 by Angela Walters
- The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting by Angela Walters and Christa Watson
I especially like the Shape by Shape books for this because the book is arranged by shape of space you are quilting and they include borders as a section. In the end each piece of fabric in my quilt had a unique motif.
I am always so happy when I take the time to do more detailed quilting. Perhaps this is an indication that I should slow down and do more of it. I kept my quilt to 16.5" square so that I would have time to quilt the life into it. Much bigger and I would have opted for "get it done" quilting. ;-)
I used a fat quarter from my stash for backing and two corner triangles for easy hanging (label on one). The easy choice for binding was a black solid since I had remnant binding already made. Score!
Improv Log Cabins is a workshop I've started offering for 2020. There are so many ways to improv a log cabin. This piece has me considering a series of black, white, and one color improv log cabin mini quilts. The real question is, what color do I do next?
I've linked up with Project QUILTING 11.2. View all the projects there for the Team Colors challenge. (For those of you who have voted it past years, there is no voting this year.)
I'm also linking up with Beauties Pageant, TGIFF, Peacock Party, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?, Free Motion Mavericks, and Off the Wall Friday.
You can read all about the other quilts in this 2020 series here:
Mel Beach
Spectacular quilting + fun mix of prints and values = really fun finish!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Mel! I think it'll go in my kitchen at least temporarily. :-)
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Awesome block and quilting! That fin--haha!!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Nancy!
Pamela Boatright
What a fun project, I love that you pieced a shark fin into it! And the quilting is just wonderful, too!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Pamela. It was a joy to work on.
Marti
You have a good eye for color combinations. That turned out great.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Marti! I really enjoy playing with color.
Anja @ Anja Quilts
Well done. You can't go wrong with black and teal. I love the shark fin. I, too, think I want to start making smaller quilts so I can play with quilting.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Anja. It's pretty ironic that these one-week challenges are when I feel like I have the time to do more dense, fancy quilting. I guess I protect the time on my calendar in challenge weeks (or I try to).
The Joyful Quilter
Fabulous quilting job on your Team Colors challenge!! I agree with your color assessment. It's hard to go wrong with black and white plus one other color!
sarah
Post authorThank you! I'm not sure I've ever made a whole quilt in just black, white, and one other color, though I am (slowly, over the years) working on a Patchwork City quilt and each block fits that description.
Kim Lapacek
I love this piece! The improv added so much drama and your quilting is brilliant!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Kim!
Kathleen Scargle McCormick
Wonderful project a what a fun way to practice all those great quilting patterns!
sarah
Post authorI love a medley of FMQ motifs. Thanks for visiting, Kathleen.
Andrée G Faubert
Hi Sarah, I really like your scrappy log cabin. I love the fact that you chose your team based on their colours :-) It was the perfect size for playing with your FMQ. It looks great! Thanks so much for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks!
sarah
Post authorThank you Andrée. It was really fun to make. I think I'm diving in for a yellow version next.
Emily
The shark fin is my favorite part! Such a clever detail!
sarah
Post authorThanks, Emily. I'm so glad it worked out. And on the first try. ;-)