I shared the first of my five mini quilts completed during my 100 day project a couple months back. The project I actually started piecing on day 1 back in July was this yellow quilt. Day 1 started with these first five pieces sewn together.
I'd started the project with a plan for the color palette (black, white, and shades of yellow) and the intent to make a log cabin that would finish at 16 1/2" square. I'd chosen the three black and white prints you see here, and before I started cutting or sewing I thought this version would be a quarter log cabin and chose the text print to be my starting corner. (This was about the largest square I could cut from the scrap of this text print.) As I added the black prints, I opted to fussy cut the placement of the dots and arrows. And I started with my lightest and brightest yellows. My black logs finish at 1/2" wide because that's what worked with the prints.
When I came back to it on day 2, the text print no longer wanted to be in the corner so I started building on all four sides of the log cabin. I kept my black logs at 1/2" finished and decided my yellow logs would get larger as I went. The first four yellow logs (one on each side) all finish at 1/2" wide. I also continued the pattern of adding the black to two side, then the yellow to the same two sides before I moved to the opposite half of the block.
Sometimes I lay my fabrics out to get a visual of where the fabric placement will me. I snap a quick photo as reference. Since I often work on multiple projects at once, you can see my pink/coral/white/yellow solids for some bee blocks peeking out from underneath.
My final design choice was to finish with the log cabin off center. At some point I did the math to determine the sizes of my yellow logs so the quilt would finish at 16 1/2" square.
I free motion quilted with Aurifil 50wt Yellow (#2135), beginning in the center with a daisy, then cursive l's (in increasingly larger sizes) in each yellow log.
I used corner triangles for my label and to use for a hanging rod and machine bound with Kona black. Keeping with my system of backing the quilts with a fat quarter from my stash, I picked this bug print since the front reminded me of a bumble bee.
I'll have to write in more about the 100 Day Project and the Improv Log Cabin series on my label, but the essentials are there, name and date completed.
You can see the other quilts in the series here:
Anja @ Anja Quilts
It turned out great. Yellow and black go so well together.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Anja. I'd love to make a yellow and grey quilt someday, too.
Lea
Ooooohh! How beautiful! I love the colors, the pattern and well absolutely everything about this quilt! It's unique, bright and cheerful.
sarah
Post authorThank you so much, Lea. I think someday I may make this a lap quilt with multiple blocks... just need to decide on a palette for that (and find the time!). :-)
Emily
That's really fun! I like the quilting that gets slightly bigger on each round out. And that bug print is cute. The perfect cheerful backing!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Emily. I was glad to find a motif I could adapt to use in each row instead of having to figure out numerous motifs to use. :-)
Bonnie in Va
Thanks for sharing this quilt. I think it is awesome! And, even better you shared your process. Hum, do I need a small, cute quilt like this? Maybe after I can figure out somewhere to hang them!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Bonnie. I think sharing process is as important as sharing the finished product. I've made a lot of mini quilts in recent years. They are a nice size for challenges and for limited time. I need to find a spot in my house to hang this series either together or in rotation. :-)