Blog | Stitchin' Post

Wrap It Up

When I go to all the effort of selecting, or making a gift, I want the wrapping to look great too. I’m not crazy about all the waste created though, and I’m really not crazy about running to the store Christmas Eve to fight it out for the last roll of wrapping paper.

This year I’m avoiding both. I’m not buying any paper, ribbon or bows. I’m going to use my scraps, stash fabric, and maybe a few extra fat quarters.

Fabric makes beautiful, unique wrapping and saves money. It’s even good for the environment. Win, win! You can use everything from a handful of tiny strips to larger pieces of fabric. You don’t have to stick with holiday theme fabrics either. Get creative.

I chose a red, green and grey color scheme for my examples. All the wrapping came from scraps collected from around the shop.

This bar of soap is topped with an assortment of scrap ends tied in the middle, and trimmed even. Use the same general procedure as making a pompom (also a great gift topper). The soap was so pretty on its own, all I did was tie my fabric pompom on with an extra strip of fabric, then scrunch all the strips with my fingers.

This gift is wrapped in a long strip of fabric that I brought around the ends toward the top, the twisted the two ends around each other, pulled the ends to the back, around the sides, and pinned in place. Simple and pretty, plus the receiver will have a piece of fabric large enough to use. 

I wrapped this box in a Christmas print and added a “bow” made from tying three 1” x 4” wool scraps together with the ends folded under on the top two.

Once you start, more and more ideas will come to you. Add a fabric strip to a pre-printed box. Use yarn, metallic thread, or skinny fabric strips instead of ribbon. Try layering two to three fabrics together.

For larger gifts wrap in craft, or freezer paper, and add fabric ribbon or bows.

You can also make the wrapping part of the gift. Give a pattern, and wrap it with the fabric to make it.

Make our free Download FabricGiftBoxes to hold a small gift.

Happy wrapping!

-Samantha

Tanglewood - Alchemy of Fabric November

Every year I get a little cocky right before Halloween, and start thinking I'm way ahead of the Christmas game. I mean, it's not even November and I've thought about Christmas gifts, and planned projects, so I must be prepared. Right? Then Halloween happens, and the next thing you know Thanksgiving is a week away, and now I'm not feeling cocky at all. In fact, my feelings are better described as anxious working their way toward panic. Sound familiar? 

This month's Alchemy of Fabric collection and project are going a long way to ease my panic. Journal covers are fast, look great, and make a good gift for almost everyone. They are also a fun way to try out new techniques, test color combinations, and experiment with print mixing. 

The cover uses Valori's Journal Cover pattern (pdf version), three fabrics from the Tanglewood collection, and one companion fabric. I chose to cover a watercolor large landscape journal. With a portable watercolor kit, and a brush, it would be perfect for any art lover. 

For the outside of my cover, I used Soft Sand Premium Linen Bend, Scarlett Shot Cotton, and Praline Mushrooms. The moth is fussy cut from Moth Bouquet. I used fusible stabilizer before cutting it out, and then stitched it to the finished cover. The lining is also Moth Bouquet. 

The pattern has instructions to cover any size book, so your options are endless. You could make a cover for everything from a blank journal, to a fiction book, or even a three ring binder. I'm covering my bullet journal next. 

This month's companion fabrics include some 108" wide denims that are great for this project. You can cover almost any size book without extra seams and the fabrics are durable so your cover will stand up to use. Besides being practical, the heavier fabrics also add texture and dimension. The width makes them easy options for quilt backs and they are a darn good value. 

One of the things I like about this month's fabric selections, and companion fabrics, is that a number of them are fabrics men would like. I think my husband would love a book cover in the crosshatch denim, with a bit of green accent.  

Tanglewood fabrics from top left: 

• Poppy in Misty by Rae Ritchie for Dear Stella
• Mushrooms in Praline by Rae Ritchie for Dear Stella
• Musings by Valori Wells AVW-17320-184 Grid Charcoal
• Shot Cotton in Scarlett by Kaffe Fassett for Free Spirit
• Rabbit Study in Misty by Rae Ritchie for Dear Stella
• Moth Bouquet in Multi by Rae Ritchie for Dear Stella
• Poppy in Gardenia by Rae Ritchie for Dear Stella

 Companion fabrics from top left:

• Sprinkle in Peach for Cotton + Steel
• Quilter's Linen in Forest Green from Robert Kaufman
• Denim Studio Crosshatch Textured Denim in Clouded Horizon for Art Gallery Fabrics
• Forage by Anna Graham AFH-17984-188 Pepper
• Sevenberry Kasuri in Red from Robert Kaufman
• Eclectic Elements Provisions in Sage by Tim Holtz for Free Spirit
• Denim Studio Premium Linen Blend in Soft Sand from Art Gallery Fabrics
• Denim in Cool Foliage from Art Gallery Fabrics
• Nikko 3805 from Diamond Textiles
• Dimples Red for Andover Fabrics

I hope you enjoy this month's collection and project! I'd love to see what you make.

Cheers,

Samantha 

Quick Strip Quilt Tutorial

If you're looking for quick quilting satisfaction and a beautiful finished project, a quick strip quilt is your answer.

All you need for the quilt top is one 2 1/2" strip roll, thread, and a free afternoon. That's it. This quilt is so easy there is no need for a pattern. Don't worry, I'll walk you through the steps...

First, unroll your strips and organize them to your preference, within easy reach of your sewing machine. Try grouping your strips by pattern, color, or value. Go completely random if your prefer, just place your strips in a paper bag, shake them up, and pull them out as you sew. 

My Marmalade Dreams roll came organized by color, and I split my strips into five color groups to pull from for my project. Beware, this quilt is a little addicting. I've already finished two and am working on a third from our Autumn Leaves batik strip roll (to match my rug). For the batik quilt I sorted my strips into seven groups. 

Once your strips are organized, you're ready to sew. Grab two strips and match them up, right sides together. Sew a 1/4" seam across one short end.

You should now have a 2 1/2" by 87 1/2" long strip (assuming your strips started at 44" long). Continue adding strips until the entire roll is sewn together in a very long 2 1/2" wide strip. 

I chain pieced my strips by folding over the end of the strip from the top of the last pair sewn, so it is right side up. Then I placed my next strip on top, right side down, and sewed. The pictures below show you how I did it. 

 

You'll end up with something like this (only lots longer).

The most basic version of this quilt has you sew all your strips together, then go right into the next step. I wanted more color and pattern variation in my quilt so I added an extra step. Starting at one end of your long strip and make a cut across the strip 14" from the end.

Move to first seam, measure 14" into the second strip and cut. Repeat for the entire strip length. You'll have a pile of 39 strips, each with 1/3 of  one strip and 2/3 of another.

You will also have one 14" and one 29 1/2" piece left over. Sew your two leftover pieces together. Now you have 40 strips again. Sew them all together exactly like you did in the beginning. 

Pat yourself on the back. That was the hardest part of this quilt. 

Next, find both ends of your long strip and put them right sides together. You are folding your strip in half lengthwise (it's still 2 1/2" wide). Ensure you don't have a twist in your strip as you are folding it. Now, sew a 1/4" seam all the way down the length of your folded strip. Cut the folded end and open up your strip. Press if desired. You should now have something 4 1/2" wide by roughly 850" long. 

Repeat folding your strip in half, stitching along the the length on one side, and cutting the folded end, until the quilt top has 64 rows of strips. The number of rows will double each time you sew: 1 to 2, 2 to 4, 4 to 8, 8 to 16, 16 to 32 and 32 to 64 making it a total of six seams. 

The pictures above show you the progression from sewing your two row strip into a four row strip, through folding the strip to begin the next seam.  

That's it, press and your quilt top is done!

Teyla says, "What? You made this for me didn't you?" 

Add batting and backing, then quilt and bind it, and you have a great quilt for minimal effort. Finished size is 50" x 60". 

The finished quilt is a great size for couch cuddling, and is quick and inexpensive enough that I don't mind it being used by kids, dogs, and guests. 

The back of this quilt is one third Marmalade Dreams theme fabric and two thirds dark blue Shot Cotton (sold out). I wanted the large solid color area to show off Annette's amazing quilting. I asked her to add our new logo bird, and I think it looks amazing! This quilt is a great project to try out some new quilting designs you've been considering. Almost any design will look good with the basic shapes of the quilt top. 

Besides the two quilts already pictured, I also used up an old Christmas Fabric Strip Roll from my stash. 

 

I told you they were addictive!

Cheers,

Samantha

Pick of the Month: August 2018

So what's a Pick of the Month?

Each month we will choose a classic quilt pattern to feature. Three staff members will select a collection of fabric for the pattern and explain their choices. You'll get to see some traditional patterns with updated fabrics and in the process get to know some of our fantastic staff, and hopefully learn a few things. 

I hope you love the feature, because I'm having a ball putting it together!

Here we go! 

This month's pattern is "Diamond Nine-Patch". The first of three patterns from "Nine-Patch Quilts". It's the red and white quilt pictured on the pattern cover. 

The photo on the pattern looks a bit dated, but we think this classic pattern never goes out of style. Let's take a look at what we've done with it.

 

Above is my interpretation of the pattern. I'm Samantha, Stitchin' Post Social Media Manager and Quilter's Affair Coordinator.  If you've noticed the increase in our social media activity, that's me. Say hi next time you visit one of our pages. 

I favor graphic lines and a clean modern look. My quilt's color palette was inspired by my daughter, she has eyes the color of the light aqua and red hair, and she loves color (especially orange).  I also like bright colors, but toned down with neutrals. I want color to catch my eye, not hit me over the head.

Instead of randomly placing my fabrics, I chose to make all my 9-patch blocks with the same arrangement and use the fabric placement to create a pattern of arrows and stripes. The only change to my block is the orange center. The center column is Nectarine (the darkest orange), columns 2 & 4 are Cantaloupe, and the two outside columns are Ice Peach.

I added fabrics with subtle pattern and texture to my mix of solids for interest, but was careful to select fabrics that wouldn't distract from the overall pattern. 

Details for Sam's quilt: 9 fabrics and 3 sets of identical 9-patch blocks. 

Background: Musings Onyx & Charcoal

9-patches: Oranges - Kona Cotton Nectarine, Cantaloupe, and Ice Peach
Aquas: Quilter's Linen Delft & Free Spirit Essentials Caribbean
Dark: Texture Illusion Teal 

Skinny border: Texture Illusion Teal
Wide border: Quilter's Linen Delft

Next up is Teri's quilt...

 

Teri is Stitchin Post Floor Manager and cat herder extraordinaire. If you've stopped by the shop, Teri was likely there to greet you. 

Teri's quilt stays true to the classic pattern and also uses a classic color pallet of indigo and white, with a warm yellow accent. Teri loves updating traditional patterns with modern fabrics.

Her choice of modern Japanese indigo fabrics updates the quilt and gives it a more modern feel. It's the perfect mix of timeless and current.


The weight and texture of the fabrics add interest and elevate the quilt. I love how classy and sophisticated the mix is, without being stuffy. Basic, but in no way boring! 

Details for Teri's quilt: 10 fabrics and random placement for 9-patch blocks 

Background: Kona Cotton Snow

9-patches: Canvas Natural; Sevenberry Nara Homespun: SB88333D2-1, SB88333D3-4, SB88333D1-4, SB88333D2-4, SB88222D3-5, SB88333D3-1

Skinny border: Play All Day
Wide border: Nara Homespun SB-88334D3-1

 Cheryl, our kit manager, chose the fabrics for our last quilt.

Cheryl is the genius behind the fabric selections for our kits and custom bundles. She is also a frequent quilting instructor at the shop.

Cheryl decided to embrace a floral theme for her quilt, even though it's not her usual style. The mix of colors, print scale and pattern come together for a lush quilt, that reminds you of an English garden. 

The 9" background squares showcase a stunning large scale butterfly and flower print. You could cut the squares normally or fussy cut them to focus on a different part of the print in each block. 

This quilt mixes some traditional style prints with more modern ones to keep the quilt current without being trendy. This is a quilt that would look good for generations! 


Details for Cheryl's quilt:10 fabrics and randomly placed 9-patch blocks. 

Background: Butterfly Dance Navy Butterflies

9-patches: Royal Flowers; Wild Bloom Still Life Crisp; Flowered Medley; Multi Flowers; Regent Street Lawns 33325 14, 33322 14, 33325 16

Skinny border: Kona Cotton Honeysuckle
Wide border: Grandale Teal Floral

Make one of our selections as shown, or use them as inspiration for your own version of the pattern.  Either way we hope you enjoy seeing how fabric choice and placement can transform patterns.  

All the quilts shown were digitally generated using fabric pictures. Keep in mind that pattern scale and repeat are not exact. The pictures of the fabric on the bolt are unedited and will give you the best representation of color, pattern & scale. 

Here's the nitty gritty on the pattern 

Finished Quilt: 66" x 78" 

To make the quilt you will need:

Nine-Patch Quilts Pattern
1/2 y of four fabrics for 9-patch blocks*
1/3 y of three additional fabrics for 9-patch blocks*
2 5/8 y background
3/8 y skinny border
1 3/4 y wide border
1/2 y binding
5 1/2 y backing
84" x 96" batting

*amounts of each fabric needed for Samantha's quilt vary. 

If you decide to make your own version or one of ours please share with us in the comments, on our Facebook page, or on Instagram with #sewmuchinspiration. I can't wait to see what you make!  

 

Alchemy of Fabric - August 2017 Selection: Holiday Spirit

August Alchemy: Holiday Spirit

When we think of the holidays coming up the color that first comes to mind is red. It is classic! We have chosen a wide range of reds from the traditional random dot to the red deer print, which I love. This print is from The Tula Pink collection “Holiday Homies”. We were fortunate enough to be the first store to receive the collection right before quilt show. And we made runners from the two colorways.

Kayley and I were really taken with the bark prints. The red birch bark print can be for the holidays, or NOT. It is from the Merrily collection from Moda. I could see it used in farm girl style quilts as well. The red and black bark prints with the little tree insert once in a while is just magical and from Tula. This print has a definite feeling of a stripe with an organic bark twist. What are the holidays without a neutral? Grey is a good balancer, and very popular at the moment.

When it comes to green, mint is so fresh and we are seeing it everywhere. It appears light and airy. Review the two Holiday Homies, table runners to see how we used some of the prints. This pattern is “Cranberry Chutney” from Madison Cottage Patterns. It is one of our very favorites and so easy to do. Make one for a gift to a friend.

Jean

 

Companion Prints:
(in order, from front of the stack to the back)

Cotton and Steel - Garland 5075-1 Illuminate Ivory
Moda - Jingle Birds 33253 13 Aqua Bluebird
Moda - Eat Drink, Be Ugly 17928 14 Snow Pond
Moda - Spring-A-Ling 21716 24 Dots Mint Chip
Lewis and Irene - Countryside Winter C16.3 Midnight Blue
Moda - Merrily 48215 12 Berry Weave
Dear Stella - Blue Moon Folkstone 796
Free Spirit - Holiday Homies PWTP106.OPINE Bambi Life
Cotton and Steel - Garland 5068-01 Merry Memory
Moda - Merrily 48212 13 Holly Leaves

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July Alchemy of Fabric

Rosalie is a great hexagon pattern, well written, fun and easy to make.

I used the July Alchemy fabric pack for the main fabric choices and used some of the 10 recommended fabrics for the other choices. It uses a minimum of 12-14 fabrics plus the background. For the background and binding in the same fabric, I used Carolyn Friedlander's "Architextures" collection in a light neutral color.

There are two hexagon sizes in the pattern. I chose the smaller hexagon and used template plastic for creating my template. I traced around the template with a lead pencil and cut out the shapes. There is also a template for the connecting triangles. Everything is easily explained in the pattern. Just follow the diagrams for the placement of the hexagons and triangles in the body of the quilt and a different arrangement on the end of the rows.

I put my hexagon shapes on my design wall and moved them around until I was pleased with the balance of color and pattern. The hexagons lend themselves to fussy cutting an area of design since they are large enough to allow each fabric to shine. The neutral triangles in-between each hexagon give a needed contrast to each hexagon.

If you are making a quilt, instead of a smaller project, you will need a 1/2 yard total of the 6 patterned fabrics in the fabric pack and FQ's of the other 6-8 choices.

I have no doubt you will enjoy making this hexagon pattern!

Happy Sewing!

 

~Kayley

Our intention for creating the "Alchemy of Fabric" club is to provide the spark... the catalyst... the inspiration... for a project that your color palette is built upon. We have a monthly tutorial of insights on each fabric chosen. We have also included 10 other recommended fabrics to expand from the core fabrics and further guide your choices.

We are excited to share this educational opportunity as a study in color and fabric as well as build your artist palette of fabrics. As you practice designing your project from many different designers and collections our hope is to facilitate greater confidence and empowerment in your creative pursuits..

At the Stitchin' Post were are committed to creativity and inspiration and we are now embarking on a journey opening to new options together as the "Alchemy of Fabric" unfolds each month. Please share with us what the spark has ignited in you using the hashtag "#AlchemyofFabric" on your preferred social media platform, so others can be inspired by your work! You can also search #AlchemyofFabric to see what others have done, and to gain your own inspiration.

Alchemy of Fabric

Water is a tricky thing. Monet knew it and spent most of his life trying to understand how it plays with light and reflection. As you can see in this month’s collection of water photos that Valori curated, water looks different everywhere.

How does this play with your creativity? What does water mean to you? Looking beyond the color blue, what do you see?

I see lines. In the first image, we see both organic lines from the tree reflections and the straight man-made lines from (I believe) are the tiles at the bottom of the pool. The organic lines are easily seen in all of the other photos in this collage. Straight man-made lines are repeated in the bridge photo. This contrast of line would be fun to play with in both an art journal and in quilting.

Light is another element that stands out to me with all of these water photos. Where is the light coming from? What does the light, or lack of light, do to the water? What would 5 feet under water look like in the top photo versus the bottom one? Yet another idea to play with in an art journal!

Creative challenge time: How can you create a similar look to the water breaking in the bottom photo using paper? How can you use fabric to create this look? Now set a timer for 20 minutes and use whatever is near you to create the water breaking. After your timer goes off, stop and walk away. This is now an inspiration model. It can be anything! Next time you are contemplating water and all that it means, look at your model and see what sticks out in your mind and go with it! Don’t think too much and be sure to have fun!  Oh, and remember to share your inspiration model (however it turns out, don't be ashamed.  You only had 20 minutes) using #AlchemyofFabric.

Happy Creating!

~Katie

Our intention for creating the "Alchemy of Fabric" club is to provide the spark... the catalyst... the inspiration... for a project that your color palette is built upon. We have a monthly tutorial of insights on each fabric chosen. We have also included 10 other recommended fabrics to expand from the core fabrics and further guide your choices.

We are excited to share this educational opportunity as a study in color and fabric as well as build your artist palette of fabrics. As you practice designing your project from many different designers and collections our hope is to facilitate greater confidence and empowerment in your creative pursuits..

At the Stitchin' Post were are committed to creativity and inspiration and we are now embarking on a journey opening to new options together as the "Alchemy of Fabric" unfolds each month. Please share with us what the spark has ignited in you using the hashtag "#AlchemyofFabric" on your preferred social media platform, so others can be inspired by your work! You can also search #AlchemyofFabric to see what others have done, and to gain your own inspiration.

 

Our intention for creating the "Alchemy of Fabric" club is to provide the spark... the catalyst... the inspiration... for a project that your color palette is built upon. We have a monthly tutorial of insights on each fabric chosen. We have also included 10 other recommended fabrics to expand from the core fabrics and further guide your choices.

We are excited to share this educational opportunity as a study in color and fabric as well as build your artist palette of fabrics. As you practice designing your project from many different designers and collections our hope is to facilitate greater confidence and empowerment in your creative pursuits..

At the Stitchin' Post were are committed to creativity and inspiration and we are now embarking on a journey opening to new options together as the "Alchemy of Fabric" unfolds each month. Please share with us what the spark has ignited in you using the hashtag "#AlchemyofFabric" on your preferred social media platform, so others can be inspired by your work! You can also search #AlchemyofFabric to see what others have done, and to gain your own inspiration.

Row by Row is Back

Many people who are following us, whether online or in the shop, know that this is the time of year when we are really gearing up for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, but we are also working hard to make up Row by Row kits! Row by Row begins on June 21^st, 2017 and kits will be available through September 5^th.

Last year, we made 1,832 kits for Row by Row throughout the course of the summer. This year, Edie has folded and packaged 954 Row by Row kits already and she assured me that by the end of the day today, she will have over 1,000! Isn’t she adorable surrounded by all this fabric for the kits?

June and Cheryle designed our row this year, June designed last year's row as well.  If you are interested in last year’s pattern, we do have those available on our website and in the store. We also have the Fabric Plates again this year.

New this year is the Row by Row Junior which we are participating in! This is designed for kids between the ages of 6 and 14 and the time frame is the same as regular Row by Row, however the child must be present when picking up the pattern (but a kit can be purchased by anyone). We chose the “High Tops” pattern for our Junior Row.

The first five kids who bring in a project using our Junior Row will get a ribbon. But the adult who brings in a completed quilt (quilted, bound, labeled) with 8 rows from 8 different shops will win a fabric prize! But the rules say you must go into the store to pick up the pattern and/or to purchase the kit. Luckily for those who cannot make it to the store, we can take orders that can be shipped out after November 1^st, 2017.

We want to see your row!  Share it with us using #SewMuchInspiration when you share on social media.

If you are interested in purchasing our older rows, please call the store.  Here they are in reverse chronological order:

Alchemy of Fabric - June 2017

 

 

Our focus for Alchemy of Fabric Club this month is “water” and the variety of shades of blues, aqua-green, and everything in-between. The colors of water that you perceive when looking at the water before you, is momentary and fleeting. It is an ever-changing scene affected by the sky and light on the water. Monet painted plentiful scenes of water in his “Water Lilies series”. The theme of water lilies or as he called them “landscapes of the water” first appeared in Monet’s work in 1898 and was a theme until his death in 1926. There were approximately 250 oil paintings that became larger and larger paintings as the theme progressed. In observing and studying the colors used in these paintings, the water varies in color from deep purple to lavender, dark cobalt & ultramarine to light blues, reds & pinks, yellow and yellow greens. Virtually every color in the rainbow is seen in the reflections, giving the water a multi-colored appearance. The blues are generally a reflection of clear skies above. Sometimes in his paintings you see the surface, sometimes into the depth of the water. The colors used affect the atmosphere or mood conveyed. Sometimes it provokes the clarity of the day or the overcast, soft misty feeling to that moment in time that was painted. With Monet’s “water color palette” as inspiration, use this as a helpful guide in selecting fabrics for your quilt or project. You might also employ the use of printed texture to give a feeling of ripple like movement to the water.

         Our “water fabrics” capture some of the variety that you see in the Monet water lilies series of paintings. Jean Wells shares her experience, “this spring I had an 'ah haw moment' when John and I were driving to California for my teaching job at Empty Spools. Around the Redding area it had rained so much that there was standing water everywhere and the grass was bright green. That day the sky was clear, brilliant blue and the reflection of the blue sky on the water was amazing. I will never forget that. The color was almost surreal. I find that some form of blue or green can almost always save the day when I am trying to put a palette together. They are 'Mother Nature’s' neutrals”.

With summer temperatures beginning and “water play” close at hand I hope you enjoy these “water” fabrics curated for you. Our hope is that you create a fabulous fabric expression that brings back great summer memories that last long after the season changes.

~ Kayley

FABRIC PACK:

*Zen Chic-True Blue- Notice the dots of reflected light on the water reminiscent of a clear day when there is a slight ripple of wave. The dots of light give a pattern to the suggestion of waves in the fabric. Two color variations are in the fabric pack to give some repetition to your design. The lighter version of Pattern 1625 is Color 19 and the darker is Color 22 by MODA.

*River Journey by Holly Taylor has a wonderful feeling of flow with organic curved lines that are light on dark. It is Pattern 6684- Color 11 by Moda.

*Fresh Water Designs- Java Batiks- example the natural variation water as it covers over areas of different depths reflecting from vivid turquoise and green to purplish blue. Adding the batik gives a spark of variety to your project.

*Wilmington Prints-Essentials by Joanne Porter gives a mottled blue look like shallow water over a reef area where there are areas of clear water allowing you to see the shallow bottom mixed with darker areas of coral & vegetation. A perfect addition to the many scenes of “water”.

*Robert Kaufman “Manchester” textured cotton was included in the fabric pack to give an area of quiet reflection on still water.

*Aria Cotton by Kelly Ventura gives the swirl of continuous ocean movement with undercurrents creating pockets of varying wave activity in the mix of one incoming tidal wave. It adds movement to your quilt project and is a “star” fabric no matter where it is placed.

10 Recommended Fabrics:

These fabrics were chosen to expand on the concept of water to a palette guided and inspired by the colors in the “Water Lilies” paintings by Monet.

*Handmaker by Natalie Barnes has a plant like pattern on a coral red colored fabric. This fabric choice was inspired by the many shades of reds that Monet painted in the water lily flowers.

*Island Batik Bubble Hole-Leprecheun-Dotalicous gives the luscious green to the vegetation that Monet illustrated in his paintings.

*RJR-Dots & Stripes- is another variation of dots of light on water in teal & aqua

*Michael Miller- Beachcomber is a color indicating water depth or shadow under the lilies in a rich navy ble with lines very close so there is subtle movement as you look closely.

*Island Batiks creates a batik that has small leaf forms on a light yellow green. Use it in areas in your quilt where you want to suggest “light”. Monet fairly consistently used this color to suggest light on the water lilies.

*Alexander Henry- HeathDE –is a textured patterned fabric, which from a distance will read as a solid, but up close gives visual texture wherever it is used. It suggests areas of shadow.

*Moda Cross Weave Wovens in Color 79 is a textured cotton in a red that works harmoniously with the Natalie Barnes fabric. This fabric adds variety and is used in some of his paintings in subtle shadow areas of the water lilies as well as the water lily flowers.

*RK-Helinki- Jamaica- has a large circle shape on fabric that ranges from green and aqua to yellow green and blue. A full range of water colors with circles suggesting the shape of beautifully round water lilies.

*Timeless Treasures in Vine Color gives the cool rich deep green color needed for balance in your color palette.

*Island Batik-Snow Balls- in a gorgeous yellow green suggests spring growth in the water landscapes and was a color repeatedly used in the majority of his water lilies paintings.

Our intention for creating the "Alchemy of Fabric" club is to provide the spark... the catalyst... the inspiration... for a project that your color palette is built upon. We have a monthly tutorial of insights on each fabric chosen. We have also included 10 other recommended fabrics to expand from the core fabrics and further guide your choices.

We are excited to share this educational opportunity as a study in color and fabric as well as build your artist palette of fabrics. As you practice designing your project from many different designers and collections our hope is to facilitate greater confidence and empowerment in your creative pursuits..

At the Stitchin' Post were are committed to creativity and inspiration and we are now embarking on a journey opening to new options together as the "Alchemy of Fabric" unfolds each month. Please share with us what the spark has ignited in you using the hashtag "#AlchemyofFabric" on your preferred social media platform, so others can be inspired by your work! You can also search #AlchemyofFabric to see what others have done, and to gain your own inspiration.

Alchemy of Fabric

The Alchemy of Fabric Club- May 2017 Edition:

Friends to All

“Friends to All” really is a good description for neutral themed fabrics. We are so fortunate these days to have the variety that we do in the scale and content of the prints. We have chosen a wide variety for you to sample and play with in your creative endeavors.

The change in scale with the dots is interesting. Notice how the white dot on the grey has less contrast than the two black and white/cream dots. Jen Kingwell is a true master when it comes to mixing not only prints but in blending colors. Two of our offerings have more of a creamy background where the others are black or white. In the old days of owning the store, quilters would never have mixed cream and white backgrounds in the same quilt. But quilters are more adventuresome these days.

Being open to new possibilities will give you more design opportunities. “Matchy-matchy” is fine, but I am drawn to work that has a more edgy feeling as it engages my curiosity to want to take another look. The three prints with text-like writing add a whole new feeling to blocks once they are cut up. They have more of a random textural feeling.

 

10 Recommended Fabrics:

The featured quilt in the May Alchemy of Fabric is from a pattern called “The Avenue” by Jen Kingwell. Both Jen’s patterns and color palette is our focus for the month of May. We are lucky at the Stitchin’ Post to be hosting two classes mid month called “Quilting with Jen” where the students will be using a variety of her patterns in classes. “The Avenue” was Jean's favorite pattern she saw at Quilt Market in Houston last fall. The inspiration for “The Avenue” pattern is the trees lining the avenue in Paris. Our featured quilt in May is made by Jill Beaman.

The neutral light colored fabrics in the fabric pack is for the background and the black fabrics in the fabric pack are for the tree trunks. The neutrals set the stage for the trees, and the vibrant colored fabrics in the 10 recommended fabrics are for the tree bodies, which are composed of 4 fabrics.

The 10 recommended fabrics are meant to give a high contrast with the background fabrics. The intention is that the neutral background fabrics allow the trees to take center stage. With the exception of one of the fabrics they are mainly medium value fabrics, which easily harmonize, in the unit of 4 pieces in the tree body. The advantage of using high contrast fabrics for tree bodies in comparison with the background fabrics is that it gives a distinct shape to the trees. This is just one effect. Mixing in a few pieces of lower contrast fabrics will give a very different effect.

We chose fabrics for the tree bodies that have vibrant colors, along with small, medium and large prints to add texture to the overall effect of the trees. Little dots in the “Over the Top” dots fabric are a small print in comparison to the large swirls in the “Heart to Heart” fabrics that are both designed by Jane Sassaman. The “Cat Eyes” fabric of Tula Pink with an oval shaped focus and “Aria Cotton” with a square dotted surface design. We also chose some fabrics that read as a solid along with the other prints.

A variety of surface design elements along with a variety of color is the key in the tree bodies and they add up to a quilt that has interest and movement.

Happy Creating!

Our intention for creating the "Alchemy of Fabric" club is to provide the spark... the catalyst... the inspiration... for a project that your color palette is built upon. We have a monthly tutorial of insights on each fabric chosen. We have also included 10 other recommended fabrics to expand from the core fabrics and further guide your choices.

We are excited to share this educational opportunity as a study in color and fabric as well as build your artist palette of fabrics. As you practice designing your project from many different designers and collections our hope is to facilitate greater confidence and empowerment in your creative pursuits..

At the Stitchin' Post were are committed to creativity and inspiration and we are now embarking on a journey opening to new options together as the "Alchemy of Fabric" unfolds each month. Please share with us what the spark has ignited in you using the hashtag "#AlchemyofFabric" on your preferred social media platform, so others can be inspired by your work! You can also search #AlchemyofFabric to see what others have done, and to gain your own inspiration.