MEDALLION MANIA

I'm ready for something I haven't done for a couple of years that is always a challenge  -- a medallion quilt.  I like the "design as you go" format with no preconceived pattern.  Additionally being a frugal soul, I wanted a project to use my scraps.  I did purchase two fat quarters on sale for $2.00 each, and used pieces of leftover batting and a piece of fabric for the back that I had purchased as a souvenir in Maine in 1992.   It feels good to be thrifty, using what I have, and stretching my creativity!

THE STATS:  Medallion Mania, 2023, 25"x 25", Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

I was fortunate to be able to draw on my mathematical education early on in my quilting years, which prepared me to understand the basis of geometry. Plus, I had learned from my grandmothers the idea of being frugal in all things. Then, in the early 1980s I took two classes from Jinny Beyer on drafting designs and making patterns. I easily understood the math concepts that she was teaching, but the big take-away for me was her understanding of effective fabric and color choices.  She has written comprehensive books about designing, pattern drafting, fabric and color theories, and the traditional concept and benefit of being in control of all steps of creativity. She was a great teacher and innovative pioneer of the resurgence of the interest in quiltmaking but still respectful of the past traditions.

I have followed the growth of the quilting industry over the years noticing the changes that have transpired.  Traditionally a quilt was made in the interest of frugality with the bonus of being a creative outlet for the maker combining the process and the product.  In the 1970s, the U.S. Bicentennial created a renewed interest in the making of quilts.  At that time to supplement our scrapbags, we were finding 100% cotton fabric only from the local department stores and an occasional general fabric store.  In the more metropolitan areas, stores specifically for quiltmakers were starting to spring up along with the publishing of more magazines and books for the quiltmaker.  In the 1980s, it became a big industry with state and national symposiums with recognized designers, teachers, and businesses.  That has grown into the modern era of quiltmaking that we enjoy today.

We are now able to access a wonderful, diversive supply of fabrics and tools.  In addition, the local quilting stores have now developed into a community to meet like-minded individuals to enjoy fellowship.  It is enlightening to talk with the shoppers and staff to learn what they are making and see what is new in the market.  My budget doesn't allow buying for speculation, so I am not a very profitable consumer.  Usually I buy only small amounts of fabric for a planned project to be supplemented by my stash which consists of small leftover pieces of fabric.  My gadget collection consists only of a 35-year-old rotary cutter and two rulers.  However, I certainly applaud the ingenuity and success of those entrepreneurs and their welcoming attitude to all.

Quiltmaking has been an important part of my life for 70 years, and I often think about its future. Has the product now become more important than the process? Does the proliferation and availability of patterns, kits, laser-cut-by-machine pieces, and professional long-arm services stifle a part of the creativity, challenge, and fun of making a quilt under your own control from start to finish?  Are there enough classes being taught to new quilters about the skills needed to follow the tradition of frugality and creativity?  Will the skills used for drafting patterns, figuring out quilting designs,  and choosing colors and fabrics be lost?  Is this a skill-set that is best learned by experience?

I have no answers but if interested about old-school quiltmaking, I recommend Jinny Beyer's books entitled "Patchwork Patterns", "The Quilter's Album of Blocks and Borders", "Medallion Quilts", "The Scraplook", and "Color Confidence for Quilters".  In the interest of frugality, start with your local library as the original copies have risen in value.

I thoroughly love what I do, and I hope you also enjoy your passion!

 

THOUGHTS ON CHOOSING COLORS

I wrote previously about a couple of books by Jinny Beyer on drafting quilting patterns (click here).  Jinny was very instrumental through her books, quilts, and classes in the 1970s revival of quiltmaking.

Here is another one of her books, this one about color published in 1992.  It really goes into detail how she thinks about color and chooses fabrics for her quilts.

Even if you don't subscribe to her methods of shading, a dark color, and an accent color; this book is a visual treat if you love fabric.  All of the pictures really show you how any one color relates to another.
After taking one of her classes in the 1980s, I have used a modified version of choosing fabrics for my own multi-fabric quilts. 

 Below is one of my old work sheets from a quilt I made in 1989. I picked out a couple of fabrics (shown upper left in photo below) to use repeatedly to unify the quilt; then I chose fabrics from my stash to add.  I laid them out in gradation; then squinted my eyes to see if there was something that stood out in a bad way.  I remember I eliminated brighter yellows, and used the brighter red as an accent.

This is the quilt that resulted from that exercise.  It ended up having 96 different fabrics in it.

Starshine, 1989

For the current quilt I am working on, I also pulled fabrics from my stash in a color story I was considering.  I have modified the process even more as I now have more color confidence, but I still like to do the 'shading' thing.  It helps me see what fabrics I might be lacking; and I can take the cards along to shop, if necessary.

I'm anxious to see how this one turns out.  I had a miss-start as I first tried to work purple into the quilt (instead of the red), but I just didn't feel it.  I like it much better now -- maybe it was that I didn't have a lot of purple in my stash because I am not a purple person!  In the end, I usually go with any gut feelings.  
Color is so very personal!

I'm joining the following:
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Quilting Readers Garden for WIPS Be Gone Friday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday

OLD-SCHOOL QUILTMAKING -- THOUGHTS ON DRAFTING QUILT PATTERNS

I've been working on designing and drafting the 49 patterns for my Dear Jane (aka Dear Jeanne) quilt.  Many of the patterns appear in the books I have authored, and are in the quilts I made for magazine publications.  But, I needed to resize them all into 5" blocks.

That made me think -- with all of the wonderful patterns and computer programs available on the market today, do newer quilters even learn about quilt classification and drafting techniques?

Granted, I was a math nerd in high school so when I got heavy into quilting in the 1970s, it was natural for me to draft my own geometric patterns.

In the early 1980s, I also took several classes from Jinny Beyer -- she was (and is?) a great teacher not only of technique, but of design.

The first book of hers that I owned was "Patchwork Patterns" (1979), then "The Quilter's Album of Blocks & Borders" (1980).  She re-released these at some point, and they should be available on amazon.com. These two books really teach the fundamentals of geometric quilt design and drafting.

Drafting of complicated geometric patterns may not have any application to the modern quilting movement; but if you are interested, her books are a great place to learn about traditional block design.

Patchwork was born of frugal necessity.  Some of us who were part of the quilting revival in 1976 learned from pioneer quilters.  Part of that lesson was frugality.  I still try to practice that.

 I have never made a quilt from a purchased pattern -- saved a lot of money over the years.  Thank you, high school geometry class and Jinny Beyer!

I'm joining the following:
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday