Trimmings 2015

This is my completed entry for the 2015 Umbrella Prints trimmings challenge. As I've previously mentioned Umbrella Prints is an Australian textile design company who creates both screen print and standard quilting fabrics. Each year they hold a trimmings pack challenge. Participants purchase a small packet of their fabric in a colorway of their choice and create a project using those trimmings along with any other fabrics that they'd like to include. The aim is to feature the Umbrella Prints fabrics and show how a little of something special goes a long way. There are two categories - one for quilts and one for other projects. In the past, there have been some beautiful clothes, toys, baskets and more.

This year, I opted to enter in the quilting category and ordered a Peachy Keen pack which came with an assortment of pale pinks and peaches with pops of vibrant orange.

I selected a woven shot cotton fabric for the background of the quilt. Depending on the angle viewed and the light in the room, the two thread tones of the shot cotton produce a shimmering effect. I non-selectively positioned the shot cotton pieces to maximize this tonal variation within the quilt. In doing so, I aimed to create visual interest in the background while still letting the foreground fabrics shine as the hero.

For the patchwork layout, I wanted a design where small pieces created a big impact. I came up with a new variant of the triangle ring quilt designs that I've been exploring this year. This version gives the impression of more bulbous rings and creates a cogwheel feature in the center.

I opted for a simple chevron quilting pattern which helped disguise the seams and created a secondary visual pattern within the quilt. To allow the Umbrella Prints fabrics to stand out, I broke up the quilting lines so they did not fall on top of or next to the foreground pieces. This meant a great deal more work in knotting and burying quilting threads, but I feel the extra by-hand effort was worth it for the visual impact.

The cotton batting gives a faint crumpled look - offering more visual texture to the piece.

As no other Umbrella Print fabrics could be used in the challenge, I finished the quilt by binding and backing it with a screen-look crosshatch from Carolyn Friedlander.

A huge thank you to Umbrella Prints for hosting this challenge. I truly enjoyed making this quilt as it was a chance to employ my design skills, while continuing to improve my quilting techniques. I'm looking forward to seeing the pieces made by others with their trimmings packs. Be sure to visit their website and Pinterest board in early June to see all of the entries, as well as having a chance to win the audience prize.


Trimmings
42 1/2" x 42 1/2"
This handcrafted piece will be available for sale from June 2015. Details to follow.