Make Modern Issue 51

Last issue, I mentioned that I’ve recently moved and my new sewing space is somewhat more minimalistic, which – now it’s pretty well set up – I have found very therapeutic. In all honesty, for a long time, I have found quilting to be quite overwhelming. There are plenty of finished quilts in my home (trust me, I was the one who bagged them up to store). There are lots of unfinished projects. There is a lifetime worth of fabric. And while it’s wonderful to have everything I need to make quilts for the foreseeable future, and I know that I’m privileged, sometimes having more simply means more pressure. I know I’ve pretty much reached (passed!) the threshold for how many quilts I need at home. And while there are…

ROCK SOLID Inspired by traditional Bargello quilts, Erin has cleverly used a muted colour palette in a range of hues to create this thoroughly modern quilt. Simple strip piecing means it comes together fast – leaving more time for snuggling under it. materials Each row/colourway used one colour in three values, light (background), medium (main block), dark (accent block) – use the same colours Erin did for a muted rainbow, or make it brighter. ½ yd each light-toned solid background fabric in green (A), orange (D), red-purple (G), yellow-brown (J), teal (M) and pink (P)⅜ yard each medium toned solid fabric in green (C), orange (F), red-purple (I), yellow-brown (L), teal (O) and pink (R)¼ yd each dark toned solid fabric in in green (B), orange (E), red-purple (H), yellow-brown…

Have you ever started a quilt project and wished you knew somebody else that was doing the same project so you could ask questions, compare notes and share ideas? Me too! Maybe you wanted to try a new technique but were a bit intimidated and needed someone to walk you through it. Me too! These two scenarios are common among quilters, and isn’t quilting is more fun when it’s done with friends anyways? Thanks to the power of the internet (and social media), we can come together from all corners of the world and make a quilt together! Without leaving the comfort of our own homes (or changing our of our pyjamas) we can meet virtually with other quilters who are making the same pattern by participating in a quilt…

A GOOD FOUNDATION This fun project was inspired by David Bowie’s alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Foundation piecing helps with the precision piecing of the angles, and it makes the perfect gift or a great project to add pop to your home décor. materials ½ yd grey background fabric (also cushion backing) One fat eighth of orange print fabric Scraps of black and turquoise solid fabric, at least 7” long13” x 13” piece of batting13” square of fabric for the cushion top lining (this won’t be seen) Five snaps12” cushion insert Finished Cushion Size: 12” x 12” preparation and cutting 1. Print or trace the templates on pages 16 and 17. You can use regular printer paper, freezer paper, specialist FPP paper or lower GSM printer paper. Make sure the printer…

Are you designing along with me in my #quiltfromabrief challenge? You might remember that the first Abrief was to design a sampler quilt using the Kona or Pantone colours of the year. Here are a few of the designs that people have come up with. After I posted that brief, I remembered one of my favourite sampler quilts by Diana Vandeyar, an Australian modern quilter now based in South Africa. Her Urban Sampler pattern is available for free on her website. It prompted me to get in touch with Diana to learn about her design practice and habits. Tara: Was the Urban Sampler something you designed specifically for a Pantone challenge? Diana: I think I already had that design and I recoloured and then made it for the challenge. I…

GOOD GRADATIONS The design for Alcúdia was inspired by the landscapes and colours of the waters of the gorgeous Alcúdia Bay in the north of Mallorca. The secondary pattern that emerges by the combination of Garden Maze Blocks and a Diamond Blocks is a traditional Islamic ‘Mudejar Star’, a historic motif brought to Spain by the Moors in the Medieval Age. materials 2 ¼ yds of natural linen background fabric4” x WOF each of nine different yellow fabrics from light to dark4” x WOF each of nine different blue fabrics from light to dark½ yd of binding fabric60” x 80” of batting4 ½” yds of backing fabric Block Size: 10” Finished Quilt Size: 50” x 70” preparation and cutting 1. Print out the Easy Corner Cutting template on page 26.…