Scandi Quilt

I’ve been delaying blogging about this quilt because it’s a gift. Not that the recipient reads my blog, (or even knows I have one…) The block concept, while not new, (um, its a square… ) was inspired by Gwen Marstons’ work. The quilting design is Button Flower by Keryn Emmerson of Australia.

The quilt was conceived because I wanted to work with the luscious colourway, Scandinavia, in the Oakshott fabric range. I have a serious Oakshott addiction. I LOVE the way the fabrics appear to be different colours from different angles. This is how bad my addiction is… and I’m not admitting to the other cupboard full. You can drool over them here but be warned, they ship EVERYWHERE, and you’ll want more. (Did you notice how I slipped the work “here” in with a working link? I’m learning!)

Anyway, the quilt. It started out quite simple, and in my mind a LOT bigger. I’d made a smaller version with totally different fabrics, so up-scaling the maths (and increasing the block size by 1/3) was a cinch.

I cut all of my fabric. Then I made my first block. And found that every long edge was HALF AN INCH TOO !*%^$# SHORT!

Did I mention I’d just cut ALL of my fabric? I did what any self respecting quilter would do. No, not go shopping. I took a nap.

All I had left were some short ends and a liking for the modern aesthetic. So I inserted random length pieces in corners, tried not to match the seams, and created the right length pieces.

Then I started piecing as planned. What emerged, once I put it on the wall, was a secondary pattern that intrigued me. I started playing, trying to make similar valued corner bits. I started liking it more, and decided not to alternate a plain square with a block, as per the test quilt.

So the quilt shrunk by half. My delight with it doubled. I’m happy.

Here’s hoping the gift is well received. Now I’ve written this I won’t be able to get away with “Oh, it’s meant to be like that, it’s a pattern” Have you ever made a mistake that made you think outside the box? What did you do? And honestly, did you admit to it?