I love everything about this quilt. The gray and green scraps play so nicely together, and the simple pattern allows them to really shine without the quilt becoming too busy. Even though the greens are more prominent in the photos, in person, this quilt has an equal amount of gray that really soften it. The solid strips are Kona Bone, and the creamy color keeps the quilt feeling more natural than a stark white.
I gave a sneak peek of the wood grain quilting at last week's NTT, and I am so excited to really show it off today. This is only the second time I've done wood grain quilting, and I am so pleased with the way it turned out. I love that the wood grain follows the vertical design of the pattern, and the soft wavy lines of the motif move so gracefully down the quilt. Best of all, it adds such fantastic texture. I quilted it with Aurifil 40 wt. #2311 (Muslin). I usually use 50 wt. for quilting, but the slightly thicker thread shows up really well.
Even after finishing the top, I had plenty of green and gray scraps left, so I decided to go for the gusto and sew the rest of them up for the backing. I am happy to report that my green and gray jars are now completely empty. Woohoo!
I widened out the improv strip on the back with a gray near-solid, and I love the way the scraps (and quilting!) really pop against it. Before I sewed up all of my greens, I pulled out just enough strips for a scrappy binding.
With shades of green and gray along with the wood grain quilting, this quilt feels a little outdoorsy, so I've decided to call it Woodwork.
If you've vowed to empty your own scrap jars this year, structured improvisation is an easy and fun way to do it! Afraid of improv? My book, Stash Statement, gives three different methods for sewing your scraps together, along with twelve full quilt patterns that take the guesswork out for you. Once you learn the technique, you can apply it to any quilt pattern. It's easy peasy, and so versatile!
You can get a signed copy in my Etsy shop HERE, or find it on Amazon, Connecting Threads, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.
