2014 Quilt Along
Join us in making this beautiful quilt this year. Start now and it will be completed when the fall leaves begin to turn. Each block is a leaf design. This quilt combines applique, free motion embroidery, decorative stitches, paper piecing and more.
We challenged quilt designer Cheryl Adam to create a quilt that would incorporate lots of thread work and a variety of techniques. We love the way she has used leaves to present a new challenge in each block. We are also excited that each of these blocks can be interpreted in your own style. Here’s what Cheryl had to say about her inspiration:
Nature and all its colors have always fascinated me. My husband is a wood turner and I am intrigued by the fact that he can tell what kind of wood he’s using without seeing the tree. After thinking about it, the same goes for the tree’s leaves. You don’t have to see the tree to recognize them as they are all different sizes, shapes, and colors. This is what inspired me design this quilt.
I started looking at tree books to get a good idea of how the leaves looked and started designing those leaves. While I was looking at a history of design book that I purchased I noticed that over the centuries, people have been drawing all kinds of leaves-real and imaginary. That made me want to draw my own leaves-not real but ones that would certainly be cool on a tree. Being able to use beautiful thread to enhance the designs was a plus and made each block special.
I hope you will enjoy making these blocks and put your own spin on each design.
We will reveal the first block in our February Sewing Secrets newsletter. You can sign up here
In the meantime, here is a list of supplies to get ready for the Quilt Along.
The finished quilt is 441/2″ by 46 1/2″.
For the appliques, select a variety of solids with a few small prints. Cheryl used mostly Rowan’s Kaffe Fasset Shot Cottons. A fat quarter and sometime less will suffice for most of the appliques. We’ve noted when more is needed. Specific measures will be given with each block. Here is a list of what Cheryl used:
Solids:Rowan Kaffe Fassett Shot Cotton SCSC95 Honeydew, SC56 Moss (1/2 yard), SC36 Lilac, SC64 Butter 1/2 yard, SC35 Sunshine,SCGP100.PUMPK (1/4 yard for width), SC07 Persimmon, SC47 Grape 1/2 yd,
Prints & Stripes: FreeSpirit True Colors by Jenean Morrison Buttons PWTC016.PURPL, Purple, PWTC016.GREEN, Ribbon PWTC019.ORANG,Rowan Kaffe Fassett Woven Stripes, WALTERX.LAVEN
Background solids: FreeSpirit Designer Essential solid CSFSESS.CRYST, Crystal (1/2 yard), and CSFSESS.PEARL (1/2 yard)
Sashing: Rowan Kaffe Fassett Shot Cotton, SC45 True Cobalt, 1 1/4 yd
Border: Rowan Kaffe Fassett Woven Strips WNARROW.REDXX, 5/8 yd
Backing: Free Spirit True Colors by Joel Dewberry, Wood Grain PWTC008.VOILE, 3 yd
Threads:
Coats Polyester Embroidery thread: (D75) 315A Wild Iris, 83A Jungle Gold, 444 Olive, 278 Wine Grape, 51Chona Brown, 182 Spark Gold, 855 Spring Green
Coats Cotton Multicolor Machine Quilting thread (V35): 855 Brookstones, 810 Plum shadows
Coats Cotton Machine Quilting threads (S975): 8010 natural , 4470 Yale blue, 3660 Deep Violet, 7450 Temple Gold
Dual Duty XP (S910) 1840 Hot Pink
Batting: 50″ x 52″
Stabilizer: 2 yards
Light weight fusible webbing: 2 yards 10 x 10 (6) ,
For information about the fabric and threads used, visit MakeItCoats.com