The View From Here

Friday, December 1, 2017

It's that time of year again! Time to submit quilts to QuiltCon!

Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

This year's Modern Quilt Guild fabric challenge used Michael Miller's "Our Yard" fabric collection. I received a bundle of four fat eighths from the collection and one fat eighth of a Cotton Couture solid way back in August. However, other deadlines and my indecisiveness of what to create prevented me from getting started. I ordered some Cotton Couture Lipstick and Plum to coordinate, then just stared at the stack for months.


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

The night before the deadline, I finally decided finished was better than perfect! I really wanted to submit *something* instead of *nothing,* so even though I didn't think I had the perfect idea, I got started anyways!

I cut the four Our Yard prints and two of the solids into bias strips. I used my 1/2" bias tape maker to press them into strips, then I pressed the strips into "hill" shapes.


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

I made a quilt sandwich using a half yard of Cotton Couture plum (so both the front and back are plum) and Warm 100 batting by The Warm Co., then pin basted as usual.

Next, I arranged three strips to make each hill and pinned in place.


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

Working from the top of the quilt, I stitched down each strip using coordinating Aurifil 50wt thread. I had to stitch the three strips for one hill before I could start stitching the next three so that the raw ends of the strips could be tucked under the next hill. (There are a couple places where the raw edges didn't quite make it under the strip. That's what I get for being in a hurry!)


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

I used a straight stitch very close to the edge of both sides of the bias strips. I had to switch my thread out for every single strip! (I used 50 wt Aurifil #2920 Light Brass, #2021 Natural White, #1148 Light Jade, #2435 Peachy Pink, and #2605 Grey.)

Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

Once all the hills were stitched in place, I realized that one hill towards the bottom right was really lopsided. But I really didn't want to unsew it! So I decided it would just have to stay.


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

Since I sewed through all the quilt layers when sewing the bias strips on, additional quilting wasn't really needed. However, visually, I wanted to add more quilting!


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

I used Aurifil 50wt #2920 Light Brass and my walking foot to stitch vertical straight lines over the quilt. They are about 1/2" apart, but I just used the edge of the walking foot to space the lines evenly.


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

I trimmed the quilt to 18" x 19 1/2" then bound with 2 1/4" double fold binding from the Lipstick solid. I sewed the binding on by machine, as usual. I have heard that in order to win awards at quilt shows, the binding must be hand stitched. Well, I'm not ready to spend that kind of time on binding yet, so I guess awards aren't in my future! (Can I just say that "modern quilting" to me means using a machine!?)


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

When sewing the strips on, I just backstitched at the beginning and end of each strip instead of burying the threads. It doesn't result in the best looking backside, but it's what I could complete given the time. I'll trim the threads better on the back if the quilt is accepted into the show. (Proof again, I'm used to making quilts to be used, not for shows!)


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

I entered the quilt in the fabric challenge category for QuiltCon. It is $15 to enter a quilt. When submitting the quilt, you can choose if the quilt is for sale. I decided to go ahead and say $95. It's just a mini quilt, but once you take out the 15% that The Modern Quilt Guild keeps, my entry fee, and shipping to get it there, there's not much left. Many things to consider next year!


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

In April, I made "Rough Around the Edges" for the Modern Quilt Guild's Riley Blake Fabric challenge. I didn't win a prize in that challenge, but that doesn't stop me from trying again! This was my first time actually submitting a quilt to QuiltCon though! I generally make quilts to be used and loved, not for shows. I'm not expecting to win anything with this one either, but it's good to learn the process of how to enter so I can be prepared if when I enter a quilt next year!


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

When submitting the quilt, it asks for a quilt title and an artist's statement. I titled the quilt "The View From Here" and wrote, "Using bias tape strips, I created the rolling hills (aka Ozark Mountains) that are in "our yard." The imperfect shapes represent the hills where cattle graze, deer play, and my family calls home."


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

Have you ever entered quilts in a show? I've never taken quilts to my local fair or local quilt show! Maybe 2018 should be the year!


Bias tape quilt using Michael Miller Our Yard fabrics

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts, Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and TGIFF at Faith and Fabric.

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11 comments:

  1. I love what you did, and I also love your idea of not letting being perfect get in the way of doing this and finishing it AND being pleased with the result! (I hope I am not reading too much into your actual words!) Very cool.

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  2. Quilts have won ribbons at QuiltCon with beautifully done machine binding; the only thing that matters is how WELL it is done (not HOW it is done). :) I really like your idea and how your statement connects back to the challenge as well! Congratulations on your first submission. I look forward to seeing many more (and yes, I think 2018 would be a great year to entry your local venues)!

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  3. I love it, it's so creative and adorable! I hope you are able to get in, because I'll get to see it in person!

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  4. Pretty fabulous finish...thanks for sharing pictures of your process and good luck!!

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  5. Wonderful depiction of your mountain home!!

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  6. Nice use of bias to design. As to the bottom "lopsided" mountain, nah. Artistic variation. Here's hoping QuiltCon likes it too. I once heard a show director's speech; she said, "Every quilt in the show was entered." I'm all for entering.

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  7. So creative with the bias and love that it represents your home! That stripe on the bias is my fav!

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  8. Yay! I’m so happy you entered it into QuiltCon. I really love the landscape and the vertical quilting adds depth, very cool! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.

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  9. Great! You are wonderfully creative. I hope this gets in.

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  10. You made such a pretty quilt! Great idea to make the bias strips and use those for your mountains!

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  11. I love following your blog. You are so colorfully creative. It's the journey girlfriend and you are doing awesome

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