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Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Fruit of the Spirit

Have you caught the selvage bug? I admit I'm not really a fan. But I am a huge fan of challenges, so when the selvage challenge popped up on Instagram, I was all in!


Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt


The selvage (or selvedge if you speak British English) is the factory edge of fabric. It does not fray, so can be used in projects differently than cut fabric.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

The selvage challenge is hosted by Stash Builder Box (a monthly subscription box for quilters with a great pay it forward philosophy). The premise of the challenge is to use selvages (the part of the fabric traditionally thrown out) to create a quilt or other quilty project. Of course there are some awesome prizes too!


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Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

The Stash Builder Box sold some selvages and scraps in scrap bags in preparation of the challenge. These scraps were from the Fancy and Fabulous fabric by Fancy Pants Designs for Riley Blake Designs. Since I don't normally save my selvages, I wanted to create my quilt exclusively with these scraps.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

When I started brainstorming ideas for the challenge, I knew I wanted to do something different and outside of the box. Most of the selvage projects I've seen are made from sewing the selvages together into rows and then cutting those into blocks. I decided to play with the idea that the selvages wouldn't fray and tried coming up with ways to capitalize on that trait.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

Not long after, the idea for this pineapple quilt was born.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

I cut the selvages into small strips, then ironed them into triangles.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

I sewed these triangles into rows. The triangles are only sewn into the seam along one edge. This created an overlap with an amazing texture.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

After basting, I sewed several leaf shapes above the triangles to create a pineapple top. I left these with raw edges to add a softer texture to the quilt top.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

The back is pieced from the rest of the Fancy and Fabulous scraps. I'll be honest - the back is a hot mess. I didn't realize until well into piecing the scraps, that most were not cut straight. This caused the back to not lay flat. Once quilted, there are several puckers. However, I didn't want to start over. Plus, it's the back. So it's perfect just the way it is.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

I used my vintage Bernina 930 Record to quilt the Bible verse Galatians 5:22 onto the quilt: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." In order to make quilting easier, I actually turned my sewing machine 90 degrees so the bulk of the quilt could be rolled up under the arm, but I could "write" the words from left to right.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

The binding is a yellow from my stash. It is from the fabric line Knock Knock by Dana Brooks by Henry Glass Fabrics.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

I used white thread for the piecing and quilting. The batting is low loft 80% cotton and 20% polyester. The finished quilt measures about 28" x 40" - a great baby quilt size. It is my 31st quilt finish for the year!

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

Even with imperfections, I love this quilt! I'm very pleased with how the pineapple turned out, and I have several ideas spinning in my head to use the same technique.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

Stash Builder Box uses a percentage of their profits to create quilts to donate to children around the world. They have encouraged participants to donate the quilts created for the selvage challenge. This fruit of the Spirit quilt is going to my local Pregnancy Resource Center to bless a new mom.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

Be sure to check out all the entries in the challenge by looking through the #selvagechallenge2016 on Instagram.

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt

I want to know - do you save your selvages? Have you ever made a selvage quilt? Or do you use them for cat bed stuffing?

Selvage pineapple fruit of the Spirit quilt


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