I spent today in a local college library researching the history and theory of modern architecture. The International Style of the c. 1920s-1970s served as an inspiration for my Toy Tiles pattern collection (and also, I kind of really love this architectural style), but that post will have to wait until I’ve recovered from information overload.
So instead, here are some pictures of a thing I made:
A quilt, more precisely–and my first patchwork quilt at that. Also my first project larger than crib-size, which was an adventure to quilt on my home machine. But I’m absurdly happy with it and its broad, crisp expanse of white, which is proving perfect for the sultry summer weather that’s coming to St. Louis.
I used the brilliant Rectangle Squared pattern from Film in the Fridge (although I enlarged the blocks a bit) for the front, and Elizabeth Hartman’s excellent Mod Mosaic tutorial to piece the strip across the back. The fabrics are from various collections by Joel Dewberry, and I ended up using a much broader palette than I expected. I told myself to just trust that fabrics from a single designer would mesh in the end, and I’m really happy with how they do!
Frank Stella, Bethlehem’s Hospital, detail (1967; MoMA, New York)
I based the quilting on Frank Stella’s Bethlehem’s Hospital of 1967. I needed a pattern that used straight lines, since that is the limit of my machine quilting skills. But I also liked the way that the the right angles create the form of a square within the larger rectangle–it seems like the perfect quilting pattern for Ashley’s Rectangle Squared pattern.
As I was finishing this one, I was obsessing over ideas for my next quilt. Never mind that a “next quilt” wasn’t necessarily inevitable until I started this one. I guess I’ve caught the bug.
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Your quilt turned out beautiful! I loved seeing how a piece of art influenced your quilting design.
Thanks, Melissa!
Hi again, I compliment you on this quilt, it is perfectly elegant. (The reference to the [rectangle squared] tutorial is helpful because here is one I DO think I can share and dare I think, might actually sew up.) Casey, I think the backing you created is really charming and just as interesting as the top. Also your quilting design is very inspired. It looks beautiful. ! -KC
excuse me, not sure what I started to say there (”… I think I can ‘share in taking inspiration… and, dare I think, might actually sew up…) sometimes the thoughts and the words don’t match, sorry! – KC
Thanks Karen! I highly recommend the Rectangle Squared and Mod Mosaic tutorials–super well-written and you will get amazing results! Thanks again for your kind comments!
Oh, I LOVE this quilt! It’s beautiful! So cheery and fun!
Beautiful!!
Très jolie courtepointe, j’aime beaucoup ces “rectangles au carrés”, bravo !