Sunday, October 17, 2010

"Looking For Space"


"Looking For Space" ©2010 Diane Evans  24" x 40"
Twelve years ago, I made my first set of Flying Geese in a curve; I learned the technique in my very first class at Quilting By The Lake with Caryl Bryer Fallert.  I was so proud of those geese -- I held onto them for years, waiting for the right project to come along so I could incorporate the little fellas into an art quilt.
Fast-forward to 2009: my fiber arts group, ARTAA, was invited to present an exhibition at the annual Adirondack Fabric & Fiber Arts Festival, and we chose the theme, “Flight.”  My inspiration had arrived -- I couldn’t wait to get started.
The idea of creating a kite-shaped quilt had been percolating in my mind for quite a while, so I worked out a design that would use the Flying Geese pieces and also fit the parameters we had set, which required the finished piece to be 24” wide, with no restriction on length.
I decided to use Caryl’s method of piecing:
1)  templates are cut from freezer paper and ironed to the back of the fabric
2)  each piece is cut out, leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance
3)  the seam allowance is folded over the template and ironed in place with the assistance of spray starch
4)  the pieces are joined with a fine zigzag stitch using invisible thread
The tricky part is deciding which pieces will be stitched over their neighbors; you fold the seam allowance to the back on an OVER piece, and you leave the seam allowance sticking outward on an UNDER piece.  This method definitely engages both halves of the brain – I found myself trying to think like an engineer.
In a future post, I plan to share the binding technique I came up with for creating a mitered corner that is smaller than 90° -- a REAL test of my construction abilities.
And I’m curious to know: did I win a prize for taking 12 years to complete a wall quilt?? What’s the longest amount of time you’ve ever worked on a piece???  Do share!
Diane

17 comments:

Calicojoan said...

That is very cool. I took a class from Gail Garber a few years back and have drafted out a curved geese pattern, but have yet to start piecing it. 12 years huh?? Guess I have a few more to go! hahahaha I love the starch method. It makes things go together so nicely. Beautiful job MS Diane! As always. :-)

Sally said...

Outstanding. I hope to get into Gail Garber's class at QUB this year and hoping to learn out to do curved flying geese. Yours is just fantastic!

Karen said...

Fabulous!! All that math shouldn't have been too hard for a math teacher - LOL!!

Bee said...

This is GORGEOUS!! Thank you for sharing the construction techniques. The longest I have ever worked on one quilt was 11 years...so you have me beat. It was a queen size whole cloth white on white that I hand quilted. When I entered it in our local quilt show I named it "Eleventh Resolution" as that is how many New Year's Resolutions it took to finally finish it!!

Quilt Rat said...

Spectacular! I adore how you quilted this. One can "feel" the movement.

I LOVE this method of piecing, I find it rather addictive. You know my piece Earthbound was done in this exact manner.....100's of tiny little pieces, each one tucked under or overlapping the next. Kept me out of trouble LOL

Linda and Michelle said...

I Love this!! Great movement, great color, and I would love to examine the quilting in more detail!

Mary-Kay said...

I love it!

Joanna Monroe said...

Diane, your kite was a hit at the Adirondack Museum. As people rounded the corner approaching the ARTAA display, the kite was one of the first quilts they saw and it's brilliant colors drew them in like moths to the flame. It was so nice to have it visiting at my house before and after the show so I could enjoy it!
Joanna

Lonci said...

Wonderful colors, very impressive:)

Anonymous said...

I think one word says t all: Wow!

Deborah said...

Fabulous quilt!

Barb said...

Diane,

that is one amazing quilt even if it did take you 12 years. Totally amazing!!

quilthexle said...

How clever ... I can see curved geese as "I want to do something with them" in my quilting future, but I had no idea "HOW" to sew them. Thanks for giving me the hint I needed - and congrats to a wonderful, vibrant quilt! It IS a beauty !!!

Unknown said...

Love the design, nice color palette, too. Short attention span here, no multi-year quilts for me! : )

imquilternity said...

Another stunner!! I love the colors you used in this quilt...you have such a great eye. As usual, your quilting is perfect. I love the idea of curved geese and I've also drafted a border using them, but haven't done anything with it yet. Maybe it will take me 12 years! LOL

Clare Wassermann said...

I have discovered and really enjoyed it tonight. Thank you for sharing your wonderful colourful work

Cathy said...

Your quilt is gorgeous - thanks for sharing your process - I love that about your blog!

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