A finished quilt! A new version of my Hopscotch modern quilt pattern in prints. You can find the pattern available in my shop in both Hard Copy and PDF versions.
For the past few years, most of the sewing that I do is for a dedicated purpose - a gift, a pattern, a tutorial, etc. I'm trying to make more of an effort to just make things for fun - to do something that I want to rather than have to do, and playing with fabric combinations that speak to me. This is one of those projects and I'm super happy with the way it turned out!
A while back I pulled out my Denyse Schmidt stash from a variety of her collections, and put them all in color spectrum order. I loved the way they worked together - lots of warm, saturated color. Then I started trying them with some Alison Glass Handcrafted batiks and they played off each other so nicely!
Ever since I made my Hopscotch quilt out of Kona Solids last summer, I've wanted to make the pattern again using prints and a color-spectrum layout. It turned out to be the perfect pattern for pulling all of those fun prints together.
I finished the pieced top at a retreat in March and thought it would be finished quickly since all I had to do after that was add borders and find a back. But the backing took me a while. (Of course. I have a few tops that just need backs, for crying out loud.)
I try to stock up on backs when I find clearance fabric, but none of my stock felt warm enough for this quilt. Finally I found this orange small plaid, but still didn't have enough for the full back.
I figured if I was going to have to piece a back, I might as well make it fun to match the front of the quilt, so I put together another color spectrum using more Denyse Schmidt and friends fabrics for the back. A good way to bust through some stash on hand too.
The quilting was done by Melissa at Sew Shabby Quilting. I chose the all over "Square Dance" pattern - it's one of my favorites for all-over texture in a more linear design.
The background fabrics are Riley Blake Gray La Creme dots (one of my favorite basics) paired with Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Beige. I love the way the two neutral fabrics give this version of the Hopscotch pattern a warmer, darker tone and at the same time help the saturated colors of the Denyse Schmidt and Alison Glass fabrics really pop.
One more fun shot for the road. The night before we left on our trip to New Hampshire, we had an amazing double rainbow. My husband suggested getting a shot of the quilt with the rainbow in the background. I hesitated because I try to take my quilt pictures on the down-low, in random places where no one knows me, and not in front of all my neighbors who already think I'm a little weird. (Except for my backyard neighbors who see me taking pictures out there all the time and already know I'm weird.) I know, clearly I have issues.
But he kept encouraging me. So we ran to the nearby park, dodging raindrops, where he stood on a bench using his stellar quilt-holding-skills so I could get this shot. I couldn't capture the full scope of the rainbow, but we got this one. And I'm glad he talked me into it!
Hayley
Love your quilt. I am a sucker for a rainbow and you are right - the linen does make the colours pop!! I know what you mean about feeling like a weirdo taking photos of quilts in public. We have no yard but a lovely park nearby and I always do a quick look around to see if anyone is looking at me oddly. 🙂
Cindy
i love this quilt, especially the rich colors in rainbow order. Great job!
Heide
How pretty, great fabrics and love how your worked the backing too.
Southern Gal
I love the color combinations. And the backing is perfect! That rainbow didn't look real at first! Great shot.
Lisa Marie
You sound pretty normal to me -- doesn't everyone go around taking photos of quilts? Regardless of what looks you may or may not have gotten, the shot with the quilt and the rainbow is totally worth it!
Louise
I love the print fabrics and darker (yet still soft) background for this quilt pattern. You live in such a beautiful place and the rainbow puts it over the top. Glad your fun-lovin' husband encouraged the shot -- it is worthy of the quilt.
BEtH
A rainbow! Such a cool picture! And I am over the moon for your beautiful quilt! I do love how all those gorgeous fabrics get to shine. Your pattern and your fabríc choices are just perfect. The fabrics show off the pattern and the pattern shows off the fabrics 🙂
Beth
Tanya Quilts in CO
Gorgeous! I love the picture with the rainbow it is amazing!!!
Ben
I love the colors; great set of fabrics, and a wonderful quilt!
pam
This is a fanastic pattern and makes a lovely quilt. Who doesn't love a rainow!
Tracey
Fabulous!!
Sandra B
Love this quilt!! The background fabrics really make the colors pop....and I really like the back too. And, the picture with the rainbow is perfect!!
Annieo
Gorgeous! Glad your fabric playtime added up to such an engaging quilt. Love it and the park setting with the rainbow. Your hubby had a great idea 🙂
venividivicky
Yeah, pictures are usually taken out of the neighbourhood's reach, we quilters are a weird folk ;-). I'm completely in love with the fabric choices you made for this quilt. The warm background colour is so lovely with the saturated yet calming rainbow palette.
Stephanie
BEAUTIFUL
anna
Love it so much Amy! 🙂 And such a great idea about sewing things just because, great reminder.
Tomomi McElwee
total beauty. love lucky rainbow too!
Jenny
I super duper love this.
Carla
I love it. It's a lovely pattern and I really like the secondary patterns too ; )
Karen Seitz
Wow, this looks like a different pattern from your solid version. I love them both!
Beth
Looks fantastic. Love the background, quilting well just everything. I am going to have to look for these fabrics. Your husband is a great quilt holder and rainbow pic is wonderful.
Sharon
Oh my goodness -- a gorgeous quilt and a rainbow, too? ,
Cindy Pilkington
Just lovely! What a wonderful combination, fron and back. The final picture was really cute too! Thanks for sharing.
savvy
Your quilts are so wonderful- love the 'modern' look, and the very creative backing!! Am committed to finding sew shabby for a visit!! Have a wonderful weekend- and more pictures outside!! You are AWESOME!!
jenny S.
Yet another beautiful rainbow quilt to celebrate marriage equality! With real rainbows gracing the photo, too! So much love!
Kathleen
And there's your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!
Jennifer
I LOVE this quilt!
Karen
Amy, he does indeed have stellar quilt-holding-skills! I can barely see the teeny tiny tips of his fingers! This an absolutely gorgeous quilt! White is my default background color (I'm a big chicken!) but your colors are gorgeous. Maybe I can take the plunge!
Leanne
Your quilt is beautiful Amy, you always take great photos.
Amy Smart
Thanks Leanne!
Jo
What a stunning quit! I can't stop staring at it!
Lorinda Davis
I'm so glad you took his advice.... that rainbow picture is so great! I love your quilt- awesome job!
Diana W
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