Monday 22 April 2013

An improv cushion for Gran

Do you know what you get from paper piecing?  Scraps.  Lots and lots of scraps.  Last weekend I decided to crack open my full to bursting box of Noteworthy scraps and have a play around.  Once I started pulling scraps out, I knew I wanted to make something for my grandmother Heather (Gran to me).

This is basically improv piecing - I just started with a piece of fabric and kept adding bits, trimming it down to a regular shape as necessary, until I had a decent sized block.  You might be able to see that there are a couple of more deliberately pieced areas (the pink at the top and the bottom of the pillow), where I wanted to include some pink but all my scraps were too small to be able to add a single piece. This 16" square pillow is made up of four improv pieced blocks, stitched together and then trimmed down to square.

Improv cushion for Gran 

I wanted the quilting to contrast with the crazy and wonky piecing, so I quilted a reasonably dense cross-hatch grid (I marked at 1" intervals down each side of the quilt top and used a hera marker to mark each diagonal line before quilting).  The 50 weight cream cotton thread I used just melts into the fabrics, so that the texture is the main feature.

Improv cushion for Gran

Both the backing and the binding are from the same fabric collection - I was able to use a single fat quarter for the backing, with a simple envelope style pillow closure.  I think I might need to get more of this bird on a wire print - it makes a really great binding.

This pillow will be in the mail to Gran this week - she lives in Auckland, otherwise I would deliver it personally.  Hopefully she likes it!

Linking up with:

Plum and June Better Off Thread Fresh Poppy Design

and finish it up friday with crazy mom quilts.

33 comments:

Deborah said...

What a gorgeous cushion. I have a serious love for cushions!

Kimberly said...

How fun! I love your use of color and the diagonal design you used to quilt this. I've had my scraps out this week as well, but I have to say, this free-style of piecing them together is something I can't wait to try after seeing this!

Anonymous said...

A wonderful cushion - love the colors. I might have to get me some of that noteworthy fabric :-) I love working with scraps and you have done an amazing improv job.

Renee said...

Great pillow! I love the improve piecing and using up scraps!

fenna said...

I;m sure she'll love it-it's very pretty!

Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD said...

Wonderful pillow and love how you've quilted it. I've got 2 pillows lined up as gifts for later this month and I may just have to pinch your idea if you don't mind! Dropped by from Let's Get Acquainted :)

Unknown said...

Bardzo mi siÄ™ podoba ta poducha!
Pozdrawiam!

Kristy @ Quiet Play said...

Great way to use up your scraps! The quilting sets it off so nicely too!

Kirsten said...

This pillow looks amazing and is such a great way to use up those scraps too!

Susan said...

The colours are so soft and the fabrics fun! I am sure your pillow will be loved!

Christine said...

The pillow looks fantastic.

Carla said...

This is lovely! Im sure she will love it. I can just about feel that texture!

Heidi said...

This quilting is perfect with your wonky blocks - Love it!

Nat at Made in Home said...

It looks amazing!

Gina said...

Pretty cushion!! I am sure it will make her day to receive this!!

Gemma@prettybobbins said...

Such a lovely cushion! I love Noteworthy and am wishing that I'd added some to my stash...

Sewing Mom said...

It's lovely and I really like the fabric too! Visiting from Let's get acquainted! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

That's beautiful! I love your patchwork and the binding gives wonderful finish!

Erica said...

I love this. That quilting is just perfect, I love crosshatching and it really looks great on this cushion!

Emily said...

Pretty cushion! Lovely colors and great quilting.

claudia said...

You have made me want to make a cushion. I love this one!

Emily said...

This is fantastic! I love the improv paired with the straight lines of the quilting!

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous gift! I ADORE those colours!
Esther

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

Dziękujemy! Teraz, pracowałem się, jak korzystać z Google Translate, mogę odpowiedzieć na komentarze w języku polskim!

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

Thanks! I think the Noteworthy fabric is still around.

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

Thank you! I love the look of a bound cushion, plus it makes construction really easy!

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

Thanks so much Esther!

Anonymous said...

Love it! I have Noteworthy...wonder if I'll have extra!

Adrianne @ On the Windy Side said...

Thanks! Hopefully!

Karee said...

Oh my heck: Darling! And your crosshatching creates wonderful texture and a controlled design element on a crazy patched top. Brilliant choice.

wish2stitch said...

I do like the Noteworthy fabrics too. I recently made a bag using some of that range. I have just started to experiment with improvisational quilting. It's fun 'making' fabric. but I am an absolute beginner to it. Only made one block so far but keen to make more.

Sara said...

Such a sweet pillow and I agree that the birds on a wire is a cute binding:)

Amanda Jean said...

What a beauty!!! I hope your Gran loves it! The quilting looks perfect over your beautiful piecing.

Thanks for linking up to finish it up Friday!