Purple S-block Quilt (aka S is for Spurple)

Woohoo - I finally have a finished quilt to show you after what feels like quite a gap between finishes!  I started this quilt at the very start of February (in a class with Kaffe Fassett!!!), and I've been working on it fairly steadily ever since.

 

Now that it's finished, I absolutely love it.  This is a quilt where I really pushed myself with colour and fabric choices, and I'm truly happy with the outcome.  The process has given me a boost of confidence and I feel like I'm a better quilter as a result.

 

The s-block is so simple, but has such a graphic quality, especially when you follow Kaffe's advice and ensure that there is a good amount of contrast between the two fabrics used in each block.  I'm really pleased that I used fabrics that are representative of my stash, and there are lots and lots of favourites in there (including the border print, which I honestly wasn't expecting to use in a quilt - I thought I might use it for a bag!).

 

There are a few Kaffe Fassett prints in the quilt top, but the back is where his fabric really shines. This flower tile print has a paler version of each colour from the front of the quilt, which means it works perfectly as a backing.  I'm also rather proud of the fact that I matched the print across the backing - yes, it is pieced, and I dare ya to find the seam.

 

Most of my recent quilts have used a single fabric for the binding.  This quilt reminded me how fun a scrappy binding can be (and also I couldn't decide which colour to pull out of the quilt top to use for the binding).

With so much happening in the quilt top, this quilt really doesn't need fancy quilting.  I went with my favourite diagonal crosshatch, in a variegated purple thread.  This has given the quilt great texture without being too distracting (and also has the benefit of working well with my slightly dodgy piecing!).

So, if I could enter the 2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge, this would be my entry (even though the purples are not necessarily particularly close to radiant orchid).  I'm really excited to see what everyone has been up to when Anne from Play Crafts and I open up the linky for entries in a week's time!  Remember, entries are open until 11pm PST on 21 March 2014, so you still have time to make something (as well as quilts, we have categories for mini quilts and quilt tops).  Click here for all the details, including the rules, our wonderful sponsors and our fantastic judges.

Quilt Stats
Pattern: S-block quilt from Kaffe Fassett's books Country Garden Quilts and Kaffe Quilts Again
Finished Size: approx 72" square

Fabric: various, Echino Flower Bed in Purple for the border

Backing: Kaffe Fassett Tile Flowers in Turquoise

Binding: various

Pieced and quilted by: me

Linking up with finish it up friday at crazy mom quilts.