Ombre Bargello Optical Illusion

Back in June, our guild (the Nebo Modern Quilt Guild) hosted a challenge to make an optical illusion quilt.  The timing was perfect, since I had recently discovered The Fleming's Nine and her awesome Rainbow Bargello Quilts.

I decided I wanted to see what would happen if I used an OMBRE jelly roll to make my quilt.

I did mess up my cutting just a little, so the ombre effect is a little choppier than I would like, so now I'm just calling it "color blocking."  What do you think?

I wanted the quilt to be big enough for a twin bed, so I added the white and teal borders.  Isn't that teal ombre triangles print just perfect?

For the quilting, this design was begging to be covered with some fun graffiti quilting.  I even used a blue variegated thread.

For the borders, I took my inspiration from the backing fabric.

Can you tell?

The binding is another ombre triangle print, this time in Navy.  I just love the colors in this fabric line.

For the backing, I bit the bullet and used a precious bundle of Birds and the Bees Fabric by Tamara Kate.  I've been saving it for something special, but didn't have anything particular in mind for it yet.  It just so happened to match this quilt so perfectly, so I went ahead and used it up.

I just love these prints!

This quilt is now listed for sale in my Etsy shop! It was SO MUCH FUN to make!

Quilt stats:

Started: February 2017

Finished:  June 2017

Fabrics: V and Co "Ombre" jelly roll, "Spectrum" Ombre HSTs

Batting: Pellon 80/20 Cotton/poly

Finished size: Approximately 60" x 86" (twin)

Recipient: ??? ***UPDATE*** A sweet neighbor bought this from me!  YAY!!!

Methods used: Piecing, FMQ

Binding: Machine to back, hand to front

Time to Make: About 18 hours 

Kaleidoscope in The Sweet Life

Okay friends!  It's time to share my Kaleidoscope quilt! 

Back in 2016 or so, a friend brought a quilt made from this pattern to our guild meeting and I loved it so much I decided right then and there that I need to make one!  (The pattern is Kaleidoscope by Lella Boutique.)

I had a jelly roll of Pat Sloan's "The Sweet Life" fabric (that I won in a giveaway from Happy Quilting back in 2015 - WOOHOO!) 

The pattern results in a whole bunch of tiny triangles and since I was in a non-wasting mood, I decided to sew them all up into teeny tiny (1" finished) HSTs.  Yeah, I timed myself to see how long it would take to make this skinny little HST border.  SEVEN HOURS!  Yikes!  I think next time I won't feel so bad about tossing the leftovers.  ;)

For the quilting, I went with a swirls/pebbles combination in the background and borders, leaving the rest unquilted so that the design would pop a little. 

For the back, I used up a bunch of large pieces from my stash (many of which were given to me by my sweet friend and neighbor Abby - YAY!).

And of course, the binding had to be scrappy - made with all my leftover jelly roll strips (mostly the neutral colored ones).

AAAAND this quilt was just "for fun," meaning there was no intended recipient in mind.  So until I can find someone to give it to, it's listed in my shop.

Quilt stats:

Started: September 2016

Finished:  May 2017

Fabrics: "The Sweet Life" by Pat Sloan

Batting: Pellon 80/20 Cotton/poly

Finished size: Approximately 66" square

Recipient: ???

Methods used: Piecing, FMQ

Binding: Machine to back, hand to front

Time to Make: About 30 hours (including the 7 hour HST border)