Monday, September 13, 2010

"Stamp Collection" Tile Quilt (Empire October BOM)




One of my "jobs" is to design the Block of the Month blocks for my guild, Empire Quilters in NYC. This raw-edge machine applique block is our block for October. I made this tile quilt as an experiment to see what would happen when it was machine washed and dryed. I know it's pretty big for an experiment, but I was having so much fun.
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I should have used a zigzag stitch to applique the patches, or sewed a little further away from the edge (more than 1/8"). A few of the "tile" edges came loose in the wash and needed repair. The quilt also needed a trim to remove lots of frayed edge threads. But that's okay. It has a soft, shabby chic look now, and I like it. I think it looks fabulous from a distance! Haha.
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If you like the look of tile quilts, you might be interested in a book called: Tile Quilt Revival: Reinventing a Forgotten Form by Carol Gilham Jones and Bobbi Finley, published by C&T. The quilts in this book use the needleturn applique technique rather than raw-edge.

39 comments:

Pokey said...

This is WONDERFUL! I have enjoyed every thing I've made in this process. You have a great accomplishment here, with some really interesting pieces for the stamps. I'm itching to do another one, you've inspired us yet again, Karen, thank you!

Jodi said...

I love it, too! You have a fantastic stash/scrap collection apparently and did a great job with this!

Ariane said...

I love it!!! It's gorgeous!!

Paige said...

How amazing! I made a ticker tape quilt and love it! I thought about doing a zig-zag stitch but didn't either. I think it makes it softer with a straight stitch and the fray. It is my son's favorite quilt now. Yours is simply amazing. Mine was just a bunch a scraps!

Béa said...

Wonderful !!! I will try that. Thanks for the BOM links.

Seams Sew Together said...

Love it!!

Martha said...

My daughter Rosie collects stamps, and these blocks really do look like pages from her stamp book. What a great idea. We'll have to give this one a try. Thank you!!

Martha said...

My daughter Rosie collects stamps, and these blocks really do look like pages from her stamp book. What a great idea. We'll have to give this one a try. Thank you!!

Nancy said...

I love this idea and it is now on my to-do list, especially after seeing the finished quilt.

Quilts and Cats said...

What a fantastic quilt. This is so "outside the box" and everyone should give it a try!

Kathi's Kreations said...

LOVE IT!!! I don't think you could have improved on it, Karen. I love the softness that the washing gives it and I think frayed edges look GREAT! I am definitely going to give this a try.

Michele said...

What a cool quilt! I could study those fabrics all day long. What fun!

Unknown said...

It was great to see this quilt in person on Sat! I had so much fun and your quilt is wonderful! Thanks again for the ride. Come and see your quilt on my blog today!

Sujata Shah said...

Beautiful quilt. So much to see and observe in this quilt!

Abby and Stephanie said...

Fabulous! I didn't even know it was raw edge until you said. Lucky quilt guild to have you. I do have the Tile book and although I haven't use it yet I keep looking through it.

Joan said...

Fabulous!

Brenda said...

it looks great. I like the I spy theme. I've put mine together but I haven't washed it yet.

AnnMarie said...

Oh I love the look of this!

Elsa said...

absolutely beautiful! I gasped when the page came up!

Gena's Garden said...

Oh my goodness. I can't imagine how long it would take to make this! It is beautiful :)

genasgarden.blogspot.com

stufenzumgericht said...

Absolutely adorable,love this quilt!!! Martina

Lisa said...

Oh I love it!!! How fun! Now I wanna try it.

Nifty Quilts said...

This looks fantastic! (Even close up!) It must have been fun cutting out all those wonderful little treasures.

Barb said...

Such a delight to see in person at our quilt guild meeting! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Melinda said...

Karen - Another wonderful quilt. Love it.

Netta said...

Wow, your quilt is fantastic! Thanks for the insight, I've often wondered how a quilt made with this technique would wash up.

Barb said...

Scrap-tastic is all I can say!

Michelle said...

That is beautiful!

Mary said...

I love this quilt! It is fantastic!
Your stash of fabrics must be huge and very diversified.

marinandcolusa.blogspot.com/

Annette Tait said...

Karen I absolutely love this quilt!!! I love the stamps!
I've not been a 'quilt lover' before but this arrangement of individual pictures, each unique but making a complete whole just looks so fab!
If was ever (ever, ever!!) to make a quilt then it would be like this - and I adore the scrappy edges :)

If I had 3 hours spare I would read. Books are so necessary.

and isn't that iron amazing but what if it gets a 'burnt' patch on it? Can you tell I'm not the 'best' ironer!!

Val said...

Awesome! I love this quilt and the idea, it looks so much fun - I think it would make a person SMILE to wake up in the morning to such a quilt. :0)
Thank you for your inspirations and this wonderful blog.
Val xx Oxfordshire UK

Stephanie Hughes said...

Karen, after seeing this quilt of yours, I just had to make one! I just love mine too. Here is a link to see the results:

http://a-ditchin-time-quilts.blogspot.com/2010/12/raw-edge-quilt-finish.html

Thanks for the inspiration!

Stephanie

Karee said...

I teach the color wheel to 2nd graders and have them create a Ticker Tape quilt using glue sticks & their color wheel knowledge!
I have pinned it on Pinterest and put it on my blog. http://fabricfulfillingitsdestiny.blogspot.com/

http://pinterest.com/pin/208221182741365364/

Karee said...

Meant to say first: Thank You! You and your blog are great motivators to DO IT!

Thank you, Karee

shurl said...

Love it, what a great idea for an eye spy for the grandkids

enfanta said...

What a brilliant idea! And I think it's a gorgeous quilt. Are there any more photos available?

enfanta said...

What a brilliant idea! And I think it's a gorgeous quilt. Are there any more photos available?

Unknown said...

This is beautiful! I love the idea and love how you sewed it. The resulting fray makes it soft. Nice work, sistah.

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