A while back we were given a challenge at our Naperville Modern Quilt Guild to make a Modern in the City quilt.
I was quite lost and almost decided not to participate in the challenge at all. I thought of doing skyscrapers, windows, busy roads, or urban gardens, but the whole time it felt like I was trying to come up with a quilt that simply was not "me".
And then I came across a picture of our Chicago flag. Amazingly I've lived in Chicago + Chicago suburbs for over 16 years and I never really noticed the flag. Who knew cities had their own flags!?!?
I drafted my own pattern for the star, I broke tons of paper piecing rules and wasted lots of material making it, but I was quite happy with the way it turned out.
Thankfully this aqua circular outline was also a lot less nightmarish than I thought and it all came together pretty well (all those geometry classes I had to take in high school are finally paying off :) ).
Then it was on to quilting. I first quilted straight lines about 2.5" apart to stabilize the whole
thing and then gradually filled in all the matchstick quilting. I must
say, the transformation was amazing.
My quilts are usually all about piecing and quilting is there just to
hold the layers together, but this matchstick quilting totally makes this quilt. ♥♥♥
And look, no more snow!!! Yay, spring has finally decided to show up.
Finished size of this quilt is 36" x 36".
Thanks for reading friends. Hope you too are having a beautiful spring day. Svetlana
Very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a super cool quilt! I love that the flag was your inspiration. I've never heard of matchstick quilting but the look is striking.
ReplyDeleteReally impressive. I'm amazed at how the quilting transforms the flag.
ReplyDeleteIt's fabulous and the quilting is epic!!
ReplyDeleteIt's absolutely fabulous, love it, especially the quilting!
ReplyDeleteThat is really quiet beautiful and simple all at the same time but not simple to do!!
ReplyDeleteSvetlanko, nadherne!! A mas pravdu, jdu se hned podivat na nas znak/vlajku... :) Mej krasne a konecne jarni dny! Pa, Jola
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I am a relatively new convert to the narrow straight line quilting and I love it! You used a LOT of thread on this big project.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeletethis is really beautiful, amazing how a little inspiration and challenge can turn itself into something so simple and stunning. Great work!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWow, I love this! you're right! the matchstick quilting is just fantastic :)
ReplyDeleteCompletely awesome, Svetlana! It's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThis is great! Love the matchstick quilting.
ReplyDeleteAmazing. This is a beautiful quilt - love how it fits the call of the challenge and is still super beautiful and modern. Great job.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Please send the 'no snow' vibe here! I need to see some green other than my fabric! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! I am so glad you stuck with it.
ReplyDeleteThis is spectacular! So happy you kept at it and answered the challenge. Very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI love the simplicity of this quilt, Svetlana! You're so right -- the quilting absolutely transforms it!
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt. I have been to Chicago many many times, who knew there was a city flag? You definitly rose to the challenge, your quilting is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea & it looks wonderfu!
ReplyDeleteWow, wow, wow!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! The quilting really does make the quilt :)
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell you how enamored of this quilt I am! I made a Chicago flag quilt a few years ago for my brother-in-law, so this quilt type is near and dear to my heart! See mine here: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/85427724155748073/. I've also pinned yours to my Quilty Goodness board on Pinterest (with proper credit, of course) at the same link. I would LOOOOVE a pattern for the stars (or this entire quilt) if you've got one. (The stars were a particular pain in my butt.) I love your take on it and would love to do something similar.
ReplyDeleteLove the simplicity! Bet it took forever to quilt, wowza
ReplyDeleteHillary
Wonderful work!!!
ReplyDeleteLove it, and the quilting is fantastic x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt! The quilting is awesome. It really does make the quilt.
ReplyDeleteOkay.... I know this is an old post, but I LOVE this quilt and I wish all city flags were this easy to be made into a quilt!! Here's a link to a TED talk that's somewhat related! https://www.ted.com/talks/roman_mars_why_city_flags_may_be_the_worst_designed_thing_you_ve_never_noticed?language=en
ReplyDeleteeasy is relative of course.... if Chicago's city flag was just the city seal on a banner, you probably wouldn't have wanted to make it into a quilt!!
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