Custom Quilt: Japanese Improv

Hello There! Welcome, come in and see what I've finished up this week. A custom quilt order. How excited I was to stitch this crib blanket! My client knew she wanted Japanese Cotton and an original design. I came up with big blocks of prints and improv piecing filling in the remaining spaces. 


We were both happy with the results. Hooray! This was my first time working with the double gauze Japanese cottons and they were a little tricky, but well worth the added effort. It feels so soft - and will only get softer with use and gentle washing. 


I had a plan for this quilt, blocks here... piecing there....but in reality I did not know what it would look like until it was put together. I love working like that; the outcome is often better than I could have planned for.


The back is pieced with a larger piece of single weight linen. It is so thin and sheer, but linen is strong and it will wear nicely. I quilted it in a loop-d-loop pattern following the dots and flowers on the front so when washed they will gather up around them. Hee.Hee! 


The binding is a vintage linen in blue. I haven't used this much but I really like the feel of it. It would make a glorious shirt someday. The fabric is nani IRO in a few different prints. The blue with swirling flowers is gorgeous! So glad I got to play with these pieces. 


This is one of a few custom items I'm working on. It is really interesting working on a design for someone else. It pushes my boundaries and leads me to places I wouldn't have ended up on my own. 


And that is what creativity should be about. Finding roads less taken with new people along the way. 
Cheers,
Kelly

ps. and I just hit 100,000 page views today! WHAT!? Thanks each one of you for every little click you make!

Linking up with sew and tell at AmyLouWho

18 comments:

Cherie said...

That looks great! Love the way the colours work together and great job on the quilting =D

Judee said...

Great job and the quilting is beautiful.

Sara said...

Really pretty fabric choices..it is gorgeous!

Marsha Cooper said...

I've never heard of Japanese cottons. I'm always learning something new and as cruise through these blogs.

bevkimmel said...

very nice quilt. I love the colors and the style. I think I will have to try some improv quilting!

Quiet Quilter said...

It's always nice to see what someone comes up with...Very calm and colorful...

M-R Charbonneau said...

Ooh, it's beautiful, Kelly! I love the improv piecing -- it works so well with that fabric. I've been thinking about a navy/orange combo lately and it's great to see someone else try it. Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!

Sarah Craig said...

It's a beautiful quilt, Kelly! I'm so glad you linked up with Whoop Whoop Fridays!!

Rene' said...

Very cool quilt Kelly!!!

Kerstin said...

This is such beautiful fabric, and I love what you did with it!

Bethany (Make Me A Quilt) said...

I love the blue fabric you used in this quilt, it looks really nice with the neutrals and yellows and the little bit of pink/red. The quilting looks awesome! Great work! :)

Kelli said...

love the colors!!

Heidi Staples said...

Lovely, lovely quilt!

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi Kelly! Your quilt is really beautiful! Have a great week! x Teje

CapitolaQuilter said...

I love the colors and the creative process. thanks for sharing and making my Monday. Happy Quilting

CityHouseStudio said...

Lovely quilt! I love your quilting!
And I love the lupines in the first photo - my favorite flower!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Oh my gosh I LOVE this, beautiful fabrics and a great design. Fab!

cinzia said...

lovely quilt! wish i could feel that fabric. Looks like something that will be cherished.