Saturday, August 16, 2014

Rainbows and unicorns

In the not-so-distant past when I was still on Instagram, I spied a special little roll of fabrics that Polka Dot Tea Fabrics were selling in their Etsy store. They recommended that it be bought with some black chambray and never having used chambray in quilting before, I thought why the heck not?

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)


There were 18 rainbow colours in the roll. What else was I supposed to do but make a rainbow quilt?

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)

Bron and I took these photos up at Mt Stromlo last weekend before we dropped our quilts in for the Canberra Quilters exhibition. There didn't appear to be much of a wind when we headed up to the Walking on the Moon sculpture, and yet there was. It was so frustrating while we waited for the gusts to die down, but Bron got to work on her core muscles again so it was all good.

The wind! So fierce!

I quilted concentric 1/4 circles on this quilt. I knew I wanted to do that the moment I started putting the blocks together, but it didn't work the first time. So I unpicked, unbasted, got new batting, rebasted, marked a centre 1/4 circle, and started again. The lines are 20 mm apart and I used my walking foot and the guide. The Bernina walking foot guide is a total pain in the arse - it is far too long and gets in the way of the quilt you are trying to feed through the throat space. In another life I might buy a spare set of guides and then take to the extra length with a hacksaw.

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)

The thread I used for quilting was a 40 wt, rather than my usual 50 wt. I wanted the stitching to sit on top of the quilt a bit, to add another texture layer. I think I achieved that.

I got a little whiskering with the quilting lines, but not enough that I don't want to put this on the bed. It certainly won't win any prizes though, but I honestly don't care - I absolutely love it.

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)


These photos happened because we were defeated by the wind.

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)

I wanted to show the back because I think it is pretty cool. I used four different Candy Dot fabrics for the back, and used the excess for the sleeve and the label. I was going to write directly on the back of the quilt with my pigma pen, but the quilt police (MY HUSBAND OMG WHAT JUST HAPPENED THERE?) said I "should go to the effort of a proper stitched-on label" (those were the exact words he used too. He scares me sometimes).

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)


So yeah. I love this quilt. A lot. It's just so ... happy. While I was making it I was thinking about rainbows and unicorns and how sometimes people seem determined to a) not believe in rainbows and unicorns and/or b) kill your rainbows and unicorns with their misery and negativity. I work really hard to be happy and to lead a full life. I don't need negative nellies. No one does.

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)

The working name for this quilt was "Don't f- with my rainbow" but I decided to keep it clean because yeah. Presbyterian.

Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)

So please allow me to introduce you to the family- and exhibition-friendly name of this quilt "Don't mess with my rainbow (or with my unicorn)". *quilt takes a bow*.



Pattern: My own design, using the traditional half-square triangle block
Piecing: courtesy of Rasant thread and a BlocLoc ruler
Fabric: 18 different Michael Miller Colour Couture solids, sold in a 5 inch roll; and black chambray. Backed in Candy Dots.
Quilting: Machine quilted, echo style, using Aurifil Mako 40/2 thread in grey (2605)
Batting: 100% cotton
Started: June 2014
Finished: August 2014 

64 comments:

  1. I love this quilt! And it looks fantastic in these photos (as do my boots in the marching band unicorn vomit photo, I think) xo

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    1. The quilt only looks fantastic because of your strengthened core. ;) The next quilt will be shorter - you'll have to coordinate your boots for it.

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  2. Love it! The colours and textures are fantastic.

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    1. Thanks Tracy! I love the added texture. It was kind of flat before that (but still punched you in the eye with the colour!)

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    1. If only I could put rainbow emoji in my comments!

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  4. Love it but what is whiskering ?

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    1. It's kind of like the step before a full-on pucker. Apparently. I dunno - I learned the term in my class. ;)

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  5. Bwah ha ha! I love the name of this sucker! So worth the unpicking and re-quilting. Looks rad!

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  6. Such a flipping happy quilt!!! I love it! It is GORGEOUS!!!

    To be fair, I've loved it ever since you posted snippets of it on your design wall on insta all those months ago. Beyooooootiful!

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    1. Thanks lovely! Ironically the photo of this on the design wall was my last ever photo on Instagram!

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  7. Really beautiful quilt. Great design and quilting.

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    1. Thank you so much! The quilt matches the colour wheel quilt in your avatar!

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  8. Awesomeness! I love your quilting too. I want to try the circle thing, but am still a little intimidated. You did a great job!

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    1. The circle thing is pretty easy! If you you are starting from the centre, it gets easier as you go out as the lines are almost straight by the end. If starting from the top corner make sure you mark the centre curve first with a string compass. Be brave and have fun! And I can't recommend the Jacquie Gering Craftsy class enough.

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  9. Love this and also your thoughts about no negativity! You go, girl! ☺

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  10. Its darling my darling :) I would never fuck with your rainbows or unicorns, i am all for encouraging your wonderment and your fucking quilts (i ain't a presby) ;p. Love you xx

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    1. I now you never would Jen. Love you right back. Xxx

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  11. This is absolutely gorgeous! I love the circular stitching with the triangles, and the color scheme is out of this world.

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    1. Thanks! The colour scheme is right out of nature, when you think about it!

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  12. I'm in love :) that quilt is just gorgeous, I especially like the photo with it lying flat on the pavers, really shows off the colours. What your husband said about the label sounds like something my husband would say, (he is the quilt police in our household eg. that seam doesn't match)

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    1. Thanks Pip! I rib him about being the quilt police, but his usual answer is that someone needs to be sensible about these things ;)

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  13. Absolutely stunning! Amazing work.

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth! I was going for maximum impact, so I think I've achieved that!

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  14. Hey Michelle, I'm glad I found your blog, it was a pleasure to meet you at the Sydney show. I didn't realise the circles quilt was yours. I kept going back to it because I loved it so much. Here you have another lovely quilt! Love your awesome photos.

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    1. Janet! Yes that was me! So glad you loved my quilt at the show. I'm looking at it right now as I type this, and I'm so glad it's finally back home!

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  15. It is a stunner and I"m all for rainbows and unicorns. xx

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    1. Hope on my rainbow train! The unicorns are in the last carriage.

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  16. this is fabulous! what can I say, I don't know a word to describe it as wonderful as it is. love it.
    I am a fan of your ideas re rainbows and unicorns.

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    1. Oh that is the nicest thing to say Catherine! Thank you. Have a rainbow and unicorn filled day!

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  17. Great job. Doesn't it feel wonderful to finish a quilt you REALLY love? Sincerely, Paula K.

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  18. WOWZA! This is absolutely amazing.

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  19. I love this! I can see why you are so proud of it and so happy with your finish, it is just so happy and wonderful!

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    1. Thanks so much Val! It is a very happy quilt, isn't it?

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  20. It is beautiful and simple, elegant and bright. Well done Michelle

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    1. I do simple best. It's what else you do with simple that seems to make the world of difference.

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  21. I love this! So many of the things I've been making lately have rainbow themes, and something like this might just be next on my list. Beautiful!

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    1. Thanks! I don't think this will be my last rainbow quilt - I actually have one in the naughty corner I should do something with.

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  22. Love.... cant wait to see at CQ's exhibition

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  23. Such a great work! I'm a bit jealous. ^^

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  24. I love it too, you can't beat a rainbow quilt and this one is fab

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    1. I do love a bit of rainbow in my quilt! Cheers one right up.

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  25. Great quilt and lovely blog!! Thanks for sharing!

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  26. Oh, that is gorgeous. Colour, triangles, and quilting

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  27. I love your quilt; it is brilliant; the colors, the design. Really terrific

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  28. I love your quilt and have material I want to use. Could you please share the size of the half sq. triangles or do you have a pattern available? I would be happy to pay for the pattern. Thanks.

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    1. Marilyn, from memory (and I'm sure it's on the blog somewhere) I used 5 inch strips of fabric, made HSTs two-at-a-time, and trimmed down to 4 1/2 inch unfinished blocks with my blocloc ruler.

      Hope that helps.

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  29. Beautiful quilt! I plan on making this with a jelly roll and maybe some left over yardage after i finish the quilt I'm working on if I have enough or might get another jelly roll. Did you use a jelly roll for this and how did you cut this efficiently? I'm working on my first quilt at the moment and I'm still learning so I dont know much and would love to be able to use the new classic palette from kona solid. Each strip is a different color so i wonder if each strip would be enough to finish the diagonal across the quilt. Any thoughts?

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  30. I miss you on IG. And oh my gosh I LOVE your rainbow quilt! It is AMAZING.

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  31. That rainbow quilt is gorgeous.

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  32. It's Beautiful ! Quilts are soo very pretty. when the pictures are taken outside in natural light! Beautiful quilt, keep sewing, happy sewing! Love for sewing from Salmon Idaho tina

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  33. You inspired me to make a baby blanket - 16 colors + grey flannel top, orange Minky on the back. Finished size 45” x 56.”

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  34. wow what a beautiful quilt! what was the brand you used for the chambray? it's so lovely against those colours!!

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