Friday, May 9, 2014

Tea Towel Quilt Top

The Tea Towel Challenge 2014 quilt top is done. Woot!
I went with some square-in-a-square cornerstones and a piano key border to finish it up.  I had sketched out a couple other ideas that looked good on paper, but in reality they just seemed muddle things up.

"Keep it simple" seemed to be the way to go.  No need to get all fussy for fussy's sake.


We'll see; maybe I can fuss-up the backing a little.  Or not.  I do have some corner triangles trimmed from the square-in-a-square blocks and a failed curvy piece or two, and you know how I love leftovers.
All those cool Georges Briard shapes I had hoped to translate to fabric didn't, uh, materialize.  However, I have an idea to quilt some of them into the cornerstones.  That ought to be interesting and fun.  

(Am I making up the cornerstone verbiage?  Are the blocks in the corners called something else?)


I still need to edge-stitch around the appliqued pieces.  They're just fused on at the moment.

And all that blather in my last post about shaking things up, well, as it turned out, there's not so much shaking here in the end.  There's a definite symmetry, control, and balance.  I think a little whimsy and fun, too.  Overall, I'm quite happy with it! 


On to the quilting of it now, although I may take a break and do something else for a while first.


Join me for the Tea Towel Challenge 2014

17 comments:

Pokey said...

Wow, happy dance! I call them cornerstones, too.
Good finish, Miz P. ~
:-}pokey

sophie said...

I absolutely think you were right to keep it simple–your piece is striking! I like the idea of using some of the extra/rejected elements on the back and I can't wait to see it.

(FWIW, I call them cornerstones, too :-)

ozzypip said...

the thing I love about linky parties is seeing some different links that are full of interesting and intriguing ideas. I haven't heard of a te towel quilt before. Off to check it out now. You design looks lovely and i call them cornerposts or sometimes cornerstones...

Lori R. said...

I love the final solution! The square in square details add just the right amount of punch to your borders. I'd hang it in my house!!!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Congrats on your finish! I like it! Well done!

I call those outside ones corner blocks / the ones inside the quilt with the sashings I call cornerstones. PoTAYtoes or PoTAHtoes . . . it all works.

Sarah Craig said...

It's gorgeous, P.! You did a great job with it, not too fussy, not too busy, but definitely interesting!!! Whoop whoop!!

MomWaldsPlace said...

Fabulous balance of design and skill!

Hazel said...

I had been wondering if the "tea towel challenge" would end up with usable tea towels!

I like what you've done!

Michelle said...

The geometry of the piano key boarder against curvy leaves is just the right contrast. It's wonderful!

Shay said...

Seriously perfect. I love the piano key border. It finishes it off beautifully.

Still think you shook shit up - you made something out of a vintage tea towel - if thats not shaking I dont know what is !

Elizabeth said...

Cornerstone is as good a word as any, I think. Your feathers are awesome and I am loving the grey and orange. This turned out beautifully and I think you did Georges Braird proud.

xo -E

Kim said...

Yes indeedy, a whole lot of balance, control and symmetry with oodles of fun in the mix!! Love it!!

Brenda said...

I like it!

Larri said...

I have no idea what to call them, but cornerstones works for me! :)
What a fabulous finished top. I love how my eye is not pulled in any direction. I can focus on the center and encompass the entire quilt top. Lovely, lovely!

Kevin the Quilter said...

You completely hit a grand slam with this one P! Way to go!!!!!!!!!

roccagal said...

yup-you nailed it-it is perfect-those feathery looking leaves were the clincher!! LUV it!

Anonymous said...

Excellent use of the design elements in the tea towel to pull it all together, I love the way the wings became leaves!