Before I went any further, I had to at least start thinking about the design of the quilt. I’m not planning to have every little bit of the design finalised before I start, but I do need to have some idea of where I’m going. I played about with the knit fabrics a bit, and I think that I’ll applique them onto a cotton background. This should solve the stability issues and perhaps it will increase the longevity of the quilt. Neive is two and a half, and I anticipate that this quilt is in for a tough ride! I want her to be able to drag it about and use it throughout her childhood, and still be left with something decent she will want and be able to use as a teenager and adult.
I have done some experimenting with the fabrics, and created this 5 inch square, which I made into a coaster, as a sort of maquette.
Preliminary scrappy heart.
Hearts are going to be a prominent feature of the design, and I don’t care if that sounds corny, the secret ingredient is love, got it? 🙂 At first I was going to use low volume patterned fabrics for the background, but I actually think it looks busier than I’d like. I’ve been scouring the kona solids range, auditioning background colours. Originally, I was looking for one background colour, but I got seduced by a muted palette and ended up ordering six colours. (Hurry up, Mr Postman!)
I have also decided to include some song lyrics, from tunes that she and I both like. As a family, (I’m one of seven sisters) music mattered a lot to us, and I can see this tradition carrying on in Neive. So, after a few hours of arguing with photoshop, I think I’m ready to start the first nine patch!
Wraparound Art 