More abstract pieces for Square Foot Show – 2021.07.19

I have completed 3 more pieces for the Abstract² Square Foot Show. That gives me a total of 8 art works. Now I have to pick 5 of them to submit to the show. Which would you like to see in the show?

I love working on small format pieces, as I find my creativity is stimulated. When I’m working on a large piece, I may consider several different concepts, but I usually only have the time and energy to work on one, maybe two versions. With small format pieces, I can explore several variations on a theme. As I’m working on one piece, I’m thinking about what I can do differently on the next one, and the one after that.

For this show, each piece must be 12″ x 12″ and the theme is Abstract and Impressionist Art. Within those parameters, my general concept was to create simple geometric layouts, showcasing the fabrics. I’m outlining the fabrics with skinny black bias tape to create a crisp graphic-looking composition.

I turned to my fabric stash to select interestingly coloured and patterned fabrics. I found 5 fabrics that created a pleasing composition and created Bright & Bold Stripes (left). Next was a group of neutral fabrics with interesting patterns – Earthy Neutral Stripes (middle). And then bright and intense fabrics – Bright Intense Curves.

Making the quilt top – This is my go-to freezer paper process. In a nutshell, I drew my design on freezer paper, cut the freezer paper apart and ironed each piece to the back of the fabric. I cut the fabric around the freezer paper templates, adding 1/4″ seam allowances. I reassembled the pattern by overlapping the seam allowances and using the freezer paper to hold them together. Working from the back, I stitched in the gap between the paper templates. Then from the front, I trimmed each seam allowance very close to the stitching. This leaves raw edges, which I covered with fusible bias tape.

After fusing on the bias tape, I peeled the freezer paper from the back of the fabrics (I saved the freezer paper templates as I can reuse them several times before they loose their “stickiness”).

Layering and quilting – I trimmed the top to 13′ square. I cut a piece of batting 12.5″ square and adhered it to the top with Misty Fuse. (No backing fabric was required as I would be mounting this on a 12″ square gallery-wrapped canvas.) Then I quilted the bias tape with black thread and quilted each fabric with a matching thread.

Mounting on a frame – I mounted each piece onto a 12” x 12” x .5” gallery wrapped canvas. I used Susan Carlson’s technique to attach a continuous edging to the quilt top, as explained in this blog post https://susancarlson.com/2017/08/26/hang-it-up/ which describes several methods of hanging and displaying quilts. 

I used solid black fabric cut 2.5″ x 50″ for the edging fabric. I’ve used Susan Carlson’s technique several times now, and my corners are not always perfect. So I experimented a bit. To ensure my finished edges were straight and square, I drew a 12″ square on the batting with a black marker pen. Then I trimmed the quilt based on the pen lines, not the edges of the fabric. I pinned the edging using the pen line – pinning from the front, then confirming the placement of the pins from the back. I also marked the stitching line with white pencil to ensure a straight, accurate line.

Those changes really improved the fit of the edging over the wrapped canvas frame, but I still wasn’t entirely satisfied with the corners. A Google search yielded this article from Threads Magazine. I followed their instruction in step 4 – “When you get to a corner, lower needle into exact corner, clip boxing to needle, pivot fabric, spread boxing around corner, and continue sewing. Repeat at each corner.” The clipping of the edging fabric as I reached each corner resulted in perfect corners every time!

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Thanks for stopping by.  I will be linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.

• Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday
• Love Laugh Quilt Monday Making
• Quilt Fabrication Midweek Makers