Grl Pwr - A Quilt that Tested Patience
It was the middle ish of 2020, Amber of Damask Love, whom I like to think we’re actual friends - she’s my spirit person, announced her line of fabric with Riley Blake Designs. At this point I hadn’t even seen the fabric line. I knew something amazing would be made with it.
Developing this quilt pattern I kept doubting myself, nothing was “good enough” to live up to Amber and the inspiration she provides me. As I was scrolling through Pinterest one night, I became drawn towards handmade wood tables. The variations in wood allowed for the simplistic designs to pop. Sketching the overall patten was easy. Nothing too difficult and mirrored blocks (Yippee for duplicates in pattern writing!). I finally realized that this pattern would live up to the greatness of the Grl Pwr fabric line.
Figuring out which fabric to choose for each section was a process. I wanted to limit the interaction with similar fabric patterns, but also keep everything cohesive. I loved the pop the multicolored fabrics mixed with the bright presenting solid color fabrics. In order to keep everything straight I gave the fabrics a number and marked them with washi tape. Of course I dove in too quickly and screwed up a few pieces before creating a system to minimize waste and confusion.
What seemed to work with this pattern was creating a construction paper template for each block. I made sure to add a quarter inch seam allowance on all sides of the pieces, my thinking was you can always trim it down. The blocks came together rather quickly. My design wall was filling up and started to look like a beautiful quilt!
Remember when I said I had added seam allowances?!? Welp, when it came to piecing the blocks together…. I screwed up! MAJORLY! I started with the middle 4 blocks. I had trimmed them up and made sure they were square. Adding onto that middle section became a challenge. I thought everything would line up, I made an actual physical pattern for pete sake! If I were to show you the back of the quilt top, you’d laugh and then realize why I was on the verge of throwing it out the window. Some of the seam allowances were over an inch, others were under an eighth, and one seam popped completely open while I was in the middle of quilting. Pure frustration! However, I was bound and determined to make this quilt work. After taking many breaks and talking it through I began to figure it out.
Picking out the backing fabric was another happy surprise. At first I was pretty against a yellow back, but looking at it completed I can’t believe I doubted it. The backing is Art Gallery Fabric’s Pure Solids – Turmeric. My studio has two wonderfully large 4 x 6 tables on wheels. When a quilt fits well on both tables makes sandwiching and basting SO much easier! Being able to stand and not wrangle each layer on the floor, it’s wonderful (and way better for my back!)
Quilting on my Singer sewing machine has become more and more intuitive. Practice really does make perfect! I chose a silver thread on the top, and a matching thread to the turmeric backing. I wanted the back to match the top pattern of the quilt. I really wish photos could do quilting details justice.
Finishing up this quilt was bittersweet. I was finally enjoying this frustration of a quilt and then it was over. There’s something about binding a quilt that just relaxes the mind and gives you a sense of accomplishment. My favorite part is taking a finished quilt and showing it to my husband, who’s currently working from the living room. This one has been deemed “his favorite.” I hope I keep making them better and better, but for now, this quilt is the favorite. It just makes me smile to look at. Onto the next project!
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To see more final images and buy this quilt click on the photo below!
