Finishing Quilts... With Modern Quilts!

Finishing Quilts... With Modern Quilts! Marie Eldredge Handi Quilter Educator Handi Quilter Inc. Vicki Anderson CEO/Publisher Meander Publishing Inc. Angela Walters Machine Quilter And Author

What is modern quilting? MODERN QUILTS UNLIMITED DEFINITION Modern quilting is a fresh approach reflecting each quilter s personality and personal style. Modern quilters embrace functionality, simplicity and minimalism, and use asymmetric designs in their approach. They reinterpret traditional blocks and patterns, and are often inspired by modern art and architecture. Bold colors, graphic prints and simple quilt lines are favored, as well as solids. White and gray are used extensively as background and as neutrals. Modern quilters are diverse young and more experienced, men and women, expert and novice. Rules are resisted, and traditional techniques are evolved. The use of internet and technology is integral. Sharing the aesthetics expressed by the early pioneers of quilting and bringing a modern perspective truly defines the movement.

First, let s talk about what a Modern Quilt looks like Patterns featured in Modern Quilts Unlimited Magazine or on the website: Left to right: Craving Sunshine Cinzia Allocca; Mod Circuitry by Elizabeth Dackson, Unraveled by Katie Spencer, All About Gray by Missy Shepler, Star Fall by Faith Jones

Fabrics by NORTHCOTT Modern quilts use a lot of solid fabrics.

Graphic fabric designs are also used extensively.

Gray fabrics are popular both solids and graphics

Traditional quilt patterns are often revamped, oversized or improvised in modern quilts. This Churn Dash block is typically 6 8.

Here Anne Marie Chany enlarged it to 75 square for her Horsefly quilt! She also improvised the background blocks. Modern Quilts Unlimited Spring 2013

Negative Space is more prevalent in modern quilts, as seen in Jacquie Gering s Urban Garden quilt.

In this detail you can see how the negative space can allow the quilting to be the star. Urban Garden (detail) Jacquie Gering

All About Gray by Missy Shepler is another example of graphic design married to negative space Modern Quilts Unlimited Winter 2013

All About Gray is quilted in the ditch of the seams that join the gray and color strips that comprise the chevrons, and with lines that echo the diagonal lines of the chevrons. Modern Quilts Unlimited Winter 2013

Now let s look at Quilts from QUILTCON 2013, a conference specifically for modern quilters, to see various quilting styles on the modern quilts.

Double Edged Love Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilted by Lisa Sipes Best of Show

In this detail shot, you can see how Lisa followed the Double Wedding Ring design, yet made each section stand on its own. Double Edged Love by Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Modern Challenge by Catherine Redford 1 st Prize in the Modern in Miniature category You can see the minimalist, yet effective, quilting on this small quilt.

Reflections in Grey by Mary Marcotte Again, a rather traditional pattern with a new twist, and the quilting (Feathers!) melds the two styles.

If you look closely, you will see the beautiful feather quilting that follows the pieced design. Reflections in Grey (detail) by Mary Marcotte

Another quilt using a lot of negative space. This time it s Broken Diamonds by Katie Spencer.

Kati chose a simple, circular grid for this quilt, allowing the diamond design to stand out.

Overgrown by Alison Glass Quilted by Lisa Sipes Audience Choice

Lisa chose a curvy filled background for the quilting. It mimics the free-form leaves and vines. She created new vines with feather spines, and filled the spaces with pebbles and curved crosshatching.

New York Beauty Mini Kati Spencer A rather traditional flying geese and mariner s compass effectively quilted with a modern, graphic feel.

Here you can see the straight-line quilting

So as you can see, quilting modern means many things to many people. Let s have Angela Walters show us quilting from a professional quilter s perspective

Dimensions Angela Walters

Designed and pieced by Heather Jones

Designed and pieced by Tula Pink

Designed and pieced by Emily Cier

Designed and pieced by Jenifer Dick

Detail of quilt designed and pieced by Julie Herman

Designed and pieced by Cory Yoder

Detail of quilt designed and pieced by Cory Yoder

Designed and pieced by Emily Cier

Detail of quilt designed and pieced by Emily Cier

Thank you Vicki and Angela! Reminder: No Webinar in April or May. We will resume our normal webinar schedule again starting on the second Thursday in June.