Modern Potholder Quilt

In January I posted about organizing a Modern Potholder Group Quilt. I invited 15 US quilt makers to make improv rectangle and square blocks using a specific color palette of five Painter's Palette solids. 

All 15 quilt makers came through for me by the April 12 deadline I set! Those quilt makers are:

Karen @sunrayatplay
Jane @gonequiltinginflorida
JoElla @jemquilter
Betty @zcabed
Rosemary @franticquilter
Cassandra @cassandra.beaver
Kathy @kathycookquilts
Maureen @maydecemberquilts
Patty @elmstreetquilts
Debbie @aquilterstable
Candi @candipursuits
Charlotte @kirkenoll
Sherry @otterbeequilting
Elizabeth @apiecefullife
Clara @bimbambuki_blog

According to instructions I provided, each of them made one or two rectangle-shaped blocks. They're improv-pieced, and improv big stitch hand quilted (with white thread), and are not bound. I received 22 blocks. 

They also made one or two square blocks which are plain with only improv hand quilting. I received 20 of those.

Then I spent ten days arranging, and rearranged and rearranged blocks every day, coming up with nine different layouts. A few of them are...  

I think most of the designs didn't look appealing because of the square blocks. Those darker Sulphur-colored ones (at the bottom) have been troublesome.

After angsting over each layout (designing still does not come easily to me), I finally came to the conclusion that those square blocks were not helping. When I removed most of them from the design, I felt much better about the layout. So, for now I'll focus on this section. I anticipate using the squares around the perimeter in a different way. More to come about that! 

Each potholder block needs to be bound, so for now I'm starting with that. After reading-up about making a potholder quilt, I learned that weight can be a concern when hand-stitching blocks together. For that reason, I'm making single-fold binding. I'm cutting binding 1¼" wide.

At first I thought to choose binding colors to suit each block, similar to this.

But the more I played with blocks and thought about the trend we're seeing - using stripes in modern quilts - I consider striped binding. Wouldn't a gray and white stripe binding look good? Better than black and white stripe, a gray stripe would suit the Pewter-colored curved insert in each block. But I don't have a gray stripe in my stash.

However... 💡

When I looked at the back side of a black and white striped print, I knew it was "just right." And the fact that this striped fabric is printed on the diagonal is a bonus. 

So this is what I'm working on now. Sewing lots of binding to blocks with the wrong side of the black and white stripe showing! (Don't ask me how many times I've already sewed a strip upside down and had to unstitch!)

The bound block on the left is JoElla's. The bound block on the right is Maureen's.

I'm using my favorite "No Tails Binding: Mitered Corners by Machine" method. If you're an MQG member, you can view the webinar to learn this method, HERE.

Can I just say... I'm getting pretty good at binding! It helps that I custom-made a ⅝"-wide cardboard template so I can draw and sew the perfect mitered corner. 

These are ready for hand-stitching binding to the back. 

A special thanks to Rosemary @franticquilt who suggested I piece Pewter-colored fabric into some of the bindings. Well this is gonna be extra work fun! 😀 

After a consultation with members of Central Florida MQG, during our Saturday Sew-In, I am also considering adding strategically-placed appliquéd bias tape to some of the blocks. In the meantime, you'll find me happily making binding! Linda