Turnabout Finish

My Paint Chip Challenge project for Big Cypress Quilters is finished, just in time for the reveal next Tuesday, April 15. The design I came up with has a very mid-century modern vibe - many stripes and several circles. I was inspired by this picture.

After drawing the U-shapes on freezer paper, I pressed the freezer paper onto a rectangle of fabric. Then, to the back of the same piece of fabric, I fused two layers (three layers in some places) of Misty Fuse. Then, I cut out all the U-shapes.

Purple and pink are paint chip colors

I pressed to fuse the Misty-fused U-shapes onto another piece of fabric. 

Originally I thought that after fusing each U-shape to the background I would then only sandwich and quilt the layers. This is the method shared in Sue Bleiweiss's MQG video about how she uses Misty Fuse. She fuses every fabric piece to a background, then sandwiches and quilts the piece. 

I was extremely disappointed when, what I thought were fused U-shapes, did not adhere to the background. I pressed a lot, with dry heat. And then pressed again as pieces came unstuck. 

Other quilters have speculated:

• I didn't use enough layers of Misty Fuse. Two layers, and three layers in some places,   aren't enough?
• The Misty Fuse was old. Well, I ordered it through a local quilt shop and she got it just for me, in June, 2024. Does eight months make it old?
• I didn't prewash my fabrics. Yes, I did.
• I used a fabric softener or dryer sheet. No, I didn't.
• I didn't follow Misty Fuse instructions. 

🤷
I'd sure like to know why Misty Fuse didn't stick!

I ended up having to raw edge appliqué along all the edges. For appliqué, I set my Bernina to this zig-zag (photo so I don't forget the settings): #2 stitch; 2.5 width; 1.5 length. 

For appliqué, I used Wonderfil Invisifil thread on top and Aurifil 50-weight in the bobbin.  

The eye-popping addition (one other color could be added) of Painter's Palette Lemon Ice really makes this color combo work. I'm giving credit to Candi @candipursuits for suggesting this color rather than the (very boring) Oyster (off-white) I originally planned to use. 

I made quick work of machine quilting, using my walking foot and Bernina 770QE machine stitch length set to 3.2 to quilt very close to each appliqué. I want my machine quilting to hold the quilt sandwich together, not create quilting texture.

For quilting, I used 100-weight Wonderfil Invisifil thread on top, and 80-weight Wonderfil DecoBob in the bobbin. It's invisible! Quilting can be seen only on the quilt back.

Big stitch hand-quilting was with size 8 Wonderfil Eleganza perle cotton.

Ain't it Wonderfil?! 😀 Ha, ha. I do love these threads

Running out of thread didn't stop me from going ahead to add facing. I was able to match the sides with the backing fabric, but didn't have enough fabric for the four corners, so they're all this print

I used-up all the Eleganza in the color Sulfur (lemon-lime), and nearly all of the dark purple, Baubles. I've reordered both so I can add a little more quilting at a later time.

I think I've done a pretty good job of making this quilt match my paint chip colors. But isn't it interesting to see the slight color variations from one photo to the next?

Lastly, I added a label. Thanks to several friends who made great name suggestions, I was able to narrow down options to my favorite: Turnabout.  Thank you Karen! 

I've also now gotten into the good habit of including the quilt's dimensions just below the title. Turnabout finished at 59" X 61.

Linda