Deco Quilt Pattern - all the details!
Deco Quilt Pattern is now available!
This is the 20th Lo & Behold pattern! It's hard to believe that I've hit that milestone, but this design is the perfect celebration! I have a few different versions of this quilt that I wanted to share, so I figured I would start with the very first Deco quilt that I created. I was inspired to create an "Art Deco" design really at the turn of last year. Changing decades from 2019 to 2020 felt like a really big deal to me. To know that the 1920s was only 100 years ago was quite a sobering reality. Time has always been a mystery to me. The Roaring 20s felt like such a distant time until there was a marker that made it so much more relevant. To think about everything that happened in the 1920s, things are so different....yet in a way they're also the same. Thinking about these similarities and differences, and just the fact that this new decade has been quite the interesting one.....led me to create a piece that is a timeless commemoration of both then and now.
When designing this quilt, I really wanted something that had symmetry and negative space. I sketched out a few different combinations of blocks and combined them in various orders. I knew all along how I wanted this quilt to look in my head, but executing that on paper took several weeks of trial and error. This is my favorite part of the design process: seeing what works and what doesn't. I'll usually work on something for a few hours each day until it clicks. I typically think through my designs in only two colors at first. This is the reason why many of my patterns have two color options and multi-color options. Once I had the design nailed down on paper, it was time to start sewing!
If you've been around for a while, you know that I love a good graphic two-color quilt. There's something so bold and simple....it really is my cup of tea! Art Gallery Fabrics has this gorgeous PURE Solid called Magnetism and it really is my go-to color! It's the perfect warm gray that doesn't feel too harsh, but still packs a punch! I used it for the background of my Homecoming quilt from last year (I can't believe that was last year!) So when I was thinking about what I wanted for this quilt, hands-down, I knew that I wanted to use Magnetism! Using only two colors in a quilt also lets your eyes *only* focus on the design...which I love!
The quilt is broken down into four different blocks. As I was making these blocks and scattering them around on my sewing room floor, Peter walked by several times and I distinctly remember him asking, "are you sure this is going to work?" haha. I reassured him several times that it *should* work, but deep down I also had a little bit of skepticism.
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It was fun to share "sneak peek" block photos with social media as I was making this quilt. It really is crazy that this quilt is composed of relatively simple and straight forward blocks. I don't think anyone saw it coming! We went to the NC Museum of Art to take photos for the reveal. It was a windy day, but we got a shot or two that worked out. :)
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I remember being so nervous to share the full design with the Lo & Behold community! I don't know, I always get butterflies when I introduce something new...but there's something especially vulnerable about sharing your work with others in hopes that they love it just as much as you do. When I shared my completed quilt top for the first time, the response was overwhelming! Introducing something new into the quilting world and seeing such a positive response to it really does bring me so much joy. I love that we can all connect through a specific quilt design and general love for this art.
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I sent this quilt to Ashley of Henhouse Quilting for long-arm quilting. Ashely has been quilting for me consistently for over a year now, and I really really really love her work! She sent me several options that had an "art deco" vibe and we ended up using "City of Light" by Karlee Porter. I love how this pantograph is angular and really plays off of the log cabin blocks within the quilt. It's perfect!
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For the backing, I wanted to add a little bit of color. I had some Chorus Mirror Terra from Art Gallery Fabrics on hand, so I decided to go with that! Personally, I love this color so much, and paired with the Magnetism and Snow, this quilt is quite bold!
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I used AGF Magnetism for the binding. I considered introducing a new color into the mix, but I figured it'd probably be best to keep it simple.
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We will have quilt kits, backings and bindings to recreate this exact quilt today at 10am EST! You can find everything in our shop. Here are the fabric requirements:
Once I finished this quilt, I started thinking about other sizes and how I can introduce more color into the design. Here are the fabric requirements and sizing details for the pattern. It's labeled as an "Intermediate" pattern. Necessary skills include: strip piecing, consistent/accurate 1/4" seams, diagonal row construction and sewing with bias edges. Overall, the pattern isn't overly difficult, and really since there are so many repetitive blocks, it's a great skill builder if you have a few quilts under your belt! I've gotten asked a few times how this quilt compares to the difficulty level of Knitted Star, and while I'd say they're both intermediate, this one is slightly less technical.
I have a few more Deco quilts to show you, but that'll come in the next few days. In the mean time, here are some photos that we took with Brittany Pelegrino Photography at the Graham Mill. Prepare your hearts and minds for the most gorgeous old brick that you've ever seen!
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I'm also excited to share that for this pattern release, we will be donating a portion of all Deco sales to help build a much needed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. I stumbled across Danita's Children several weeks ago when a friend shared about them on IG. I started looking into the work that they do and I saw that they are raising money for medical equipment for a NICU. I knew in that moment that we had to help. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to give to a cause that is so near to my heart. You can find more information here.
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Don't forget: all digital and paper patterns are 15% off through the weekend!
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