A Little Birdie Told Me... that color can change everything!

I've always known that color plays such an important role in the design of a quilt. Despite knowing this, it wasn't until I had a copy of City Quilts in my hand that I really began to see the possibilities. Cherri House really hit a home run with her book. All of the quilts are designed using solid fabrics. Often we focus on the pattern of a print and we don't give enough attention to the color and how it plays with the design. Working with solids eliminates that factor!

  

Cherri also has done a few blog posts on color options and shows how it changes the entire feel of the quilt.

  

City Quilts by Cherri House for Stash Books

   

One of my favorite quilts from the book is City Green. It's a beautiful quilt inspired by the "green" in Texas that can be seen when walking around one of the many parks.  

 

City Green

  

The first project I made from the City Green pattern was a pillow. I used a variety of Blue, Brown, Kacki and more in my fabric selection. Instead of solids I used Quilter's Linen prints and Kona Crush.

 

City Blue Pillow that I made for the Pillow Talk Swap for my partner Heather

   

A few tips

1. Use good tools. Put in a new rotary blade and fresh needle.

2. Be accurate, it really really counts when working with solids!

3. Press & Pin. I don't always follow the rule of P&P, but when working with such a structured design and with solid fabrics it pays off.

As Cherri once told me "Take the time to do it right, so you will have a quilt you love, and are happy with."

 

--

In Cherri's version of City Green the squares appear to glow off of the dark sashing. I wanted to put a different spin on things and see what would happen if I made all the sashing white. 

 

City Purple

details

fabric is Robert Kaufman

pattern - City Green from City Quilts

designed by Cherri House

quilted by me

started on 9/23/2010

finished on 9/24/2010

quilt measures - 50" x 55"

{ made in under 24 hours }   

  

For the Purples/Greys

I used 8 colors of Kona Solids

Petal, Thistle, Coal, Medium Grey, Purple, Berry, Hibiscus, & Eggplant

Purple Quilter's Linen Print - ETJ-9864-6

Lavender Kona Crush - K041-1189

  

I used Kona Snow for the sashing, border and binding.

  

Cherri used an allover quilting pattern for City Green. For City Purple I did straight line quilting using white thread through the middle of each sashing.

 

I pieced my backing using Purple and Medium Grey. I also pieced in one of my labels.

   

I piece my label into my backing for two reasons. First I like the look of a pieced backing. Second is because the quilting will go through the label and make it almost impossible to be removed.

 

I love how the purple turned out! I may just make this quilt in every color. This photo is before I washed the quilt.

 

This is after being washed!  I love how quilts shrink up and get the "crinkle" look to them.

 

One last note... I did not pre-wash any of my fabrics. Overall with a very few exceptions I stopped pre-washing fabrics a few years ago. It is a personal decision and neither is right or wrong. I did not experience any of the purples bleeding onto the white or any other light colors.

 

  

What do you want to see me write about next?  Please leave a few suggestions in the comments!

I'll be back on October 8th!

volume 1 post 4

{ julie herman blogs at jaybird quilts }

Comments

[Dianne]

Fabulous Julie! I LOVE IT!

[Mary on Lake Pulaski]

Purple is beautiful Julie! How about showing how a quilt you have made in a pattern looks in a solid?

[Mickey harleywife]

Julie :: FABULOUS !! this is just awesome ! nice job (again)

[Annabel]

Yay! This is my favorite quilt from my favorite quilt book, and I've been wondering how it would look in a different colour scheme- and it looks fabulous!

[Tricia L]

Made in less than 24 hours?? You've been busy! It's a gorgeous quilt. I love the purple with white sashing.

[Angela]

Fabulous purple :)

I'm always fascinated by how different a traditional block can look by ... changing or skewing some part of it a bit, or by adding a bunch of solid with prints or even changing up the prints. There are some blocks that I have totally dismissed in the past that I have come back to use an love after seeing somebody use it in just a little different way. I would love to see you do something on that!

[jennifer]

i'm working on a version of city green for my brother, luke. i should say the current project is inspired by city green, because i don't have the book and so i'm achieving the same look with my own method. i elected to use chambray solids from robert kaufman and it looks gorgeous!

[Melissa Corry]

Wow, it looks stunning!! I love each of your posts, they are always so inspirational!

[Mary Ann]

Love the grays and purples with the white sashing. I wonder how this would look with a few almost purples mixed in instead of the grays? I didn't know crush came in other colors btw besides gray and white! I think a post on chicken or the egg would be fun Julie...that is.... fabric first or pattern/design?

[Sequana]

I've just finished making all Kona purple blocks for Tempest. I had two faves....Berry and Raisin. Raisin looks wonderful with white.

You did a great job, as usual. Why do I think you might be a Type A? *S*

[angela]

I adore this quilt in purple! Fabulous. And you're a quilting goddess for pulling this together in 2 days!

[Amanda Elizabeth]

This is really really really pretty in purple, I love that book so so so much, I think its one of the most inspirational quilting books on the market right now & I love seeing your spin on the quilt!

[LindaLou]

Wowsie, this is a great quilt! I like the white sashing, and have been using more white in my quilts lately.
I don't prewash any of my fabrics either for the same reason you don't ....I really like the puckers after the finished quilt is washed.
Great job, once again!

[KarrieLyne]

Under twenty four hours? From start to finish? Wow! That's quite a feat Julie!

You have made a ton of quilts...each one of them I love dear...but this one, this one is my absolute favourite. I love the simple design and those purples....be still my heart! I don't usually "copy" quilts but this one I just might! Thanks for listing all the colors you used! :D

Suggestions...Hmm....how about basic machine hiccups and how you deal with them to make quilting go smooth? Like, thread pulling out of needle, or fabric pulling down into your feed dogs...stuff like that? Or maybe, with all of the solids, how do you choose your colors? Random? Color Card? :)

Hugs!!

[Michelle Balletti]

First, gorgeous quilt!! Secondly, totally jealous because you probably have MAD HOOK UP on some RK fabrics....Third (and lastly) maybe either some cute Halloween ideas or Xmas ideas for gift giving? I dunno...whatever you write, I will read :-)

[Becky]

I love the purple! I've been collecting bits and pieces of purple to make a purple quilt. But I love this with solids! Great idea. I see some of those kona solids in my future.
And thanks for the info about not pre-washing. I've been doing it here and there and considering stopping and appreciate the knowledge.

[Holly K]

ahhh...I've looked through this book several times!!! seeing it here makes me want to buy it now! lovely!! and so easy! how can I get one of those cards with all the kona cotton colors on it?!!! swatch card?

[Deborah]

Gorgeous! I always look forward to your posts and hope one day to have a fourth of your talent! Thanks so much for the info on your labels. I'm inspired.

[HeatherL]

Just when I thought there was no way to improve the City Quilts, I LOVE your white background. I generally work with white, love the contrast with the beautiful purples. It's a cherished gift, I'm sure.