When I first launched Shannon Fraser Designs, I promised you I would not only share projects and updates, but milestones as well. And this project perfectly fits the latter: this is the story of my first custom quilt experience!
This quilt is really special to me. Not only because it was my first custom quilt, but one I got to design with very few parameters from the client. Thrilling and nerve-wracking all at the same time!
It all started when a client approached me for a custom quilt. They wanted a blanket for their main living room sofa and their only requests were for it to be blue and geometric. Other than that, the remaining design elements were left up to me.
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The quilt design process
It’s such an honour to have someone love my work so much that they would trust me implicitly to create an heirloom quilt for them, without seeing the proposed design! That’s trust!!
I decided to do a study in blues, with a focus on turquoise and darker blues as those are the client’s favourites. The specific blues included: Cyan, Oasis, Mediterranean, Turquoise, Glacier, Celestial, Teal Blue, Lagoon, and Caribbean. I designed the quilt based on half-square triangles (HST) (tutorial on how to make HST here) as I wanted to see how the blues played off one another and how their colours changed depending on how they are paired. The quilt truly became a study in blues!
Quilts are a labour of love and while the design is not complex, the preparation and piecing of the quilt top require precision and patience. Patience really factors in when squaring up the HSTs. There are well over 100 of them and a good chunk of time was dedicated to getting them nice and square.
The quilting
I hummed and hawed for a little while over the thread choice; ultimately deciding on Aurifil #1125 Medium Teal which matched the back perfectly! It was also a great complimentary colour with all the other blues featured in the quilt. Plus, I loved the prominence of the stitch created by the 40wt (which was a first for me).
The best part was delivering the quilt and seeing my client’s reaction. Then being told it was even better than she had imagined it would be! Best. Moment. Ever.
The response to my Blue Odyssey quilt has been amazing and so I’ve been working behind the scenes to turn this quilt into my first pattern. Stay tuned all my HST lovers!!
xo
Shannon
P.S. This was one of the projects that was part of my Q2 Finish-A-Long.
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Congratulations! What a beautiful quilt, and how wonderful that it was so well received by your client.
Thank you, Jennifer! It was such a wonderful experience 🙂
Gorgeous quilt Shannon. I just love all those blues.
Thanks, Izzy! I feel as though 2015-2016 has been my blue period 🙂 Has that ever happened to you, where your projects all seem focused on one colour?!
This is a really beautiful quilt. The subtle variance in colours is gorgeous.
I'm so happy you like it, Lisa! Seeing the subtle variances of the blues really has been a fun part of seeing the quilt come together.
Awesome…love the colors!
Thank you, Sharon!! I see there are a lot of blue lovers in our group 🙂
Shannon, what a beautiful beautiful quilt. I just want it on my couch! I am happy to tkae turns too =)
Hahaha!! I know, right?! I would love to curl up with this beauty again, she was so warm when I was handing sewing the binding. My client has mentioned to me how cozy it is for afternoon naps 😉
This is such a great quilt. I love HSTs, too. What a lucky client. I haven't tried the 40 wt Aurifil thread in my machine, yet, but I think I need to give it a try.
This is such a great quilt. I love HSTs, too. What a lucky client. I haven't tried the 40 wt Aurifil thread in my machine, yet, but I think I need to give it a try.
Thank you, Marla!! This was really such a fun project, it was tough to part with 😉 I really encourage you to try the 40wt. I was initially a little concerned about using it with my machine, but not a problem at all. Let me know how it goes 🙂
I would like to praise your zest for quilt. Excellent job. Everybody would like to have it on their sofa.
Italian living room furniture
Thank you!
I would adore the pattern for this one! The colors and the pattern are just amazing and perfect for our home! Where can I sign up?
That is so sweet, Deb! You can sign up for my newsletter here bit.ly/sfDNLSF to be the first to know when new patterns launch!
I love the great number of Blue fabrics. What fabric company did you find them all or did you use your stash or use several company’s to creat it?
Have you published the pattern?
Thrilled you like this one!! The blues are all Kona Cottons and they all had water themed names!!