Catch up day 2

Wow, I have been surprised by all the questions on watercolor quilts coming from visitors and a couple of new followers.  So, first a welcome and then thanks for the questions.  They let me know that someone is interested and what I should be explaining better.

   "Are strip pieced water color quilts that same as using the gridded interfacing that you use?"

No.  Technique is different, and the results are different, too.  You have less control over the final outcome when you use the strip pieced method.    Using the gridded interfacing, you are working on the whole picture/wall hanging at one time.  Using the strip pieced method, you are working on a set of blocks (about 18-20 at a time) that are just alike.  Each one of the blocks are blended--light  to dark.  The layout of the blocks, depending on how you twist or turn them, then creates the whole quilt. 

  

 This  quilt, Shadow Heart,  was done using the strip pieced method. Actually,  it was from the first watercolor class I took.  I made 2 different sets of blocks for this and then had to create 2 individual light blocks for the center of the heart area.  You can see the "hard edges" of the blocks.  Of course, I wasn't really sure of what I was doing at the time, nor did I have the floral stash I do now. 

  This small wall hanging, Summer Morning,  is on gridded interfacing.....it all blends with no hard lines or edges.  It was designed as a whole piece versus one section at a time.   For a great tutorial on sewing the gridded interfacing, click here for a guest blogger at Stash Manicure.  Very timely that it should be posted today.  While you are there, be sure to enter the giveaway.  I also explain it a bit on my page on designing watercolor wall quilt. 

"Do you have a tutorial on strip pieced watercolor quilts?"

  No, I haven't done a tutorial on that technique.  I will put it on the to-do list and see what I come up with.  Soon!

Last  question....."Can I use other  fabrics, like batiks,  instead of just florals?"   Yes and no.  To achieve the watercolor appearance, florals and busy patterns work best that have color  variations and different values in the pattern.  That helps when blending from one square to the next.  Patterns with swirls, leaves, curves, over lapping colors and patterns work well.  Small dots, geometric, tone on tone patterns, stripes and plaids do not work well for this. 

  Batiks look fabulous in colorwash.  I tend to use them by themselves rather than mixing with florals and get a great blended colorwash effect.   Check out the color wash page at Exuberant Color.  Wanda does amazing things with color and batiks. 
  OK, that's enough words!  Thanks for the questions. 

The florabunda blocks are growing  on the design wall.  Of course, I found one that has to be taken apart because I put a 4 patch in wrong.  That's fine....I will be sewing today because it's another day of 100 degree heat.  Too hot to even think of being outside.

Happy stitching.