Saturday, November 1, 2014

30 Quilts for 30 Years OR Secret RK Kona Cotton Quilt Revealed!




Now it's my turn to say I've worked on a Secret Project!

Earlier this year, I had the honour of being asked to be one of thirty designers to help Robert Kaufman Fabrics celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Kona- their signature line of cotton solids!

For me, a quilt designer who generally loves to work in print, print and more print, an all-solid Kona quilt was an interesting and welcome challenge. Prints can often do some of the work in giving a quilt a complex appearance that can belie relatively simple piecing. A well-placed large fussy cut of a bold geometric print can stand in for actual geometric piecing. So, in an all-solid quilt design, there was no place to hide, and every seam counted.

"Print Party" was originally designed as a quilt class project for students at my "home shop," The Workroom in Toronto. It is simply titled "Sampler 2," and is a next step for students wanting to build their skills with a more challenging quilt.

For "Print Party: Solids Soiree," I made a number of design decisions that were a direct result of working in an all-solid palette. For example, my original version of this quilt includes filler blocks. Since the quilt is composed of blocks of varying size, the filler blocks are used to fill in the areas between oddly sized blocks. Filling in these spaces with a swath of a single solid colour felt less interesting than creating a bit of additional pattern through the use of HSTs and Flying Geese units. I am particularly pleased with the section of six Flying Geese in a gradation of orange; gradients always make my eye happy.

I also added more piecing in the background for the Carolina Lily block. Since it's really large (a 24" square), an expanse of a single, solid colour seemed to dominate that corner of the quilt too much. I divided the background subtly and worked it in a combination of brown and dark grey instead.

After a particularly long and cruel winter, I was craving hot, bright, saturated colour. Pomegranate and Tangerine emerged as favourites. White and cream were avoided completely; my palest cottons were Shadow (a pale grey), Ice Peach and Thistle (a soft, dreamy violet). For balance (and because I love dark quilts), I used very dark neutrals (Black, Coffee, Charcoal, Espresso) as a counterpoint to all that vibrant colour.

I passed my completed quilt top over to Michelle of Kallisti Quilts, who long-arm quilted with exuberant variety and texture in a rich, vivid orange.

(For a copy of Print Party, you may contact The Workroom or Kallisti Quilts. If you're a shop who is interested in carrying Print Party or my other patterns, please contact me through the email address there in the sidebar. Thanks!)

Enough about my quilt- let's talk about you entering to win a Giveaway!

To celebrate Kona's 30th Anniversary, Robert Kaufman Fabrics is generously providing a Charm Square pack of Kona Cotton 2014 Colours! Yes! This pack includes two of my fave new colours: Watermelon and Pickle. Scrumptious! In addition to the Kona Charm Square pack, I will also be giving away a copy of my Print Party quilt pattern, which will include additional notes for the extra piecing I included in the Solids Soiree version.


For a chance to win the giveaway for my blog, simply enter a comment for this post by midnight tomorrow night (November 2). I will count the number of entries and select a winner with the True Random Number Generator. Check back on this blog November 3 or 4 to see if you are the lucky winner, and we can organize getting your prize to you. (Be sure to comment in a way that I can identify you!) Good luck!

Also, keep your eye on the Robert Kaufman quilting blog, swatchandstitch.com for details on their great big giveaway concluding the blog hop on December 3.

I am so pleased to have been the first stop on the RK Kona Cotton 30th Anniversary Blog Hop! Be sure to check out all the other fantastic designers and their awesome Kona Cotton quilts. The schedule:

Week 1:
Saturday, November 1st: Johanna Masko
Sunday, November 2nd: Alyssa of Aria Lane
Monday, November 3rd: Dorie of Tumblingblocks
Tuesday, November 4th: Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations
Wednesday, November 5th: Daniela of Cozy Quilt Designs
Thursday, November 6th: Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts
Friday, November 7th: Anita Grossman Solomon
Saturday, November 8th: Debbie of Esch House Quilts

Week 2:
Sunday, November 9th: Alex of Teaginny
Monday, November 10th: Darlene Zimmerman
Tuesday, November 11th: Nichole Ramirez
Wednesday, November 12th: Rita Hodge of Red Pepper Quilts
Thursday, November 13th: Lee of Freshly Pieced
Friday, November 14th: Julie of Jaybird Quilts
Saturday, November 15th: Latifah of The Quilt Engineer

Week 3:
Sunday. November 16th: Elizabeth Hartman
Monday, November 17th: Erica of Kitchen Table Quilting
Tuesday, November 18th: Karrie of Freckled Whimsy
Wednesday, November 19th: Valori Wells
Thursday, November 20th: Marilyn of Quilt Moments
Friday, November 21st: Cortney Heimerl
Saturday, November 22nd: Shayla and Kristy of Sassafras Lane Designs

Week 4:
Sunday, November 23rd: Shea of Empty Bobbin Sewing
Monday, November 24th: Carrie Strine
Tuesday, November 25th: Rachel of Stitched in Color
Wednesday, November 26th: Liz of Lady Harvatine
Saturday, November 29th: Carolyn Friedlander

Week 5:
Sunday, November 30th: Elizabeth of Don’t Call Me Betsy
Monday, December 1st: Emily of Carolina Patchworks
Tuesday, December 2nd: Ken Kaufman
Wednesday, December 3rd: Grand Finale!

And now, let's just take a moment to drink in the splendour of this stunning Pineapple quilt by Anita Grossman Solomon...


Isn't it just gorgeous!? Hey, Anita- if you get tired of this Pineapple quilt, you know who you can send it to! :-)

Have fun hopping, good luck with the giveaways and Happy Quilting!!

Johanna xo

83 comments:

  1. Great quilt. Congrats on being the first designer of the hop. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  2. I love the quilt. Turned out great. Anita is a wonderful quilter. The pineapple is terrific I agree.

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  3. I love this design and definitely want to take the class the next time you offer it! - Connie

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  4. I am also a print lover and can't wait to see all of the solid quilts this month for some inspiration! Love your sampler style and the colors are amazing! Thanks- Sarah: crjandsbj(at)netzero(dot)com

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  6. I love Kona plain colours so thanks for the chance to win, if someone living in the UK is eligible?

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    1. Yes! It's an open giveaway, international entries, too!

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  7. Fantastic quilt!!!! Love the colors and the placement of the different blocks. They just flow together.

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  8. The quilt is gorgeous! Love the solid colors you picked! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  9. Solids are out of my comfort zone too. Congratulations on succeeding to make a beautiful quilt with the RK solids.

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  10. Your quilt is gorgeous! I love samplers and this gives me another idea on how to put different blocks together in a cohesive way!

    Sandy A

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  11. Love your sampler quilt and the photo if Anita's quilt is so pretty. Love the view.

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  12. I love your beautiful quilt! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  13. I love sampler quilts so much. Yours is awesome. Its fun to see your original one in prints and compare to the solids. This is my first visit to your blog (via Kaufman on IG) and your work is beautiful.

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  14. Solid only quilts are always so amazing, and yours is absolutely stunning!

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  15. Love this quilt! I'm always impressed when I like quilts that use only solids :) and that pineapple quilt is a stunner too!

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  16. Not all quilts made with solids are impressive but yours is really lovely. Good work!

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  17. I love the solid colored quilts, the orange in yours really pops. Thanks for contributing to the hop. Thanks for the giveaway.

    janie.mccombs@yahoo.com

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  18. Gorgeous colors! It's interesting to see how you played. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. love your quilts, uses of design and color! I am entering here as diane friedman since google is giving me trouble!

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  20. I never tire of seeing beautiful solids quilts! This is a real beauty. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  21. Great quilt. I have a fat quarter bundle of the new kona colors - I've been keeping my eyes open for just the right pattern.

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  22. To 30 more years of wonderful colors. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  23. Your quilt is a beauty!!!! I have been very impressed with the rich colourof Kona solids. Thanks for celebrating with a giveaway!!
    Micheletimms@gmail.com

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  24. HELLO, your quilt is so pretty!
    Thanks for sharing!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  25. The quilts in solids are both beautiful. Thanks for sharing them with us. Patty Gal on FB. mpattygalbraith@gmail.com

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  26. Love Kona Cotton. Here is to 30 more years of beautiful quilts like yours!!

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  27. Love your quilt and I could really use some kona solids. I feel like I already one because I was looking for a way to figure out how many hexies I need for a quilt I'm making...and there it is in your previous post! Yay!

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  28. Your quilt is simply stunning. Reminds me a lot of a postage stamp. ♡♡♡

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  29. Love your Kona Solids quilt. Debb Hulseman

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  30. Amazing what you have done with solid colors! Love Kona cottons. Looking forward to the rest of the hop.

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  31. Solids give honour to your design. Love it!

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  32. Gorgeous quilt!! Would love to win this pattern :) Thanks for the chance!

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  33. Beautiful quilt! Thank you for the chance at this giveaway!

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  34. Love it Johanna! Looks fabulous in a solids. xo

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  35. Your quilt is beautiful! Orange is a great color choice!

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  36. What a beautiful quilt! The colors are so happy. I don't often work with solids, but I think I see something in my future using these pretties!

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  37. Your quilt is gorgeous! I love prints, too, but I think I will have to step out of my print box and make a quilt using solids. Thank for the inspiration!
    k(dot)castanette(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  38. I love to work with solids and I love Kona Solids the best. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  39. I have promised myself to work with solids this year- I am in love with the solid quilts I've been seeing on instagram. Lesliereneer@yahoo.com

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  40. I like working with solids in any and all colours except white, creme, grey and black ...
    Though I have to say I have never worked with Kona fabrics - they are too expensive over here on the other side of the big pond.

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  41. Beautiful quilt. Love these blog hops allows me to visit and like new blogs

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  42. Wow! Beautiful quilt! I really love FLAME!

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  43. I love solids! So glad to have a more to chose from.

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  44. Beautiful quilt! You've taken colors I normally wouldn't used and put them in for perfect effect. Love it.

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  45. What a great quilt. I do love a quilt made of solids!

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  46. I love the colors in that quilt!

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  47. Solids Soiree is a gorgeous and festive quilt! Love your color choices!!
    Thank you for a chance to win!

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  48. What an amazing quilt! It's so beautiful! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  49. Gorgeous quilt! Congratulations on being included in the tour. I love the new color watermelon, too. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  50. I love the solids. I also love to work with prints but this is one quilt I'm going to have to make. Now to find the pattern....

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  51. What a stunning quilt!
    Congratulations to Kona!

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  52. What a stuning quilt. I love your choice of colours as the whole design really radiates warmth and is beautifully bright and cheery.

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  53. I love the colours you have chosen for your quilt. Stunning.

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  54. Your quilt is awesome. I am so looking forward to this blog hop event

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  55. Very lovely quilt. I like the explanation of the challenge to you as a designer too. It is good to have insight into the creative pprocess.

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  56. Colours are great!

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  57. Love the log cabin blocks with the hourglass in the middle! Such fun to look at all the different blocks in this quilt!

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  58. Your Kona Cotton Sampler 2 quilt is beautiful! Thank you for sharing it with us and for this terrific giveaway opportunity.

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  59. Your choice of colors is amazing!!

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  60. Having lived most of my adult life near the Amish of Northern Indiana, I appreciate quilts using just solid colors. Thanks for the chance to win the charm pack of Kona solids. mfhagopian@aol.com

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  61. I have loved using Kona solids! Great quilt! mumbird3atgmail.com

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  62. Your quilt is beautiful and I love the colors too!!

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  63. I've loved solids forever! I love what you did with them.

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  64. Your quilt is beautiful. Love all of the kona colors. I recently bought a color card and there are so many colors I want to try!

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  65. Your quilt is lovely. I have been hopping around the different blogs and I am loving it! It amazes me what you can do with solid color fabrics!!!

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  66. I love the variety of colors that Kona is available in.

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  67. very beautiful and excellent colors
    cooladam1 at live dot com

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  68. What an excellent use of solids! -- soparkaveataoldotcom

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  69. your quilt is truly wonderful - I love it - fabulous colours - Kona is the best isn't it !!!
    Pauline

    preferrred contact
    perry94022 at hotmail dot com

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  70. GORGEOUS Quilt!!! You did Beautiful job!!

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  71. Excellent color choice. I really like the flower blocks.

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  72. Cyan is still my favorite Kona color.. Love your quilt.

    Kathlene

    kprescott68@yhoo,com

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  73. Beautiful quilt! Love solids and Kona makes so many beautiful colors!!

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  74. Beautiful quilt, I love Kona Cottons !

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  75. That quilt is beautiful. I love it!

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  76. The more solid fabric quilts I see, the more I want to try making one myself. Great inspiration! EFane1024@rogers.com

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