My Quip – Test 40 – Finalist – Headed For NEQF, Manchester, New Hampshire

Good Day,

We just received the news that our quilt, Test 40 has been accepted as a finalist at the New England Quilt Festival in Manchester, New Hampshire. NEQF will be held April 10 – 13 at The Center of New Hampshire / Radisson Hotel.

Links to all our design and construction process and steps regarding Test 40 are available at Q110 – Test 40 – Quilt. Be sure to check them out.

And yes we are still busy. Continue to check back to read and see our progress.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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Q110 – Test 40 – Quilt

Good Day,

Our latest quilt has been completed. This is Test 40.

Is our Test 40 quilt something akin to the “cart before the horse?” Maybe… Thanks to Aurifil and Alex Veronelli for providing the impetus with Aurifil’s new thread No. 40. Andy and I accepted the challenge to test and experiment with the new thread.

No. 40 is a new Aurifil 100% Polyester Filament thread. It is a variegated thread. One of my first thoughts, after Andy had done his part using No. 40 on both our domestic and Longarm machines, was to attempt to create a quilt of the colors of the thread that would complement the variegated thread. This would be a flip to the most common of techniques of creating a quilt, which of course is to start with the fabric. We thought that we would start with the thread. It is a different approach but we feel that this type of design is meant to highlight the thread. With this focus, the thread becomes the major player not only the compliment to the final product.

The dimensions of Test 40 are: Width – 65” (165.1 cms) and Length – 80.5” (204.5 cms). It approximates a large afghan or lap size quilt. All fabric is 100% cotton of Robert Kaufmann Kona Cotton and Moda Bella Solids. The batting is our first attempt using 100% high loft wool. Our quilting, using the Aurifil No. 40 variegated thread, and our lattice work pattern has presented us with an interesting and intriguing configuration. Test 40 is a combination of polyester, cotton, and wool.

Our basic block is inspired by the construction design work Maggie Ball as presented in her book Bargello Quilts with a Twist, published in 2008. Our design is a replication of the block. We created 120 blocks and created our original configuration and design for our Test 40.

You can follow the progress of our design and construction of Test 40.

 - Aug 30/12 – Test 40 – OP and Bargello

 - Aug 31/12 – Test 40 – Progress

 - Oct 13/12 - Test 40 Quilt Top Completed

 - Dec 21/12 – Test 40 Quilt Progress – Bacon Cola Basted Ham

 - Jan 4/13 – Test 40 Quilt – The Quilting Continues

Here some additional images of our Test 40.

And our quilting continues.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy.

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My Quip – Test 40 Quilt – The Quilting Continues

Good Day, and Best Happy New Year.

This is my first Quilts SB post for 2013. We are continuing our progress on the quilting of our new original Test 40 quilt. Test 40 has now been transferred from the Longarm to the domestic machine.

And I am using my new Canon camera in my attempt to take pictures to record our progress.

Beginning with the new Aurifil Test 40 polyester thread, we extracted the series of variegated colors. We decided on six colors, matched to Robert Kaufman Fabrics Kona Cotton, to create each individual block. The pieced block is based on and inspired by the work of Maggie Ball as presented in her 2008 book, Bargello Quilts with a Twist. We created and replicated a primary block that we then used to create our original configuration and design, Test 40.

We have used 100% high loft wool batting, which has given Test 40 a more “puffy”, for the lack of a better term, look. Our quilting, using the Aurifil Test 40 variegated thread, and our lattice work pattern has presented us with an interesting and intriguing configuration.

In our Test 40 the fabric compliments the thread and the thread highlights the quilting.

Stay tuned for more updates and progress.

Regards,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Test 40 Quilt Progress – Bacon Cola Basted Ham

Good Day,

Only four days for us to construct a fireplace… and even though the sun is shining, the weather outside is frightfully cold… for Florida.

He’s just short enough… but he certainly is interested in my ham to be baked; basted with bacon cola. The house smells great. Supper tonight – Baked Ham, baked sweet potatoes, peas, and green salad.

Our Test 40 quilt has been basted on our Longarm. We have completed the design of the quilting pattern. An immediate descriptive adjective that I can think of is “architectural”… We are now using our domestic machine to quilt the body of the quilt.

Our design Test 40, is inspired by the work of Maggie Ball. We really like the concept and construction techniques presented by Maggie to create our primary blocks from her 2008 book, Bargello Quilts with a Twist.

The colors of our Test 40 are extracted from Aurifil’s recent line of thread, Test 40. Each block is constructed of six of seven solid color fabrics from Robert Kaufman Fabrics Kona Cotton.

If you have any questions, thoughts, ideas, and comments please feel free to contact us.

Stay-tuned for updates…

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Test 40 Quilt Top Completed

Good Day,

And our endeavors have completed another top, sans border and binding… Test 40.

Test 40 is our quilt design, using the base construction idea of Maggie Ball from her book, Bargello Quilts With a Twist. I am really impressed with Maggie Ball’s idea of segmenting the technique of Bargello construction and creating a Bargello Block.

I learned to work with Bargello needlepoint in my teens and twenties and have always been intrigued by the variable optical and movement effect. Guess this stems from my penchant for trigonometry and geometry in high school and university. Wait until you see what Andy and I are working on with regards to creating a quilt out of a trigonometric formula which is created from one’s birth date. (You’re going to have to wait.)

Test 40 is the result of receiving a new Aurifil thread product to sample and work with. (Thank you, Alex Veronelli.) My first idea, before we attempted sewing and quilting with the Test 40 thread, was to create a quilt design that could be constructed of some of extracted colors of the variegated thread. (See my Posting My Quip – Test 40 – Progress.) The fabric is of solid colors of the Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton line.

Here are a couple of images of the Aurifil Test 40 thread.

And some images of the constructed top. The approximate size of our Test 40 quilt will be approximately a Queen-size quilt. (See my Posting – Test 40 – OP and Bargello.)

If you are interested of commissioning and working with Andy and I to create your memory quilt, please contact us. If you would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

Andy and I are moving at a steady pace with our quilt and fabric wall hanging work. Keep abreast of all updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” to follow Quilts SB. I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via email.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Test 40 - Progress

Good Day,

Progress on Test 40 continues.

Sewn, we decided that the each completed block size should approximate seven inches square. At present we are completed 120 blocks. The direction for each block will be dependent upon our overall and final design.

As Andy and I are always in a learning and discovery mode, we approach our designs from many different angles. Test 40 actually began with the thread... a new variegated thread from Aurifil. I extracted about 19 colors from the thread. After settling on seven colors, then then we discussed and examined possible styles of construction that may compliment the thread. The design of our quilt, Test 40 starts with color of the thread which will be used in the quilting.

I stumbled upon Maggie Ball's technique, published in her 2008 book Bargello Quilting with a Twist after we had decided that we would attempt a Bargello-style quilt, without restricting ourselves to a sine or cosine curve. I like the innovative way that Maggie Ball’s simple construction technique allows for the idea of design and in some way, kaleidoscopic assembly. I like the idea of optical illusions and so I have been able to create a design that may provide that effect.

As to the final quilting to highlight the thread, I am drafting a number of stylings that should compliment both the thread and the quilt design. Presently I am examining a combination of the use of flagging tape by artist Megan Geckler and the classic simplicity of the quilt work of quilt artist Yoshiko Jinzenji.

Stay tuned for our work in progress.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - Test 40 - OP and Bargello

Good Day,

Our first design for Test 40, inspired by the work of Maggie Ball, is completed. We're both pleased. This new design has the essence of our previous OP Designs. OP is our reference to Optical Art. Test 40 combines the elements of OP (Optical Art) and Bargello.

This is the first block that will be a foundation for Test 40. This block contains and is a pieced construction of six of seven solid color fabrics. The colors are extracted from a new variegated thread by Aurifil, No. 40. All fabrics are from Robert Kaufman Fabrics designs and 100% Kona cotton.

When finished Test 40 will approximate a quilt; Width - 70" (178 cms) and Length - 84" (214 cms). Our guesstimate is a Queen Quilt.

As I mentioned our inspiration is of the work of Maggie Ball. Ms. Ball's book Bargello Quilts with a Twist was published by KP Craft Books, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2008.

Stay-tuned to the work in progress on Test 40 and our other quilts.

Enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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