Let’s break the rules. Let’s deviate from the pattern or not even use a pattern at all. Let’s create with nonconventional/non-flavor of the week fabric. Let’s repurpose when we can. Let’s think outside the box. Anyone with me?
Ha! I sound like such a rebel don’t I? Obviously I’m being a bit dramatic but must say I’ve been pondering a lot recently on the substrates I use for creating. I don’t know if anyone else feels this way but I am often left overwhelmed by all the newest fabric lines that seem to appear every hour. And don’t get me wrong, I cherish my designer fabrics and special threads, etc. Sometimes though, I feel like bucking the system and deviating from the norm. This theme helped in the making of my latest baby quilt pictured above. Not surprisingly, I named it “Break the Rules” baby quilt. It garnered this name as I used nontraditional fabrics (ikea canvas and denim and cotton from the remnant pile off my local fabric shop), made up my own design that is pretty modern and nontraditional for a baby quilt. I also mixed techniques making this using both traditional piecing and needle turn appliqué.
I followed the same theme with a cowl I made yesterday. Once again though the beautiful green yarn was lovely, my rebel streak made me add a postage stamp splash of orange.
For some real rebels check out Luke Haynes who often makes his quilts with repurposed clothing. His fiber art is off the hook cool.
Also check out my friend Bianca who sews almost exclusively with vintage patterns and fabric. She is amazing.
Now I need to play with some of my plentiful designer fabric and work on a sweet toddler girl sweater because we modern girls are allowed to be girly and traditional too.
Hillary
Very nice!! You’ve inspired me!!
Thanks so much! 🙂
I feel the same way! I don’t follow patterns or buy the ‘latest’ designer fabrics! I like to improvise, see where the quilt takes me. Create something from ‘within’. Have you heard if the ‘Slow Stitching’ movement? Google it and Mark Lipinski.
Love your quilt and the cowl!!
Thanks Cinzia. I so admire your work!
I have a half-finished crazy quilt using an old mattress protector as the base. Does that count? (I really should finish that UFO.)
A cowl in one day! Even with chunky yarn, I am impressed!