Today I’m thrilled to be taking part in Nancy Purvis’ (owensolivia on Instagram) blog tour for her new book, Quilting From Every Angle: 16 geometric designs. The book showcases Nancy’s pared back design aesthetic, with a focus on angled shapes to create modern quilts with graphic impact.
Choosing which design to share today was no easy task, they were all so tempting. I settled on the Mesa pattern, but rather than make a quilt I decided to make pillows as my sister has been waiting for new pillows for far too long! “Pillows for my sister” has been on my to-do list all year, oops!
To make the pillows I followed the instructions in the book to create three pieced sections then added strips of background fabric to bring it up to pillow size. I learnt a new technique in the process, how to make two half rectangle triangles at a time. Nancy’s diagrams made it really easy!
I love Nancy’s addition of narrow strips at the bottom right of her quilt so I’ve added those to my pillows too. When it came to quilting, I stuck with my favourite, serpentine stitches using my walking foot. I like the contrast between the soft curves of the quilting and the sharp angles of the piecing.
Fabrics Used:
Background fabrics: Robert Kaufman’s Essex Yarn Dyed in Graphite and Black
Feature Fabrics: Liberty of London Tana Lawn in Mitsi C and Growth Pond from Bound by April Rhodes for Art Gallery.
Finished Size: 20″
About the book
Nancy has used a wide range of techniques to create her quilt designs (including y-seams, paper piecing, applique and improv) and the book details everything you need to know with clear diagrams and instructions, you’re sure to learn something new.
There’s a great chapter on finding inspiration and developing your own style and designs. My favourite piece of advice from this section is ‘don’t be afraid of mistakes’, oh yes, very good advice. I plan to re-read this chapter on a regular basis.
And then there’re the 16 innovative designs. Here’re a few of my favourites..
Click on the links below for more inspiration… and for more chances to win a copy of the book!
Blog Tour
11/10- Michelle Wilkie of Factotum of Arts
11/11- Hillary Goodwin of Entropy Always Wins
11/12- Karen Lewis of Karen Lewis Textiles
11/13- Anna Graham of Noodlehead
11/16- Rachel McCormack of Wooden Spoon Quilts (you are here:)
11/17- Tara Larson of Rad & Happy
11/18- Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane
11/19- Holly Hughes of Holly Gets Quilty
11/20- Nicole Daksiewicz of Modern Handcraft
11/23- Pat Bravo of Pat Bravo Fabric Design and Jesse Maloney of Art School Dropout
11/24- Astrid Slagle of Red Red Completely Red
11/25- Holly DeGroot of Bijou Lovely
11/26- Christopher Thompson of The Tattooed Quilter
11/27- Spoonflower
Giveaway
To be in with a chance to win a PDF version of the book…
- Leave a comment below telling me what your favourite background fabric/colour is. Mine has always been low volume or white, so using grey was a much needed step outside my comfort zone!!
- If you’re a no-reply blogger then please leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win.
- Giveaway closes Saturday 21st November 9pm NZST.
- Winner will be contacted directly.
Good luck!
57 thoughts to “Quilting From Every Angle + Giveaway”
I love the pillows – great work! I think my favourite background colour is white really, though I have been trying some grey too lately for some projects. White is always so fresh and makes other colours seem brighter I think.
Glad you ticked that off your list, there's nothing worse than carrying over To Dos from one year to the next. Hope she likes them! I am a big fan of grey. From pale silver to deep charcoal and everything in between. I like how there are rose tones and blue tones and black tones and white tones, and unlike white I have yet to find a shade of grey that makes me feel smothered like warm creamy whites can do!
Looks like a great book! I want it just for that half square rectangle trick! My favourite background is grey, such a great foil for colour!
Love those pillows Rachel! My favourite background colour is low volume but I’ve made some pillow covers with dark grey backgrounds and I really love them. I think I like lighter backgrounds for larger projects, so the colours really stand out!
I have to say I'm with you. I love low volume backgrounds the most. I'm always trying to pick up more for my stash. I love the look of the designs in the book. It looks like some great inspiration ��
I think off-white is always a good choice, especially when bright colors are playing leading role 🙂
I think LV too but Essex Linen in Black makes a great background too !
I'm a big fan of medium grey Kona
Mine is usually white, but I do like the idea of using teal as a background!
I prefer neutral colors such as grey, white and blue.
My favorite background color is gray. I seem to use it a lot because it goes with so many colors. vkoh159 (at) mchsi (dot) com.
I like to look at quilts with a white or natural background but I like to make quilts with bright colors or no specific background color. All that white just makes me scared of spaghetti. Who doesn't love to eat a nice big bowl of spaghetti while wrapped in a cozy quilt?! :p
Grey has been my background favorite of late, also white or snow.
My favorite background depends on what the other fabrics are. I have had success with grey, navy, medium blue, white, tan. I like neutral scrappy backgrounds too.
I love using silver grey as a background. The book looks great. Thanks for the chance to win.
This looks such a great book!
I used to use only white/cream for my backgrounds but recently I'm enjoying using blues and greens!
I always try for text fabric its low volume plus so interesting
marinaclark@live.com
My favourite color is green and orange but I do not have a very special for background. Maybe solid white. I am glad I found your blog. Thanks for the chance to win.
I use white or LV most often, but I love the look of charcoal grey or linen. Definitely on my must-try list.
Kona Snow has been my go-to background but I'm trying to expand my vision. I've been using low volume in some projects inspired by your blog!
Grey may be one of my fav. background colors but also cream ranks up there too! Such beautiful works!
I always default to a low volume, pale color but on my current quilt am using a dark grey and it really makes the colors pop!
I always seem to go for Kona Oyster as my background colour. It feels like white (until I put it next to white!), but is a bit warmer.
I like switching my backgrounds up – anything with movement is great! I also love low volume these days too. There are just so many great fabrics available.
I love low volume, white or off white for background fabric.
I love contrast and would have to say I like a neutral background either white or gray. I would use black more often, but it usually gets washed out after regular washing cycles. Thanks for the cool giveaway!
Making half rectangle triangles are on my skills to master list! My favorite background colour to use is grey, I struggle with White quilts!
Right now my go-to background is navy. It's been a bit if a game-changet for me, and I love how it just makes everything glow. Thank you for the giveaway!
I like the fresh look of a white background. But I'm beginning to appreciate these modern quilts and would love to try grey. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
I don't have a background favorite which may be the reason that I like a more "kitchen sink" look with everything in your face! The medallion quilt I'm working on right now may get a neutral scrappy one but we will see.
Rachel, thank you SO much for participating! I love seeing your Mesa versions in pillow forms! xx nancy
Lovely pillows! I use gray as most colors pop with it! Thank you
ooh pretty Rachel! i think my favourite is white, but I do like grey as well
Love it! My go-to background is white… sometimes I think I should branch out because it's so boring, but I love the clean background it provides!
I love white as background but I am trying to change that using grey, blue and even black!!! The cushion is gorgeous.
Mostly I use Kona Cotton Snow as background color. I also love a light grey. Thanks for the giveaway !
Loving everything about your pillows and this book! My go to background these days is Kona Silver. a very nice light grey that suits nearly everything!
I've always used bright or dark colors, but lately have been using Kona White and neutrals for backgrounds and I really like it. chocolatewiskers@aol.com
I've been gravitating to Kona steel and Kona ash recently, depending on whether I want a dark or light background. Thanks for reviewing this book and offering the giveaway! I'd love to add it to my collection and get more project ideas.
I tend to go bold somewhere in each quilt I make… most often in bindings however I recently completed a couple of quilts with atypical coloured backgrounds–one was a purple grape colour one done in emerald green. They really pop! (in a good way) I am now working with an ecru background and while it is very satisfying to see it complement the fabrics I've chosen, I think I am going to use Navy in my next quilt!
I have been a huge fan of Kona Ash for background. I use it more then others. Another I use is Kona snow.
Not very original, but I love a low volume/ texts background!
This looks like a great book. I always thought that a good background would be white, off-white or beige, but I have been trying to get way beyond that with low volume prints or other less busy fabrics.
Funny how my background choices seem to run in streaks…creams/tans went to black then white and now it is gray – I'm on my second bolt (yeah, bolt) of Kona Ash and my Kona Charcoal is over half gone!!
Your pillows look amazing! I really like grey as a background colour as it goes with just about everything and also doesn't tend to show any dirty marks as much as white:)
love your pillows ! and looks like such a fab book – I use white but I'd rather use a colour – pink comes to mind hehehe !
I usually gravitate towards white, but lately I have been leaning towards light grey, specifically Mystic Grey from Art Gallery bc of its buttery texture. Your dark grey is a close third, though, and it looks amazing!
I love the pillows and need some more. I usually use grey but for my family room probably brown or taupe or gold
Thanks for a chance to win. My usual background is off-white. I like to use scrappy low volume prints.
Essex black or denim have been my two favs lately! Thanks for a chance to win!
I like gray or off-white for backgrounds.
I like any solid fabric, although white is my fave-I try to use other colors. I would like to try a low volume & a patterned (maybe polka dot) sometime!
Favorite background lately is a khaki/creamy lihht brown…. Finding i prefer warms to cools lately 🙂 gorgeous pillows!
Light grey w white spots, but most recently spotlight shot cotton pepper.
Your pillows look great! I tend to use black or grey for backgrounds. I recently used C+S Sprinkle as a background and it looks amazing! I might have a new go-to 😉
GUYS: Do you like being little spoon?
meat bag
I like this bog, I also write a blot and I have a website where you can buy best product of quilt at best price in India, Please click here Shopping Online