Tuesday, November 19, 2013

APQ's Tone it Down Quilt Along

A while ago, Lissa Alexander of Moda Lissa emailed to show off a new scrappy quilt and ask if I wanted to join in for a quilt along with American Patchwork & Quilting. I jumped at the chance and was honored to be included!
Lissa's original Tone it Down quilt.  How could I resist joining in?!
I try very hard to embrace the scrappy lifestyle, but I tend to err on the side of planned quilts. Around the time of Lissa's email, we had just seen the Wishes collection by Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics and I immediately fell in love. The color palette was similar to Lissa's quilt, so I decided to use it in my Tone it Down quilt!


As I picked out my fabric, I tried to choose small scale prints, since some of the pieces finish at one inch. Lissa's quilt is low volume, but I have problems with busy background prints. I used a cream solid for my background. I also made mine a little smaller, using less blocks than in the pattern. All in all, this pattern is easily customizable, so feel free to add your personality to it!



Scrappy isn't my forte, so I put my organization skills to work. I wanted to give the LOOK of scrappy, but while sticking to a plan. Planned scrappy, I call it! I decided to alternate the chains with yellows and greens, and alternate the rings with reds and blues. To keep everything straight (and really show off my OCD tendencies), I made a color key to keep track of what I used for the chains and rings.



That is how I got my quilt started! Don't forget to hop over to the other bloggers participating in the Tone it Down Quilt Along, like Camille Roskelley, Carrie of La Vie en Rose, Jane of Quilt Jane, Sherri of A Quilting Life, Lisa of Primitive Gatherings, Amy of Amy's Creative Side, and Anne of Bunny Hill Designs. We will all be blogging our way through the quilting process over the next few months. Everyone did something a little different with their quilt, so there is plenty to see!

Pull fabrics from your own scrappy stash (or planned scrappy!) and pick up your copy of the February issue of American Patchwork and Quilting!
at

17 comments:

  1. JoyceNovember 19, 2013 at 10:16 AM

    Love your fabric choice. I'm like you, more planned in my scrappy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sinta ReneeNovember 19, 2013 at 10:31 AM

    I love this quilt... it is such a fresh twist to a classic pattern type. I am so excited about making one!

    ReplyDelete
  3. CarolTNovember 19, 2013 at 11:43 AM

    I love your version of this quilt. It is more to my liking since it looks more calm. I like your color key, it is such a good idea.

    ReplyDelete
  4. my happy bluebirdNovember 19, 2013 at 12:24 PM

    I am discovering that "planned scrappy" is a more comfortable way for me to work also. I am thinking of doing this quilt with the Downton Abbey fat quarter bundle that I won in your giveaway. Do you think those fabrics would work with this pattern?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fat Quarter ShopNovember 19, 2013 at 2:35 PM

    MyHappyBluebird

    I think that sounds like a great idea! Please post photos of your Downton Abbey Tone it Down quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  6. RosaNovember 19, 2013 at 3:10 PM

    Your fabric combo is luscious.Happy sewing!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. karenNovember 19, 2013 at 3:17 PM

    Both versions are wonderful. I've always wanted to make a Burgoyne Surrounded quilt. I adore everything-goes scrappy quilts. (I'm impatient. I don't want to spend a lot of time planning fabric placement.)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Gigi's ThimbleNovember 19, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    Oh I can't wait till February! I love this quilt and want to start one now!!! Can't wait to see all the different versions. Yours is really cute!

    Amber

    ReplyDelete
  9. drue.quiltsNovember 19, 2013 at 6:11 PM

    I also have a difficult time with scrappy, but I love them! I need organization and planning. I love your colors.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sarah @ Berry Barn DesignsNovember 20, 2013 at 5:23 AM

    I like planned scrappy, too! And I love the blue background fabric you used - sets off the white and bolds so nicely : )

    ReplyDelete
  11. KeyQuilterNovember 20, 2013 at 7:07 AM

    LOVE your OCD! Where would FQS be without it? And think how much we'd miss out on! Plan is a great idea for all of us, just in case someone else has to finish it for us!

    ReplyDelete
  12. DeniceNovember 20, 2013 at 10:20 AM

    I love fat quarter shop. I love this blog. And I love this quilt. BUT there is nothing more frustrating to the average home quilter than to have a pattern and fabric line showcased that isn't available yet. There seems to be a really fun quiltalong going in with this pattern, but we aren't able to participate. By the time we get our hands on the pattern you all will be done with the quilt and moving on to different (unavailable) patten and fabric. Frustrating.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fat Quarter ShopNovember 20, 2013 at 3:52 PM

    So sorry, Denise! We wish the magazine was out already too! Don't worry, we will have it on our site as soon as it hits our shelves and we will be sure to post on our social media channels that it has arrived!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Helen LNovember 20, 2013 at 6:14 PM

    I was just going to ask you to post to your newsletters when the magazine was available, but I see that is your plan already!! :-) I'm waiting to place an order just as soon as the magazine is ready so they can all ship together! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

    ReplyDelete
  15. my happy bluebirdNovember 21, 2013 at 8:21 AM

    Thank you, Kimberly! This is such a wonderful opportunity to be able to virtually work alongside such a wonderful group of experts. I'm actually happy that there is a bit of time before the magazine is available -- it is giving me time to read through the blog posts from the list of experts -- and look through my fabrics.

    ReplyDelete
  16. WendyBJanuary 23, 2014 at 2:58 PM

    Another OCD quilter joining this Quilt Along. I love the look of scrappy but the thought of mixing all those patterns....I just can't do it! I'll be using Remember by Carina Gardner and can't wait to get started!

    ReplyDelete
  17. WendyBJanuary 23, 2014 at 3:01 PM

    Another OCD quilter joining this Quilt Along. I wish I could jump off the edge and do something scrappy....but all those patterns! I just can't do it. I'll be using Remember by Carina Gardner thanks to a recent 50% off sale! :-) Can't wait to get started on this one!

    ReplyDelete

We love hearing from you!