Lost in Paradise with Michael Miller Fabrics

Fabrics featured in this post were provided by Michael Miller Fabrics as part of my being a Michael Miller Brand Ambassador

This month's Michael Miller project features Tropical Bliss, a large-scale floral print from the Lost in Paradise Collection. As I was planning my project, I chose several coordinating colors from the Krystal Collection (Fuchsia, Apricot, Butter, Kiwi, and Stream) that especially pop against Cotton Couture solid black!

As soon as I saw a preview of the Tropical Bliss print, I knew I wanted to do some kind of stack-and-whack design. My first step was to find the repeat motif along the selvedge of the print, which was approximately 23.25". I was able to use the text in the selvedge to help me measure and cut a total of 4 repeat sections from the print. Each repeat was then cut along the fold line to yield two halves, each measuring 23.25" x ~22".

Stack and Whack designs require that the repeats are layered perfectly in order to get identical units/patterning once you cut into the stack. To do this, I found an intersection in the print (as indicated in the left photo with the yellow pinhead) that is easy to get precise placement of a pin that pierces all 4 layers. In the right photo with the red butterfly pinhead, there is an open space of solid black. This makes it difficult to gauge the same exact placement of the pin from layer to layer and would not be a good choice for getting precise layering of your fabric.

Starting with the top layer, poke your pin through the selected intersection and repeat pin placement through all 4 layers.  On ocassion, I might miss a layer and have to go back to catch all 4 layers. Repeat this process 6-8 times around each of the two stacked layers. Keep these 6-8 pins perpendicular to the fabric. Use another flathead pin to carefully pin parallel with the fabric, taking care to keep that first pin perpendicular to the fabric (thereby not causing the layers to shift). You can then remove the perpendicular pin and use it to repeat the process and replace the other pins holding all 4 layers together.

Once your 4 layers are pinned, you can cut a total of five 4" wide strips that are perpendicular to the selvedge. Watch out for pins and remove as needed to avoid nicking your rotary blade. Take care handling and/or moving the strips so as to not shift any of the layers.  Each 4" strip will then be subcut into 4" squares for a total of 25 stacks of identical 4" squares.  Repeat the cutting with the other half of the stacked/pinned layers for a total of 50 stacks.

Now the fun really begins! Working with squares means there are 4 different ways you can rotate your squares to achieve 4 different kaleidoscope designs! Rotate and see which one is your favorite. Keep in mind that a small portion of the design will be lost due to the 1/4" seam allowance. Once you've chosen your favorite layout, sew into pairs, press, and then sew pairs together to yield fifty 4-patch squares.

  

I chose 25 of my favorite blocks that feature the larger brilliant blooms and did a preliminary layout where I strived to distribute the various colors, as you see below. I saved the 4-patches that were predominantly dark blue/green backgrounds for the border triangles, and I still have quite a few squares leftover to make into a smaller quilt later on.

I made some prototype blocks that feature spinning borders. One block pairs a skinny black strip with a wider Krystal color strip, and the other has a skinny Krystal color strip paired with a wider black strip.

I wanted to alternate both frames, as well as distribute the 5 different colors of Krystal. Luckily I found 5 coordinating Post-It notes to help me plan my layout of the 10 different frames.

To frame each block, you will need:

• 1 strip measuring 1.25" x WOF for your skinny strip
• 1 strip measuring 2.25" x WOF for your wider strip

For my quilt layout, I cut the following # of strips from each fabric:

Black Cotton Couture:

• 16 strips measuring 2.25" x WOF
• 9 strips measuring 1.25" x WOF

Fuchsia Krystal:

• 2 strips measuring 2.25" x WOF
• 3 strips measuring 1.25" x WOF

Apricot Krystal:

• 4 strips measuring 1.25" x WOF

Butter Krystal:

• 1 strips measuring 2.25" x WOF
• 4 strips measuring 1.25" x WOF

 Kiwi Krystal:

• 1 strips measuring 2.25" x WOF
• 5 strips measuring 1.25" x WOF

Stream Krystal:

• 5 strips measuring 2.25" x WOF

Sew strip pairs. A wide black strip will be paired with a skinny Krystal strip, and pair a wide Krystal strip with a skinny Black strip. Press the skinny strip away from seam, and subcut each strip set into 4 sections measuring 10.5" long.

To add a spinning border to each 4-patch, you will start with a partial seam. Align the skinny strip of the 10.5" subcut sections with the edge of your 4-patch, as shown below. Sew approximately 2/3rds of the seam and stop 2-3" away from the end of the 4-patch. Leave this tail in tact until the last step in making this block.  

Press strip away from the 4-patch, and trim the sewn side even with the 4-patch block. Do  not trim the loose end of the strip.

Now align a matching 10.5" border strip onto the sewn end of this block, sew the entire seam, and press away. Now you can trim both ends even on this newly sewn strip. Add the 3rd strip, sew the entire length, and trim. Now, you can finish sewing that first partial seam and trim block to 12.5".

Here are all my squares laid out with a few minor placement changes.

To fill in the border triangles, I chose 7 of the unused 4-patch blocks that showcased dark blues/greens. Six of these 4-patches were cut diagonally from corner to corner to yield 12 triangles. A black strip measuring 1.25" wide was sewn onto both of the shorter sides of these 12 triangles, followed by sewing on a 2.5" strip of the Krystal Stream. These triangles were used to fill in the 4 sides. The last 4-patch block was cut diagonally from both corners, with a 1.25" strip of black and 2.5" stream strip sewn onto the long edge to fill in the 4 corners of the quilt top.

Once all the triangle border units were pieced and in position, I assembled all the diagonal rows individually, and then pieced together into the finished quilt top.

I quilted this on my Gammill longarm, using Willow Green Omni thread by Superior Threads. I chose an all over large scale floral filler, which added great texture without detracting from the pieced design.

I used some of the remaining Tropical Bliss print and Krystal Butter for the backing, and black Cotton Couture for the binding.

And here you have the finished quilt! There is so much to love about this quilt! The center 4-patches blooms are beautifully framed. Alternating the placement of colors in the frames creates the illusion of depth. And I just love all that brilliant color!!!

Lost in Paradise, Finishes 66" x 66"

While showing my mother the pink prototype blocks, she was immediately drawn to the floral centers and vibrant colors. She immediately staked her claim on the finished quilt! So she'll receive a brilliant floral bloom that can be enjoyed for years to come...just in time for Mother's Day and her upcoming May Birthday. Wishing my fabulous mother an early Happy Mother's Day and Happy Birthday!!