You’re getting this blog early because of the deadline for the Pantone Challenge. I’ll be back to my regular schedule on Sunday, March 30.
The Quilt Alliance’s TWENTY challenge was so much fun last year that when I heard about the Pantone Radiant Orchid Challenge I decided to enter
Radiating Orchid mini-quilt for the Radiant Orchid Challenge, 15″ x 15″
This challenge is via link-up with one of the two sponsoring blogs, On the Windy Side and Play Crafts. You can go to either blog to see the other entries and get details.
Luckily I had a pretty orchid color FQ (fat quarter) in a collection of modern solids (came from my smart son-in-law at Christmas!). And I took a piping class with Susan K Cleveland a few years ago where I learned to make little bitty piping. I’d already gotten the Alison Glass green fabric to go with the modern solids, so I was ready to roll!
Using piping to help turn under the edge is one of my favorite ways to applique circles, and I wanted a little extra definition for the edges. I had to make templates (yikes!) to cut the green and, naturally, the print turned out to be directional so I had to be careful how I cut it (double yikes!).
As always, I learned several things making this project. Using templates wasn’t so bad; I made them from freezer paper & ironed them onto the fabric for cutting. And Susan’s method for joining the ends of the piping worked perfectly so you can’t tell where it begins and ends as it circles the shapes. So, it was fun and now it’s done! 😉 Have a good week!
Zippy Quilts 
I just love your entry! The fabrics are perfect and so is the design. I don’t think I could come up with something original. I have spent too many years using patterns and just putting my colors to then, sort of like a coloring book. I would love to take some kind of class to find my inner designer or something like that. Anyway, good luck with your entry. I think you have a winner!
Thanks, Mary! Now that you’ve suggested it, I think I’ll start work on a post about designing quilts.
Nicely done, Mary. Best of luck!
Thank you!
Very nice! I really like how you tackled the background and used two different tones. It’s a lovely quilt.
Thanks!
It’s radiant!! Great job.
Thanks for looking and for commenting!
I like your circular quilting. One day I am going to not have circles that cross over.
I love the color combination you went with. The olive green works so well with the orchard.
Thanks! I always enjoy looking at your colorful pics on your blog.
That piping is amazing! And you’re right, I can’t tell where it starts and ends at all! Very cool. 🙂 I love your design and also the alternating colors in the background. It’s somewhat subtle but adds a wonderful “radiant” quality to it. 🙂 Beautiful work!
Thanks for your kind comment!
What a neat way to add some more radiant-ness, using that Sun Prints print in two different shades, genius!! Very, very interesting quilt, I really like it!
Thanks! I appreciate you taking time to comment!
Totally awesome – I love the way you used the two shade of the same fabric as the background, and really played with the directional print! Amazing piping too!