This was a question posed to me by Susan, a long time quilting friend who just happens to own a fabric store. She has these amazing fabric panels in stock, not your normal “square images” panel, but a whole panel of a beautiful mandala. There was lots of movement and a limited colour palette, it just screamed modern quilt.
So after coffee and discussion, a cot sized quilt made from my pattern Whirl n Twirl was decided upon. Why not approach this a bit differently. Rather than highlight individual fabrics, highlight the beauty within the panel. I pulled two colours from within the mandala and matched them with a fairly plain but textured fabric, these will be my background and highlight colours in the quilt. Luckily there was a coordinating wide back perfect for the backing, so that was an easy choice.
So two additional fabrics and backing later, I was off home. (Okay, maybe more than just two fabrics followed me home for other projects, but shh… )
The trick with panels, is to make sure you PLAN! Planning is the key. I can't emphasize how important it is.
Calculate everything carefully & triple check it all. (It saves you heart ache when you suddenly find you are short of fabric!) I used the colouring design sheet included in the Whirl n Twirl pattern to help me with the placement of the selected features (all the different sized and coloured circles) from the panel. I realise I should have photographed this for you to see, but I then scribble on them as I do each block. No one needs to see that mess!
Using my planning sheet, I knew how I wanted the larger and smaller circles to fall within the quilt.
So I cut with this in mind, carefully keeping each group of 4 together. (You can see I even used the central circle piece but carefully sewed it so it wasn't obvious in the quilt)
I’ll admit, I triple checked my calculations before I cut! I’m always nervous on my first cut into a fabric… I just love fabric and respect the artistry that goes into designs. I want to use all of it in the most effective way!
Whirl n Twirl was perfectly suited to this panel, it uses rectangles in the design and this panel could be cut into rectangles easily.
It's amazing what you can get out of a panel with a bit of creative thinking.
Something I just want to point out, note how well the textured 'solid' fabric works in highlighting the texture in the circles of the mandala panel. Not even from the same fabric designer!
Being a cot quilt it came together pretty quickly, then there was just pinning and quilting.
I quilted this simply, keeping it soft for a baby.
Ta Da... A finished cot quilt, Whirl n Twirl from one fabric panel and two supporting fabrics! So what do you think?
I’m pretty happy with the end result, and I hope I’ve inspired you to look at fabric panels in a different light!
Stay safe and most of all, Happy sewing!
Anita : -)
P.S - Just letting you know the quilt will be on holidays with Susan at My Fabricology as from next week. Visitors welcome ;-)
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