I started this quilt, “It Takes A Village”, back in December. I think February, March and April, I listed it as my monthly goal for “A lovely year of finishes” but could not get it done. Well, I am ecstatic to say that have finally finished it!!
It Takes A Village, started out as one of my Quilt Design a Day designs. I actually kept pretty close to the original color scheme.
While pulling the fabric, I decided to switch out the lighter brown for a Cotton and Steel print. I thought it added some interest into the quilt, while the background color was similar to the design.
I tried a couple of new things with this quilt:
- I bought a new tool – a BLOC LOC Ruler for a triangle in square. I loved it! It made it much easier to trim up the triangles and it improved accuracy.
- I was inspired by Angela Walters book “Shape by Shape”, and decided to quilt each individual triangle, with one of three designs.
I used Aurifil for my quilting and it provided the most amazing texture to the quilt.
For the back, I wanted a patchwork brick feel. However, when finished, the back did not look right with lines moving horizontally, so I flipped it so the lines ran vertically. The final design decision I made, was to pull one of the colors out of the Cotton and Steel print and use it as a main color in the back and binding. It landed up being the blue, the pink just didn’t work for me.
Here are the final details for the quilt.
Details
Name: It takes a Village
Dimensions: 48″ x 48″
Design: Michelle Wilkie
Fabric: Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen Flax; Kona Chocolate; Kona Silver; Kona Oyster; Cotton and Steel – Tack; Back + Binding: Also includes Kona Lagoon
Quilted: Walking foot. Triangles: Quilted using 3 designs; Negative Space: Circle represents a Town Circle while the lines are pathways through the village to add movement.
Thread – Aurifil (50 wt): White – 2021; Light Beige – 2310; Turquoise – 2810 (used for 3 triangles + binding).
Linking up with Amanda Jean over at Crazy Mom Quilts for next week’s Finish it up Friday. I will be writing it up as a pattern and hope to release it next month.
Linking up with Adrienne for 2015 Finish along, as this was one of my goals for Q2 to finish.
Factotum of Arts 
I love it! I’m new here, so I don’t know if you have a long arm or use a DSM. In any case, the quilting is fantastic. I like the addition of the print, too. It adds a spark to the quilt.
Beautiful work. It would be a great design without the quilting, but you’ve really excelled yourself there, and have added a whole new textural dimension to the design.
There’s just something about this that I really love. Yay for making up one of your QDAD designs!
I like everything about this quilt. When I first looked at it, I was reminded of a village of Tee Pees. Then, I saw church steeples. Each time I look at it, there seems to be an ever changing scene. Thanks for posting this. Will you be selling a pattern to this quilt?
Go you getting this one done! It turned out really great! I love all the variety in the quilting – the circles and the designs in the triangles..
wow – I really really love this. Hope you publish it as a pattern. The quilting is amazing – did you end up with lots of loose threads to bury?
Beautiful finish!! Perfect!
I love this so much. You did an excellent job with the quilting and a phenomenal job designing it. Great work!! -Torina from @tubaville (IG)
Really interesting and innovative quilt and quilting!
I love the earthy colors! Bloc Loc in any shape or form are genius, time saving and a must have! Beautiful finish and I’m sure you are happy to have that off your list!
This is a stunning quilt. I love the movement. Thank you for showing us.
Michelle, I thought I didn’t like brown in a quilt. Shows you what I know–this is one stunning quilt! And thanks for the info about the Bloc Loc ruler ( i just checked out their website and I can’t quite figure it out, but I’ll watch the video again and hopefully it’ll make more sense–as a beginner, I’ll take all the help I can get 🙂
Woohoo! Awesome to have this one finally finished! I love the various quilting patterns and shapes you used, it gives the quilt extra interest.
And what a lovely finish it is!
Julie @ Pink Doxies
Very pretty… the print for the lighter brown looks like little stars and gives that bit of spark to the quilt. The echo quilting really pulls it all together.
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Wow! This quilt is interesting and beautiful! If you make a pattern, I will buy it! I saw this on pinterest and now I am following you. Thanks!