The Fractal quilt

Hands down this is currently my favourite quilt.

Until at least I make another one.

It's definitely because I chose to see the pattern as a bit of scrap buster.

My usual plan of attack for scraps is totally random but this time I decided to see if I could get a bit of rainbow theme going on.

The low volume text fabrics were also scraps. The only yardage harmed was the grey text and for that I used a full yard.

With a few scraps left over for the next scrappy quilt.

Of course.

The Fractal quilt pattern is the last stop on the Fat Quarter Shop's Top 10 Videos of 2015 blog meanderings.

Initially, I did refer to the video which you can find here
You can also download the free pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop here
Plus, you'll also need the kite ruler to cut the shapes and that can be purchased from here

The video was helpful but once I got the gist of it, I kind of deviated a bit from the instructions. As all the pieces are being sewn on the bias, theoretically, it could get a little wavy when sewing and the video recommends you starch each piece. So I didn't. What I did do, was use my walking foot to piece so you've got dual feed stitching, which I found really helpful in not getting any stretch.

Then really, you should pin,where you are sewing up to the centre dot (watch the video and then you'll know what I mean) but after a few blocks I stopped doing that. Reason being, I could feel with my nail where the join of two pieces of fabric met and I sewed maybe one stitch BEFORE the final dot and then secured off.

I know if you were pinning you would sew right up to and including the dot but that slowed the process down too much for me. By stopping one space before the dot, I knew for sure I hadn't inadvertently sewn into any of the other pieces and the Y seam behaved itself.

I also knew I was going to really quilt the top densely, so everything was always going to stay where it was meant to and we weren't gong to suffer a quilt disaster because I missed one teeny tiny stitch out in the centres of the Y seams.

On the back I used up two of the leftover hexagons and pieced it into Egyptian cotton off-cuts which are the most brilliant white and buttery soft. The off-cut bundles are very good value (at least they are if you're based outside the US and have no access to reasonably priced fabric) and can be purchased here

And then I heavily quilted the whole thing using clear monofilament thread on the front and white cotton on the back.
I really like the effect monofilament thread gives; great texture without the eye being drawn to the stitches.

I am so hugely in love with this quilt.

Oh and I should mention I made the quilt slightly larger than the one demonstrated in the video because I wanted to get the same balance of the grey kite shapes above and below the rainbow colours.

I actually contemplated selling this quilt because just how many quilts can someone have?
On reflection with this quilt, does it even matter.


If you'd like to see what other quilters have done with the Fractal quilt please have a look at the following:

Shruti of 13 Woodhouse Road

Melissa of Oh How Sweet

Erin of Sew at Home Mummy

Sherri of A Quilting Life

Caroline of Sew Can She

I also need to tell you that if you make any of the Top 10 2015 Videos from Fat Quarter Shop and are on Instagram, you can use the hashtags  #fractalquilt and #FQSTop10 for a chance to win a Fat Quarter Shop $100 Gift Card. You have until 1 February.

A rainbow quilt with a rainbow.