Tuesday, October 7, 2014

African fabrics............

I cut 2" strips from my African fabric collection about 5-6 years ago and started making a quilt but was never happy with it.  I have been trying to come up with an idea for the strips and finally just went back to courthouse steps/log cabin pattern with zebra stripe fabric as one of the rounds.  I used 2 different African fabrics in each block.



The zebra print tends to look like gray from a distance but close up you can see the black/white.  I will start piecing my black sashing strips to the blocks soon.  I'll show my border idea on Thursday.

Tomorrow I'm going to be linking to the Drunkard's Path quiltalong with a photo of one of mine and another that one of my art quilter friends made.

19 comments:

Sewing Junkie said...

Very striking. I think the black sashing will be the best looking with the zebra print. Chris

PugMom said...

I think it is just stunning. The zebra print really sets off the other fabrics. If you still don't like it, please send it to my house when it's done!

Beth@IHaveANotion.com said...

funny how all those discordant African fabrics work so well together. Someday... I will cut into my hoard of African fabrics... but for now I have too many other things to complete!

The Calico Cat said...

The quilt I am using on my bed right now has a small scale multi print that looks gray from a distance. I'm o.k. with it, but I was really happy with how well my blocks went with it. (For a change it wasn't a quilt with 100+ pieces - so my choices mattered a little bit more.) SO I wwould have been happier if the background looked a bit less gray.

Meanwhile, it was an awesome print to hide seams...

Nann said...

The adjective "nifty" popped into my mind when I saw your blocks. You create such wonderful art out of simple units!

patty a. said...

The zebra helps tie all the blocks together. I need to do something with all the yards and yards of African Dutch Wax fabrics I have collected! I haven't made a quilt with them in several years.

Carol E. said...

I love it. Gorgeous!

Quiltdivajulie said...

This one I love . . . awesome use of fabrics!

iquiltforfun said...

Wanda, this is glorious! I have seen a drunkard's path/circle quilt with 7"-8" blocks done with African fabrics and have always kept that as a possibility. I love this just as much. Can't wait to see it done.

Jan

Alice Turcotte said...

Bullseye, you did it again. Love the aliveness.

Sewing Up A Storm said...

I love your African prints! The zebra fabric in each block really bring them all together perfectly.

Linda E in NM said...

Nice. I find it interesting the way the b&w stripe reads as grey.

Vicki W said...

I love these blocks!

Toya said...

Love!! What an awesome idea. What are you going to do with the back?? (No pressure) LOL

Mystic Quilter said...

I love this quilt - the fabrics are amazing and set off with the black and white stripe.

Nancy J said...

Wow, this sizzles with colour, the black, the zebra, and the African prints, so totally you in every way, I love it Wanda. Cheers,Jean

Charlotta said...

This is quite striking! You know I approve of your use of the zebra print �� but I also really like your collection of African prints. I have somewhat of a collection also. I haven't looked at it recently, but my sense is that it isn't nearly as eclectic or varied as yours. I can hope I have misremembered!
Thanks, as always, for sharing.

Debbie said...

Great solution. Love how it is turning out.

Betha Abbott said...

You have just given me an idea to use for my African fabrics - I have quite a few from various purchases - and was looking at them just the other day. The zebra print sort of ties them together and is much more interesting than just a solid.
I have tried to get your blog by email instead of by bloglovin - which doesn't let me reply - but haven't succeeded. My email address is elizabethandronabbott@gmail.com. I live in Godfrey Ontario, just up the highway about 45 minutes from Kingston.
Thanks - love your messages - they have given me so many ideas!!!
Beth