I started a new project on Saturday. Yes, a new project! My mojo was screaming “YES, BABY! A NEW PROJECT, SQUEE!” once that decision was made. I was so focussed in June on getting projects finished that I have been very stingy with new starts. My mojo seems to thrive on new starts. My quilting mojo is back.
I had no idea what I wanted to do other than something “different”, which covers much territory . That really doesn’t help narrow down the search for ideas. Then I remembered I had followed a linky party entry to a blog called Savor Every Stich where there was this cool program called Haphazard. Haphazard is a program where you put in the size block you want as your large block and the colours you want Then, you choose how big and complex you want the quilt. The program then generates, at random, a pattern using half square triangles. And yes it’s very random. Very very random.
Well that qualified as different as well as just outside my comfort zone! Perfect! I like scrappy but I like it to be very carefully balanced organized scrappy. Though really, I do think organized random may be an oxymoron. This will stretch my ability to go random! I generated a few different possiblities and finally settled on this one:
My friend Bonnie, when I showed it to her said I was insane. And so it got dubbed the Insanity Quilt.
I chose a red and a black material from my stash and diverged from the modern vibe of the pattern by using a more traditional white floral print as the background material. It wasn’t that insane to sew and making the half square triangles didn’t take as long as I thought. Laying it out and not rotating pieces when sewing it together was the biggest challange. Though, really, if I rotated a block who would eally know?
As I was making it the quilting plan came to me. I’d stipple (as I need to keep practising) on the white areas. On the shapes of the larger triangles and coloured blobs I would do echo quilting. And my stash had in it a perfect backing, bonus!
The finished project:
It’s 36″ square so it is not a big project – hence why was completed so quickly. And even better it’s finished. So now I have no guilt for starting something new when I have so many projects on the go.
Wow, what a fun quilt and such a quick finish. I like the idea of ‘organised randomness’. I think that’s what’s happening in the tidiness of my sewing room right now 🙂
Awesome finish!!! It caught my eye right away, as I too made a Haphazard quilt earlier this year. And yes, I rotated a few blocks on mine, as well, maybe on purpose! Red and black are very striking in this quilt.
Stunning quilt! The red and black make it a real wow.
Nicely done, in a wowie zowie kind of way. Love the random/ not randomness. I saved this link about a month ago and want to make one now.
Insanity! I love the name! Very interesting program for making a HST design. I must check it out. It is so much fun starting new projects!
You did a great job on this, wow.
Thank you for sharing the Haphazard program. I visited and played and it was FUN! Love your quilt.
You know, this would be an incredible baby quilt. Supposedly infants are much more interested and attracted to high contrast patterns because their vision isn’t fully developed at birth, hence the aisles full of “infant brain stimulating soft toys, mobiles, etc. at Babies R Us, most of which are predominantly graphic black and white patterns punctuated with bright red — just like your Insanity quilt! Seriously, check this one out: https://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Red-Activity-Playmat/dp/B007FEDCH2/ref=pd_lpo_75_t_0/141-5269293-0157758?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B007FEDCH2&pd_rd_r=7f2a7060-66e9-4ee4-bbf2-87ddde613fbb&pd_rd_w=U97qx&pd_rd_wg=IBdnU&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=JSWWRTJVTF1QQ46306H6&psc=1&refRID=JSWWRTJVTF1QQ46306H6.
It’s a far cry from what most quilters think of for a baby quilt color palette, but lots of expectant moms out there are reading articles in parenting magazines about the Importance of Stimulation on Developing Infant Vision, Blah Blah Blah, and those moms would LOVE a handmade quilt like this one for their baby. 🙂
Also, I hope you shared a picture of your finished quilt with Liz at Savor Every Stitch because I’m sure she’d love to see it. I’ve played with that random generator tool myself but haven’t attempted to actually sew the pattern.
When I first looked at your quilt, I thought it was larger than 36 inches. The obvious answer would be, it was photographed close up. I think instead. that it is the interplay of large and small triangles combined with the intensity of black and red that makes it appear “larger than life.” I like that you used a print for the background. I think that the commenter above, Rebecca Grace, is right when she said it would be an incredible baby quilt.
Sometimes you just need to PLAY!!! I’ve visit Liz’s randow HST generator, but haven’t sewn my design yet. Congrats on getting yours together AND done!
That’s a great quilt! I was intrigued by the Savor Every Stitch blog with the pattern generator too. Glad you put it to such great use.
How fun is that? I love the idea of the random layout generator and your quilt turned out fabulous 🙂 Thanks for linking to TGIFF this week.
You are brave to take on that kind of challenge, but what an attractive quilt, especially pairing with the print fabric! LOL on the friend that called you insane. 😀
Oh How cool is this!!! I love the concept and the way you executed it!!!
Oh, yes! New projects are fun! This is a lovely quilt!
Look at you, throwing caution to the wind and letting a program decide the design of your latest project. I have to admit, it’s a brilliant way to reenergize your sewjo!
Your quilt is gorgeous, I love red and black quilts, and your random pattern is fun!
Thank you for sharing!