Quilt for a Computer Geek
Before I tell you about my new project, I wanted to introduce you to a new monthly feature on the wonderful Lily’s Quilts Blog. Lynn is approaching her blogiversary and to celebrate she has launched Fresh Sewing Day. This will be a monthly event where bloggers are encouraged to share a project they are working on that makes them happy. She has a wonderful sponser for this event, Sew Fresh Fabrics, who are offering wonderful FQ packs as a giveaway to tie in with the Fresh Sewing Days. Head over to Lily’s Quilts for a chance to win or to check out all the other projects on show. Or why not add your own project! Just click on the button over on the sidebar.
Meanwhile, the time has come to make my lovely, computer geek of a son Felix, his 21st birthday quilt. I can’t believe he is going to be 21 in August!
Some of you may remember how upset I was when he went off travelling in September last year. Well I got over this remarkably quickly! But he is still away and not coming back till June, so it seemed like a good idea to try and get the quilt finished before he returns.
I really want to make something that Felix will think is cool, rather than just another of the quilts he has seen me make for his cousins over the years (they have all had a 21st birthday quilt). So I did some brainstorming with the other 2 computer geeks in the family, his brother and his father. After looking through my favourites on Flickr and this great Japanese patchwork book I have, we hit on the idea of a quilt that would be like the colour tool on a computer screen. Like this…
Jacob, my youngest, said Felix has been staring at this in the corner of the screen for years and years, and we all thought it would make a really striking quilt. And I was happy is it looked like it would be quick and easy too! I also think the idea owes something to the above mentioned Lynne’s amazing penguin books quilt that she made for her sister. Jonathan especially loved this quilt when I showed it to him and I think he had that in mind when we hit on the idea of the colour tool.
So off I went to Mandy’s lovely Simply Solids online shop too buy this pile of Kona charm packs plus a quantity of Snow and Charcoal.
I few evenings ago, I got them all spread out on the floor (on top of an oilcloth) and started planning out the colours. Here it is nearly finished. I labelled each square with a numbered sticker.
I am still missing a few of the lighter colours at the moment (more charm packs arriving from the very helpful Mandy next week!), so I started on some of the darker, top bits of the quilt. There will be 9 rows of 8 colours with the an extra top row of neutrals.
Here are the dark squares for the turquoise, blue and purple rows. Jonathan had the idea that I could put a ‘close window’ button in the left hand corner of the top border, and an ‘expand’ (can’t think of the correct computer terminology, but you now what I mean!) button in the other corner. I am still thinking about this, it might be fun, or then again it might spoil the whole effect.
This is certainly a project that has made me happy this month, mainly because I have finally got started and because I really like the way it is turning out.
Don’t forget to head over to Lily’s Quilts and have a look at all the other Fresh Sewing Day projects!
Oh my goodness gracious me – every so often I find a quilt which I wish I'd thought of and this is TOTALLY it – this is the coolest idea I've seen in ages and ages and is going to look amazing – I love the whole simplicity of it. Cannot wait to see this come along. Wow. Jaw droppingly wonderful.
Wow!! It is unique…love it
Fantastic idea….I totally know the joys of playing with the color tool on Paint and photoshop!:)
I think it would be a hoot to put the buttons in the upper right hand side…put all three of them…just make the white sashing bigger at the top to accommodate the buttons on the right side….and on the minimize button (the one on the left of the tree) you could even embroider a label!:)
Great idea! I'm sure he will love it.
x
What an amazing geek quilt! I admire your process! wow.
This is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the process–I will look forward to seeing the finished product.
Funny n cute, I am your number 300 follower great blog. http://prettybabyplease.blogspot.com/
What a brilliant idea! If he doesn't like it, I can give it a good home!!!
That is going to be a gorgeous geek quilt! You & your "geek team" came up with a terrific idea. 😀
What a great idea! I'm sure Felix will love it
absolutely sparklingly brill and fab! I love it …
I love what you did here with the charm packs! I've recently acquired 5 kona charm packs, and I still have no clue on what to do with them.. this is a great inspiration and motivation for me to figure out what to do with mine…
OMFG I have just linked from Lynne/Lily's quilts and have freaked out just a teeny bit – take a look at mine, you'll see!
Loving the quilt!
This quilt is going to be amazing and I'm sure he will LOVE it!!
So bold, so simple and yet so stunning. Your son will love it. I can't wait to see it progress. Well done.
I love it! Your son will love it too I am certain! You may find yourself doing a variation for your other son…. I look forward to seeing it finished.
Amazing idea!!! Thanks for inviting me over – this is going to be the perfect quilt for your son. I love those Kona charm packs. It is amazing to see how many different ideas quilters have come up with for 5" squares!! (Lynne's Penguin quilt is a fav of mine, too!).