Ideas for using gradation/ombre fabric for quilting

There are a few cool things about my latest quilts.  One is the reverse applique technique, then it’s the knife and then the pair design+fabric.
I started with simple solid fabric but there are so many options for all the 18 designs included in the pattern.

For my next two samples I used a gradation/ombre fabric –  it’s called Gelato by Daiwabo for E.E. Schenck (I bought it from equilter.com).
I just cut a 20” piece of ombre fabric, cut the design out, used two black backgrounds and here are my two little quilts.  I really love the look.

Then I started looking at all the designs of the pattern and realized that I could use the ombre fabric in a different way.

So here is what I did:
The color sequence is repeated twice on the width of the fabric (one sequence is the mirror of the other), so I cut my fabric in half lengthwise.
I had a 1.5-yard piece.

Gradation/ombre fabric for quilting
2 pieces 22” x 54”

Then I removed the selvages and cut the wide pieces into 2 x10” wide strips.
Here is the result – two repeats for each color sequence.

Gradation/ombre fabric for quiltingI stacked all the strips, with edges carefully aligned.

Gradation/ombre fabric for quiltingThen using the 45-degree marking line of a long ruler, I made this first cut, aligning the ruler as close to the bottom left corner of the strips as possible.

Gradation/ombre fabric for quilting

Then I rotated the ruler as shown and here is this triangle.

Gradation/ombre fabric for quiltingI repeated the process until I have cut 4 triangles as shown below.

So here is the result:

Gradation/ombre fabric for quiltingThen I just pieced the 4 triangles into squares and look at the different gradation achieved. These squares would make wonderful backgrounds for my designs.  The squares measure about 19”.

Gradation/ombre fabric for quilting

But there are even more possibilities. Those are the simplest pieces, with only 4 repeats.
How about 6 or 8 repeats? There are designs that can benefit from these gradations, too.


Stay tuned (subscribe to my newsletter) because I  have to make some more complex gradations and I will share the math behind all these.

Meanwhile, check out the Double Reward quilt pattern –  this one-time offer is expiring in a few hours.

 

Happy quilting!

 

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5 Comments

  1. Clever girl . Now….have you thought of an idea on how to use all the little shapes you
    cut out ? Just a thought !

  2. Hummmm ordered and pain for the pattern
    Did not receive the PDF file pattern.
    I guess I will just go to the bank and cancel this order. So disappointed!!!!

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