Nuggets--A Study In Floating Triangles

Waste triangles

Our Thread Tales book club read the book, "Where the Forest Meets the Stars" by Glendy Vanderah. I started reading the book at the end of August. After reading the first chapter of the book, I had an idea. After I finished the book, I was inspired enough to draw a pencil sketch of the translation of the words. Then I was rear ended in a car accident. To take that idea to a finished project would take more body ability than I had. 

For a few months, I didn't know if I would be able to make any project. I didn't sew for more than three months because sewing caused me too much shoulder, head, neck and back pain. Currently, on some days, I have less pain than other days. I'm thankful for those days. I posted here about my recovery progress. 

Triangle blocks

I have had success at machine piecing. I decided I would try to piece a project. The "what" was the issue. Last month, I joined the Portland Modern Quilt Guild. I also belong to a small group whose focus is modern. I have tons---well, not really TONS; but, I do have a lot---of scraps.

Finished top -- profile orientation

Could I make a project with scraps? What would it be? My eye drifted to the book cover and I thought Stars could be my inspiration. I perused Pinterest for ideas about stars. . .in a way that would translate to modern. I happened on Amy's Night Sky tutorial. I liked it. I have a lot of waste triangles, many are from my friend, Martha. 

Finished top -- landscape orientation

I laid out about 20 yellow triangles on my ironing surface. As I viewed the triangles, there wasn't enough of a value change so I added a variety of purple triangles. I liked the design much better with the color variety. In the book, purple is a favorite color of a couple of characters. Martha loved purple.

I had a half yard of a print on a black background. I decided that I would pair that background with a half yard of solid black fabric that I had on hand. I would see how many blocks I could create with those fabrics.

Although I could have stitched several more blocks, I didn't have enough fabric remaining to stitch another row of blocks. In the end, I stitched 30 blocks into a 20 inch by 28 inch top. It was a fun process. I played about four hours. I didn't plan the location of the background. 

I liked the orientation of the piece until I tried to use a piece of fabric from my stash for the backing. The fabric was a half yard of a bird print that I bought because I liked the print. 

Quilting pattern on the bird print backing  

Birds were part of the story line in the book. The print would be better featured if I turned the project a quarter turn. In the end, I liked the landscape orientation better! I did piece my back because I didn't have enough fabric for the length. I layered and pin basted the back, the 80/20 batting and the top.

Using black 50 weight Aurifil thread and my walking foot, I quilted straight lines one quarter inch apart. I did not quilt over the triangles so there was a lot of stopping and starting. I spent about 12 hours quilting this piece. 

Quilting was hard on my body. I will try to adjust the height of my chair to see if I have less neck and back pain. I took a break after every 30 to 45 minutes. I had considered matchstick quilting; but, quilting lines one eight inch apart which would likely take me a bunch more hours didn't sound like the best plan.

From my "precuts" which are scraps that I've cut into specific strip and square widths, I pulled a couple strips. I paired these with the remainder of the strips that I didn't use in the piecing process. I faced the quilt and hand stitched the facing to the back of the quilt. 

Label

I added the sleeve and the label. I do note a materials cost and a time estimate in making the project. If I were to have gone to a shop to purchase the supplies, I would have spent about $40. For this project, my actual out of pocket expense was zero dollars because I had all the supplies on hand. I started noting the supplying time information after I had a couple quilts appraised.  

Finished front

My first finish of the year was complete! I used about two yards of fabric in this project which brings the total yards of fabric used from stash to negative four and a quarter yards. After a few more small finishes, I'll be back to reducing my stash instead of adding to it!!

I exceeded goal number eight on my February list. I had only planned to work on this project; but, I finished it instead! This is a big win for me!!!

I named the project "Nuggets" because small clues were released throughout the story of how a barefoot little girl named Ursa from a land far far away arrived at the outdoor cooking fire of a bird researcher. Looking at the finished piece, reminded me of a photo a national news program flashed on the screen of a star constellation. The photo showed different colors of star light in the sky.

Because I've used scraps, I'm linking to Cynthia at Oh Scrap/Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework. Cynthia always inspires me with the quilts and projects she makes from scraps. Sundays, I enjoy her link up to see what other great projects people are creating. Please pour yourself a cuppa and head on over for lots of scrap inspiration!