Positively 2023

Collection of light and dark leaf fabrics and a background fabric

Goal number six on my June list was to participate in Preeti's Positively 2023 quilt along (QAL). For the last two years, I've watched from the sidelines; but, this year, I hopped in to play too. You can check out the introduction to the QAL here. 

Background batik and "extra" blocks

I had a batik background fabric in my stash that has been hanging around for years. It was enough for the background of the leaves. I pulled another neutral batik fabric to become sashing and borders. Then, I raided my strip precuts for green strips. I pulled chunks and fat quarters.

A batik fabric in the process of becoming "leaves"

I cut the background pieces. I cut green strips for my leaves as well as a dark purple for my stems. Preeti used brown for her stems.

I selected a couple fabrics for the flowers. At that point, I hadn't decided if I wanted to make the version with only leaves or if I wanted to make the version with leaves and flowers. In the end, I decided a leaf quilt was more masculine than a quilt with flowers. I decided I could always stitch the second version of the pattern later. 

I stitched strips together. Then, I cut "wedges" from the strip sets. Some wedges are bonus blocks which will become another project at a later date! Preeti's bonus blocks worked into a 48 inch square quilt.

Some of the leaf wedges

Piecing leaf blocks didn't take long. However, since I used fat quarters and scraps instead of a jelly roll or strips for the leaves, I needed to piece the fat quarter strips to get the strips long enough. It took some extra time; but, it was worth the effort to use what I had!

Some of the leaf blocks

Goal number four on my July list was to make progress on the sew along. I finished piecing the strip sets and cutting wedges. I began making the leaf block units which were two spacer fabrics and two leaf blocks with a stem sewn between the each leaf/spacer.

Blocks taking shape on the design wall

Watching the rows grow on the design wall was fun. Eventually, I had pieced four rows of leaves. If I were to make this pattern again, I might cut the 16 background strips a quarter inch wider or 4 3/4 inches because my blocks were a little shy of six inches.

Rows of pieced blocks

I cut the sashing and borders from my second batik background fabric. I needed to do a little easing of the borders. My finished top measured 56 inches by 88 inches. I'm only a couple weeks behind Preeti's time table! However, this is the closest to it that I will come to being on schedule! I do like the top! The various leaf fabrics create great interest for my eye. 

Next month, I'll figure out the backing and binding for the project. Last Friday evening, I pulled a couple options for the backing. Of course, neither piece is large enough so I'll need to piece the backing. 

Completed top

This project is on hold until I free up my basting pins. I need to finish quilting my Lone Star quilt and quilt my granddaughter's churn dash block top that I pin basted last month. Maybe I'll get back to quilting these leaves during the winter. I do plan to support Merciful quilts I'm linking to Cynthia and Oh Scrap/Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework.

Tomorrow is the last day of July. . .I suppose I had better be thinking about what my goal are for August!