Summer Sunset

What an adventure!  My first pattern is published!

The very first blocks that started the process.

 It all began with a pink and orange batik and a paper piecing class.  And now there is a lovely pattern and quilt that is traveling with SewBatik to shows across the country!  My decision to launch into the pattern business was dictated by this quilt.  While looking for the perfect fabrics to finish the different sections as I'd lay this out in a quilt shop to audition fabrics I'd be asked if it was a pattern.  After a number of inquires the answer was finally "why yes, it will be."   

These first pictures are from the original design process.  I start with an idea and work with it until I love the end result.  I have a number of orphan blocks as I keep working it until it's perfect!  

One of my pattern testers

Deciding to applique it onto the border rather than inset it.

a soft summer green field

a velvet night sky

Once I had decided to create the pattern my marketing brain went to work.  Making a pattern doesn't do any good if there are no customers!  And how do I get this quilt in front of as many quilters as possible, in the most efficient manner possible?  One idea was to connect with a fabric company and cross promote their fabrics and my pattern.  After contacting a few companies with no response whatsoever I received an immediate reply from Diane at SewBatik.  What a wonderful experience it has been working with both Diane and Bruce!  And what a blessing for both of us.  They had been looking for a new designer with a colorful flair when I approached them.  Perfect!

I connected with Diane at the Minnesota Quilt Show and again in Wisconsin at the MQ Today Show and chose a wonderful array of colorful batik fabrics that were almost too beautiful to cut into!








From there the planning and recording really began! I like to make a Fabric Swatch using a manila folder so I can keep track of exactly what fabrics I am using, and it is a great place to keep info filed.

Than began the fun portion, creating the blocks and playing with the fabrics to create gradations of color in both the highlights and backgrounds.  I know some people like to stay very organized and keep completed sections in bag, but I LOVE to see the blocks and to admire what is happening!  For me it is all about the process.  Each step is so exciting and I enjoy watching the quilt top come together step by step!

Comet Circle Section:
These next photos show making sure the color gradation flows from the tail of one comet into the next section.  Because the highlight fabrics and the background fabrics change from block to block around a circle I had to make sure I was placing each color in the correct location.

Thank you, thank you thank you to Patti Marrin who did all the graphic artwork and was invaluable in the writing, pattern designing and all round encouragement category   If you are thinking of creating a pattern definitely give her a call!  

We did two different pattern testing and was that ever a good idea!  Our goal was to write a pattern in a simple and clear manner so that anyone, no matter their learning style can understand it.  Plus, when you've read and reread wording too many times it is good to have a fresh set of eyes look at them.  Thank you to all the pattern testers!  Your help was so valuable!

Guess we made these ladies "stand on their head" for us.
I 'm not figuring out how to rotate these pictures but you needed recognition!
Also, thanks to Darla VanHeerde, my quilt Mother for helping test!

We had a lot of fun at the pattern testing and look how happy I am with the results!

 Before sewing the blocks together I decided to have some fun with the layout.  Who knows what might come next and it's good to think ahead! 

Time to quilt!

  

I love these pictures.  They were taken in the sunshine and they show some of the details of the quilting.  For quilting I included two layers of batting.  It starts with an 108" batik backing, an 80/20 cotton batting, layered with wool batting and then the quilt top.  The cotton batting adds stability, especially since this will be hung, and the wool creates a faux trapunto, and yet stipples really flat.   And can you see the bronze metallic thread against the burgundy background?   I'm thrilled with the result!

 So here is the finished quilt. 

Summer Sunset

80 x 80

  

And since it is all about marketing patterns are for sale!  Kits are also available from these exact SewBatik fabrics.  Contact me for more info.

Julie@Harstads.biz

www.SelbuStarDesigns.com

And in future posts you'll be seeing Naviagating by the Stars.  It will be the Raffle Quilt for the Women of the West Quilt Guild.  This second pattern is much easier as I was experimenting and learning the process with this first quilt, including remaking it to be sure what I did would work again!