Parisian Curves Modern Batik Quilt

Hello everyone,  My explorations as an Island Batik Ambassador continues and wow, I had fun this month!

The Island Batik challenge for June was to make a modern batik quilt. Of course, this was music to my ears!

I decided to make a modern batik quilt using the Parisian Curves technique from my book, Madly Modern Quilts, available at local quilt shops, bookstores and online. Parisian Curves is also one of my most popular workshops–even very traditional quilters have a lot of fun learning to piece these improvisational curves.  If you have the book, you’ll find the process tutorial on page 35.

Parisian Curves Upscale (a variation of this process) will be one of my online virtual workshops in 2021.  Be sure to sign up  HERE to get on the Early Bird registration list.

I decided to make a different size than the lap quilt in the book.  Fortunately, I had already created a layout for a crib quilt (using ElectricQuilt8) and decided to use it for this new quilt.

For my fabric, I pulled out a set of 10″ square precuts from the Island Batik Elementz line released last year.  Island Batik has been releasing additional new lines of batiks that have modern graphic elements so be sure to look for them at your local quilt shop later this year.

The Elementz batiks are very bright and colorful with graphic elements that are geometric and modern.  I used this color palette because I wanted this quilt to be very different from my other Parisian Curves sample quilts which tend towards a more muted color palette.

Here are the fabrics I pulled from the 10 inch precuts.

 

I like to set myself a challenge, so I added some of the pink Elementz precuts.  Pink is not one of my go-to colors and I usually set them aside when they are in a precut bundle.  However, this is about CHALLENGE and I wanted to see how well they would play with the rest of the line.

Finally, I added some additional Island Batiks, including a vibrant yellow and a white.

My first plan was to use the white as my negative space background fabric.  But, after I made a few sample blocks, I decided that the white was too stark–it had the effect of leaving a hole, not contrast.

So, I switched my plan, and decided to use the yellow as my background, and I am so glad that I did.  In fact, I want to call this Batik Maximalism because it is so saturated with color.   Hey, modern quilting is all about reinvention, right?  [Check out my earlier posts here and here about my views on the modern quilting movement. I’d love to hear your thoughts.]

Here are some of the blocks in process.

I started liking the pink Elementz fabrics more and more as I made the curved blocks. They gave a surprising Zip to the blocks.

The Parisian Curves blocks are cut freehand–no templates or pinning. The technique is detailed in my book and I teach this in my workshop.

The Island Batik fabrics are very tightly woven and I needed to sew fairly tight curves. This proved to be a bit challenging because I was getting some puckering–and I never get puckers sewing curves…..  After making a couple of blocks, I figured out the problem.  I decided to lengthen my stitch just a bit from 1.8 to 2.0 on my Janome 8900.  That tiny adjustment made the process go perfectly–no problem at all sewing even the smallest curves!  No puckering or creases, even though this batik fabric has almost NO give or stretch in it.   Of course, I sewed very, very slowly…..

This block finishes at 8-1/2″ square. So that green curve is very small–about 3 inches across.

And here’s the finished top!  It’s a crib quilt that can be easily upsized and it will be in the updated pattern that I will be releasing later this summer.  Now it’s off to the longarmer so she can do her magic.  I’ll post the finished quilt in a few weeks along with news about releasing my latest update for this pattern.

20 thoughts on “Parisian Curves Modern Batik Quilt”

  1. Improv curves are a little challenging, but fun. It’s a thoughtful, meditative process for me because of having to stitch slowly. Your use of yellow for the background was an excellent choice. I’d like to get your book, and will watch for the updated pattern soon.

    1. Thanks Wendy. The yellow did work out well. At first I was afraid it would overwhelm the fabrics in the curves but it worked out well. Pattern should be out in a couple of months at the most. I’ll announce it here and on Instagram. And….I have another curved piecing idea –well 2 actually! The hits just keep on coming!

  2. I really love the finished top ( and this blog entry). the color and the saturation is fabulous — And it looks like so much fun to make. Ah but “slow stitching” drives me mad!! as always, thanks for your great inspiration. LL

    1. Thanks Lenore. My tip is that I listen to the most interesting book or podcast that I have while I slow stitch like this. That helps a bit. But then I look at the finished blocks and I LOVE them.

  3. I looked at your color choices and thought you were brave. That pink, though, does make the quilt much more interesting. I love how all the different graphic prints give such movement to the design. I look forward to seeing the finished quilt and the pattern update.

  4. Fun, fun, fun, FUN! The pinks really pop, even against the yellow, which is so cool and unexpected! They’re almost an “island” of calm (pun intended!) within the so-saturated in-your-face yellow. Love it! Looks like this was fun to make, too! Nice!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. This is such a lovely bright quilt! I love this technique; have done many over the years in this Stack the Deck method, a great use for LOTS of fabric and batiks especially! 🙂

  6. Kathleen McCormick

    The yellow is perfect for the background. When I did the curves on the new technique, although not improv, the ruler suggest 1/8″ as a seam rather than 1/4″. I am glad reducing the stitches helped. Always fun to be challenged by Island Batik.

    1. Hi Kathleen, Thanks for your comment. I am curious–when you said the ‘ruler’ used a 1/8″ seam, what ruler were you referring to?

      I find that a scant 1/4″ seam still works the best for me, even with tight women fabrics like batiks. I seem to get more puckering with smaller seams.

      Have fun sewing curves!

  7. This is the pattern we are looking for to make a modern quilt with curves! How do I purchase this pattern?

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