Low Volume Churndash Swap

My quilty friends and I seem to always have a swap of some sort going on.

Shortly after we finished our plus block swap, we started this low volume Churndash Swap. 

 

We each chose our own focal colors to go along with the low volume back ground. 

 

I chose to use orange and pink and I requested that the color be in background, instead of having the colors be in the churndash ;)

We each made four blocks for each swap participant.

 

These are Barbie's blocks. @thequiltingmill

 

Sonia @hobblecreekquilts and Kira @quiltedkira requested red 

and I made them identical blocks.

 

These aqua lovelies are Krystal's @thestitchstarter

 

Emily @simplegirlsimplelife requested black! 

 

Tiffany @tiffsewinsomethin chose a muted fall rainbow of colors with half of the colors in the back ground and half in the churndash.

 

Natalie  @smileynannn wanted winter colors, gray, blue and silver!  

 

Kairle @kairleoaks wanted sherbet colors.   As it turns out, I was the only one that thought my aqua and cornflower blue would make good sherbet colors ;) 

 

Denise @happyvalleyquilting also chose the lovely aqua. 

In deciding my layout, I didn't know what to do.

One day while scrolling through Instagram, I saw someone layout the churn dashes on point.  I fell in love!  They look like lanterns to me :)

I sketched out this very complex pattern ;)  AKA map!

I knew that I would need an additional 5 blocks to complete my quilt.

I also thought it would look cool if I made 9 patches for setting blocks.

 

I used low volume fabrics for the final setting blocks.  LOVE!!!

 

It was really hard to decide how to quilt this special quilt.

 

The borders ended up with straight lines, 3/4" apart.

 

I used a single layer of Winline Wool batting.  

I left the churndashes unquilted so they would poof up ;)

I am super happy with how the quilting turned out!

 

While quilting, I decided to add each of my friends names in the center of one of the blocks that they made for me.

I messed up nearly all of their names!! :(

Matalie, Bardie, Enily, & KryStal.

I decided to leave the mistakes to remind myself that I am truly not a perfectionist!

 

For the binding, I used the Cotton + Steele gray gingham, cut on the bias.

Perfection!

 

I am so happy with how beautifully this quilt turned out.

It is exactly how I envisioned it.

 

A word about swaps-

One of my favorite things about swaps is the type of quilt you end up with.

As quilters, we are usually very particular and specific about the things we like,
the fabrics we choose and the quilts we make.

 

When participating in a swap, you have to let go of that.  You have to put your requests out to the group and then be ready to LOVE each quilters interpretation of your instructions.

 

In the blocks that I received, some were exactly as I had instructed, some were not. 

 As it turns out, when I made my 5 additional blocks, 

I couldn't even follow my own instructions :(

...and guess what?  It didn't matter at all!

 

Swap quilts give you a special gift from each quilter in the group.  Each piece of fabric was chosen by my dear friends, just for me.

I love it so much!!

 

PS- This was the first quilt that I made with a single layer of wool batting.

I love how squishy and warm and soft it is.

It is a wonderful quilt to nap under!

 

I will always treasure the friendships this quilt represents!

 

I cant wait to start on my next swap quilt!