Positively Transparent++MQG August 2017 Quilt of the Month

I am excited to share my quilt, Positively Transparent, which was chosen by the Modern Quilt Guild for the August 2017 Quilt of the Month. 

If this design looks familiar, you are right!  The original Positively Transparent, measuring just 16" x 18", was exhibited at QuiltCon 2016 in the small quilts category.  It has also appeared Simply Moderne twice, first in issue #5 and then again in issue #9 in an article, Creating Transparency in Quilting, by Riane Menardi of the MQG.

The mini Positively Transparent was started in a class taught by Lizzy House which focused on exploring the elements and principles of design.  You can read all about the making the mini version in this blog post.

The background fabric is Essex Yarn Dyed in flax and the plus sign fabrics are Kona Cotton solids, all generously provided by Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

I love the backing fabric also, Vincent Van Gogh 2 Journal Notes in Grey, again by Robert Kaufman. Here you can see I decided to apply a facing rather than a binding, just like my original Positively Transparent.

I really like how the edge looks with the facing.  The quilting threads just disappear around the edge.

I quilted Positively Transparent in an uneven grid using various weights of Aurifil which was a first for me.  Until now I had pieced and quilted with only 50 wt. Aurifil.

I used Aurifil 5011 40 wt. (green spool) in background but still used 50 wt. in the bobbin.  In the plus signs, matching the fabrics, I quilted with 28 wt. (gray spool) and used a 90/14 topstitch needle just a Aurifil suggests here. As an Auriful Artisan, all of the thread was provided by Aurifil.

You can see I carried the thread color used in each plus sign all the way through the quilt.  I didn't keep track of the hours of quilting time, but it took awhile and, to me, worth every stitch.

And just for giggles, I thought I would show you an outtake from my photoshoot.  I found this awesome two-colored painted wall of a warehouse just a couple miles from my house.  Yes, there were some funny looks!  And while my quilt was barely in the shade of the building, I was standing in the blazing sun.

Seriously, I would like to thank my pattern reviewers Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs and Patty at Elm Street Quilts for providing valuable help and feedback.  And thanks to E.A. Cox for pattern testing for me.  I would also like to thank The Warm Company for providing my favorite batting, Warm & White.

Positively Transparent has been enlarged to a lap quilt measuring 60" x 68". You can find the pattern under Resourses of the Community tab at the Modern Quilt Guild.  If you are not already a member of the MQG, you can join right here to gain access to this pattern "plus" so much more.

If you love plus sign quilts, check out this secret project, Modern Plus Sign Quilts (affiliate link), which has been in the works and is now listed for pre-order on Amazon! More about this soon!

Excited to share my very first quilt pattern, I'm crashing every party this week!

Let's Bee Social #191 with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers with Susan at QuiltFabrication

Needle and Thread Thursday with Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday this week with Anja at Anja Quilts

Can I get a Whoop Whoop with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

and Show Off Saturday with Caroline at Sew She Can

Finish It Up Friday when Amanda of Crazy Mom Quilts returns in September