Purple Reign and Kismet

Once in a while, the stars align. A cosmic conversion occurs and 2022 is one of those years for me when the perfect combination of color and fabric occurs. Purple is in this year, including beautiful plumy purples like this Purple Reign fabric line by Clothworks.

I discovered the Purple Reign collection in one of my favorite little quilt shops up in Port Townsend, WA and quickly piled them on the cutting table. Mine! Gloriously mine! This cosmic convergence of color and the wonderful Purple Reign prints simply screamed to be made into a lovely log cabin. You know how I love a log cabin! And purple! It was kismet!

I used my EQ8 software to preview the log cabin layout and color placement. The log cabin blocks are 11.75″ unfinished, with a 4.5″ center, and two rounds of 2.5″ strips, which means it goes together very quickly. Borders are 4.5″ unfinished with 4.5″ square cornerstones.

I couldn’t decide between the flower print center and the gray center, so I decided to do some of each! The layout utilizes the two in a design that allows each to shine. I used my EQ8 software to help me decide the log cabin layout and color placement.

This is 56″ x 76″ and could be used on a twin size US mattress or a futon. It also is a great “couch quilt” size for chilly weather snuggling.

The step by step quilting plan:

1. SID – Stitch in the ditch with MonoPoly around the log cabin blocks and then around the inside of the second round of logs. Now I can take out most of the pins and move my quilt and stitch anywhere I like.
2. “Divide and conquer” – You can’t decide what to quilt where all at once unless you decide to do an all over design. Break it down… Do you want to quilt individual blocks or quilt a patchwork design as a block? I am doing both here. Gray center squares will be quilted as individual blocks. The larger cross/circle design will be quilted as unit.

After SID, I used Cindy Needham stencils marking with Fons & Porter white ceramic/chalk fabric marker is used on the dark fabrics (SewLine makes very similar ceramic/chalk markers.)

I decided early on to do a two tone thread treatment, with Magnifico 50wt glossy white in the gray centered blocks. I found a lavender twist thread (Superior Threads, 50wt) in my stash for the larger area.

Large FMQ flowers fill the grey center squares, while 3/4 medallions (medallions are so fun to make) cover the larger cross/circle design.

I will make up a couple hot pads out of the leftover fabric bits (I also used them to test thread colors). Yay! Purple hot pads!

Time to go bury thread tails and add the border. Next week I will post the completed quilt and talk about my next project.

Color note: Purple Reign is not as blue “in person” as it shows on EQ8 or internet photos. It is a more of a plumy purple with a red undertone. My photos are representative of the real color.

Happy quilting!

Lennea