Purple Vortex is my March Island Batik project. The theme is One Die Wonder. In our Island Batik box in January we got an awesome die from AccuQuilt, an Island Batik Ambassador partner. It is a single die that can cut all the pieces of the storm at sea block at once. Our challenge was to use this die and make a quilt. I am also happy to host TGIFF on the third anniversary of my blog. My first ever blog post was A Flowery Journey on March 27th 2017.
Disclosure: All the fabric used in this quilt was given to me by Island Batik, the dies and the die cutter was given by AccuQuilt, the batting by Hobb’s batting, and thread by Aurifil threads, as part of the Island Batik Ambassador program.
The storm-at-sea block is one of my favorites. Since I had a die to cut the pieces accurately and speed up the construction, I spent extra time designing the layout, focusing on the flow of color and movement. Creating is the best part of quilting. I used several shades of rich purple Island Batik as the focus fabric and several off-whites and neutrals for the background.
This is the die for storm-at-sea. The pieces are grouped such that you can use the top row of pieces for the focus fabric and the bottom row for the background. I cut 5″ strips from the purples and they nicely fit the top row on the die. I cut strips of the background for the bottom row.
After I cut several pieces, the fun began with laying them out on the design wall and experimenting. I used a few darker neutral near the center of the quilt and gradually faded to a light neutral at the ends and the negative space.
I was hoping to get the quilting done before this post but it did not happen. My plan is to make large concentric circles using the walking foot on my domestic machine. It is on the frame here to make basting stitches and to quilt a few smaller circles rising from bottom to top on one side of the quilt. The walking foot circles will break at these small circles creating a bubble effect. At least that’s the plan, let’s see where it takes me in the end.
I used Hobb’s cotton/wool blend batting (looks chunky but very light) and Aurifil thread in a lovely muted purple (I think it’s plum – need to verify). I will do the walking foot circles in a pale gold Aurifil thread.
I am so happy to host Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday (TGIFF) this week. Please linking up your projects below – finished or not!
Oh, I didn’t recognize this as Storm at Sea blocks earlier – no wonder I like it. I have a Storm at Sea in progress; it stalled out when I had to acquire more fabric. I love the fabrics you’ve chosen as well as the layout.
Love the gradient of the colour.
I always look forward to seeing your work. Once again, you did not disappoint. Your colors work so well together and the design gives the feel of motion. The illusion of curves from the way the angles play together is so interesting. Nicely done.
That is a really really cool quilt! thank you for showing how the dies work – that makes so much more sense than what I was thinking. I hope you will show it again when the quilting is all done!
Lovely quilt, this pattern is wonderful
Looking good!
Lovely colors for a Storm at Sea quilt! I made this quilt once but wasn’t fortunate to have those nice die to make the job easier! I like your layout too!
I really like what you did here! I’m still assembling mine…it’s rather tedious!
Wow! What a beautiful quilt!!! I’m excited to see it with the circles all in place! Thanks for hosting TGIFF this week!!!
It’s a beautiful version of storm at sea!!
This is beautiful! I really like the color gradation you’ve used. The start of your quilting looks stunning!
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I do love the storm at sea quilt. Your fabrics are so vibrant!
Hi Vasudha! This is such a pretty quilt. I’m not a huge fan of purple but I love all the different shades and tones and how they move throughout the whole quilt. I am anxious to see how the quilting turns out – bubbles sound cool. I am always intimidated with a whole bunch of open space . . . but you tackle that challenge all the time. Thanks so much for linking up this week and stay safe. ~smile~ Roseanne