MQ: Do you normally choose fabrics first and then start a design, or vice versa?
“I would say that probably 75-80% of the quilts I design begin with the fabric first. I am inspired every time I step into a quilt shop. I wander around until a fabric “speaks” to me and then the design follows.”
"Fabric Selection" - some of the fabrics I chose to include in the quilt for Challenge 2
MQ: What was the first step you took to design this Challenge 2 quilt?
“I knew when the fabric came that we would be using it in the quilt in some manner. It wasn’t a fabric that I would normally choose, so I stared at the fabric for a couple of hours as I cut out another project. Then I dreamed (or had nightmares) about the design. I hung the fabric on my design wall and stared at it some more. Then I went on a walk and thought about it. Finally I went for a bike ride on the Lake Wobegon trail (very peaceful) and when I was on the bike, I knew how I wanted to use the fabric.”
Inspiration for my design came from a flower garden by the Lake Wobegon trail where I bike.
MQ: How has this second challenge compared to the first challenge for you?
“This quilt has been more of a challenge to make because I have decided to include applique which I don’t do very often. The actual piecing of the quilt was fairly easy compared to the first challenge.”
My favorite room at my local quilt shop - Gruber's Quilt Shop in Waite Park, MN - batiks, of course!
MQ: Anything else you’d like to share?
“Voting for challenge #1 began on my birthday. I was informed that I got to move on to challenge #2 on my husband’s birthday. Voting for challenge #2 begins on our anniversary.”
Click here to read Chris Hoover’s McCall’s Quilt Design Star™ 2012 bio page.
This update has been brought to you by Pfaff, one of our fine QDS™ 2012 sponsors.
