Union Jack Surprise!
Well, this has been a long time coming! Last year I participated in two Australian quilt bees, and for my months I asked my loyal subjects to make Union Jack blocks using my tutorial. Oh, there was some whining alright, but I beat it out of all of them, and then they gave me magic. The colour brief was simple: Go colour crazy! I have combined theirs with ten blocks of my own for a total of forty blocks using eighty different fabrics. I sashed each of them to create uniformly-sized blocks.
I wanted to create some movement in the quilt (they are flags, after all!), so decided to try putting them slightly on point. That was a challenge and a half, let me tell you! Rectangles on point, on a large scale, without my protractor or geometry teacher by my side. My brain went “Whoa!” So I just started sewing it up and worked through any problems that tried to beat me down. And y’all know I wouldn’t lose that battle! Snap! It has finished (at this stage) at 70″x114″, a bit big for a single bed, but I’ll probably leave it as is.
I’m also taking this opportunity to relaunch my Union Jack Block Pattern, and I’ve given it a dedicated page so it’s easy to find. The tutorial looks long, but it’s really some very simple steps, just repeated four times. There’s no paper piecing involved, and it works well with traditional blues and reds, or lots of colour. If you can wash, rinse and repeat, you can make this block!
I promise to have lots more detailed pictures for you once it is quilted and bound. My good camera is currently in the shop, and by in the shop I mean: “It’s actually my MILs and she is using it while she travels through Europe for a month.” How dare she!? I know! So what am I doing with it? This one is going to that special someone I often have Proud Dad moments with. But shhh! It’s a surprise!
I’ll give you the full stats in a few weeks when it gets itself fully dressed!
Linking up with TGIFF and Crazy Mom Quilts!
P.s. Mr. Sparkles didn’t complain one bit during quilt holding duties!
That is HUGE!!!!!! And lovely!
wow. Looks awesome!
Mr Sparkles is getting good at quilt holding! (It IS an art in itself). Love, love this blowing in the wind flag quilt. Great work! 🙂 xx
Love this quilt!! I have already pinned the tutorial so I can do it myself sometime! I also love that the tute does not require paper piecing. I know how to PP but just find it a bit wasteful at times and often tedious. 🙂 Looking forward to seeing how you quilt this!
Cool! The size looks a bit like for basketball player 🙂 It sure could keep some long legs warm, lol.
Crikey! What a ststst stunner. Glad I wasnt one of those slaves trying to give you this masterpiece. They done good. Real good.
I love this quilt and love the way you set the blocks. Another spectacular quilt Molli. Have a great weekend. Marie (mlismore@optusnet.com.au)
I have to admit I'm not usually into the whole Union Jack thing (maybe it's the Irish in me) but I do really love how this has turned out. Your Bee mates did you proud with a great selection of blocks, and there are some stunning colour combos in there which makes the block look more-design-less-flag-like to me and I like that and am tempted to have a go at making a few when I get the time. Love your tutorial and that there is no PP involved as that is so not my thing. Looking forward to seeing this one quilted and finished, and I'm guessing your talented special someone is going to love it.
I really love this quilt. All of the blocks on point are so stunning. Can't wait to see it when it's quilted.
Fabulous! Now im almost sorry I enlarged your block to throw size! Love the on point too! Molli's tutorial is wonderfully documented and easy to follow!
First rectangles on point I have seen and it's fabulous! And thank you for the tutorial, very clear and I think I might be able to pull it off!
Just goes to show how completely random colours can come together and look fantastic! With your blocks and design eye pulling it all together of course. Ridiculous size and so awesome.
The way my husband uses quilts, 70" x 114" sounds like a perfect throw size! He believes if you're going to use a quilt, you should cocoon yourself in it. 😀 It's gorgeous – and I really love the angled rectangles!
Um, gorgeous. (But then, of course it is.)
I've got a Union Jack quilt on my things to make list and yours is the version I would want to make if it were for me! Love the movement of the flags and of course the scrappy goodness.
On point was a genius idea! Love it so much!
wowser!!!!!
movement – check!! setting them at an angle is genius – looks ah-mazing.
Stunning! Prepare yourself for when Scotland gains independence and we redesign our flag… 😉
Thanks for the link to your tutorial! I've been trying to decide on a block for my turn as Queen Bee next month… I might just have MY loyal subjects whip some of these up! 🙂
OK so I am not normally a Union Jack person (yankee from the States and all) but this is amazing! Love the colors and the effort to place the blocks on point was well worth it! Great pictures too!
This is one awesome quilt…..and I'm glad you've added the tutorial because I missed it the first time.
Awesome quilt! I love all the colors!
love it!
Oh man, this is fantastic!! Setting them at an angle/on point is lovely! But eee gads, I don't envy you figuring out how to do that. It's making my brain hurt.
This is SO lovely! This block is on my list to try. I reallllly like what you've done with them here…
Just gorgeous!!
Ok, so you wanted truth tea? You're going to get it. I like the quilt, great colours and movement BUT our national flag is NOT called the Union Jack. This really pisses me off. It's called the Union FLAG. It's only a jack on a ship.
Ooh, love how this turned out! But yes, technically Wendy's right (even if we all get it wrong 99.99% of the time ;o) )
Hey Katy! Wendy said a similar thing above… however, while making this pattern I did some research about your flag and found this article:
http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/436835/It-s-official-We-can-call-our-flag-the-Union-Jack
To excerpt, "The chief vexillologist of the Flag Institute, who is just about the highest authority you can find in the flag world, has declared that, yes, we can after all call our national flag the Union Jack."
So I guess I can still call it the Union Jack, LOL! 😉
I think your quilt is beautiful and everyone who contributed should be very proud indeed, even if you did have to beat them into submission. Hope you have a very Happy Father's Day!
Love it! The blocks look great on an angle. Hope you have recovered from the math. I love quilts with lots of different fabrics. Its fun looking at it and seeing if you have any of the same fabrics.
Mr Soarkles deserves a reward for holding up that ginormous quilt. Nicely done 😉
Wow that's amazing!
Good grief. I missed checking blogs for a few days and look what you did!! Dayam!! Now that's a QUILT! Impressive.
I love this quilt soooooo much!! One day I'll make my own. Yours is a HUGE inspiration. 🙂
I'm a little late adding my praise to this post, but I wanted to drop in and say just how fabulous it is, and how much this quilt has been in mind mind since I spotted it a month ago. Union Jacks on point? Totally genius. I can't seem to shake it out of my brain. 🙂 Your quilts are so original! And perfectly harmoniously colourful. I don't think I could copy this idea and have it come up anything like as good. I shall just have to admire it from afar.
I love this . can I get the pattern?