Quilt Finish – Just Listen

As I said in my last post, I’ve got quite a few quilts lingering around the house finished or just about there. If any of you have kids still living at home, I know you feel me! Sometimes you’ve just got to push them out the door to a long arm quilter (or college frat party) otherwise they’ll stay holed up in their rooms forever. And momma needs her sewing space back! I completed this quilt top about six months ago, but due to the #mollisparkles3750 holiday, my surgery, and Mr. Sparkles surgery, its debut was shelved. So today, I’m glad to present another quilt finish called, Just Listen. In the legendary words of CeCe Peniston, “FINALLY!”

Here’s an excerpt of how I spun this when I had finished the quilt top back in April:

My other design challenge was to leave the square, paper-pieced headphone blocks intact since they represented the original pattern, but also making them feel like they transitioned from one to another throughout the quilt. There was to be no grid in this quilt, which instantly led me down the thought process of improvisational piecing.

The title “Just Listen” was born about half-way through piecing the quilt top. I knew approximately where I wanted each block to be positioned in the quilt, but how they were ultimately to be connected was shrouded in mystery. Then I started to relax, thus creating with impulse and instinct. I knew if I was spending too much time thinking about any particular section, rather than actioning it, I had to just listen to myself and the quilt. Listen, create, connect. Listen, create, connect.

And so I did, until nearly the entire quilt was one. That’s when I realised how metaphorical this idea could be. Just listen: stop shouting over each other, and listen. Empathy, positive intent, connection. That’s the journey that this quilt wants to inspire. We all wear headphones of our own desire (political, moral, spiritual beliefs), but it’s the ability to connect to others around us despite these, that will truly make us a grand symphony of love.

You can purchase the Hey Mr. DJ block pattern below.

Hey Mr. DJ Block Pattern

I’m digging the quilting that Jane Davidson completed for me. It’s a pattern creating a field of connected squares: let the music play!

I’m especially proud of the back because I glue-basted two pieces of fabric together horizontally in an attempt to make the seam line disappear. I can see a few fold lines from here, but definitely not a seam. Mission accomplished!

It wouldn’t be a Molli Sparkles creation without my signature double-flecked binding. I still make sure to include a label, but little inconsequential details like this make me feel all gooey inside.

I’m probably the only one that would notice, but the large purple columns on the blue background, with the orange trumpet like shape across it, well, that was my nod to Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid. I was actually creating that segment of the quilt top during the presidential debates, and all I could think was “JUST LISTEN.”

These are a few of my favourite improv sections … well, hell, a few? I love them all! I really learned through this quilt that I enjoy creating movement and blended sections through improvisational piecing. I’m currently working on a project that’s on my design wall with the same technique. Hopefully you’ll see that one a lot sooner than this one. As for this Just Listen quilt, it’s finally pushed out the door, and is dancing its merry little headphones down the street!

Hey Mr. DJ Block Pattern