Piecing the Wave Texture Spectrum QAL 2020: Wave Texture by Benartex

Now that my version of Block 12 in the Spectrum QAL 2020 quilt design featuring fabrics selected from the Wave Texture collection by Benartex is finished, the exciting time has come to assemble all the blocks into a quilt top!

Although I’ve had a general idea of the look I wanted for my version of the Spectrum QAL 2020 quilt, I’ve also kept an open mind until it came time to assemble the quilt top.

Originally, I had planned to place a lattice piece on all sides of the blocks, however, as it came time to make a final decision, I wanted an even more modern look to the quilt. By changing the color of the lattice, the result gave the quilt more of a floating block feel. To add a bit of interest, I added a pop of color wherever four blocks meet.

Let me show you what I mean.

The photo on the left was my original vision for the quilt. The photo on the right is my current plan for assembling the quilt.

To make a version like my Spectrum QAL 2020 quilt, use 2966-53 Cobalt from the Wave Texture collection. The following fabric cuts are required:

• (16) 1½” x 12½” (lattice strips)
• (2) 1½” x 25½” (top and bottom strips)
• (5) 1½” x 1½” (corner squares)
• (1) 14″ x 79½” (background)*
• (1) 28″ x 79½” (background)*

*Cutting directions for the background strips will be shown later in this post.

The first step in assembling the quilt top is to decide on the placement of each block. Feel free to place them in the same order as mine or play with other possible layouts.

Once you’ve decided on the placement of the blocks, sew a 1½” x 12½” lattice fabric strip between each pair of blocks as shown below:

Next, sew a 1½“ x 1½“ corner fabric piece between the short ends of five lattice strip pairs.

Now, sew a lattice strip/corner square set between each pair of blocks.

With all the blocks and lattices sewn together, sew a 25½” x 1½” strip to the top and bottom of the assembled 12-block set.

Note: Earlier in this post, I indicated the need for two background fabric strips each 80½” long. The quilt top length should be 79½” long. To be on the safe side, I always add 1″ more to the length than needed. I prefer to have to trim a bit off than to be caught short!

The width of the background fabric depends on the width of the fabric you’re using. I decided on the background width based on the width of the Wave Texture fabric, which is 43″ wide.

Before cutting the selected background fabric, unfold the fabric and press away the center fold line.

Making sure the selvages are perfectly aligned, fold the 80½” strip in four lengthwise. Cut off one of the selvages. For a quick tutorial on cutting long strips, look at this QUILTsocial tutorial: The trick to cutting long pieces of fabric is in the fold.

After the selvage is removed, do not move the fabric; cut a 14″ wide strip.

Reposition the fabric on the cutting mat. If the fabric needs to be squared off after repositioning, remove only the minimum amount of fabric needed to square it up. Measure 28″ across, then remove the selvage edge from the far side of the fabric.

Sew the 14″ and 28″ wide background strips to each long side of the assembled blocks unit.

With both background fabric strips attached, the quilt top is complete!

Quilting is the next step on our journey! This step requires three things: batting, backing fabric and a quilter!

Let’s look at these one at a time:

Backing fabric

Whenever I can, I much prefer to use a wide-back backing on my quilts. It eliminates the need for piecing the quilt back.

For my version of the Spectrum QAL 2020 quilt, I’ll use 108″ wide-back Medium Red 2966W-15 fabric from Benartex Wave Texture collection. I just love this deep red fabric for the backing. As a bonus, after the quilt has been quilted, there will be enough backing fabric left to use for the binding.

Batting

For the batting in this quilt, I’ll use Fairfield Quilter’s 80/20 Quilt Batting. I’ve used this low loft quilt batting in the past with good results.

Quilter

The third and last thing we need to finish this quilt is someone with quilting skills. Normally, when opting for basic quilting, I’ll quilt it myself. For this project, I want custom quilting, so I’ll have my friend Kim Mullen of Eye Candy Custom Quilting to work her longarm magic on this traditional yet modern quilt.

I look forward to seeing what she’ll do in all the negative space!

All I have to do when the quilt returns from quilting is trim the quilt and attach the binding. It won’t be long before you get to see the final, dazzling results created using three wonderful fabric lines in three totally different settings!

Claire Haillot, Elaine Theriault, and I will reveal our completed quilts in June 2021 during a virtual event! Stay tuned to QUILTsocial for upcoming details.