Day 158 – Crocus Cluster

From all the comments about Crocus Trail, I figured I needed to do a variation of this design.

I call this Crocus Cluster, but maybe I should rename it to Garlic Cluster!

I’m finally back home in Shelby, NC after a really fun lecture and workshop with the Piedmont Quilter’s Guild in Greensboro, NC.

I got really sleepy on the ride home so I stopped off in my hometown of Asheboro, NC for one extra day before driving back home.

I realized something while I was at my parent’s home. I actually grew up sleeping under many beautiful quilts, but I never really took the time to look at them very well. It’s easy to take things like quilts for granted, even for a quilter!

I stretched out a beautiful, raw edge butterfly applique quilt that one of my Great Grandmothers must have made. It’s such a shame I don’t know exactly who made it.

I’ve decided that the next time I’m in Asheboro, I’m going to pull out all the old quilts, including a lone star and several appliqued quilts, and photograph them all. If I can, I’ll talk to my surviving relatives and try to figure out exactly who made them and when.

I know I have gotten out of the habit of tagging bed quilts, but it is really important. Even a bed quilt deserves a special area for your signature, who the quilt was made for, and the date it was completed.

I’ll try to do a video soon on my method for creating tags. It’s easy and fun, which means there is absolutely no excuse not to do it!

So now I’ll hop off my soapbox so we can get back to Crocus Cluster:

Difficulty Level – Intermediate. This design isn’t super difficult, but just like Crocus Trail, it’s a bit tricky to keep the crocus shape in mind. Just take it easy and if crocuses don’t come naturally, just start thinking about garlic instead!

Design Family – Center Fill. This design is created by stitching from the center of your quilting area to the outside, so you’ll need to place this design in a nice, open area of your quilt.

Directional Texture – Center Focused. This design is similar to yesterday’s design, Giant Snail, in that the whole design focuses your attention right into the center of the block.

Suggestions for Use – Do you have an applique quilt that’s looking a bit bare? Try adding a few Crocus Clusters around your appliques for a very interesting effect!

Back of Crocus Cluster
 

Feel free to use this free motion filler designs in your quilts,

and make sure to tell your friends where you learned it. 

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