Oops I Dropped the Pickle Jar
Oops I Dropped the Pickle Jar is an improv quilt that has been waiting to be finished. I don’t really know why I waited so long, but it is finally done, all except for the label.
This quilt was made in an online workshop with Carole Lyles Shaw. I enjoyed the workshops, and learned new techniques and helpful information about the relationship of colors when making a quilt. If you want to learn more about Carole’s workshops, she currently has registration open for her Modern Quilt Academy. I highly recommend it if you enjoy modern quilts and improv techniques!
Let’s get back to Oops I Dropped the Pickle Jar. Why the funny name? If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I have a thing for Kona Pickle fabric, so it’s no surprise that it shows up in this quilt. The quilt is also a fractured block quilt, so that played a part in the name as well.
While I was stitching this together, I was thinking about the pickle juice color of the fabric, and I realized the fractured look made me think of a broken jar, which made me think of pickle juice spilling all over the floor. So that’s how the quilt got named. I should note that the dark fabric in the quilt is not black, but a dark chocolate brown. The finished quilt measures 35 inches by 41 inches.
For the quilting, I used three Aurifil threads – 40 wt Cinnamon (#2155) and Medium Olive (#2910), and 50 wt Grey (#2605). I started by quilting straight lines in the Medium Olive, then added in a few more with the Cinnamon.
Then I decided to mix it up a little and added in some waves using the grey thread. I’m not sure what I think of the thread combination or the addition of the waves, but I always think it’s fun to just play around and see what happens.
For the batting, I used white Warm & Natural. For the backing, I used a Guicy Guice fabric I had on my shelf. It looks a bit like granite. I almost hated to use it for a back, but it just fit with the quilt and its quirky name.
Oops I Dropped the Pickle Jar now joins my other finished “pickle” quilts. Some day I’ll have to pull them all together and put them in a post. My Kona pickle fabric is just little scrap pieces now. It might be time to find a new favorite fabric!
Happy Monday, all!
Wendy
Cherry Picking
19 Comments
Vicki W
What a fun little quilt!
marissthequilter
This is a spectacular, vibrant work Wendy. The colours and the design are both spot on. Very clever name!
Quilting is in my Blood
Great title! I can’t wait to see all your improv pickle quilts together.
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
I like this one, Wendy! Did you start with some traditionally pieced blocks and then cut them up? I do see pinwheels here and there. Looks like you had fun dropping the pickle jar! 🙂
texasquiltgal
Such a pretty quilt, love the colors and the clever name. 🙂 That backing is really nice, and your quilting looks great!
Cocoa Quilts
Wendy I can’t believe each time you post an Improv, I love it more than the last one! Sad to see the end coming for Pickles, but looking forward to your next color of choice!! Keep them coming!!
J Mur
Looks like a fun quilt to put together and it seems like you had fun naming it, as well!
laura bruno lilly
Fantastic! Wendy, I have to ask: do you like pickles? HA! The name/story and choice of all fabrics (especially the backing) are perfect. You could set up a display of all your pickle quilts alongside your favorite jars/samples of
pickles at the state fair…seems like a Minnesota thing to do, eh?!
😉
BTW: I took her ‘African Prints for Contemporary Quilts, Crafts and More’ class on Creative Spark (with Zippy) and like her style of speaking/teaching, too.
Barbara J Stanbro
Cute. Clever name too. You have a good eye for this.
Karen
I wouldn’t have thought a jar of pickles but ok – I will go with that LOL
Bernie
Definitely see shards of broken glass here Wendy. I like this one. Also, the colors of the brown really show up in the third picture. Color can be a challenge to photograph.
aquilterstable
Love this little one, and what a fun name for this quilt. I like the wavy quilting lines with the straight!
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Great name and I can see exactly how you got from the inspiration to the name of the piece. It will be really fun to see all your quilts that use pickle together; I look forward to that!
Vicki in MN
I think you should be entering quilts into Quilt Con, this one just looks like it would fit really well. I like the name too.
Kate
A very fun finish. You picked a great name. I enjoy hearing how others come up with the names for their quilts. It’s one of things I struggle with.
Kathleen McCormick
I love the title and the quilt! Great job on the improv and a fun way to name the quilt, too. Now, to see all the quilts with pickle in them…a pickle parade…would be so much fun.
Cheree Hull
Yay for another finish! I love all the creativity in this one–in the work and in the name!
rmgsummers413a14ca5a
I had to chuckle at the name and the design! So appropriate. I love the quilting…pickle juice running everywhere. What a fun quilt. I think you need to buy some more Kona Pickle!!
tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles
That is such a cool piece with an awesome name!