PQ 14.4 A Novel Project is the next Project Quilting challenge. A quilt based on a book you’ve read. I have read so many books, I had no idea how to choose. Then I thought of one book that I have read multiple times, and it would be fun making a quilt inspired by it.
I pulled out my scrap bins and some nearby scraps from other projects laying around, and had a little fun with some improv. Can you guess what book it is?
If you guessed One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss, you are right! We read that book countless times to our kids when they were little, so often that I used to have it memorized. I was a little sad to realize I can no longer remember it as well, but it still makes me smile when I think of those happy times.
To make the quilt, I used Nicholas Ball’s method of making improv fish in his book, Inspiring Improv. They are so addicting to make, I’m thinking I may have to make a few more. All five fish were done quickly, then pieced together for a small quilt that measures 14.5″ x 16.5″.
For the quilting I did some simple wavy lines going back and forth with aqua thread, so it looks like they are swimming in the waves (well, except for those two upended, I’m not sure what they are up to).
A little striped binding to finish it off, and I was done! I even had the perfect backing for this little quilt, a piece from the Catch and Release line by Mr. Domestic for AGF Fabrics.
And that’s a wrap for my PQ 14.4 A Novel Project. I’m looking forward to the next challenge!
Wendy
I did recognize book and love the modern vibe of your quilt. It seems a bit Scandinavian — so cool! Your backing’s perfect too. How fun to have a project come together so nicely!
I remember reading that book to my kids. I love your improv fish!
A perfect nod to this Dr. Seuss classic! Those improv fish are so cute, and I agree, they’re addictive to make! This mini is another wonderful challenge project. Do you have a place where you display your challenge minis?
Of course it’s One Fish, Two Fish. What else could it be? Congratulations on a very cute and fitting finish. I love the binding!
Perfect choice for this mini quilt. I love it! I read that book a zillion times when I was a child. Along with all of his other books. His hometown is Springfield MA, not very far from me.
SEW cute, Wendy!! As a nanny for years, I knew what your selection was right away.
Oh yes we read that a bunch to our kids and I acquired a copy to read to the grandsons several years back. I think those two upended fish are on their way to get a bite of fish food we put in our pond, haha.
I knew that one right away! Love your little quilt. It is perfect!!!!
Ha ha ha! I laughed when I saw One Fish, Two Fish. I’d just scrolled to the photo and thought, “Oh, she did The Bible… it’s the story of five loaves and two fishes. I wonder if she realized that she got it backwards and did five fish.” I laughed out loud! Two books… not quite similar! Still chuckling.
Brilliant! That is so cute!
love your fish
Love your solution it’s so cute.
Happy sewing.
Your little quilt is adorable!! I used to read that book to my kids when they were young. Thanks for bringing back a sweet memory. Hugs,
Oh, this is very cute. Great idea. Love your fish fabric on the back.
Such a super fun quilt. I figured out the title but wouldn’t have hit the buzzer first. We had books like that where you didn’t have to look at the pages anymore. I think your fish are perfect and the quilting is awesome. The back of the quilt was meant to be. Congrats on a great finish.
What a great mini and nod to Dr. Seuss! Oh yeah…my family could quote this book! (Not to mention a few others of his.) Ha, ha! 🙂
This is a great quilt and so much fun to see your interpretation. Yes, I do miss those times and look forward to doing some if it with my grand nieces, when I get a chance to. It was a fun way to pick a book, too, for this challenge.
What a clever mini! I am LOL at Helen’s comment. 😀 You are so good at improv, plus you are danged creative. Those upended fish are eating something on the surface. 😉
Love it Wendy. As soon as I get home from the hospital I’ll be finishing mine 😉
The backing print is perfect and I knew the book as soon as I saw the mini quilt. This is so fun!
Very clever! There are so many possibilities when you start to think of it!
so many of us are inspired by childhood books! Yours is SO you
LeeAnna
Awesome mini quilt, Wendy!!! I thought maybe it was the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, but that was 2 fish and 5 loaves! Great backing, too!!!
That’s so clever. I love it. I had memorised several children’s books for the same reason.. The Hungry Caterpillar comes to mind.
Love all your fishes and the backing is just perfect! A lovely bright project, and a perfect Dr Seuss accompaniment.
Hi Wendy, your choice of a book put a smile on my face. I was a remedial reading teaching for many decades and I used that book quite a lot with the younger children. And of course, you have rendered it in cloth so beautifully (like everything you stitch).
Yes I thought it was One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss. Really pretty little quilt.
Minis really are such fun! At first I was thinking, hmm, did Armand and Jean-Guy go fishing in one of the books? I know you already did an ode to Three Pines however. 😉 I, too, love Dr. Seuss. In fact, I learned to read with The Cat in the Hat, and I lived in that story, so shocked by Thing one and Thing Two’s bad behaviour lol! Love these bright colours and love the backing!
This is adorable and I love the improv fish!
I love your colourful fish against those background fabrics. This is such a fun and modern interpretation of your book 🙂
Thank you!