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| Snow Crystals Quilt |
Snow crystals quilt is a creative, versatile project that offers endless possibilities and makes for a wonderful gift.
The beauty of capturing the quiet, crisp essence of winter in a quilt is so satisfying, and Gail Kessler's Snow Crystals pattern does just that. This project, created for Allpeoplequilt (American Patchwork & Quilting), is based on clean geometry and sharp contrast to simulate the fragile form of actual ice crystals. This design is an ideal choice for someone who wants a more complex but manageable project for the season, as it has a perfect balance of complexity and size.
The Design Details That Matter
A first impression of the pattern details is the careful, efficient scale. It measures a neat 40″ square, making it an excellent wall hanging, elegant table topper or seasonally themed accent for hanging over the arm of an armchair.
The secret to this beautiful quilt is how it's put together. Kessler works with foundation paper piecing (stitching the fabric onto a paper foundation, which is the most precise method of piecing). Paper piecing is a lifesaver if you've ever found it difficult to get immacate, razor sharp points on complex star blocks. It will eliminate the danger of having a stretched fabric on bias edges, so each individual crystal point is accurate.
Fabric Choice: The Power of Batiks
The pattern makes a beautiful use of cool batik fabrics to get that frosty luminous look. The flat patchwork has an impression of depth and movement created by the rich textures of batiks that are grounded in deep cerulean blues, icy aquas and crisp whites. It's like going through a pane of glass with a frost on it on a cold, clear morning, it's that good. You don't have to stick with the winter blues, however, and replacing the cold shades with dark navy and metallic silver can create an interesting and dramatic night-time sky effect that looks great all year long.
Final Thought
The Snow Crystals quilt is a lesson in how to create a huge impact with a relatively small project. It is designed to test your technical accuracy and is great because it doesn't have such a big, heavy layout to quilt on a domestic machine; rather, the blocks are completed by foundation paper piecing. It can be displayed on an individual's wall throughout the cold winter months or serve as a gift to anyone who appreciates classic seasonal decor, and it's the sort of project that helps perpetuate one of the most beloved aspects of patchwork: creating something out of simple geometric lines.
Full Post: Snow Crystals Quilt Free PDF Pattern
