Presenting my latest finish: Modern Logs!
Modern Logs by Christa Watson, 48″ x 54″
Modern Logs was one of my fastest finishes ever! From picking out the fabrics, to stitching down the binding, I finished in just under a week. The folks at Quiltique were kind enough to order the Petal Pinwheels line from Michael Miller for this quilt. It’s the same fabric being used in the Modern Quilt Guild’s fabric challenge. I chose coordinating solids and I was off and running (or should I say sewing)!
Probably the hardest part of the whole quilt was deciding on which fabrics to put together, but of course, that’s also the most rewarding part when it all comes together. I made test blocks, wrote copious pattern notes, and practiced quilting on a sample block so that I could test the thread and batting.
I prefer natural batting when quilting on my home machine – it doesn’t pucker!
I went with Aurifil Dove grey 50Wt. cotton for the quilting (in both top and bobbin) with Quilter’s Dream Cotton in the select loft thickness. I used an elongated ziz-zag stitch – #16 on my Bernina model 710. I adjusted the length and width of the stitch until I was happy with the result.
This is the fourth quilt I’ve made using 505 basting spray and I’m just in love with it! It sticks every square inch of the top to every square inch of the batting and backing – so important to keep things from shifting and bunching while quilting!
This time I put a sheet under my layers as I sprayed and did it indoors with the windows open. My room is large and well ventilated so fumes were not a problem. I sprayed the backing and top, rather than the batting. I also ironed the whole thing when finished to set the adhesive, a tip I learned from machine quilter extraordinaire Ann Petersen.
I created the backing on my design wall by covering up the top with yardage and leftover scraps. I kept going until the backing was big enough. I love fun pieced backs, don’t you?
Here’s a nice angled shot where you can really see the quilting:
Zig zag quilting was super easy and fast to do!
And the back:
I think quilt backs should be as interesting as the fronts!
Modern Logs finishes at 48″ x 54″ and took a total of 24 hours to complete, including binding by hand. Not bad for a week’s work, and much faster than my last MQG challenge!
Modern Logs – designed, pieced and quilted by Christa Watson, 2014
For those of you outside the local area, I will be teaching this quilt as a week-long retreat class at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina, March 8-14, 2015.
I’ll update my teaching schedule when Folk School registration opens later this spring.
Christa Quilts 
I love how this turned out! Can I say the back is just as awesome as the front? Nice job!
Beautiful quilt and both sides are equally gorgeous!!!
Love the modern logs. Such a cool way to use stash fabrics. Also the backing is a fun surprise 🙂 Great job!
Ummmm…. I don’t know how I missed this! But you did an amazing job! The modern logs design is perfect for these fabrics. And you KNOW I love the zig zag quilting. What a fast and fabulous finish, Christa!
Wow Christa, this is amazing! I read your blog in my email all the time but somehow I missed this. BEAUTIFUL work! 🙂
Nice, nice.
This is stunning!
oh my GOODNESS!! Christa, I LOVE this! The front and back are both too cool. The fabrics are so awesome!
Thanks so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!
🙂 Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
Love the back! These are such fun fabrics and look great in log cabins! My mum is visiting me soon and I think she’s bringing her challenge fabrics with her so we can work on ideas together (I’m not in a MQG, so miss out!).
Love the blocks. Fun fabrics and the quilting stitch is perfect. I am doing something similar but went with straight cuts instead of wonky.
Beautiful quilt Christa and wow are you fast!! I really, really love the zigzag quilting! Thanks for sharing.
Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday
That is such a bright, cheerful quilt! Enjoy your time in NC – my current home 🙂 I would give anything to be able to spend a month straight at the Folk School someday, it’s amazing. Thanks for linking up while I hosted Anything Goes Mondays!
A stunning quilt!!!
Wow what a quick finish! Love how it’s nice and bold too 🙂
Wow, another great finish Christa! I love how it turned out, and that back is really great! 🙂
24 hours?! You go girl- Impressive!! Love everything about this quilt. Awesome job!!
Very nice! I like how you paired all of the solids with the prints, it make the quilt pop.
Wonderful! I love this whole piece! Stopping by from SewJo!
What a beautiful quilt! I love your fabric choice and am intrigued with your zig zag quilting. I’m inspired to experiment with that for some quilts that I have to quilt “quickly”. (With your permission, of course.)
the fabric choices are terrific with uneven logs. The solids then pattern…
LeeAnna Paylor
Not Afraid of Color!
lapaylor.blogspot.com
Looking forward to the pattern being published. No way will I be able to do it in 24 hours.
This quilt is all kinds of awesome! Just LOVE that back! I need to play with my zig zag stitches and see what I can come up with – that is a very cool look!!
Not sure which I like best . back or front. stunning both ways
Love those uber-cool quilt backs; LOOOOVE quilt basting spray, and glad you do now too; I’ve never ironed it ever to set, and have never ever had an issue, and I’ve used it on my quilts for over 10 years, not that I’m trying to disagree with a pro-quilter like Ann or you, but just sayin’. And I just LOVE this quilt! I love it more in real fabric and quilted up than it was in EQ7!! And done in 24 hours?? Woot! Woot! Now that’s attractive! 😉
PS Christa can you tell me if I show up as a no-reply blogger on your blog? Apparently I am now that I switched my profile to Google+, and it’s a choice I did not want to make, nor can I seem to fix it… I’ve emailed Blogger/Google about this.
Christa, you sew on a Bernina 710 and I am seriously considering upgrading my Bernina 440Q to a 710 mainly because of the bigger throat. Do you or any others reading have any thoughts and comments on the 710?
Yes, I have the Bernina 710 and I love the extra throat space. I highly recommend it if you are looking to upgrade!
I use the Dritz Quilting Spray Adhesive from Joanns. It is odorless, colorless,acid free,no fluorocarbons. Have been using it for quite a few years with no problems.
so so cute, love it
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this quilt. The palette, the offset blocks, the texture of the quilting. All of it! Fabulous, Christa!
just fabulous! love everything about this quilt!
That quilt is fantastic! I love it! It’s a great design and the fabrics you’ve chosen work brilliantly together and with the quilts playful style. Awesome lady!
This is just gorgeous Christa . I absolutely love it! Wish I could attend your class but it is a long way from Australia. Do you have a pattern? Wish it was on Craftsy it would be a fabulous project start to finish!. Have a great weekend.
Thanks Marie! Yes, I am planning on offering a pattern for it after I’ve taught the class locally first 🙂
Love the quilt, front and back. And thank you for the great pictures that really show the quilting. Now I have to see if my berninas have that stich. (I have a 185 and a 200/730, so hoping one of them will have it.) I also like to elongate stitch #4 (the rounded zigzag). That one comes out great as well. Also, thanks for the tip about the basting spray. I will try that in the future. Have a great weekend!
Love this quilt – it’s so fun! Wish I could get to Las Vegas for that weekend so I could take your class.
I love pieced backs, too. It is a great way to use up the leftover fabrics from the top and it makes the quilt more interesting. The zig-zap quilting looks fabulous. Do you mind if I steal…uhm…I mean borrow the idea for one of my quilts?
Absolutely – borrow away!
I love this quilt! It reads happy! I also have used the 505 Basting spray with great results. Thanks for the tip on pressing after basting:)
Another one that I really love ALOT!
You modern quilters are just killin’ it this week! So inspired! Love that you just hacked one of the blocks in half or to better phrase it – made a great design decision to highlight half the block! 🙂 Love it!
Very cute…Wish I still lived in Las Vegas, I’d be there every day!! Thanks for sharing!
Love this quilt! The back makes it double sided! Thanks for the tip on setting the 505 with pressing. Good to know.
Great quilt. As always your colours catch the eye. Well done
Thanks for the inspiration. I am just finishing piecing a similar quilt and enjoyed hearing how you back, baste and quilted yours. I am stuck on whether to add borders… I like the clean look of your quilt without the borders. Very timely post! Thanks!
Very fun looking quilt-I especially like the combo of your test block 🙂
Since I’m from NC, gotta find out where Brasstown is–would love to attend a class from you.
It’s set in the mountains, about 2 hours from Asheville, NC. It’s a lovely place and I can’t wait to visit!
Love the zig zag stitch you used – that one my old Bernina doesn’t have! I was very interested to read about your experience with 505 spray. I’ve used it on my last 2 quilts, and like it! Ok, and can’t stop with the praises – fun back!
Moving to Bullhead City in July – Excited I’ll be close enough to come see you and maybe take some classes. 🙂
I love everything about this quilt…the design, choice of fabrics and back….just beautiful!!!
I’m going to try to come by to see you, It’s only down the street, and around the corner. I can’t take any classes right now, but am starting to work on a modern quilt. I’m not quite sure how to cut it. I”m just using a jungle fabric and a solid color, and using the zigzag pattern.as the interior of the quilt, then surrounding it with black. Could I use squares with facing colors, and then cut in the middle, and if so, do I make the squares with 1/2 or 7/8 added to my squares if I do it that way. I’m not real good at keeping the bias of the triangle good without some stretch. Thanks!
That would be great! If you are going to use half square triangles, add 7/8″ to the finished size 🙂
Wow I love the back!! It is so fun! Okay, I love the top, too – but somehow I just love quilt backs, the way they come together like that is so great. It is lovely!