Friday, July 13, 2012

Butterflies ~ A Kumiko Fujita Quilt

A new project, one that has been on my ever growing Must make this quilt one day! list for a while;  long enough to have found a copy of the book in which the quilt is featured and page through endlessly:

Japanese Craft Book ISBN4-579-11039-0
Kumiko Fujita Quilts from Quilter's Studio

Kumiko's work, fabric and books are devoured by many patchworkers and quilters.  My mind has been preoccupied with this "Butterfly" quilt (as featured on the back cover of the book); collecting Japanese fabrics and text prints over time.

The one thing holding me back was the fact that my book is written entirely in Japanese.   Determined to conquer this Butterfly Block I photocopied the draft pattern of the finished block from the book (no templates provided) and started paper piecing each unit.  Paper piecing is accurate, but fiddly and time consuming (and messy!).



Once I had paper pieced a few blocks, I deconstructed the pieces and was able to figure out a simple rotary cutting and machine piecing method.  Quicker and just as accurate.


Many more blocks are yet to be made, but whilst I am enjoying choosing each fabric, and watching the quilt grow I will continue to happily plod along.


More soon.


Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Butterfly Block Tutorial
A Butterfly Quilt - The Finished Quilt

33 comments:

  1. This is beautiful.... I'm adding it to my long list of MUST MAKES.... thanks for sharing....

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  2. Your description of how you figured that out is how I used to figure out all my quilts when I saw one I liked - In English or Japanese!

    Love the combination with the text prints.

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  3. How very fun and beautiful Rita! That will be a fabulous quilt.

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  4. That is going to be stunning!

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  5. Looks great, I love the use of black as a background for a change.

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  6. I just made some of these, too! I paper pieced mine, but they were pretty small. I had no idea that was the book they came from! So cool!

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  7. These look so great! I just love the fabrics you're using!!

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  8. clever idea to photocopy and deconstruct. i will remember that one. i always look forward to seeing your next project. i love all your work! cheers!

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  9. i am falling in love with this quilt now! must make butterfly quilt. :)

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  10. Those blocks are just as sweet as can be! I am loving the black background. I went to find black fabric in my stash yesterday for a costume for my son and I didn't even have a scrap of it! I want to try to put some in a quilt now and make it work as beautifully as yours!

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  11. Be still, my beating heart!

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  12. What a jazzy looking lot of blocks. Quite gorgeous..can't wait to see the result.

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  13. This is a great looking quilt - I crave that book now!The butterflies are sweet, but I also love how the black background pieces form windmills.

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  14. Fabulous - going to enjoy watching this quilt take flight!

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  15. What a beautiful start! Is that turquoise daisy print vintage? I think I have some of the same fabric :)

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  16. Rita,
    I love the way these look. So adorable and modern looking. Thanks for sharing and can't wait to see it completed!!!

    - Katie Fleming
    Kate Michelle Designs

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  17. Love it! I especially love the black and white text fabric. Do you have the names so I can 'get me some'!
    -michele

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  18. This going to be fantastic.Can´t wait to see done!

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  19. I have this book and just re-discovered it on my shelf this week! Fun to see you working on it, too.

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  20. Just when you think there is nothing new under the sun. This is really cute.

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  21. They are great looking blocks! The fabrics really stand out against the background =D

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  22. Very pretty! This block is also on my to do list for a while ;-)
    Maybe someone here also wants to try this tutorial by Mrs. Schmeckman for this block:
    http://mrsschmenkmanquilts.wordpress.com/butterfly-block-tutorial/

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  23. I, too, have this pattern on my to do list. I LOVE the black. It makes the butterflies pop.

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  24. love this so much Rita. This is on my list as well. Cannot wait to hear about your thoughts.

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  25. Really love this one Rita! Pinning it to my make board :-)

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  26. This would be a lovely way to show off selvedges and its parent fabric!

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  27. What a lovely quilt! :-) mlise

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  28. I have this book. I have actually made a butterfly quilt. But I want to make another. I'm interested in what you figured out for rotary cutting. This is a project I've continued to contemplate and think "how can I make this easier with enough exactness"? Love your blog.

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  29. This is simply stunning.

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  30. Yours is lovely.....I have made one too, using Mrs Schmenkman Quilts tutorial on her blog. Her June 3,2010 post is the tutorial with an updated tutorial on Feb. 23,2011.

    I have mine basted and ready for quilting. Good luck with yours!

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