I recently completed an architecture quilt and recorded the process to use in teaching a class on this topic. I chose the Fisher Fine Arts Library on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia.
I chose to use gradient hand dyed fabrics from Vicki Welsh. These were used for the main building sections and for the sky. I used some shade packs for the stairs, planter boxes, sidewalk and street.
The image was resized to my desired quilt size using Photoshop then printed. The large pattern was taped together then taped to my window.
I used a sheet of freezer paper to trace the outline of the building and many of the windows. Tracing paper would also have worked for this process.
My sky gradient was used as the background and MistiFuse was applied to one side of the darker gradient which I used for the building.
After layering the freezer paper on top of sections of the gradient fabric I was able to slice through both layers with a small rotary cutter to cut out the building sections.
The building sections were fused to the background then the sidewalk and street were pieced to the bottom of the quilt. The windows arches, keystones and roof lines were all cut out but not yet fused to the building.
The next step was to take each window arch and fuse it to a colorful fabric to make the windows pop. These colorful fabrics also had MistyFuse applied to one side. I used a sharp applique scissors to trim things down to the right size. Using freezer paper on the ironing surface made it easy to take the finished windows off and transfer them to the quilt.
The next step was to use a Sakura Micron Pen 005 to add all the little details. I outlined all the windows and added shading to the inner arches. Brick lines, stairs windowpanes all had to be added. It was not hard but did take a lot of time.
At this point the quilt was taken to the longarm machine, basted down and everything was stitched down with monofilament thread.
I like to use spiral quilting to add energy and vibrancy to my city quilts. I do this style of quilting on my domestic machine because I find it easier. A variety of colors of thread for the spirals adds some whimsy.
I love the energy of city life and like to create that sense in my quilts depicting the architecture around me.
Consider joining our Facebook Group if you would like to find supportive like minded people who love to quilt and sew. The Architecture Quilt class is offered periodically throughout the year. You may find more information here.
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