Lovely in Lavender

There's something soft and soothing about Tammy Silvers' "Lavender & Sage" quilt, featuring the Chelsea collection. The prints--both the main print that Tammy used as the "background" in the quilt--and the grays, greens and lavenders that almost read as solids--blend together beautifully in this easy design. You'll find the pattern featured in the May/June 2015 issue of McCall's Quilting.

"Lavender & Sage" by Tammy Silvers; machine quilted by Pat Yearwood;
featured in McCall's Quilting May/June 2015

Q. What attracted you to the Chelsea collection?  

Tammy: I don’t know about you, but I seem to go through phases of color preference - and right now I’m in my “gray” phase. Not as dreary as it sounds, and nope, not going through a depression (that I know of!).  But gray is such a wonderful neutral. It goes with practically every color, and really helps prints pop.

Q. Is there a particular fabric or fabrics that really catch your eye?  

Tammy: The main fabric, kind of the background fabric in this quilt, is wonderful. It reminds me of the Far East - full of movement, and soft, almost faded colors that practically scream “oriental rug.” It’s wonderful.

Q. What can you tell us about your fabric choices?

Tammy: Since the background/main fabric is such a busy print, and has so many curving lines, I thought some strong straight lines and fabrics that read as a solid would provide nice contrast, and create an illusion of depth.

Q. Can you talk about the on point look and how it's created in your design?

Tammy: It is actually much simpler than it looks!  Without giving it away (not that experienced quilters can’t tell just by looking), it is a simple two block quilt, and the blocks, while appearing to be set on point, are all actually straight set blocks.

Q. Can you talk about how you used the various prints in your design?

Tammy: Yes, the main fabric, the paisley look print, shows as a background fabric due to placement within all the blocks. Alternating the lime and the lavender prints gave some order to the quilt to keep it from getting too “busy.” And the border - well, while I would love to have another excuse to use the paisley print, the quilt really needing to be “grounded” or reigned in, and the mid-tone purple print does that well.

Q. What do you like best about the quilt?

Tammy: I love that, while all of the fabrics are lovely on their own, when combined they work wonderfully together.  And the overall effect, as I’ve mentioned before, is soft and subtle, like a wonderful old oriental rug that has mellowed over time.

Q. Did you do the machine quilting? 

Tammy: I wish!  I have my quilt fairy, Pat Yearwood, to thank (as always) for the wonderful machine quilting on the project.

Q. What do you see this quilt being used for? 

Tammy: Well, providing I can keep my sister-in-law from tucking it in her purse when she comes to visit (she LOVES anything purple), I think it is the perfect spring accent quilt for snuggling under when the air gets a bit nippy!

See the entire Chelsea collection here.

Find the kit for this project here.

Download the free pattern for a queen-size version of this quilt here.

Find McCall's Quilting magazine here.