zoom rollover image to zoom
Quilting: String Theory
28 kudoz

String Theory

String Theory.

String Theory.
Detail 3
Detail 4
Detail 1
Detail 2

Learn It

This project was made as part of a Craftsy course:
Stupendous Stitching: Adventures in Surface Design »

Category: Quilting

Type of item: Home Decor

For: Unisex

Style: Mod


Materials

Cotton fabric and batting, various threads, both cotton and polyester.

What was your inspiration?

From the very start of this quilt I was inspired. The base fabric, a batik, has lots of visual texture. In making this quilt, I wanted to add to that texture. I also wanted to add more color to intensify the visual impact of the quilt. I also happen to love bright bold colors.

As I worked on this quilt I noticed a flow begin to develop. Areas were stitched, not in a planned order, but rather as inspiration came. I let the quilt tell me what it wanted rather than trying to plan everything out. Symbols that have personal meaning, such as the spiral, were incorporated into the design. There are a lot of organic shapes that emerged as the quilt took form.
Various areas were filled with hand stitches but also some machine stitches. In places, threads were woven through other stitches. Much like our lives, the combination, working together added strength to the whole.
I sometimes used more than one thread in the needle as I had sewed. This allowed some subtle color shifts that would not be possible with a single thread. It also created a few challenges in the hand stitching. It was a great learning process for me.

I chose the title String Theory for a couple of reasons. In science, string theory is a contender as a theory of everything. It is a way of attempting to describe the natural world and its wonder. I am fascinated by the higher sciences. The second reason is that every part of the quilt is made up of strings. Some of them are visible and some are hidden. I found the wordplay in the title appealing to me creatively.

 

32 comments

Add your comment:

Charosgd on craftsy.com
Mar 17, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
It's gorgeous, I love it, it's so full of colour!!!
Gene B on craftsy.com
Mar 21, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you, I love filling space with bright colors.
Denise burgin on craftsy.com
Jan 21, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
I just love this.
Barbism on craftsy.com
Dec 29, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Gene, you are THE stitching dude! Great work.
Gene B on craftsy.com
Dec 29, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Ha ha thanks Barbism.
Amalia Ariela on craftsy.com
Dec 05, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
So rich! Great composition and colors
Gene B on craftsy.com
Dec 05, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you Amalia.
pdfrench853060 on craftsy.com
Oct 28, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Great looking piece!
Gene B on craftsy.com
Oct 28, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you. I have certainly enjoyed it.
coachgrazina on craftsy.com
Oct 13, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Wonderful colours, very calm and sparkly at the same time. This quilt looks like a pirate's treasure chest that some big clumsy fish knocked over down at the bottom of the sea...
Gene B on craftsy.com
Oct 13, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks, it does have a lot of ocean like colors and I love the rich colors of the oceans and coral. I like treasures too!
SweetJasmine on craftsy.com
Oct 06, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
I love the colors and the stitches! I may have to do one in blue/green fabric.
Gene B on craftsy.com
Oct 07, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks, I really think the color of the batik made this work well.
bobrinlg955548 on craftsy.com
Sep 19, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
LOVE THIS!!!!
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 19, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you!
scoosh on craftsy.com
Sep 19, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Love the colours and the energy. Really interesting variety of stitching. Would love to know what size the quilt is.
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 19, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Gene B Moments ago Thanks, it is actually 14" by 17"
QuiltyJan on craftsy.com
Sep 18, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
I love the color and variety of stitches/movement. It does not look like a beginner project!
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 18, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Honestly it was the second one I made. I made the first one just after seeing Carol Ann on The Quilt Show. This one came out far better than the first one. I think my background in art helps some.
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 19, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks, it is actually 14" by 17"
Carol Ann Waugh on craftsy.com
Carol Ann Waugh
Craftsy Instructor
Sep 16, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
You piece has tremendous energy and I love how you described the process since that is exactly what I had hoped would happen for people taking this class!
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks Carol Ann, I always find it a little bit difficult to explain my process.
Kelly3814 on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
This is amazing! I love it!
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks Kelly!
jdetorre87964 on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
beautiful!
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you!
SuzyCraftmaker on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Very artistic and a great amplification of the heart of the fabric.
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you so much.
MsDanni on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Great colours!
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you, I love color and blues toward the "green side" are my favorite. Of course this piece has every color in the rainbow.
Aussie Wombler on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012    Flag as inappropriate
Absolutely gorgeous:) Beautiful job <3
Gene B on craftsy.com
Sep 16, 2012   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you!