Blossom Heart Quilts

Modern quilt teacher and patterns

Swarm – A Butterfly Rainbow Quilt

A couple of months ago, I saw that Shabby Fabrics had released a range of pre-fused laser-cut applique shapes, and one of the images they were using was this beautiful image of their butterflies.

I instantly had a the picture pop into my head of a swarm of these flying up a patchwork quilt of low-volume fabrics. I even entered the giveaways to try and win some (but didn’t win), and had put the design at the back of my mind for a future project. But a few weeks ago, Shabby Fabrics contacted me asking if I would like to join a blog hop to showcase their new shapes, offering to send me two packages of shapes of my choice. Uh, yes please!!

I was sent the small 2″ prints and the medium 3″ prints butterflies, but then also went on to order a set of the large 4″ print butterflies to add more interest and some Tim Holtz Butterflight for the backing.

For the background, I cut 224 various low volume 3.5″ squares. I’ve been slowly collecting fat quarters and half yards of the light cream and brown and grey prints, because that’s low volume to me! I ended up pulling almost 30 prints, so I was pretty impressed with myself – as someone who was slow to jump aboard the low-volume train, I certainly haven’t looked back since!

I pieced them into pairs, then into four patches, and then again into 16-patches. Using a 14×16 layout, it comes to 42″x48″ – perfect for not needing to piece the backing! I then arranged the butterflies in rough colour order, using the larger butterflies at the bottom leading up to one little light pink butterfly at the top. I shared this photo on Instagram (@blossomheartquilts) and my goodness, did you guys like it! Thank you for that support, I really appreciate it!

Rainbow low volume butterfly quilt

You can see a range of video tutorials on the Shabby Fabrics YouTube channel to show you in action how to use these shapes, but they’re super easy – just peel off the backing, put in place, press with your iron, and then stitch in place! Now, I did just learn how to do embroidery finished applique at QuiltCon, but for something like this, I do love the raw edge look! Not only is it much quicker, but I do genuinely love the look of it, and I’m not ashamed to say it! I used a range of Aurifil 40W threads to FMQ around the inner edge of each butterfly.

Butterfly quilting

Then it was time to start quilting! I free motion quilted a loopy line from the tail of each butterfly to the bottom of the quilt, occasionally stopping/starting to make it look like the line passed behind another butterfly.

Butterfly swarm quilt

I then swapped back to the normal foot and straight lined through the diagonal middle of each row, following the direction of the swarm, but stopping whenever I came to a butterfly “trail”.

Rainbow of butterflies

I was getting ready to trim the quilt and bind, when I stopped and looked at it again. It needs more quilting. I need to play along those diagonal rows and have some FMQ fun. I want to take my time and do a proper job. I want those butterflies to really pop! I also think we can blame Jess and her grafitti quilting for making my brain tick over FMQ ideas constantly over the past few days… And to think that TimeHop told me the other day it had been 2 years since I first started free motion quilting!

Swarm butterfly rainbow quilt

So this is an almost-finished quilt; a finished-but-retracted quilt! I will share more about the quilting as I go, because I can’t wait to play!! And guess what?? You can have a play with these butterflies too…

Giveaway Closed – Winner is Jinger!

As a part of the blog hop, each blogger is giving away one of the shapes they used to play with themselves!!

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter
Daniela @ On the Cutting Floor (Second Post)
Erin @ Why Not Sew?
Deby @ So Sew Easy
Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts
Marni @ Haberdashery Fun
Melissa @ Happy Quilting
Mahriam @ Three Owls Handmade
Melissa @ The Polkadot Chair

So each of these fabulous ladies will be having a giveaway too – be sure to go check them out! In the meantime, you can win a set of butterflies right here:

Butterfly shapes

To enter, just leave me a comment telling me which size you would choose – 2″ or 3″! For a bonus entry, leave one second comment letting me know how you follow Shabby Fabrics – their Blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube. I’ll even send some of my leftover butterflies in the other size to the winner too!

Prize is one packet of butterfly prints in winner’s choice of size. Giveaway open internationally, ends Monday 23rd March 8am (JST). Winner announced on this post and contacted by email.

Comments

  3. Jess says

    LOL! My work here is done (you’ve made me a very happy little quilter Alyce!) – can’t wait to see where you go from here. It’s absolutely gorgeous!!

    Reply

  4. Jantine Urban says

    I follow you on facebook and saw this quilt being born. It is beautiful! I am looking forward to see what else you will quilt in it!

    Reply

  5. Jantine Urban says

    I used to follow Shabby Fabrics through their blog but find I don’t take time to read lots of blogs anymore since I found Instagram, so now I prefer Instagram and hop to the blog if triggered!

    Reply

  8. Cathy Melancon says

    Wow! Your butterflies just pop and truly look like they are flittering across the quilt! So fun! I love the butterflies and the flowers! Just jumped over to Shabby Fabrics – really nice site! Thanks!!!!

    Reply

  9. Kathy says

    Love your quilt! Absolutely.adorable. The way you mixed butterfly sizes really adds so much to the final product. I would love the medium sized butterflies. Thank you for the inspiration. kathleendotlutzatcomcastdotnet

    Reply

  17. Beth T. says

    I would choose the 3″ butterflies, since I’ll need to sew around them in creating something spectacularly girly for my niece Paige who loves butterflies.

    Reply

  20. elsa says

    I so love this quilt ~ that swarm of butterflies reminds me of when I lived in Pacific Grove California and all the Monarch Butterflies that live there!
    I’d chose the 3″ size for a start!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  23. Sally Christiansen says

    Love your quilt I would love to try to make a wall hanging like that so the 2 inch butterflies would be a good start.

    Reply

  24. Patti McGarry says

    Oh, I’d love the small size! I have a nice gifty idea for a good friend that would look sweet with those little butterflies on it!

    Reply

  26. Laura Valdez says

    Just found your blog about a month ago and love following your style. I made a low volume quilt some years ago for our guild to raffle off and it was a huge hit. You just never know what people will go for. I have a two year granddaughter who would love for Grandma to put butterflies on her quilt. I follow Shabby Fabrics on their blog. Lots of fun finding and following new blogs everyday.

    Reply

  28. Susan Stanton says

    I have a granddaughter who loves butterflies. The 3 inch size would be a nice size to decorate a pretty quilt for her.

    Reply

  35. Lynda H says

    I would love to play with the butterflies – either size would work – such a fun idea on your quiltl

    Reply

  38. Jenni says

    Your quilt is gorgeous with the bright butterflies on the low-volume pieced back! I love it! I think I’d opt for the 2 inch butterflies.

    Reply

  40. Kathleen D says

    Your Butterfly flight quilt is beautiful and makes me smile! I would probably choose the Small Butterfly collection and buy the Medium Butterflies as well as some tulips. The Shabby Shapes are all adorable! Thanks for this opportunity.

    Reply

  42. MarleneC says

    First heard about Shabby Fabrics when reading about the butterflies but it is going into my favorite list now as I love the fusible appliques.

    Reply

  44. Regina says

    I would pick the 3″ butterflies. I don’t think I can wait to see if I won, maybe I should just go buy them 🙂

    Reply

  45. Kathie L says

    I’d prefer 3 inch butterflies, but would appreciate any. Your quilt is a great reminder that spring is almost here.

    Reply

  49. Heather J says

    Love the low volume background to showcase the butterflies. I would choose the 3″ butterfly shapes.

    Reply

  53. Kristy says

    LOVE your quilt! The bright butterflies just pop! I think I’d choose the larger size and try to make something similar for my mother. Thanks for the chance!

    Reply

  65. Jenny says

    This is such a peaceful quilt Alyce and I can see many uses for it. I’d like to try a muted colour wash with green at the bottom blending through to sky blue at the top with the butterflies heading for the sky. I’d go with the 2inch butterflies to keep the delicacy.

    Reply

  67. Sarah J. says

    Would love to use these on valances for my daughter’s room- we have a butterfly theme going on. I think I would choose the 3″ size, but a variety would be really nice. Love the quilt- so pretty! Thanks!

    Reply

  68. Sherry says

    I think I would like to use the 3″ butterflies. I love what you did with your quilt and I have low volume quilting on my list to try soon. Shabby Fabrics came up with a great idea with these cut outs.

    Reply

  72. Lori Morton says

    I would choose the 3″ Butterflies…would use on a project for my Grangirlie. Thanks for chance to win. Loooove your Quilt too…so pretty!

    Reply

  74. Kathy E. says

    Oh, how I love these shapes! I would prefer the 2″ butterflies to add to a baby quilt. I really like your touch on the appliques rather than satin stitching. It gives it a softer feel and look.

    Reply

  78. Michele Timms says

    Wow!!! Those butterflies pop off your quilt!! Gorgeous!! I’d choose the 2″ ones, thanks for the chance!

    Reply

  88. Lisa Marie says

    Love your quilt, the pops of color on the neutrals is great! I would choose the 3″ butterflies, thanks for the chance!

    Reply

  97. Jessie Hansen says

    I would love the 3″ set because I so new to applique for quilts. Your design is lovely! The background low volume prints really make the butterflies stand out.

    Reply

  98. Claudia TN says

    No matter which size I choose, I’ll have to buy the other to make this gorgeous quilt. The mix of sizes is fabulous!

    Reply

  112. jmniffer says

    Great job on collecting (and using!) low volume prints! If I were to win, I would like the 3″ size of butterflies. Thanks for the chance.

    Reply

  118. Patti says

    I loved your quilt when I saw it on IG. The butterflies are amazing. I’d be happy to win the 3″ size. Thanks for the chance.

    Reply

  124. Mary Jones says

    I think I’m too late to enter your contest but, your quilt is one of the prettiest quilts that I’ve seen.
    Love the butterflies, makes me think of Spring, even in the colder North.

    Reply

  128. Jinger says

    I can’t tell you how delighted I am to be receiving Shabby Fabrics’ pre-fused laser-cut 3″ applique butterflies! I am making a Dogwood quilt for my mother’s birthday and hope to incorporate the butterflies into it, so excited!

    Thank you Alyce and Shabby Fabrics

    Reply

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