MSQ’s Warp Speed Quilt
This month, we’ve been sharing lots of fun photos of the process of making our Warp Speed sample over on our Instagram feed. In this post, we’re going to dig into all the details of our sample quilt!
Ben’s featured quilt pattern is actually two options: the Warp Speed and Warp Speedier patterns are both included! The original Warp Speed pattern includes five sizes from mini to king. Warp Speedier only includes one lap/throw size but uses a quicker piecing technique for a speedier finish. For our sample, we used the Warp Speedier pattern but decided to add a 6” border all around to bring it up to a larger throw size (66” square with the border). Borders are always a simple and effective way to increase the size of a quilt.
This sample was dreamed up by Jessica. After chatting with the team, we decided an all-green quilt was long overdue, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. While we love a good red, white, and blue quilt as much as the next person, one of the things we’ve strived to do at MSQ is to encourage makers to expand their idea of what a service quilt can look like. Whether it’s all neutrals, quilts that include green (here and here, a nod to camo) with other colors, or quilts that take a softer approach to red, white, and blue, there are lots of options out there to fit the style and tastes of your chosen recipient.
After debating on several green options, Jessica decided to showcase an ombre of woven fabrics. It was a true pleasure to work with these Sprout Wovens by Fableism. She used the colors malachite, mallard, pine needle, arctic, and cenote.
The Warp Speed design appealed to us because it evokes a strong shield emblem, perfect for any of the service branches. Look how great this red, white, and blue mock-up that Ben designed looks!
Lilo quilted our sample using a panto called Sashiko (Star) by Karen Thompson. It gives the quilt a sparkly appearance and really shines against the sharp geometric lines of the quilt pattern.
The backing is Speckled in Soft Blue by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Ruby Star Society. The blue-gray is a total contrast from the front of the quilt, which adds both interest and intrigue. But by keeping everything in the cool color family, it works. (Speckled is a “basic” that comes in many different colors, making it a very helpful option for service quilts. We’ve used it many times.)
We finished it off with a simple chambray binding in the perfect shade of blue to bring the front and back fabrics together. This quilt was definitely calling out for some big-stitch binding, and Jessica had the perfect shade of green sashiko thread in her stash for the job. It’s always nice when that happens.
If you’re inspired to make your own version, head on over to Ben’s shop to purchase your copy of the Warp Speed or Warp Speedier pattern by February 28. And don’t forget Ben is donating 50% of the proceeds from the patterns through the end of the month to American Veterans for Equal Rights, so pick up a copy of either pattern now to stretch your impact for some very worthy veterans. You can check out this post for lots more about Ben’s collaboration with MSQ. Happy quilting!
