A Wonky Summer Challenge with Quinobequin Quilters Guild

 Sept. 2024

Every summer my quilt guild, Quinobequin Quilters out of Needham, MA, holds a summer challenge for its members. We are given a theme - this year it was A Wonky World, with a few rules — it has to be no more than 24X24 inches, something about it has to be wonky, and it has to be quilted. Embellishment was encouraged but not required. Here’s what I came up with!

I built the quilt with no firm plan in mind — I thought a sky built out of curves would fit the wonky theme, and then I’d go from there. I added the sun, stretching the circle so that would look a little askew. I used some yellow strip pieces that were left over from a baby quilt I made a month ago and then cut them different sizes (again - wonky). 

I decided to make one ray pop out of the quilts binding.  

 

The echinacea came next, and then I added the tufts of grass - all done with fused appliqué. 

I decided to add a little grass snake, hiding in the grass, the little red tongue the best clue that he’s hiding there. 

Finally, with some advice from a sewing friend, I added the robin, with a wonky flight pattern identified with a turquoise running stitch. 

I liked the look of the running stitch, so I added yellow running stitches to the sun, on the inside and on each ray. 

It was a lot of fun to make this. The bonus? It tied for first place when my guild voted on their favorite summer challenge.