Quilt Planning: The $3.31 Quilt

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!

After sharing an update to my seasonal goals last week, I've spent some time getting caught up on my BoM projects!

I've made a few more Jack's Delight blocks for Summer Garden and pieced some Nutmeg blocks for Hexie Harvest, all of which have come together beautifully! I still have a few more blocks to make before I'll finally be caught up with both of those projects, but I'm getting pretty close!

But now I'd like to shift focus to a different BoM project, The $3.31 Quilt!

This project was not included in my seasonal goals for the Spring since the quilt along has recently come to an end, but I do still have a little work left before the quilt will be fully pieced. So today, I thought we could do some planning together!

The Original Design

This BoM pattern was designed by John MacPhail of Art East Quilting Co. and hosted by CQA as their members' mystery project over the last few months. The pattern features some of the iconic animals found on Canadian coins, including the polar bear, beaver, loon, and caribou. A really cute collection of critters!

The layout of this quilt was a mystery until very recently, when the final assembly instructions were released. Here it is:

John MacPhail. "Quilt Top Piecing Guide." 2023.

It's a really clean, modern design that includes a lot of negative space. But as someone who really loves a busier quilt with a variety of pieced blocks, the clean modern look isn't really my style. So just as I usually do with quilt alongs, I'll be making some changes to my version of the pattern!

Drafting a Redesign

Before I start making changes, I like to do a little planning on paper.

The first change I'll be making is to the finished size and shape of the quilt. I recently developed a preference for square quilts, I like that the square shape allows any side of the quilt to be treated as the top edge, therefore encouraging even wear across the surface of the quilt.

Since I'm following the throw sized pattern instructions, I'll be making my throw sized square at about 72".

Once I've decided on a finished size, I like to divide the quilt top into smaller segments. I started with a 4" border, then divided the space inside into four sections, one for each pieced animal block.

I could have used a very simple four quarter divide, but I wanted something a little more dynamic, so I'll be trying a quarter pinwheel shape with a 4" cornerstone at the centre to match the width of the borders. This means that joining the sections of the quilt together will be a little more challenging, but I'm hoping it will add something interesting to the finished top!

From there, the process gets a little more creative and chaotic. But after some doodling, I came up with an idea I'm excited to try!

I decided to dedicate each quarter to one of the animal blocks in the quilt, using the various sizes of leaf blocks and one special extra block to fill the area around them!

For the loon, I'll be using a feather block featuring the iconic loon spots, and for the polar bear and caribou, I'll be using a footprint block. I think the feather and print blocks should be really recognizable and add something special to my quilt!

The beaver was a little more challenging to come up with a bonus block for. When I see their tracks, I typically think raccoon, and I don't want to surround my beaver with disembodied beaver tails or fur hats since that sounds cruel. Instead, I opted for something a little more obscure:

I'd like to use log cabins for the beaver's bonus block. It's abstract in a way the other blocks are not, so it does stand out a little in that regard, but I think it will be a cute nod to the beaver's dam!

Friends, I'm really looking forward to seeing how these ideas turn out in fabric! I'm not sure yet when I'll actually get around to piecing any of these additions, but hopefully the time will come soon!

If you're working on The $3.31 Quilt as well, I would love to see how yours is coming together! And for those who aren't, what would you add to your own version of the quilt to make it unique? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

For now, I think I'll get back to working on some of my other BoM projects!

Until Next Time Friends, Keep Creating!

~VA

Image Citation:

• MacPhail, John. "Quilt top piecing guide." 2023. The $3.31 Quilt - Quilt Assembly, Canadian Quilter's Association, 2023, p.3.