July 07, 2022

Donut Time in Make Modern

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I sometimes have trouble naming quilts, but other times the name comes to me right away. That was the case for Donut Time, in issue 47 of Make Modern magazine, which is available now. I knew it was the perfect name when one of the littles I babysit saw the blocks lying around and asked if I was making a donut quilt 😊
Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
Of course, with a name like Donut Time, there had to be donuts for the photo shoot! Let me assure you, the family was not at all bothered by this requirement.
Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
Donut Time is a great scrap quilt and I had a blast digging through my scrap boxes and my stash to find all the fun prints and colours. 
Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
Because I knew this would be in Make Modern, it was especially fun to pick out some of Kristy's fabrics to use, since she's the submissions editor for the magazine. There are at least 7 blocks made with fabrics from her first two fabric lines. Her third, Imagine, is shipping to shops now and I just shared my Sparkler quilt made with that line.

Tim Horton's, Canada's biggest coffee/donut shop chain, sells Timbits, which look like the holes cut out when making the donuts (are those available other places?). Mixed boxes of Timbits are great for getting a variety of donuts, and to me the small circle blocks look like a quilter's version of a box of Timbits.

Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
I have always loved making raw edge machine applique quilts! With a simple shape like these circles, it's a quick, fuss-free way to make blocks. Stitching around them takes a bit of practice, but as long as you're not trying to sew too fast, it's definitely a beginner friendly technique.

The pattern includes a template for cutting out all of the circles or you can use the Olfa circle cutter, which makes them much faster. This was my first time using the circle cutter and I was so impressed with it! I did find I had to cut slowly or the fabric would get pushed along, causing a wrinkle to form, but I think if I'd had a fusible product like Heat n Bond adhered to the back that wouldn't have been an issue. And even with needing to be careful not to cause a wrinkle, the circle cutter was still way faster than using the template.

I don't always stitch around my appliques before the quilting, but this time I knew I didn't want to quilt them at all, so I stitched around them with a zig zag stitch with Aurifil 2600 before putting the blocks together. Then, with no quilting stitches on them, the donuts puff up a bit from the background.
Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
For the quilting, I used white Aurifil (2024) to outline each circle and to do a small stipple in the background, which serves both to make the donuts puff up and to give great texture to the solid white background. Don't you wish you could reach through the screen to run your fingers over it?

I had to open a new package of Warm and Natural batting for this quilt...well, I could certainly have pieced together scraps to make a batting big enough, but I didn't want to. I don't mind piecing batting scraps for something baby sized, but I find I can't get it to lay flat if it's for a throw size. If I had to guess, I'd say it's probably me being impatient and pushing on the batting as it goes through the machine for those long seams that causes the ripples. Whatever the problem is, I only piece a throw size batting if I really have to.

I knew I wanted a solid backing fabric, so the unquilted circles would show nicely on the back. I chose this teal, so the white thread would show, too. I love when the quilt back is just as pretty as the front.
Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
I debated what to use for the binding - empty out my bag of leftover binding bits to make a scrappy binding or buy a stripe? In the end, I couldn't resist the appeal of a striped binding and I love that it gives the quilt such a colourful frame.
Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
Paul and I took the quilt to the beach for a photo shoot, but it was pretty windy. We were working against the deadline and some yucky weather, though, so we had to do the best we could even with the wind. Thankfully he's very patient with me!
Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
I do love beach quilt pictures!
Donut Time quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com
If you have an abundance of scraps (don't we all???), get issue 47 of Make Modern now and you can make your own Donut Time quilt. Or you can subscribe, which gives you access to the current issue along with a whole year's worth of modern quilting inspiration.

4 comments:

  1. Stores here often sell "donut holes" which sound like the equivalent of Timbits. What a fun quilt, Leanne, and of course it had to have photos taken with donuts. I love how the design reads through on the back due to your thread and quilting choices, and the striped binding is the perfect frame. Congratulations on the publication!

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  2. Congrats on yet another publication in make modern Leanne! This is a really fun quilt. But I have to say, WOW, do I ever love the back! Good choice to do a solid, and that colour is divine!

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  3. Great quilt! Great photos!!! I love the backing, the binding and how the quilt got it's name!!!

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