This time last year, I started a project called “Let’s Quilt a Mandala! The plan was to design and quilt a new mandala pattern each month. I kept to that plan (for the most part) and finished the last one a few weeks ago.
Yesterday, I posted about using the “Quilt-As-You-Go” technique to put the blocks together and I finished up the project with a binding to finish the edges….
So, now that I can call this project officially…..
But……what did I learn?
Firstly, quilting mandalas is just like doing grid quilting (which I explored in 2023)…..except that the grid has a slight curve to it!
Secondly, I learned that the mandalas look better if I repeated elements or had a “theme for each one.
I didn’t know that for the first one and used lots of different designs to fill in the 6 circles…..
It does not have the continuity that many of the others had.
This one was a favorite as I tried to use lots of straight lines…..
I also learned how much difference it makes to add some filler designs.
That idea continued in number 8…..
The use of repetitive designs is what made number 4 work so well…..
I loved the “circles on sticks” idea!
Repetition also helped with number 11….
The repeating curved “petal” shapes and the triangles/diamonds really set this one apart!
Along the way, I also learned to trust my FMQ abilities and tackle things that I didn’t think I could do…..like these curly-que swirls…..
Several people have asked which was my favorite and the “hands-down” answer is……
I am a HUGE sunflower and daisy fan, and these red flowers on yellow fabric just tickled my fancy!!
While I am sad to leave this project, I am looking forward to what will come to take it’s place!!
AND, to not completely dismiss them, I am debating about putting together a 4+ hour workshop that would teach how to draw, design and quilt a mandala.
Is that a workshop that would appeal to you??
THANKS SO MUCH for joining me on the Quilted Mandala Journey!!
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