Throw it Back!

~ Jen Strauser

Welcome to the party! Today is my day to share the project I made using Catch and Release by Mister Domestic. Without further ado ….

Tah dah! This is my quilt, which I have cleverly titled “Throw it Back”. Not only because the fish are super wonky, but also because that is all we do with fish in this family. On the rare occasion that one has ben stupid enough to bite our hooks, which never happens without professional intervention, we toss the poor fella back in the water. Not because we don’t eat fish, but because I don’t care to take it from water to plate. Somewhere in there guts are involved, and that’s a big NOPE for me.

Okay. Back to quilting. Mathew’s Catch and Release line is produced by Art Gallery Fabrics, so the hand is silky and soft. Art Gallery fabrics feel different than other quilting cottons. Want to get your hands on some to feel them yourself? Head over to the Mister Domestic blog for not one, but six giveaways. Don’t want to risk it? You can snap some it up for yourself from Fat Quarter Shop.

*All fabrics used in this project were given to me by Mister Domestic and Art Gallery Fabrics. Thank you for supporting my creativity!

I was thrilled when Mathew invited me to party along with him again. His fabric is almost as much fun as he is. I had big plans, like finish the quilt before my lake vacation for fab photos, but, alas, I signed up for too many things, so this project wasn’t ready in July. Instead, I shot my photos at the famed Lucille Ball Pond, in Metuchen, New Jersey. It is the closest body of water to my house, and is more appealing than the Dismal Swamp.

These are the fabrics Mathew sent me, along with some of my vintage button collection. (Also known as Grandma’s box of really old, crazy tiny buttons, and a bunch of weird ones I bought when I lost my mind at Joann Fabrics.) You can watch me open the package on YouTube, if you want to see me geek out.

As soon as I saw the fabrics, I knew I wanted to make the Folksy Fish pattern by Sara Elizabeth at No Hats In the House. It has been on my list for a while, and these fabrics were just perfect, right down to the quilty motifs on some of the fish.

Image used with permission

Of course, mine is different. Rather than a low volume background, I wanted that murky lake feel, and the darkest print was just perfect. Also, no rows.

I whipped up 10 fish, without realizing I was at a dreaded EVEN NUMBER. I hate even numbers in my quilt stuff, which always makes the math fun. I put them up on the design wall, trying to create movement with their placement. I added one more, to get to a magical prime number, always my favorite to work with.

Basement lighting is the worst.

Then I used my ninja improv skills to puzzle them together. Some pieces are put together with straight lines, some with curves. Onto the longarm we went.

I knew what quilting I wanted to do weeks ago. Fish Net by Urban Elementz is just perfect. I used silver thread to give it just a hint of sparkle.

What about those buttons, right? Of course, all of my fish had to have eyes. I cannot abide an eyeless fish. I don’t mind if they have extra, though.

I picked out my favorite double goggly eye buttons, along with bunch of vintage ones from my tin. I love that someone in my family had all of these tiny buttons, and was planning to use them again, and now they are all here for me to play with!

Here is a gallery of weirdos for your enjoyment.

  • Stephen
  • Elliott
  • Jodi
  • Brad
  • Norman
  • Blanche
  • Diane
  • Geoff
  • Brian
  • Janice
  • Erica

The little pops of color that aren’t from Catch and Release are scraps from Mister Domestic’s Aura and Loved to Pieces lines. Mom and I are superfans – we have them all. And yes, Jodi has ric rac trim, because I have no self control. The ric rac is also available from Fat Quarter Shop. It comes on a beautiful wooden spool, too.

Quilt Specs
Dimensions –
Fabric – Catch and Release by Mister Domestic for Art Gallery Fabrics
Pattern – Folksy Fish by No Hats in the House
Batting – Quilter’s Dream Wool
Thread – Pieced with Aurifil in Dove, quilted with Maderia in Silver

I bound it using the gorgeous wavy landscape stripe. I love a striped binding, don’t you?

Of course, Oscar has inspected and approved this quilt, and then took a nap with his pal, Frank. He was very supportive throughout the entire process, as always.

As always, special thanks to my Mom for assisting all along the way, and especially for squeezing through splintery fences to crouch down and hold up my quilts while I take my pics. I couldn’t do all of this without you.

There are lots of other makers involved in this party. Check them all out – they are making the most incredible things out of this fabric! It is really amazing to see how many different directions one fabric line can take you.

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6

14 thoughts on “Throw it Back!”

  2. You are right about the hand of AGF fabrics! I love pretty much anything from them. This quilt is so fun! I love the fish and the fabrics are perfect for it. Great job, Jen!

    Reply

  3. Lovely on the dark fabric, and with a name for each one this is super. Greart photos outdoors. your Mum is a real trooper.

    Reply

  6. Any chance that you’ll be creating a pattern for this darling quilt? I know just the fly fisherman to give it to.

    Reply

    1. This is already a pattern! It’s called Folksy Fish and is sold my Not Hats in the House. The link is in the post.

      Reply
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