Yule Glow, or You’ll Glow!
This blog post originally ran in October 2019.
This is Yule Glow, my latest design for McCall’s Quilting and their Nov/Dec ’19 issue, on newsstands now.
Yule Glow, designed and made by Diane Harris. Appears in McCall’s Quilting Nov/Dec ’19.
I wish I could tell you that when it’s time to design a quilt, I sit down and lightning strikes and then comes something wonderful.
But that’s not what happens.
Today I’m letting you in on a secret. I’m going to show you some of the evolution that Yule Glow went through to find its eventual finish. It was a circuitous journey.
I can only credit “Julia.” I wish I knew more, because this is brilliant.
An illustrator named Julia drew what is above and oh how I wish I knew who she was, because this is brilliant. Was anything ever more true? Anyway.
Here’s what happened.
I’ve designed a handful of pictorial quilts with giant features, like Prancer’s Peppermints and Welcome.
Prancer’s Peppermints
I thought it might be fun to design a quilt with candles, and I was thinking giant candles like the huge peppermints. Big enough to cover a twin-size bed.
I design in EQ8 from The Electric Quilt Company. Here’s how it went.
1. Big candles.
2. Better greenery.
3. Add a snappy border.
4. Add interest to the background because the flames look lonely.
5. An idea seed is planted with what I’m seeing in the background!
6. Could I create a glow around the flames?
7. What if I made it in the shape of traditionally pieced stars?
8. Create more contrast.
9. Play around and play around some more.
10. Hit upon a winning combination.
11. Cue HALLELUJAH CHORUS.
Months later, the issue arrives. It’s on newsstands now!
(Somewhere in there I realized that the candles would be more charming if they were not monstrous. But I still have giant Christmas items up my sleeve for next year.)
Yule Glow.
I can’t help it, I keep thinking of it as “You’ll Glow.”
Get your copy of McCall’s Quilting Nov/Dec ’19 while they last, on newsstands now. Yule Glow is 28″ x 34″ and it’s part of my Jingle Bells Trunk Show of dozens of Christmas and holiday quilts. I’d love to bring it to your quilt guild!
Tags: christmas quilt, electric quilt company, EQ8, jingle bells trunk show, quilt design, yule glow
LeAnn Frobom
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Thank for the glimpse into your creative process!! I love the final version!
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Shasta
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Each of the designs are so pretty, and you hit on the right combination.
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Kaye Mattson
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Thanks for sharing your design journey. Yule Glow is really pretty and I like it sized as a wall
Quilt. The glow around the flame adds alot. Congrats on a beautiful design!
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Carol Weber
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Diane, I love it! You’ve motivated me to go pick up a copy of the magazine!
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Nann
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Thanks for the insights into the story of the design — which I admired when the magazine arrived a couple of weeks ago. Do you always save each draft of a design? (A good thing here so you could show the steps). And you have another pattern in the new Quiltmaker with an intriguing block design.
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Diane Harris
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Hi Nann! I usually have many versions of a design that are leftover in EQ. They can number into the dozens when you take into account all the color auditions that didn’t make the cut. I used to think that designers came up with something striking on the first try, just like magic. But now I know better! And thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you like it! The new QM design is another rendition of the Baby Windmills of which I am so fond. 🙂
Robin
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Thanks for the pattern and the insight to designing. What would designers do without EQ? Back to color pencils and paper. 🙂
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Linda K Prophet
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I found several mistakes in the number of pieces to cut. The flame area is not fitting properly according to the assembly diagram. Help!
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Diane Harris
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Hi Linda, I’m sorry about that! I would direct you to the magazine for help, as they wrote the pattern and likely know if there are errors. I haven’t heard of errors from anyone else but that’s not to say it isn’t possible. In the magazine itself you will find phone numbers and email addresses for assistance. Best of luck to you, and I can’t wait to see your finish! Do shoot me a photo: diane@stashbandit.net