I am showcasing the four throw quilts that I currently have for sale at significantly reduced prices. I thought you might be interested in knowing a little bit more about the designs and how they came to be. All four quilts can be viewed on the Quilts For Sale page.

The Not So Straight and Narrow Quilt

There’s nothing sleepy about this quilt, which consists of a single patterned fabric combined with a range of solid colors. Strips of improvised piecework create a groovy and eclectic feel that will liven up your room.

This throw quilt measures 48 inches x 48 inches. The back of this quilt is the solid aloe (light green) color used for some of the blocks on the front of the quilt.

Price: $350

Not So Straight and Narrow Throw Quilt

The Not So Straight and Narrow quilt was based on the Pick & Choose quilt that I started in the Improvisational Patchwork class with Denyse Schmidt. I love that quilt, and I love the improvisational style. However, what I wanted to do this time around was create a design that incorporated improvisational aspects that would be different every time around, but would still be recognizable as the same design every time.

Pick & Choose Quilt

I started by sketching out the blocks from the Pick & Choose quilt and making notes about what I did or didn’t like about them for this new quilt. From there I decided on some basic principles for the piecing of the center strips that I could use as the basis for the blocks in this quilt.

Next was to decide the colors. For the Pick & Choose quilt I was forced to use what was at hand. This time I could make some decisions up front.

I still wanted to use the Prints Charming Paisley Garden print that I had used in the Pick & Choose quilt, so I started with that and my RK Kona Cotton color card. I ordered up a bunch of cuts of fabrics that I thought might go and started testing out various combinations. This is one set of colors that I looked at (not the final version).

I ended up choosing five colors of fabric in addition to the Prints Charming print as the basis for my blocks. I created one block in each color, incorporating the piecing principles that I had decided on during the sketching phase. Here are my first six blocks.

Happy with the combination, I proceeded to make the 56 blocks required to create the queen-sized quilt. The creation of the throw quilt offered for sale here followed the guidelines I had set out during the creation of the first, larger version, and incorporates my original oval quilting pattern, done by an excellent long-arm quilter.

Here is the throw quilt, hanging at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.

General Info

Amy a la Mode Quilts

Groovy yet classy, Amy a la Mode quilts are the antidote to the same old mass-produced quilts and blankets you’ve been buying for years. Each Amy a la Mode quilt is based on a particular design, but because of the free-form, improvisational manner in which I work, each quilt is a unique, one-of-a-kind work of art. Amy a la Mode couture quilts are hand made, one at a time. We put the same quality care and craftsmanship into making quilts for you that we put into making quilts for our families.

All Amy a la Mode couture quilts are constructed from high-quality pre-washed fabrics and pieced by machine. Amy a la Mode quilts are professionally machine quilted with a modern long-arm quilting machine, a durable and high-quality alternative to hand quilting. The quilting design of stacked ovals was created by Amy for her custom use. Amy believes no quilt is properly finished until the binding has been stitched into place by hand.

How to Purchase

If you would like to purchase a quilt or are interested in additional photos of any of these quilts, please contact me at the e-mail address listed near the top of this page. If the quilt will be shipped to a location within the state of California, you will be charged California state sales tax on the purchase. Payments can be made via Paypal, after which arrangements for shipping your quilt will be made. There is no extra charge for shipping via standard methods (insurance or expedited shipping are extra).

Returns

Amy a la Mode couture quilts are not returnable. All purchases are final.

Quilt Care

Amy a la Mode quilts are made by hand and designed to be used on your beds. However, like any textile, they are susceptible to wear and fading if not treated kindly. Treat your Amy a la Mode quilt as you would any treasured textile. Please avoid direct sunlight, as this may fade colors over time. Do not store quilts in plastic bags.

Air out quilts to freshen them up between cleanings. For light cleaning of surface dirt, vacuuming may be sufficient. Washing should be kept to a minimum, as it has the potential to increase wear of the fibers. If your quilt requires washing, we recommend that you wash it in cold water with a gentle fragrance-free and dye-free quilt soap, either by hand or in the gentle cycle of a washing machine. Only gentle agitation should be used. Be sure the quilt is rinsed well. Handle wet quilts carefully when lifting from tub or washer, since wet fibers are more vulnerable to stress.

Dry briefly on a low setting in your dryer, and then lie flat on towels to complete drying. A fan may be helpful for circulating air and speeding drying. Do not hang or wring wet quilts. Amy a la Mode quilts are constructed with pre-washed fabrics, but fading or bleeding could still occur during washing.

Dry cleaning is not recommended.