Rail fence quilts have always appealed to me for their woven look. They are such a traditional block, yet they lend themselves beautifully to modern interpretation. With Rail Fence Riff, I wanted to see what would happen if I played with the widths of the rails while keeping a consistent dark-to-light color gradient. Rather than having the same proportions in every block, the widths shift, creating an interesting interplay between the horizontal and vertical elements when the blocks are rotated. The familiar woven structure is still there, but the changing proportions give the design a different rhythm.
The spark for the palette came from a summer walk on the trail. Gracie (my Vizsla) was cavorting through the ferns, her rust coat flashing against layers of bright and shadowy greens. She is such a pretty color, and the contrast against the woods was too striking to ignore. Of course, anyone who has tried to photograph a dog knows the reality — I have a whole sequence of Gracie’s backside and the back of her head before finally managing one decent shot.
Even though this is a November release, the inspiration came from that bright summer moment. Working ahead means I sometimes find myself sewing in a November frame of mind while surrounded by midsummer light.
This quilt top came together in a single weekend of pottering in the studio. There is something deeply satisfying about a design that looks impressive but doesn’t demand weeks of effort or a complicated process. Strip piecing made the sewing smooth and straightforward, and before I knew it the throw-size top was assembled and ready for quilting.
For the quilting, I chose a loose, blocky square meander in a mid-tone green thread. I wanted the quilting to add texture without competing with the movement of the piecing. The irregular, wandering squares complement the geometric design while letting the little flashes of rust remain the focus.
I really love the balance of tradition with the pop of color in Rail Fence Riff. It was also deeply satisfying to make a quilt that had such simple construction but looks so complicated. I like these stealth quilts — the ones that come together quickly but have people asking how on earth you did something so complex. It’s quilting sleight-of-hand, and that is exactly what makes Rail Fence Riff a bit of a ninja!
