Hey Everyone, welcome back to Quilts by Jen.

Last week at QuiltX, where I was the featured artist, my new pattern Chopstix was unveiled which I designed specifically for the show. The vendors were encouraged to make their own version of the quilt to be hung in a gallery. I was extremely pleased with how many vendors took part in this little challenge and how well they did with only a black and white picture to go by. The variety of fabrics, colours and layouts was fantastic.

2 quilts on a white background

Chopstix hanging beside the QuiltX quilt at the show entrance

I managed to take a few pics of some of them and here they are.

3 chopstix quilts in blue, black and floral

vendor quilts

The pattern Chopstix is a modern design using a lot of negative space but yet the block is repeated 14 times so still has the feel of a traditional quilt. My first version (pictured at the top of the page) also my test piece I made using the Toscana fabric line from Northcott which is a tone on tone line with many colours to choose from. I had a hard time choosing the colours as I was only using 7 colours but 14 fabrics in all as I needed a light and dark of each colour.

The accent fabric which in the first piece is white are considered to be the chopstix.

chopstix quilts in multiple sizes

more vendor quilts

The second version I used a black fabric from the Shadow Play line from Maywood Studio as the background and 15 Grunge fabrics from Moda for the blocks. The yellow certainly stands out on the black as the chopstix pieces. The quilting mimics the shape of the chopstix as well as the colour.

black chopstix quilt with multi coloured blocks

Chopstix in Grunge & Shadow Play

I have had a lot of fun with this pattern as did the vendors as you can see in the photos below and I hope to make a couple more versions – ideas, ideas are bouncing around in my head about how to make a variation of the original design.

3 vendor quilts in blue, beige and black with stripes

Even more vendor quilts

But until I do there is the original design and my IT department (aka Michael) has been very busy putting the Chopstix pattern in my shop for all of you.

quilts and a jacket

The last of the vendor quilts

What colour will you make it in? And what fabrics will you choose? I’d love to know so drop me a comment below.

Happy Quilting!

Jen Transparent Signature

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