What is your take on 'modern' quilts?
 

I am working on a quilt for our cheer coach as this is my daughter's last year on the squad. She is 25 and I figured she probably would not want something that looked like it came out of her grandmother's house. I found a pattern called Urban Windows which was designed by Sarah Maxwell and Dolores Smith. I like the way it is coming out and I did a little reading on the modern quilting trend. By a definition from Craftsy, modern quilts are:
•Bold colors and prints
•High contrast and graphic areas of solid color
•Improvisational piecing
•Minimalism
•Expansive negative space
•Alternate grid work
•“Modern traditionalism,” or the updating of classic quilt designs

But as I worked on my quilt, I am sort of wondering whether modern quilting is just a way to get around the sewing skills that the traditional quilt patterns require (matched seams, Y insets, HSTs, bias, etc). Don't get me wrong - I am all for anything that gets newbies to start quilting before it becomes a lost art. But is modern quilting really a trend? Or a cop-out? Let the comments roll! Here is a picture of the quilt top for reference.

I don't mind THIS quilt pattern or fabric at all. In fact I think it looks nice.

However I typically don't like modern quilts.I think for me its both the colors chosen and the pattern. Just last night at our guild meeting I saw a light gray / dark gray and lime green quilt. I did not like it at all. (LOL as lime green is one of my favorite colors too!)
It also was the pattern.

But I agree with you, if its what it takes for someone to get into 'the lost art of quilting who is it for us to say you can't call it a quilt b/c you used such and such colors or patterns

After all there are civil war patterns & fabrics
30's & 40's and reproduction prints (pastels) and traditional patterns
then you have the bright colored fabrics and the stack n wack patterns
and its all called 'quilting'.

So I think its just a matter of taste.

I don't see a thing wrong. We are all made different, so we all have different tastes. Your quilt is pretty.

I say to each his own, but personally I prefer the traditional patterns, I have been quilting so long I like a challenge. I have seen some"modern" quilt patterns and quilts I really liked and others I thought "What were they thinking"!!!! And as time goes by and our skills change I think we do too.

Interesting take on the trend. I made a comment and was quoted in an article in the Wall Street Journal newspaper.

I like both traditional and modern quilts. I think that the salient feature of modern quilts is a minimalist approach. If done well that can be truly elegant and beautiful. But I think that modern quilts are probably more difficult to design well than more traditional patterns and may depend more on good color and/or print fabric design choices, so they may be harder to "personalize" with maker choices.

Quilts are like art, some are traditional, some are country/rustic, some are modern and minimalist. I happen to prefer the more modern look, but it is a matter of personal preference. I will say some of the more 'modern' quilts are a real challenge for me, but I am a fairly new quilter. If the only quilting options were for the really intricate, detailed designs that you experienced, professional quilters do, I would never have taken up quilting!

I don't necessarily think "modern" equates to "no matching seams". I had to match every single one of these in the one I made this year. The fabrics in this make it more of a "modern" quilt because of the "low volume" fabrics I chose.

This is my first "modern" quilt, and I do like it. Although, I think it's a matter of taste, personally.

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Love that sentiment.

I have seen a few modern quilts that I didn't care for. I've also seen a few traditional quilts that I didn't care for. Either one can be difficult or simple to piece. I do like the fact that modern quilts typically have a lot of negative space, which allows for creative quilting that can really show up.

Yes I do see the modern and liberated quilt styles as easier ways to sew. But it also allows for a new expression to emerge. If we want the art of quilting to continue as craft we need to have new quilters--it's not just Grandma's who quilt. The modern quilt movement has encouraged younger quilters to create. If this demographic wants to be hip and up to date they need to follow the dictates of current design. Traditional quilts don't always fit that influence. Over the years these artists will develop and modify their skills just as we "traditional" quilters have. I know my tastes in color and pattern, block choices and settings have changed over the years. I hope we can have enough fabric choices for all types of quilting so that we can continue to enjoy this satisfying past time in our own style.

I am newer to quilting and in my 30's. I don't love traditional quilts (thought I do greatly appreciate the work they often take). For me they're just too fussy. Modern, OTOH, makes me very happy. I don't think all the "traditional" patterns have to not be "modern" since there are so many variables in any given quilt.

There are some low-skill level modern quilts, just as there are low skill level traditional patterns. I think it's a big mistake to say that all modern quilts are lacking in technical challenge. Often the focus of a modern quilt is not on the piecing, but rather on the fabric selection or the quilting or the improvisational approach to creating it. A well made, visually pleasing, balanced quilt in the modern style is by no means a lazy woman's project.

I like modern quilting. I like that it's generally characterized by graphic elements and clean design. I like that it plays around with traditional elements and doesn't always take itself too seriously. That said, not all things calling themselves modern quilts are necessarily modern in style.

I'm doing a Skill Builder BOM that's being offered by Pile O Fabric, a modern quilter. So far, I haven't seen us avoiding any of the sewing skills used in traditional quilting. It's definitely a matter of taste, but I wouldn't say modern quilting is a cop-out. I also wouldn't knock the skills required for it.

When I watched this video on Quilters Newsletter TV I got a whole new perspective on modern quilts.

http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/vi...s%2Findex.html

(Hope it's OK to post this link.)

What wss the comment?

I love both! And I have seen some patterns of both I don't care for at all. Like everybody else, I suppose. Some of the 'modern' quilts with oddly-cut shapes look like a challenge to me. Is there an equivalent to 'quilters cache' for the modern quilter? I can google 5 bazillion double wedding ring quilts because it is a well-known and named pattern but not always so for the modern quilts. Great thread topic IMO.

I tend to like a lot of the modern quilts. I like the clean look of the negative space. I did hear a speaker at our guild comment that they had better learn the importance of a good seam or their quilts will not last for many years.

It's like everything that humans can do that is considered creative...creative. Modern quilts may or may not also represent quilting skills. In the end, as long as you had fun making the quilt and the recipient loves the quilt, the skills don't matter.

It's the love in a quilt that matters - not the skills of the quilter.

agreeing with Tartan.

I'm sad that folks sell "modern quilting" short. maybe it is the word "modern" that riles people. Sometimes, old looks new to me, and visa versa. I love seeing how the art/craft evolves. There are mad skills happening in the modern quilt world.

sing it sister ;-)

Have you ever tried straight line quilting in evenly spaced rows about 3/4 inch apart all across the quilt? I've seen it on lots of modern quilts and thought I'd give it a try. It's not as easy as it looks. Hopefully the baby I just made the quilt for won't notice my wavering lines. :)

I just like quilting :) I have made a couple of 'modern' quilts because I liked the design, one I did in Amish colours all dark and with a black background because it was for my son. I have also made traditional quilts and I've used MSQC patterns. Btw are MSQC modern or trad?

I think there is another category at play here that I think of as contemporary. Seems to be that you can take just about any traditional quilt block and turn it modern by the use of color and pattern. Personally, straight up traditional quilts are not my cup of tea because I don't like the colors. But take that same block and play with new colors - give it some negative space and all of the sudden it's gotten pretty darn modern. Strictly modern quilts, as someone else has noted, are more like art quilts - no pattern, just your own creative ability at work - very often does not fit into a handy block format. Modern is what peaked my interest and keeps me spending money all over the place for fabric and supplies.

I tend to do more modern quilting than any other style. (Looking at my album will tell you that!) If I do a traditional block I put a modern spin on it. Too much traditional just bores me stupid. I don't think 'modern' is copping out on anything. They rely more on creative design, which is harder to succeed at than making good Y seams and HSTs . Choice of fabric and placement will make or break a modern quilt. With traditional quilts you can grab any fabric, even make them scrappy which to me is a cop out on fabric artistry. There is a lot more artistry in modern quilting.

I think our personalities really come out in the kind of quilting we do.

great perspective.

sewbizgirl, oops, you had me until you said "With traditional quilts you can grab any fabric, even make them scrappy which to me is a cop out on fabric artistry. There is a lot more artistry in modern quilting."

and your last sentence concerning personality..What about personalities that love both/or all styles? some great works out there from people who encompass the old and the new.

i don't "grab any fabric" when i am making my traditional quilts. i spend a goodly amount of time making sure there is harmony in my colours and pattern choices, no matter what kind of quilt i am making.

i like quilts. a lot. well made in any era stands out.

aileen

Quilting of any kind interests me. Modern, traditional, tribal, utility....all have beauty and various levels of difficulty in design and construction. I particularly like Waggas (traditional Australian utility quilts), these are made with a variety of fabric finds, certainly not beautiful quilting cottons:) and all vary in style and construction. I just think it's important to keep quilting alive and evolving....I have a Wagga in progress, as well as an EPP GFG, and a string quilt.....so a bit of everything.

I like most all quilts. It seems that modern quilts showcase quilting skills rather than piecing skills. I want to make one when I can do all the quilting and showcase my skills. To each his own -- there is plenty of room for quilters of all kinds. That is what makes the world go round.

I can definitely say with my quilt that although the blocks were simple, picking the color palette was really challenging! I am also not sure what design to do for the FMQ. Boy am I glad I started this thread!

I think that because there is a lot more negative space in many modern quilts, it requires excellent FMQ skills to fill in the space both in planning and execution and that is what intimidates me about making some of the modern quilts out there...

I like it,I'm still learning and it be a nice change not to be matching seams all the time, btw,I like your over the door shoe rack LOL! I have 3 one for my shoes,1 for my spools of thread and another for all my sewing supplies really handy, but can't find the clear ones anymore they were martha stewart brand

My take is that tho the piecing is simpler, the quilts have a lot of white space. The QUILTING takes center stage. Ni love that.

sandy

What's modern today will be vintage later.

I still haven't met a quilt I didn't like. Well, there was that enormous Cathedral Window in dull maroon and navy. My reaction was, Why?

Many ordinary quilts have been made, loved, and used up. So it will be with modern quilts.

Everybody should be welcome at this party. Makes me wonder what is next, quilting with your home computer and a special printer?

You need to be good at free motion quilting for modern quilts. Im not so don't do modern unless sent out to longarmer.

I'm in this group of thinking. I like the traditional, but can enjoy some of the 'modern' quilts. It depends on the recipient of what I am making as to how it is made.

Google MODERN HOMES and look at the photos for a little. I think 'modern' quilts are similar to 'modern' homes.

Modern Quilts seem geometric, simple or basic shapes with lots of 'open space' that allow the quilting to be an important design element in the MQ look.

In modern quilts, I see fabrics by NEW designers in UNIQUE colors that are on a new ring outside the basic color wheel. As some pointed out above, the color choices MQers chose may not be what a 'traditional quilter' would use. But you don't mix ERAs, do you? I don't think you'll see Civil War era or 30's fabrics in truly MQ....but you wouldn't mix different eras together in traditional quilting unless you were doing scrappy.

While it appears there are lots of 'young' quilters involved in MQ, some of us traditional quilters are joining them! :D
It's NEW! It's EXCITING! It's HISTORICAL! and I LOVE IT!

A quilt is a quilt is a quilt - LOVE IT - USE IT - ADMIRE IT.
Everyone's TASTE is different. Just like there's different styles of houses and cookies, there's different styles of quilts.

Nan - in snowy Indiana

I like some of the modern quilts and they usually have big areas for quilting. Since I am a longarm quilter, I have gotten some good ideas for quilting designs from the modern quilts. I make, however, traditional quilts. I like the more intricate patterns because precise piecing is my favorite part.

Trends change. I think some Modern quilts are quite nice and do emphasize the quilting. Others just look lazy to me. I know DH always prefers the back of the quilt. He likes the all over pattern with only a few blocks. I make 48 - 54 wide throws and add extra blocks, scraps in simple patterns. So my backs tend to look modern.