Scrap Cities: Quilt Beautiful Buildings!

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I've been quilting for 30+ years, and loved nearly every minute of it (except pin- basting). But I've never had more fun than in the last seven years, making cityscapes. Here’s one, which I call ""Nonsense Town.""

And a detail:

The sewing is a joy, but long before that, every town or city walk becomes a thrilling treasure hunt. I take lots of photos. I'm not a great photographer, but that doesn't matter. I'm good enough to get the basic idea. At home, I study my photos closely. I almost always notice even more tantalizing things.

Each interesting buildings become a quilt challenge: What technique could I use to replicate its look, with a whimsical, modern improv slant? In the case of Los Angeles' trendy Hotel Indigo, below....

...the partially offset windows (they don't quite line up on top of each other) reminded me of Bargello, the most fun strip-piecing and cross-cutting quilting technique ever invented. Bargello had its heyday in the 90s', when I was a fledgling quilter, dangerously armed with a sharp new rotary cutter and virgin cutting mat. I bought two fabulous books on the subject by Marge Edie. I used what I learned so long ago to make the building below, which I named
the ""Hotel Bargello.""

And that's just one example. By now I've probably created over a hundred buildings, some based on real ones, some pure fantasy, and some hybrids, using my favorite techniques from decades of trying every quilt world fad! I enjoy this process so much that I offer a one-hour ""Scrap Cities"" zoom lecture to guilds. Folks tell me they never look at buildings the same way afterward. I've also published two books on the subject, ""Quilted New York, Celebrate the City With Fabric and Color,"" and ""Scrap Cities, Joyful Modern Architecture-Inspired Quilts.""

And now, for quilters who learn best from videos and classes, I am thrilled to announce that my on-demand cityscape
master class is available through Creative Spark, here. It took me most of last spring and summer to make more than six hours of videos, and an accompanying booklet. 

The course focuses on capturing the spirit of architectural landmarks rather than photo-realistic portraiture. I use the most
fun least fussy techniques possible. A little improv not only adds a touch of whimsy but also mirrors the real-world charm of irregularities in so many buildings. For folks who want detailed instructions, there are a half-dozen step-by-step building patterns, and instructions for turning them into the sampler below.

But you don't have to make the sampler to learn from those lessons. There are also guidelines for making many more architecture styles, and putting your quilt together; the details are up to you. My buildings are built to last; most have turned edges. You'll learn my unique technique for turning edges DURING piecing of multi-section buildings, rather than afterwards. This... 

• Saves time
• Makes the building appliqué strong
• Creates a little extra dimension, so the buildings rise above whatever is behind them
• Most importantly, when you finish piecing each building, it can quickly and easily be pieced or appliquéd anywhere, against a sky AND overlapping other buildings, like in real cities! Below is my Chicago quilt, and most structures have turned edges. 

I reserve raw-edge fusible appliqué for the tiniest and/or curviest details. With my approach, you don't need to plan the layout of your city in advance—I never do! Nor do you have to worry about piecing the background into each building. Make a couple of buildings, start arranging them, decide if you want more, make those, keep arranging and auditioning! These quilts are built the same way real cities are built, one building at a time, each completely different from its neighbors! 

I've also found easy ways to incorporate artist's perspective, through strategic cutting of geometric prints. This gives the scene pops of  3D. You don't have to achieve the perfection that diligent painters since the Renaissance have aspired to! This sparkly skyscraper, for example, is a reasonable facsimile of two-point perspective, without actually being mathematically correct! 

The online class includes access to course videos, downloads, the Creative Spark private community, and discussion with your instructor. Course content does not expire.

Whether you're a confident beginner or an expert quilter, detailed handouts as well as the videos will guide you through making cityscape quilts as a memorable gift for loved ones or a fun project for yourself. If you want to start small, how about a one-building pillow? This one was commissioned by my Dad's best friend, a proud 89-year old Ivy League graduate, portraying his college dorm. The pattern for this building is not in the class, but the information you need to make a building like this is! 

For a baby or child's quilt, make a colorful scene, and put fun characters in the windows! Here are some buildings made by Yaffa Yassaf, who took my class -- she's planning to turn them into a baby quilt.

Along with new techniques to meet the unique challenges of fabric architecture, I teach a new (to me) way of seeing—as an
artist, rather than just a tourist or resident. People who’ve taken my class say they never looked at buildings the same way again. Let me know if you have any questions about the class, the books, or anything else!

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Sign up for Scrap Cities: Architecture-Inspired Quilts at Creative Spark!

Cathy Perlmutter is a quilter, designer, writer, and teacher with a zest for spreading the joy of quilting. She aims for everyone who uses her books and patterns to have as much fun as she does. “Quilting is a delightful gateway to art-making,” she says. “It should be a joyful, soul-satisfying experience. I’m a firm believer that improvisation brings even more joy. Some of the best moments in my quilts have been happy accidents, but you can set the stage for serendipity and be ready to embrace it when it occurs!”

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