#32 Double Helix

#32: Double Helix
Finished: 8/10/12
Techniques: Convergence
Size: 12 1/2" x 19"

"Sine Me Up" by Kent Williams,
reprinted with permission from the artist.

Description: I was reading 500 Art Quilts edited by Ray Hemachandra and Karey Bresenhan and fell in love with a  quilt by Kent Williams entitled "Sine Me Up". As this was more of an art book and not a quilting technique book, there were no instructions for how to create this quilt - just a photo and a small close up. So working from the photo, I had to figure out how it was done.  I could see it involved alternating rows of fabric strips, but at first I thought I would have to work with curves. I tried that but failed miserably. I could see that there were curves going to the left and curves going to the right, but it drove me crazy for a while trying to figure out how to put it together.

Then I realized I was making it too complicated and knew I had to look for a simpler solution. It turns out that this is a very easy construction technique. Very easy, yet quite ingenious! I created rows of alternating strips: 1) light purple, red, pink, olive, and light blue and 2) dark blue, yellow, green, orange, and dark purple. I then alternated the rows, moving one row 1/4" to the right while moving the other row 1/4" to the left when adding each subsequent row. That gives the appearance of curves in two directions.

Now if I had been smart, I would have done some strip piecing of the five row fabrics and then cut them out, but no, I cut out individual rectangles and then pieced them together. Strip piecing may also have helped in making cleaner, straighter rows. Ah well - I'll know better for next time.

My mini-quilt is not as elegant as Mr. Williams'. I didn't achieve the nice curved effect, but I attribute that to facts that my rectangles are not as long as his, nor do I have as many shifts to the right and left. It may also be because he shifted the rows less than 1/4" but I am not positive of that as it is difficult to determine the scale. So my mini-quilt came out more angular than curved, but the overall effect reminded me of the double helix of DNA, hence the title.

Another interesting note: There is an optical illusion that occurs here, and it is most evident with the orange (although you can see it somewhat with the other colors as well, to varying degrees). Look on the right side of the mini-quilt. Does it appear that there is a dark orange diagonal to a lighter orange? It's all the same orange fabric! The illusion occurs because the orange looks lighter when it is next to the light blue, and darker when it is next to the olive color.

Thank you, Kent Williams, for allowing me post a photo of your quilt! I encourage others to check out his website gallery of quilts. They are phenomenal! http://www.rkentwilliams.com/galleries.html