By the way, the pattern has nothing to do with insects and everything to do with fabric and sewing. It combines the magic of two different quilt blocks combined with 5 bold accent colors to make an unforgettable quilt.
Get your copy of the Cicada Market Quilt Pattern here.
Cicada Market Pattern
All right, I am just going to say it because if you know anything about quilting then I can't fool you for long. The Cicada Market Quilt Pattern has a lot of Half Square Triangles (HSTs). I'm not sure if I designed this quilt pattern late at night or after an especially strong cup of coffee but everything seems so easy and quick when it's designed on a computer. I guess that's because when I design the pattern I don't have to trim the HSTs.
But... just because a pattern requires a lot of work doesn't mean it should be avoided. This pattern was a good challenge for me because I generally like quick patterns and design quilts that will be done in pretty short order.
This was a new kind of quilting for me. It is the kind that takes patience and tiny seam pressing and sanity questioning. I remember sending my quilting BFF a video in the middle of the quilt saying "What was I thinking?!?!"
I designed this quilt pattern with two different blocks that end up measuring the same, but the stars in each block are different sizes. This made the measurements a bit tricky and it also meant the blocks had to be taken down to a small size to make it work.
The smaller block size brings out the design and adds depth to the finished quilt. I just love the final look!!
The Cicada Market Quilt Pattern is listed as an intermediate level pattern. I know HSTs and four patches aren't hard blocks. So I debated which level to place this at. However, there are so many seams and small pieces in this quilt that if your pressing isn't done well or if your seams are off the blocks will quickly become frustrating.
To give beginner quilters a more beginner friendly option of the same pattern I also wrote the Cicada Market 2 Quilt Pattern (Find your copy here). It uses the same design, but it's all on a much larger grid. This means the elements of each block are much larger and there are less seams. There is also less blocks per quilt. So this version is much more in line with the quicker finish style of quilting.
This Quilt
I'm going to tell you what... This quilt was a labor of love. But not because it was so hard. I made this quilt while moving 3 times. Yes! 3 times! So let me explain...
This quilt was made using Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids. Their fabrics use a thin thread and a tight weave which is why I wanted to use them. I knew that this quilt had smaller pieces in it and I didn't want to worry about any loose weave fabrics unraveling.
So I had someone help me choose my colors and ordered my fabrics to take to India (where I live part of the year). I started the quilt in India and just like predicted I was a bit overwhelmed about how long the process was going to take, mostly because we were going to move in a couple weeks to a different part of India.
I was able to keep good track of all my fabrics and pack everything up for our move. Side note: It's so hard to stop in the middle of a quilt to move. I don't suggest it.
Then, after the move and getting settled I pulled everything out and quickly realized I had miscalculated how much fabric I needed. So I ran out of fabric. Which means I again had to pack the pieces up and put it aside until I was going back to the US next time and could get more of the same fabric.
I moved back to the US for our stay, bought more fabric and started working on the quilt again. However, we moved houses again in the US before the quilt was done. So three moves later I finished all the patchwork on this quilt.
I think next time I make this pattern I would like to use scraps and try using more colors. However, this version is super beautiful. The colors are all very peaceful and work together well. The colors used in this quilt are all from Art Gallery's Pure Solids line. They are:
Potters Clay
Because this quilt has been through so much with me I decided I didn't want to quilt it myself. I decided to send it out to be quilted by my friend Kait from Knot and Thread Design. She helped me choose a variation of Baptist Fan that is on a smaller scale and slightly different which would look good with the small piecing of the quilt.
I already had this backing fabric waiting for the perfect quilt. I thought the pink went kind of perfect with this quilt.
Although the Cicada Market Quilt might be a bit time consuming to make, it is definitely worth it in the long run. This is a quilt which you won't want to get rid of and will look on with fondness for years to come. Just a word to the wise, don't move while you are piecing it. :)
Oh, and by the way, I'm about to move again... I think by now it's become a hobby.