“Tiny Bubbles,” hand and machine pieced, hand and machine quilted, 44 x 44 inches. All images © Marla Varner, shared with permission
What began as an early pandemic project designed to use up scrap fabric has resulted in an ingeniously designed field of color and geometries. “Tiny Bubbles” is a kaleidoscopic work by Marla Varner of in Sequim, Washington, that’s comprised of hundreds of curved pieces stitched into an abstract, variegated pattern of tiny rounds nestling into larger forms.
In total, the sewn work utilizes 1,320 individual pieces and took more than a year to complete. “Quilted during the pandemic, these tiny bubbles kept me occupied while isolated in my own small bubble. All of the quarter circles were traced from templates, cut with scissors, and pieced by hand. The curved units were then assembled by machine,” she says.
Varner will show “Tiny Bubbles” and the colorfully meandering patchwork titled “Crevices” at in Phoenix next month. In addition to those pieces, she’s also been working on a temperature quilt and smaller functional goods like potholders, which you can see below. For more on her meticulous process, head to and . (via )
Detail of “Tiny Bubbles,” hand and machine pieced, hand and machine quilted, 44 x 44 inches
“Crevices,” 40 x 45.5 inches
Temperature quilt in progress
“Meander,” 38 x 37 inches
“Tiny Bubbles” in progress
“Tiny Bubbles” in progress
Small quilted potholders
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