Fika Finish
I have my Fika finish to show you today. This quilt top has been done for a few weeks while I waited to decide on a quilting design. In the meantime, I decided this quilt needed a name.
I won this bundle of Island Batik Geared Up awhile ago from Powered by Quilting. The golden browns, tans and black make me think of coffee. (We all know we can’t get geared up until we’ve had our coffee, right?)
So while I was looking for the Swedish word for coffee (kaffe), I discovered the word Fika. In Swedish custom, Fika is a coffee break with cakes, cookies, snacks, and relaxing with friends. This immediately took me back to my childhood and coffee breaks with my mother, grandmother and aunts. It was commonplace then to break mid-morning for coffee and cookies, and to do the same mid-afternoon. I never knew that it had a Swedish name or that we were carrying on a family tradition. All I knew as a kid was that it meant sweet goodies and maybe Nestle’s Quik (if I was at Aunt Vernice’s), and maybe a sip or two of coffee. If you want to read more about this Swedish tradition, you can read about it here.
Anyway, back to the quilt.
Once again, I played with improv curves. The fabrics go together so well. I had the blocks done pretty quickly. It took longer to decide on a layout, but I went with the circles in a rippling pattern.
I used a very simple quilting design, wavy lines in both directions. I’m not entirely happy with the quilting, but the fabrics are the main attraction, so I kept the quilting light. The wavy lines make me think of slowly stirring coffee.
The back shows the quilting better.
The backing fabric is not Island Batik, it is just a piece quilting cotton from my stash. For the binding, I used cuts from the Geared Up fat quarters.
You might notice that Fika is a bit larger version of my Moody Blues quilt. I’m completely smitten with improv curves. I find them very relaxing to sew, and versatile and fun to arrange and rearrange.
Fika details:
- Size: 35 ” square
- Fabric: Island Batik Geared Up
- Backing: no info, from my stash
- Batting: Hobbx 80/20
- Thread: Aurifil 50 wt, light and dark brown
Happy Friday, friends! I hope you enjoyed my little Fika Finish today. I’m looking forward to fika with friends soon, aren’t you??
Linking up today with:
Wendy
Thursday Thoughts
28 Comments
marissthequilter
What a gorgeous quilt. I somehow imagine it on a table top, with coffee and cookies on it, waiting for a happy gathering. Fika is a lovely tradition — thanks for telling us about it
Cindy Pieters
A beautiful quilt! My grandmother was Finnish and she would say it was Fika time, which meant cinnamon buns warm from the oven and a drink. Thanks for sharing your tradition and helping me remember mine!
My Sewful Retirement
Wendy, Fika is gorgeous! The fabric definitely says coffee…I enjoyed reading about your family tradition!
texasquiltgal
I’m normally not an improv gal, but I LOVE this! My eyes are drawn to the center (I really like that the curves don’t meet perfectly) and that cluster of circles in the block on the top. The name is perfect, and the colors are so attractive. Where will it hang?
Kathy Swallows
Congrats on a beautiful finish! I had no idea that coffee time with sweets was a thing. My Guy’s family would have mid morning coffee with breakfast pastries and mid-afternoon coffee with pie/cake/dessert during the holidays. My MIL’s family was Dutch, maybe they have something similar?
Nancy Bekedam
Fun finish, from gifted fabrics! I enjoyed the little story about Fika, too, Wendy! How wide do you cut your binding?
karenfae
very nice I love those colors
Quilting is in my Blood
Another wonderful improv piece! Did you use Elm Street Quilts Improv Curves tutorial when you first started cutting improv curves? Have a great day, Mary
Rebecca Grace
Oh, yes — sitting here with my own morning coffee, I am definitely getting that kokekaffe vibe from your quilt! Mmmm! Your improv curves look great and you have a nice balance of how the prints are distributed throughout the quilt.
Barbara
Well, I like your new word, and your quilt turned out very pretty. I love those fabrics.
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
I learned about Fika when a friend who has Swedish heritage visited Sweden a couple years ago. We all thought it sounded like a wonderful practice! Your improv quilt definitely says Coffee and Cookies to me! Gorgeous rich, warm color, and all those neat curve blocks, too. Beautiful, Wendy!
elvira
very lovely quilt. The Batik reminds me of Javanese design batik which usually comes in brown shades or off white-ish colors.
Vicki in MN
Sitting here having coffee with the hubs while reading your post. I’d say you picked the perfect fabrics to use for a Fika quilt. I have never heard that word before, so I am glad you told a little story about it;) I am thinking you should do a little tutorial on your curved improv!!
rl2b2017
Great idea, Vicki! We want a tutorial . . . we want a tutorial! ~smile~ Roseanne
laura bruno lilly
All the threads – connections – that’s what quilting, coffee, family, life (you opened my eyes to a new world of cafes in the northern climes…heavenly!) is all about.
Not to mention that the actual quilt project is divine!
The best wake up with my morning cuppa java in a long time – thanks Wendy.
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
I love that in thinking about this quilt you researched and learned a bit about your family and the tradition that you took part in. Improv curves are fun and satisfying, aren’t they? Lovely use of the fabrics and are you planning to use this mini when serving your coffee during your morning fika? 🙂
Diane Harris
Love this on so many level!
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! Oh, I adore your Fika Finish. And especially the fun lesson and insight into your childhood. Those memories are just the best, no?! Since I have a Danish background, some of these traditions are very similar in my family. Two breaks, mid-morning and mid-afternoon sound just about right. With my Aunt Bernice and Aunt Vernell (so close to your Aunt’s name!), they would have special treats for me an my cousins. Now to your quilted piece, I just love these improv ideas you’ve been sharing. I think you enjoying making them immensely and it shows in your end result. Happy Friday! ~smile~ Roseanne
Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch
I love this! The colors speak coffee break to me. I had never heard of this word or custom and I love to learn new things. Thank you for sharing your beautiful quilt and the interesting read and linking up today … 🙂 Pat
ROCHELLE SUMMERS
Those fabrics are so delish! They go together so well and the circles give it so much movement. What a wonderful use of this fat quarter pack. Your improv work is so nice. I looked again at Moody Blues and it has a totally different vibe from Fika. Hard to believe it is the same technique! Enjoy your break with this lovely quilt.
quiltinggail
Your Fika is lovely!!! One day, it will be fun to Fika (for you) and Tea (for me) together! I look forward to that happening!!!! What a lovely dream, eh?
Louise Hornor
What an intriguing piece! All those beautiful neutrals and organic curves. It makes me think of lots of different glossy chocolates in a display case. Of course, a cup of coffee is perfect to go along with a few special chocolates…
Frédérique
What a beautiful quilt! I love everything in it, fabrics, colors, curves, so pretty!
Kathleen McCormick
I love this and love the idea of Fika! Of course this looks like coffee, tea and sweets to me! Have you looked at Jacquie Gering’s walking foot books – I think you could find some alternate ways of dealing with quilting that you might like. Glad you waited until now to post because you could link up to TGIFF!
Needle and Foot
Yes Wendy, this is lovely – great colors. Perfect for coffee and a cookie! When at my grandma’s, we had cookies with coffee (here) and milk (us) in the afternoons as well. Your curved improv design is stunning. Loving all of your improv work lately. So pretty.
Katy Sweigart
This is beautiful, Wendy! I think I’m going to try some more curves this week myself. And Fika is a perfect name. My background is not Swedish, but my grandparents had the same traditional coffee break!
Riceford Streams
This is my sentimental favorite! Just like you, I think of coffee and cookies with my grandma and aunts. Oh, those were precious times.
thedarlingdogwood
I love this! And the idea of Fika. Perfect name!