Free to Join In - Mystery Quilt

 I love it when a plan comes together!

Yet another one of these little Bow Tucks Bags. 

A lady I know asked me to make her a bag to take on holiday, but gave me a very vague brief as to what she wanted. I didn't think she really wanted a beach bag, since she is nearly 90 and going to Scotland. So I decided on a handbag and used my 'go to' pattern, this time in these gorgeous florals (kindly given to me by Karen).

With a bit of mixing and matching I had just enough fabric to make up the pieces. That's always pleasing!

It is lovely and roomy with useful pockets on the inside.

So now for my very own little Mystery Quilt!

I am not revealing its name just yet, as I don't want to give too much away. I have designed this lap size quilt at the request of the Mill Hill U3A Patchwork and Quilting group and therefore it is intended for beginners.

I bet they won't think they can do it when they get the instructions! 

But I have every confidence in them, if they take it step by step and it should be a good exercise for them to follow instructions (and for me writing them). The most difficult bit for me was dividing it up into manageable chunks (clues) - although the formatting was a bit tricky too, with the diagrams etc. 

Anyway, I hope I have done a good job and it works out as planned. (I had better get on and make it before they overtake me!)

It is based on traditional blocks - not wildly original - but should be a fun first project. I am happy for anyone else to join if they would like to. Visit me at ENGLISHQUILTER for more details  and I will send you the PDF for FREE! The first clue might seem a little daunting because it includes the full cutting instructions, but you don't need to do it all at this stage! I will release further instructions every week in about 8 instalments. (But I can let you have it quicker if you find yourself racing ahead - just ask!)

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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Bonnie's Quilt

At Last!

Finally got far enough down the pile to finish quilting a couple of pieces of my own! The one in the picture is 'En Provence', designed by the amazing Bonnie Hunter as her mystery quilt for 2016. I still have to bind it, which I will do with the green backing fabric. I still can't seem to do justice to the colours in the photo, even on this sunny morning - it really is quite bright and fresh. 


Tried a slight variation on a feathered curl with this all-over quilting design in yellow thread. I have got the hang of the centre, which reminds me of 'yin and yang' when I get it just right, but I think it works better on a slightly smaller scale (as on the little quilt below).

This pretty little top was a UFO given to me by a friend who had started to piece the blocks by hand. 

 Needless to say, I finished it by machine! I had already begun quilting it several months back and had used it to experiment with my Westalee Rulers. Some of the designs worked well, but I had a problem with the rulers which pivot on a big 'drawing pin' fixed underneath the quilt whilst it is on the frame. The pin catches on the plate of the machine at a certain point and stops you from making a smooth line. Still not solved that one!

All that was needed was to do something in the border - the 'yin yangs' worked better here- and to fill in around the motifs. It was a good opportunity to practise my micro-quilting and pebbling technique. A little busy perhaps, but good fun!







Now I am working on instructions for my own mystery quilt project and will make up a sample version soon. Please leave me a comment if you would like to join in.

 Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

Thank you for visiting my blog and for leaving your comments. Please share on Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ etc

Riot of Colour!

And More on that Mystery Quilt...

With Janet's 'French General' quilt now completed, I took on 2 pretty girly quilt tops this week, both pieced by Laura for her grand-daughters. As so often happens, once I got up in the loft, I just couldn't stop until they were done!

The first one was made with bright, fresh modern prints (not sure of the range) and the backing was a sumptuous deep pink in the 'Dimples' range from Makower. I picked up on the flowers, swirls and hearts in the prints to create this edge to edge design which shows up so well on the back.

The second one was a lovely combination of fairy prints, with pinks and mauves on a crisp white background with a sprinkle of silver shimmer.

 This time the quilting design was inspired more by the backing fabric which was all swirls and curls. This curled ribbon with petals is fast becoming my favourite freehand motif. 

Ah PINK! It always puts me in a good mood!

The other day I turned on my laptop and it decided to install windows updates - infuriating! 
It took so long to load up that, by the time it was done, I had designed the Mystery Quilt I mentioned in my last blog! 
This was requested by the small U3A group of fairly new to quilting ladies in Mill Hill - so it will be a beginner level lap quilt.
But I have decided to share it with anyone who might like to have a go, via my Facebook page Englishquilter Patchwork Fabric . 
I will be finalising all the details and instructions over the next week or two and will make an announcement when it is good to go. Why not join in?



Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

Thank you for visiting my blog and for leaving your comments. Please share on Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ etc