Free to Quilt: Too Cute for Quilting!

Free to Quilt: Too Cute for Quilting!: Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed? It's not just anyone who gets to sit on my favourite quilt! But little Phoebe is so sweet an...

Too Cute for Quilting!

Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed?

It's not just anyone who gets to sit on my favourite quilt!

But little Phoebe is so sweet and gentle, who could resist her? And she does seem to blend in to my house somehow!! She has been a bit of a distraction this week, but Elise and I have so enjoyed having her stay. 

I did manage to get a couple of things done before our Easter break. Our task at Studio Quilters was to 'make something from the cupboard' - I found this lovely 'Crocodile' print by Makower in our stash and there was enough to piece and back this simple little playmat/cot quilt. 

All it needs now is the binding to be hand finished on the back. 

I have also quilted this beautiful 'Ohio Star' for Carol. This is her first project and she has done such a brilliant job - I gave her quite a challenge. 

I wanted her to see it finished before she leaves us and moves away (😔)! So I have given it a few curls and swirls and just outlined the 'background'.

 

Less is More, I think. It certainly didn't need to be quilted to death. I have made and attached the binding and it is all ready for a lesson in how to join the ends cleanly and finish it off. 

We had thought of adding a border in the white fabric, but it just didn't work, as the pattern needed to be 'closed off' with a dark border. So we settled on the navy 'Linen Texture' that we used on the back and binding. 

It looks really smart, doesn't it? 

Carol learned so much from this project, I am sure she will go on to make many more and we hope she soon finds a good quilt group to join in her new town.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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www.englishquilter.co.uk

Free to Quilt: Love Ring

Free to Quilt: Love Ring: Getting Things Done! Finished quilting this sweet little play mat quite quickly this week. Having looked up the layout I wanted o...

Free to Quilt: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend!

Free to Quilt: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend!: Play Time! Some projects get done from start to finish in a matter of days and others will stop and start over many months. That&#...

Love Ring

Getting Things Done!

Finished quilting this sweet little play mat quite quickly this week. Having looked up the layout I wanted on Pinterest, I later came across a book (I didn't know I had) with all the variations for Drunkard's Path set out in it! I found out that this layout is called Love Ring. I liked the symmetry for a small quilt.

Then Susan gave me this pretty top to baste for her, so that she can quilt it at her leisure. It made it easier for her than trying to layer a large quilt with safety pins. It was such a fresh looking top with its scrappy 9 patches, quarter square triangle blocks and charming appliqué border.

It inspired me to pull out my 'Project G'  which is a similar design (but with half square triangle blocks) and get it all assembled this weekend. 

I had already decided to deviate from my original plan and make a simpler quilt. I didn't start off intending to make a rainbow quilt, but somewhere down the line I started to use bright colours and it was just going that way  - so I went with it! 

I even matched up the colours in the scrappy binding with the colours in the quilt, which took some doing! I must be barmy!

It was fun to quilt with this 'double bubble' pattern. 

Meanwhile, it's nearly the end of term at my quilt class in Borehamwood and Carol has put together her first quilt top - this Ohio Star and snowball block layout looks amazing in her favourite Stars and Stripes fabrics.

Well done!

 Happy Quilting Everyone!

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www.englishquilter.co.uk

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend!

Play Time!

Some projects get done from start to finish in a matter of days and others will stop and start over many months. That's a good thing  - sometimes you need to take a break to regain your inspiration. I started making these diamond log cabin blocks about 2 years ago, with no real plan in mind, and I have dabbled with them from time to time when the mood struck. This last month it all came together in my head and today it is finished!

Not only have I had the benefit of a lot of practice, since starting it, I've also got some great new tools and they've all come out to play! I got this large curved ruler at FOQ 2017 and the little pointy one ('Taj') was a Christmas present, both used for the first time. 

And here are the Micro Handles I bought last year. This was only their second outing. 

They were just what I needed for the detailed work like this tiny pebbling.

But it can put a strain on the back, leaning in close over the frame, so I have just invested in this very expensive saddle stool which turned out to be really helpful.

 I can't really experiment so much on other people's quilts so it was good to do one for myself. I took my time over it, step by step, and really enjoyed it!

I gave myself quite a challenge binding it with frilly corners too!

And, in keeping with the pink theme, I pieced this baby quilt for Ann's nephew's baby girl expected in May. 'Drunkard's Path' has been on my to do list for ages and I love how this layout looks!

 

 

I did it the old fashioned way, with pins! It all came together in three evenings and I will quilt it next week, with feathers I think!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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

www.englishquilter.co.uk