Pretty Productive!

Round The Bend 

Making some progress with my diamond log-cabin project at last, but still pretty much making it up as I go along. I extended these three-dimensional Dresden Bloom units into semi circles last week and then spent Saturday night setting the centres in place. But then I was awake half the night mulling over what to do next! I think I have a plan now, but haven't had time to try it out yet!

Although those units were quite fiddly, I found them very satisfying to make, and quite relaxing. Maybe it was just the pleasure of playing with my prettiest fabrics.

By contrast, the project for Studio Quilters this month was rather more taxing. We were making  'Curved Flying Geese', all foundation pieced (my least favourite technique - they really do drive me round the bend!). As I was leading the demonstration, though, I had to get my act together in advance.

Using leftovers from my Ballycastle Twist quilt, I made four quarter circle segments and prepared the different stages of the curved piecing setting backgrounds ready for the demonstration.

So, even though it was outside my comfort zone, I took a deep breath and we all got stuck in!  The aim was to get at least one quarter block assembled so that we could work through the whole process. And everyone did brilliantly! 

To me, the curved piecing process was the easiest part, and they all squared up perfectly.

There were some lovely fabric choices and I really look forward to seeing what everyone makes with them. Will it be a full circle set in to a cushion? Or maybe a serpentine curve. 








Perhaps a scalloped border like the one I made for my Spring Halo quilt.

 Now I'm going to return to those Dresden Blooms to see how they work out.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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

www.englishquilter.co.uk

Free to Quilt: Rule the Waves

Free to Quilt: Rule the Waves: Waiting for Wadding I've been tied to the house all day waiting for a large box of wadding to be delivered. It looks like it&#39...

Rule the Waves

Waiting for Wadding

I've been tied to the house all day waiting for a large box of wadding to be delivered. It looks like it's not going to show up, which is rather frustrating since I am completely out of stock on the polyester. But I've been far from idle today and have just finished this rather sweet seaside quilt, pieced by Carole from Connecting Threads. The layout didn't suit an all over edge to edge pattern so there was a lot of ruler work, stitching in the ditch and continuous curve around the half square triangle sections. 

Then I managed to get some waves, bubbles and curls in too, to pick up the nautical feel. The delicate aqua and sand colours were very calming - it's going to make a lovely present for someone in Carole's family.

True to my word, last Saturday, I showed great restraint at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia, and only spent 'pin money' - literally!! But as always after a show, I came back with a desire to use some of the fabrics I already have. By the evening I was sorting through my basket of most treasured fabrics and starting these tiny half inch log cabins. 

The deep pink centre is my absolute most precious fabric!

I only bought a half yard about 8 years ago and  first used it in my Hunter's Star quilt at the top of my blog page. Since then I have used a little piece of it in all my favourite quilts and I am down to a short strip and a few tiny slivers! Funny how some things are hard to let go of! 

Now they are building up nicely as I am using wider strips on the outer rounds. This is going to be a real 'Jan' quilt! But I  really shouldn't get distracted like this. There's the Laura Ashley project and the Diamond Log Cabin to be finished.

Also I need to work up my samples for the curved flying geese demo at Studio Quilters next weekend. I am going to use left overs from My Ballycastle Twist quilt and make a  centrepiece for my little table in the dining room. So it has to be blue!

Tomorrow I'm invited to speak and show my fabric at Chiltern Quilters in High Wycombe, which should be fun.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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

www.englishquilter.co.uk