Monday, 22 April 2019
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...
Monday, 15 April 2019
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&#...
Monday, 8 April 2019
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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Monday, 1 April 2019
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!
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Tuesday, 19 March 2019
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!
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Friday, 8 March 2019
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'...
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.
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.
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