Patchwork Camp part 3

I had plans to make these 12" blocks a feI have had these blocks cut out for a long time.  I made up the dimensions myself to use up 6" novelty squares and some brights that were donated to me, but making sure there was minimal white. I never think white is a good colour for kids quilts.

 

This is not the ideal size, but OK for a baby quilt after I find some suitable border fabric.  The next one I make will be larger, but I use different colours for the churn dash part of the block.

This is a Thimble blossom Mini pattern called Spools.  I used a charm pack called Miss Kate (?) designed by Bonnie and Camille, same as the pattern. I have made one previously (and gifted it)  if you think it looks familiar. The pattern only uses a few charms, so I have been wanting to make one for myself, I want to quilt this soon, it is perfect for my sewing corner wall!

I got the extra Vivid Grid blocks made and I have sewn it all together!  So pleased with this top.  I have to admit that when I prepped for the extra blocks I didnt count.  So there are plenty of pieces cut ready to make more....but bit over them at present!  But I can see myself making more in the future.  I just need a break from brights!

These little 4" baskets are a Jo Morton pattern called Beth's baskets from her book Jo's Little Favorites.  These blocks are going to have to wait a while, as there are other things that need finishing first.  But I do have the fabric all picked ready to go.  

The last thing I did before I left Robe was to sash these little woolly basket blocks.  

Everyone agreed the pink was a winner, but the green I had picked for cornerstones was wrong. It was suggested red and thought fussy cutting the cornerstones was the go.  I was just in a frenzy to finish and did as I was told!  SEW glad I did!  

I assume there is another border to be added, but it is a free pattern from Dawn Heese, so will have to go online and check out finished ones.  Then again it might be fine as is, only a wall hanging so doesn't need to be larger.

SEW as you can see, camp was very productive and good fun.

Happy quilting Sue.

Patchwork camp Part 2

 M made a feather table runner with gorgeous quilted feathers in the border.

 H worked on lots of projects, but showed us her beautiful blocks from Sue Daley book Raspberry Parlour.

S finished her Disappearing pinwheel - we made this pattern together about two years ago, I have just finished mine too!  She likes clear colours and I think it looks great.

 S was discussing border fabric, and when I pointed out the fabric in the bottom LH corner, she grinned and produced what she had already purchased - its basically a match!  I love this fresh white and red/pink combination

 S also made Zombie star blocks and sashed her Star Wars quilt.  

Which was a project she worked on last year, but we decided would benefit from sashing, which it has!
Happy quilting Sue.

Patchwork Camp Part 1

I have been on a weekend retreat with friends in Robe, we call it patchwork camp, but staying in a motel is hardly camping!  I tried to capture some of the projects in progress, but some were finished so quickly...or was I just too focused on what I was doing?  

I am annoyed at myself for not taking not of the book these blocks came out of.  But I love the colour combinations and some of the neutral prints were just fabulous.  J said she wanted a challenge for the weekend and these blocks were certainly not straight forward or traditional in anyway.

 

She was very diligent and got a lot done, as they are quite fiddly, and of course no chain piecing, because each was very different from the other.

This quilt top, was made from scratch by S over the weekend, but still needs a press.  She worked hard before camp and kitted up this and her other projects, which helped inspire me to do the same.  Certainly allows you to be more productive in the piecing time when your away.

E did some string piecing using her diamond template.  The red star is whole pieces of plaid wool - love it!  Think the background wool was black or navy, so it will really stand out.

E had visions of two separate quilts.  We tried to convince her to make two more and put all four in the same quilt.  She kept saying it will be enormous!  And we kept encouraging her, all that lovely negative space for her to showcase some quilting!
More coming in another post.
Happy quilting Sue.

Vivid Grid - a new quilt commenced!

I brought the Spring 2017 edition of Quilts and More and fell in love with Vivid Grid by Sharon McConnell.  

This pattern resonated with me because my 2.5" strip box had a reasonable amount of bright fabric in various colours.  I don't have anything against a bright palette.  It's just not what normally captures my attention first, which is why they were still in the box.

As the 2.5" wide strips were already cut, I just had to cut them to the two different lengths.  I was going to kit up enough blocks to make the quilt and then leave it for quilt camp.  

But a girl has to make one test block right? 

And then play with all the pretty colours!

Honestly within two days I was two blocks off finishing the top!  Its about now that I read the rest of the instructions...well the start where it tells you that the finished quilt is 50 x 60".  That's not big enough for me and while I confess to buying 30 cm of hot pink and orange - there are still plenty of my scraps (and a few fat quarters) to use.
So I am going to make another two row....that's only 12 blocks, and this time I will find the strength to just kit them up to take to quilt camp?!

Happy quilting Sue.   

Red and green log cabin quilt - finished!

 I started this quilt in November when I realised I had a lot of red and green precut 2.5" strips in my strip box.  And I guess I was in the mood for Christmas??

I love making log cabin blocks and when the strips are this large the 12" blocks come together really quickly.  But I had made a mistake and only realised half way through.  I did some  unpicking and very quickly this top (58" x 70")was finished.

Then it was just a matter of waiting until I had the chance to pin this single bed size top.  I had the perfect green in my stash for a backing.  So in January when it got pinned it sat there looking at me until I set to one weekend and stipple quilted it. 

Then it sat and sat until I finally went looking for scrap red strips sufficient to make binding from.  So the whole quilt came out of my stash, which I am really pleased about!

Happy quilting Sue.

Midwinter Red - pinwheel in a churn dash top is finished!

Honestly I have to find a better name for this quilt!

I have been referring to it as the pinwheel in a churn dash - but while descriptive it is a mouthful!

 I finally got the borders on, so now she is a completed top.  Still a bit rippled in one corner, because of the bias edges of the blocks.  But not as bad as I had imaged it might be.  That is code for "hope it quilts out" verses "I am too embarrassed to send it to the long arm quilter!"

My quilt hanger is away, so nothing but terrible photos  - sorry about that!  This quilt is a decent size at 82 x 69" so I had to buy a backing - nothing in the stash is sufficiently large (or red) enough.  A quick trip to Quilters Harvest (Warracknabeal) and I got this print on sale!

Happy days, another flimsy finish and another UFO near completion.

Happy quilting Sue.

Sadie's Quilt - finished!

I started making this little quilt back at Christmas while I was on holidays.  The hold up has been the quilting. 

 Finally some inspiration struck and I quilted daisy's in the centres and SID the blocks.  On the edges

I made a geometric design, sort of half a four patch.

Sadie's quilt is by Jo Morton from her book, Jo's LIttle Favorites and the pattern finishes at 22 x 26" but I made half the blocks so my quilt is 13 x13".  The smaller the quilt the more I can fit on my wall!

Happy quilting Sue.