Showing posts with label Carolina Chain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carolina Chain. Show all posts

Carolina chain finished



Carolina Chain quilt finished!  Pattern by Bonnie Hunter in her book Addicted to Scraps.  Made initially as leaders and enders blocks, then pieced specifically to try and get the top to a decent size.  
Quilted by me, using straight lines through the block centres and stitch in the ditch.  This is the second version of this pattern I have made and includes all the murky and country toned prints and cream to tan background prints - the first version had white clear based backgrounds and bright fabrics.  Another version is underway!  I find that working full time doesn't leave me with enough metal energy to sew anything difficult and this pattern just fills the need to mindlessly sew - not had to unpick once, its that easy!
Happy quilting Sue.

Carolina chain on the dark side with a mini chevron.

I have used all the light and bright coloured blocks from the leaders enders Caroline chain box.  Sew now was the time to tackle the dark blocks - I say dark, but I mean those blocks made with neutral fabrics that ranged from cream to coffee toned to beige.  
I tried to add a bit of sparkle by using red blocks, but the bulk of the blocks were made with blue and green fabrics and a sprinkle of brown.    
I am very happy with this finish, but I did decide to make it bigger than the previous version, so it would be teenager size for my prefered charity.  That meant making extra blocks but it was worth it. For the side triangles I used a very old fern print fabric I picked up on special years ago, which has been a great backing fabric.  I love picking up blue fabrics on special for backing, as they are universally acceptable to everyone!
My friend Karen was the one who introduced me to blogging many years ago.  At the time I was living in a new city with small children.  It enabled me to feel connected and enjoy quilting at a time when sewing time was hard to come by.  Karen had a special birthday coming up, so I very quickly made this modern chevron mini quilt to pop in the post to her.  Honesty it is the quickest quilt I have ever made, out of necessity as I didnt know it was her birthday, but I really wanted to send her something handmade.  I popped a few other things in the parcel and by complete fluke and the good grace of Australia Post it arrived on her birthday, which was fantastic! I love orange and blue together so I was very happy with this scrappy chevron quilt, especially as the orange fabrics were all donated scraps from another quilty friend.
Happy quilting Sue.

Carolina chain blocks and kangaroos

 I found these leaders and enders blocks (Carolina Chain by Bonnie Hunter from her book Addicted to Scraps) in a box while I was looking for more fabric.  I really need to do a big tidy up (and label) of my project boxes !  The blocks use 2" stripes and sensibly it seems I had stored all my 2" strips in this box, including pre cut pieces of the blocks...except no backgrounds!  I have been using a large piece of white homespun for Unity quilt along, so cut up some stripes and off I went. 
I seperated all the coffee and tan coloured background blocks from the white to cream coloured background blocks.  There was a good amount of bright blocks so I lay them out on my design floor and set about making more.  Bonnies patterns are always for a very large quilt but I was aiming for a child sized charity quilt instead which is more realistic as these blocks finish at 4.5" so you need lots and lots of blocks!

During the making of this top I managed to make this big thread mess when winding a bobbin and break a needle.  OMG I bent the needle (hit a pin) so bad my heart was in my mouth trying to get it out...I had to resort to using pliers....thankfully I had not done any damage to my machine!  I gave it a good oil and clean afterwards, I was so grateful!

Tada, another flimsy finish! These are fun blocks to make and I have kitted up more  so I can continue leading and ending while I am making my next project...which should be Bonnie Hunters Unity.

Early one morning on my walk I came across a mob of kangaroos that had been feeding in the paddock.  One snuck across behind me and the others waited in the paddock for me to go past before they headed back to the safety of the bush. 
Happy quilting Sue.

2020 here I come!

I try to make a "wish list" each year of quilts I would like to make.  Last year I was successful in achieving all but one of the quilts I listed.  Fingers crossed I have similar output in 2020.  I have also added in my UFO projects at the end....I wish I could finish them, but some are destined for disbursement!
 Rainbow Scrap Challenge block  is Julies 6"  block using colour of the month one side and black the other - (pattern HERE) because it is a)  ideal for using up more scraps in 2020 b) can cut with my GO c) still using little scraps of fabric, but avoiding 2.5" HST  which I am sick of! d) might mean I actually make some RSC blocks in 2020!!

 
Thousand Oaks from book Patches of Blue by Edyta Sitar.  Not a quick quilt, but some hand work to saviour and enjoy and to use some of my beautiful blues.
Finish Traffic Jam by Pat Sloan - I started making this after Christmas using just black and grey scraps, but stalled at the border.  This will be a charity quilt for a teenager so needs to be a bit bigger than it is, so border definitely required.
 Bonnie Hunter mystery Frolic - I started late, there was still catch up to do when I got distracted by the Traffic Jam scrap quilt, but I am only making half size, so should be able to get that finished this year.
My Snowball quilt block patterns explain how to use this easy block as either a focal point or as an alternate that's in sync with another design.
Novelty Snowball quilt - use up some of the endless novelty stash to make a kids charity quilt, with dark snowball corners.  This has been on my wish list for about three years, so definitely time for it to be made!
  
Dresden applique quilt - my own design.  I started making mini dresden blocks for Rainbow scrap challenge a few years ago and stalled.  Over Christmas I started applique them down and then using scraps to applique some cherries in the centres. Will be wall hanging size so should finish this year!
Stalled UFO or Works in Progress list:
Winding ways quilt - still piecing blocks, lots of work to do on this one.
Posh Petals (using Quick curve ruler) - lots to do on this quilt as well, still piecing blocks.
Carolina Chain blocks by Bonnie Hunter - has been a leader and enders, but a good easy summer piecing project, will see if it gets upgraded.
Rainbow scrap challenge four patches/leaders and enders blocks - started putting the blocks together with a red spot background, but stalled, reason forgotten.  Definitely want to finish this one, such colourful fun and I definitely have made more four patches since I last touched it! Will be a charity quilt, but no set size required, so another easy summer piecing project that could be a easy flimsy finish.
This has been unfinished for too many years, time to, accept it is the right size (large wall hanging) and quilt it!
Seven Sisters - been a UFO for possibly a decade or longer, not sure but its a very long time.  I recently had EP papers made to fit the gap between the star points, so I can create a new edge on the "sisters", which will make them easier to join together.  A good hand project, but wont be a quick finish.

This was started when we lived in Sydney.  We left in 2007...so time to either bin it or pass it on to someone who cares, as I have accepted that I no longer like the fabrics or want to finish it!

I have enough of these blocks made to make a quilt, again, just accepting that I am not going to make anymore and just sew the top together as is.  I would rather have some finished flimsies that I can practise my quilting on, or someone else might finish to make into a charity quilt.
That's enough confession and digging up the past for one day!

I have been busy helping my Dad, as he hurt his back and Mum was away on the other side of the state volunteering in a bushfire evacuation centre.   He is hopefully on the road to recovery and Mum is now home again.  I did make him a waist bag to hold his heat pack against his back - out of legs of old jeans.

The terrible bush fires are not near us, but have been in so many different places (three states, but at times four) I have been contacting friends to check they or their family members are OK.  A girlfriend had a fire go through their small property before Christmas and destroy a shed, the renovated cottage visiting family stayed in (and where she had hidden hubbys Christmas presents) and fences - as well as all their hay.  Luckily they had evacuated early, but it was purely a miracle (or perhaps the green lawn and tin fence) that redirected the fire around the house they live in.  The fire was moving so quickly and was so large that the volunteer brigade resources were not able to attend - they were literally fighting to save the small town close to where she lives.  The neighbour who stayed to defend his property moved their tractor, which will be a big help in the coming months to help rebuild.  The other good luck story for the day, was the truck driver delivering the new shed they had ordered was delayed and rang to tell them so - they asked he not deliver because they had evacuated due to catastrophic fire rating that day.  So the materials for a new hay shed/stables (which would not have be insured) were kept at the depot and can be delivered post fire....but they are still cleaning up, getting power and water restored, and waiting for he insurance company to pay up. It will be a long slow road to rebuilding.  I have started taking cuttings from my garden to help her rebuild her garden.  Because I am sure that a green, growing garden will be therapeutic post summer, but that their financial resources will be funnelled into paying for a shed, repairs, tools and fencing materials.  She said they have already been blessed with great kindness for strangers and neighbours.  It is going to be a long hot summer and I pray that we see the end of these terrible fires soon. 
Happy quilting Sue.

Carolina chain RSC blocks

October's colour is green, I think darker greens, but I am going with what I have cut in my 2" strip box.
When I lay out the blocks, the contrast in the colours really helps show the block pattern to its advantage, compared to the one below.  .   
Blue was Septembers colour but because this is a new block for me, and I am just using what was already cut, I am spending more time making blue blocks this month.  
Having said that I have had to cut more background fabrics and I am really close to running out!
These last two photos looks like a giant mess! Definitely need to photograph just four units made as one Carolina Chain block.
Anyway you get the point, I have gone made making these new blocks and having a ball using up my scraps.  
Happy quilting Sue.

Bonnie Hunter projects

I saw a Carolina Chain quilt on someones blog, using a Bonnie Hunter pattern of the same name, but not set on point and I fell in love!   I own  Addicted to Scraps  by Bonnie Hunter, AND I love four and nine patches, so this little five inch block was just calling my name.  AND I was over the two blocks I have been making for a couple of years as part of the Rainbow Scrappy Challenge.  So my solution...start a new block!  Sew having a lovely time making blue and green Carolina chain blocks and enjoying using 2" instead of depleted 2.5" scraps.  
I love making blocks to use up my scraps, but I had no idea what to do with the massive collection of four patch blocks now I have finished them.  I mean obviously I need to make a top, but I cannot get my head around a design I liked for the four patches.  Then I saw this pattern from Gayle at Mangofeet blog - LOL Its a Bonnie Hunter pattern called Jewel Box Stars! Cute four patches (of which I have oodles) and half square triangles.....which I hate making and don't have any pre cut scraps for.  So I just shelved it for time being...but its day to shine will come, just not today!  Which you can remind me in 2019 - that I need to start RSC year making some HST!  Perhaps if I put a reminder in my phone that might happen!
This photo below is also a Bonnie Hunter pattern from her book Adventures with Leaders and Enders, and is a braid.  I am not making a quilt, but thought I needed a utility table runner for under the pot plants and wanted to try this pattern.  Well that is my excuse for starting a new project and I am sticking to it!  Honestly I am easily distracted of late when it comes to sewing and I blame being busy!  Everytime I turn around there is a new problem that needs solving at work and at home, and I dont have the brain power and energy to cope with working on an existing project....because that requires brain power and I just want to mindlessly sew...so I start something new!  
Oh, Oh!  I am already regretting it, but thankfully that is what orphan blocks and charity groups are for if it all goes pear shaped at some stage!
Happy quilting Sue.

Kim Diehl star in a churn dash blocks

I was just popping in to read some of my favorite bloggers, after a six month absence!  Then I saw that there was this draft post, so figure...