Warm Regards flimsy progress finally

Generally I find, there is a task as a quilter that you simply avoid doing, for me its cutting large pieces of fabric.  Or in this case, trimming back my 20" square central applique block for Warm Regards quilt.

I had procrastinated for three days....which meant that I had two cot quilts fully quilted and with binding machined on....even stitched the ends in!

But finally at the end of the weekend I just "did it!".  

Sew with a perfectly trimmed square I was able to sew on the three block deep sides, and then the longer sides with more applique and pieced blocks.

I am thrilled to finally get to this stage! The only thing delaying progress had been my fear of trimming that centre square!

However I was productive in the meantime nad have been making appliqued blocks for the final border.  I squeezed in piecing two borders before I had to stop and make tea.  The final step is to applique more berries over the joins in this borders.  I tried, but didn't quite match up all the triangles with all the block, so I might need to unpick a one or two to make them perfect.

Very excited to see this beautiful quilt nearly finished.

And the hunt for a backing fabric must commence....damn another excuse for shopping trip!

Happy quilting, Sue.

Warm Regards progress

I dragged out the basket with Warm Regards and started by trimming one of the four corner appliqued blocks.  Then sewed the Italian cross blocks around it.

I did another corner section,  and then added a row onto the section of blocks that go in between.

I managed to get all the sides completed in one afternoon, which was good going as I had two lots of visitors.  I was short about seven Italian cross blocks and my mother's arrival was a big help, as she helped me with the final colour layout and choosing colours for the last blocks.  

The next step is to trim back the centre applique panel which is 20.5" square.  Unfortunately I cut the background slightly larger, but it hasn't shrunk at all, despite all the applique.  And when I drew a line as to where I had to trim back to, and another line for the seam allowance it was very evident that I was going to loose lots of appliqued leaves :(

SEW there is lots of unpicking and resewing that needs to occur next...needless to say, the centre panel is back in its basket, waiting for another day when I have the time and patience!

Dont worry I am keen to move this project along.  I have given away quilts lately to family members and my much loved aunt choose the only quilt I had finished this year.  Its new home is on the opposite side of the country (henced too far for it be safely returned for next years guild exhibition), so I need to get another finish in, so I have something to show!

Happy quilting Sue.

Warm regards centre block finished

Last night I stitched the last two leaves on to the central applique block for my Kim Diehl Warm Regards quilt.  I have four other smaller blocks to complete that sit in the corners - the stems cross over from the central block to the corner blocks, hence those last bit remain unstitched for now.  

Not sure if I am going to piece the rest of the pieced blocks next, or keep appliquing.  The weather has turned wintery, so hand piecing seems appropriate, however my soul needs the therapy of mindless piecing.  

Happy quilting Sue.

Good bye 2017, welcome 2018!

I don't do New Years resolutions anymore, I dont allocate a word for the year coming and I don't pick a colour.  But I do make lists.  

Lists of quilts I would love to make and lists of what I have completed.  Then more lists, of projects half done and what I have to do to finish them.  I love lists so much, a friend gifted me a beautiful weekly organiser and to do list in matching stationary!

So here we go, the wish list for 2018; 

• A Plus quilt - I took a photo of at our quilt show last May.  As much as I would like to make it in scrappy backgrounds, I am lacking modern neutrals so I was going to make it in three colours, using the flannel I have in my stash. BUT I am hoping to get a roadtrip in to some patchwork shops soon, so I might come home with some modern prints that would suit this pattern.  We will see what takes my fancy!

• I have oodles of novelty fabric which I would like to use up.  I would like to buy a gender neutral bright print to use as the corners, like this photo I pinched off the web.

• I recently downloaded this pattern Moda Love LayerCake quilt.  A friend gave me a layer cake (partially used) which would make a nice bright quilt for a child/teenager and I like this easy but interesting pattern. 

• Tic Tac Toe quilt was on the list to make for 2017 and never got a look in.  Be nice to start it this year...finishing is another thing! 

• Sew Kind of Wonderful's pattern Urban Abacus was also on last years list to make, because I want to use my curved ruler again.  But again I would like to make this in modern prints, not my beloved reproductions.  So that shopping trip list is getting longer and longer!  

• Simply Friendships quilt book by Jo Morton and Kim Diehl was one of my birthday gifts and I have already started this quilt!  So it needs to go on the wish list - because I wanted to make it as soon as I saw it....and the starting happened before this post, so it still deserves to be on the list!

So that is plenty of dreaming about NEW projects I would like to start making, if I get just one started in 2018 I will be really happy! I know that I am setting the bar very low, but I do have two exciting holidays coming up this year, and it will impact my time for sewing.  So going to keep the list long, to give myself interesting options to choose from, but being realistic at the same time!

Happy quilting Sue.