Piecing in Portland 3

Vicki brought new and old projects to work on.  

This is a Sew Kind of Wonderful pattern using their curved ruler.

Vicki had started the wedding ring on a previously sewing weekend with us in Bordertown.  So it was very appropriate that she got to finish the top in Portland.  

Vicki continued with the curved theme and started making this modern masterpiece using her curved ruler.

Which grew from a few blocks to this!

It is as stunning as the local scenery.

Portland, Victoria, Australia.

Mum used my Go Cutter to cut the stripes for these Courthouse Steps blocks.  She has a great collection of Kaffe Fassett fabric and chose to work in this bright red tone with shades of pink and orange.  A few more new fabrics from Periwinkle Patchwork were purchased especially for this quilt, but work was slow going as you have to plan which colour is going where, so it all matches.  It is a clever pattern, but you need to have your thinking cap on when you make these blocks.   

Happy quilting Sue.

Curved Ruler table runner

I finished making the curved ruler table runner - this is the free pattern that comes with the ruler.  I completed the top in a workshop months ago with Ann from Periwinkle Patchwork.

However it took me forever to go and buy backing and binding fabric to match.  Then it sat around waiting to be quilted.  I really struggled visualising an appropriate quilting pattern.  However a quick flick through Pintrest and I just got down and "did it"!  

I enjoyed quilting the wavy lines and was tempted to do the coloured curves in the same way, but I didn't want to over quilt the whole piece.  I am glad to have another finish before Christmas, now I just need to find it a good home!

Happy quilting Sue.

Table runner curves

 Not a lot of stitching action is happening here of late.  However I did have one sewing deadline to meet.  I needed to finish this table runner as I am donating it is a prize in a raffle.  Ann from Periwinkle Patchwork taught us how to used the curved ruler in September.  

I wanted to keep the quilting modern, but I am no expert in that department and had a deadline to get it finished!

I stippled in the centres and straight lines which curve back at the end....so much easier to do this continuous line then piano keys, so I might try this again on a more traditional piece.  

All the big ticket non sewing time wasters are been completed now, so hopefully I can get some productive sewing done this week.

Happy quilting, Sue. 

Modern Curved Ruler Workshop

My friend and owner of Periwinkle Patchwork Ann, came up for a weekend to teach us how to use the modern curved ruler.  Now you have to appreciate that I always avoid curved piecing, so I made these pieces, with fifteen years experience as a quilter BUT with NO previous curved piecing experience.

On the Saturday we all made this table runner to practise the technique.  I don't think it went too badly, certainly the cutting was a bit trickier to get use to them the piecing.  And the bonus is no borders!  Well that's my take on modern pieces, I feel quite liberated not having to add borders!

On Sunday we were free to make other patterns with Ann's help, and many of the ladies had started quilt blocks using the ruler. I was sharing a ruler with Mum (my error didn't tell Ann to bring enough rulers) AND talking too much, so just stuck with making a second table runner.  I think it turned out well enough, but this "flower" pattern was a bit trickier.  

 

So when I browsed the patterns Ann had for sale, I chose this "Urban Abacus" by Sew Kind of Wonderful.  Ann had a sample made up with a gorgeous raspberry background and colorful fun prints, it was so pretty and a great way to showcase a range of fabrics, such as a layer cake.

 Ann is an awesome teacher and everyone said what a fun workshop it was!  And I conquered my fears of curves!