Warrnambool 4 patch flimsy finishes

I finally got a border on this kids charity quilt.  Lots of colours would work, but I just felt Orange rarely gets centre stage and needed a chance to shine! ; )

The blue I brought to border this very blue quilt came from a quilt shop.  It felt stiff but I figured a good wash would fix that, so I washed it and it still felt like cardboard. :(  

I pieced all the Vivid Grid blocks into a top but decided this was a good size as is (using guidelines from Very Snuggly quilts) and the upper limit of size I like to quilt myself (approx 50 "square).  I am happy with this top, but dont love the cream background.  Wish I had thought to make a blue background with red and yellow crosses...next time! This is fast becoming a favorite pattern.

I have been making the backings for all three quilt tops (that I made on retreat), using a great fish print I brought from Spotlight when we were at Warrnambool - it was such a bargain I brought the rest of the bolt.  Because all three quilts just needed 10" extra added to the width of the fish fabric, I used the crunchy blue as the side strip on the back.  That got rid of it and I made a promise to myself to never buy fabric that feels remotely hard again!  

Happy quilting Sue.

First finish for the year!

I have been plugging away at the Warm Regards quilt, making the background blocks, here is my progress so far.

I have also started the applique in the centre block.  Just made the berries (took most of a day!) and have tried their placement here...which I haven't finalised,  I think I need to buy some applique glue, as an alternative to pins.  I am normally happy with pinning, but there are too many berries here that will move when I go to pin them one at a time.  

And after all that teasing, finally the reveal of my first finish for 2018!

I love a cheats finish...this was quilted by Vicki Jenkin, long arm quilter and she finished it after Christmas.  But then I had to put the binding on and to be really honest, the label is stitched down, but not written on!  I needed to find the name of the fabric line as well - so I could write the label!

But I though I wanted to use fabric line name, so I can give this quilt a name!  However it was a "Collection with a Cause Historical Blender" jelly roll from Moda, so not inspiring me at all.  The pattern is Vivid Grid by Sharon McConnell and was published in Quilts and More Spring 2017 edition, which I have made before, from my bright 2.5" scraps.  Think that I used a whole jelly roll and yardage of background fabric - a tan check.  I like the muted soft colours, but not sure who I am going to gift it to yet.

So quilt without a name, you are my first finish for 2018, lets hope there are more to come!

Happy quilting Sue.

September is Orange

September's colour for Rainbow Scrappy Challenge is Orange.

 I dont use a lot of orange, mainly for kids quilts, so the scrap pile is fairly small.  I managed one star,

 and ten four patches.  There are a few more pre cut triangles, that I need to make a plan for.

 No orange in this quilt, but it is a flimsy finish! This is my second Vivid Grid quilt (pattern by Sharon McConnell) which appeared in the Spring issue of Quilts and More magazine.

I started and finished the blocks on Patchwork camp, so it was just a matter of sewing them all together.  The quilt is approximately 60 x 60" so I am just going to finish it as is.  I havent decided if I am up to quilting it myself, but as my shoulder hasn't been great, I will probably outsource it.  But need to find a backing first.  And  I am not sure how I will bind it...I have already used the left over jelly roll strips in another quilt!

Happy quilting Sue

Cave Hill Patchwork Camp

 I started off with a Moda Collection for a Cause Historical Blender jelly roll and some background.  I wanted to make another Vivid Grid quilt, the pattern was originally published in Quilts and More magazine Spring 2017 and is by Sharon McConnell .  With no triangles and only two differnt length stips to cut, I declare this pattern perfect for super easy piecing, when a girl just wants to have fun!

I went home with all my 36 x 10" square blocks completed, enough for a 6 x 6 layout, = 60" square quilt.

All the while I was piecing these blocks I was also piecing half square triangles in scraps of green and neutral, for my newest Rainbow Scrappy Challenge block. I cut up alot of scraps recently into HST to finish at 2.5".  So they got paired with neutrals (this months colour for RSC) and made into this little pile of 4.5" unfinished blocks. 

 And I started making mini churn dash blocks, 3" finished.

I was ridiculously pleased with the first one.  Despite careful cutting and piecing I had found that my mini blocks would often result in lost points.  However after good advise from Janet I swapped over to a different brand of thread, because it is thinner...it made all the difference! 

I spent a lot of time looking for mini pieces, its amazing how quickly they get "lost" because they are so tiny!

 But I managed a finished flimsy (14.5 x 18"), the pattern is called "Little Red One" by Red Button Quilt Co and I brought it all as a kit from Quilters Harvest.  I have yet to do the simple embroidery stems in centre of churn dashes, with mini button's for flowers.

 

 My friend Lisa put these sweet Bonnie and Camille log cabin blocks together over the weekend and made multiple bags/purses, of which I neglected to get pictures :(

 

I was too busy looking at the beautiful view this idyllic location offers, plus eating, talking and madly stitching!

Happy quilting Sue.

Another new quilt commenced?!

Months ago I signed up to go to a patchwork camp I haven't attended in years...mainly because I already go to two small private retreats each year - an indulgence that I hang out for!  However this year one was cancelled and so I had to decide what I would want to do at a "normal" camp.  Normal being, lots of ladies, no cooking duties, but not so much private space to spread my stuff out!

 Enter one jelly roll that has been sitting in my stash for way to long.  I purchased some yardage for background at Quilters Harvest sale before they closed the doors :(

 I started cutting the pieces from this fabric for a new version of Vivid Grid!
This is going on camp with me.  So hopefully there will be some progress to show next week.

Happy quilting, Sue.

Vivid Grid Quilt = Finished!

The pattern for Vivid Grid by Sharon McConnell (ColourGirlQuilts.com) was published in Quilts and More magazine, Spring 2017.  I started making the blocks in February and finished sewing the binding in May 2017.  

The red fabric came out of my stash, the teal tone on tone dot was a wide back left over, the white polka dot backgrounds were all left overs from another quilt.  I confess to buying 30 cm of hot pink and bright orange from Spotlight.  Kicked myself later as I found some hot pink yardage in my backing stash!

Basically the bulk of fabric for this quilt came out of my collection of 2.5" strips - many years ago I cut up my stash and scraps into strips.  There are a few pieces that were actually left over binding I simply ironed flat again!  I did buy this cute aqua with a white spot for the backing, given most of the fabric came out of my stash.  And there was sufficient to use it for the binding as well.

My LAQ Vicki Jenkin always has a good sense of what works on a quilt.  And as I am predominately a traditional quilter and this is very modern I just thought/said "bubbles?" and Vicki guided me to a pattern that looks good stitched out.  To be honest I find it hard to pick a pattern off a picture, but I trust Vicki and I am really really happy with this quilting.

 My quilt finished at 69 x 59" because I made it 6 x 7, the published pattern was 6 x 5 blocks.

I love this pattern so much I have plans to make another one in a different palette.

Happy quilting Sue. 

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.

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.