Category: Projects

Medallions

Quilting and Sewing

A few short months ago I’d never heard of a medallion quilt, much less given any thought to the design of one.

Then I went to my MQG meeting in January and they announced that the next six months would be devoted to designing your own medallion quilt.

Then I started using Instagram.  I watched the Scrappy Trip Around the World frenzy (#scrappytripalong), which I joined,  followed by the “x plus along” (#xplusalong), which I didn’t join.  And then came the Marcelle Medallion quilt along (#medallionalong, #marcellemedallion).  Once again I had to jump in.

I ordered the book and picked my fabrics.

Here’s my center block with border #1:

marcellecolor1
I love this so far.  It was my first experience with making templates and although it was slow going, I enjoyed trying to master each step and feel like I ended up with a great block.

You would think that would be enough, but I was thinking about this block in my sleep, and woke up one morning certain that it would also be stunning in red and white, kind of a vintage French feeling.  So I started another block:

marcellered1
The blocks are very different, but I really like them both.  One goal I set for myself was to use my French General scraps in a project this year, so I guess this is it.

And as for my local modern quilt group?  I finally settled on a center block for that medallion as well.

medallionlonestar1
I made a lone star using the new Carnaby Street fabrics designed by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics.  I really love how it turned out with all that color! (More to come on this) So I guess that means I’m making three medallion quilts.  It kind of makes me laugh to think that I couldn’t care less about a medallion quilt three months ago, and now I’m working out the math for them in my sleep.  I’m also nervously watching my calendar fill with countless activities and wondering when I’ll be able to work on them.    I’m excited to add more borders!

Jennifer linking to Freshly Pieced

6 comments ,

Scrappy Trip Around the World Quilt

Quilting and Sewing


scrappytripalong1
Yay!  My Scrappy Trip Around the World quilt is finished!  When I planned the quilts I’d like to make in 2013, this was nowhere near my list, but as the pictures on Instagram (#scrappytripalong) began to pour in, I decided to make one.  I’m so glad I did.  This quilt is busier and more colorful than those I’ve made in the past, and it was perhaps the most enjoyable quilt I’ve ever pieced.

scrappytripalong3
“No fabric is sacred” was my mantra as I pulled and cut strips for this quilt.  If I didn’t have an immediate need for it, then it was fair game.  I didn’t use any black, but let navy blue and gray be my dark colors, and there are only a few red prints in the quilt.  There is more yellow and orange than I usually use, and I love how bright and cheery it is.  Unlike many, I wasn’t concerned about using a fabric more than once, so most of the prints I picked show up twice because I could cut two from one strip of fabric.  Lots of pinks, blues and greens.

I made 36 blocks, so the quilt is 6×6 blocks and measures 72 inches square.  It’s the second 72 inch square quilt I’ve finished in the last few weeks.  My Scrappy Swoon is the same size.

scrappytripback1
I pulled some flannels for the backing and love how soft it feels.  Once more I chose straight line quilting.  I quilted on both sides of the seam every other block both horizontally and vertically, then went back through and quilted on the diagonal in both directions through the grid made by my first set of lines.  It seemed to take forever, but as soon as I finished I was glad I did it.

scrappytripquilting
I used my first black and white binding on this quilt.  I went to 5 different quilt shops in search of a black and white stripe with no success.  I didn’t want to wait for shipping time so I settled on a white on black safety pin print by Monaluna and I think it did the trick.   It does feel good to use what you have.  I didn’t buy a single thing for this quilt.

scrappytripbinding
It now hangs from the corner post of my bed and has already been used on our first night this year of leaving the windows open while we sleep.   A bit chilly, but cozy!

scrappytripalong2
Everything about this project was spontaneous and it was a very pleasant and healthy creative experience.  It makes me smile.  I think we should always have something we’re working on that brings a smile to our face.  I hope you have something to smile about today!

Jennifer Tutorial for the Trip Around the World block found here.
Linking here.

7 comments

Scrappy Swoon Giveaway Winner

Quilt Alongs


scrappyswoon
Well, I’ve had one unusual week, and while I was busy living it, seven of you finished your quilts.  I know there are more quilt tops awaiting quilting, and I hope you’ll share them in the Scrappy Swoon Flikr pool when you finish.  I’ll be checking it!  Six of you linked up, and one of you doesn’t have a blog (that’s you, kprzy), so the picture in the Flikr pool I counted as entry number seven.

ColorMeRetro-Bundle-450
If you follow my blog regularly, you know I’m working on mastering technology more this year as one of my 2013 goals.  Well, I tried to figure out how to get the little image of the random number pick to show here, but apparently I’m doing something wrong!  Sorry!  (Another thing to learn.)

According to Random.org, the winner is entry #7, kprzy’s photo on Flikr.
Congratulations!  Kprzy, shoot me an email and we’ll take care of the details!  A big thank you goes to The Fat Quarter Shop for sponsoring this giveaway by offering a fat quarter bundle of Jeni Baker’s Color Me Retro fabrics!  Thanks so much!

Thank you all so much for supporting my first effort at contributing to the many awesome quilt ideas and designs available online.  Thanks for sewing along, and for your kind comments and feedback.  It has been a lot of fun for me to visit your blogs and see your photos.  I have come to admire your talents in the past several weeks.  Thanks to Camille Roskelley who kindly supported my idea.  And a very special thanks to my two awesome sisters , who also participated in this quilt along, and without whose support I might not have found the courage to do the quilt along at all.

Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone!

Enjoy your quilts, and happy sewing!

Jennifer

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