Trinket Sew-Along: my first blocks



Alison Glass is hosting a sew-along for her pattern, Trinket.  The pattern is one I’ve had my eye on for months, so when she made the announcement I signed up immediately.  I am excited to improve my foundation paper piecing skills through this project, as well as to work on color and fussy cutting.  In preparation I dusted off my favorite tools for foundation paper piecing and printed the blocks.


I debated with myself over fabric choices as well as block size and decided to make two trinket quilts during the trinket sew-along.  For the first I am using my Alison Glass fabrics and scraps to make the original sized blocks.  I will make 2-3 of each block.  I considered some color scheme or designer to use that would be different from the quilt featured in the pattern, but since I’ve never made a quilt in the signature Alison Glass style, I will try it.


The more I thought about the name of the quilt, “trinket”, the more I thought about the trinkets I’ve collected.  Most of them are connected to memories of the beach.  This sew-along will be a fun opportunity to make a quilt honoring my favorite place and some treasured memories.  For this second version I enlarged the blocks approximately 140% and I will make just one of each block.


I started with this quilt with the Zuma fabric collection by Tula Pink.  It’s saturated with bold color and gorgeous artwork.  I’ll mix in other designers but for now these blocks make me smile.


The Trinket pattern is, so far, easy to follow.  The first block is simple and the blocks increase in difficulty as you sew through them.  I am glad that the first blocks are fast and easy. Hopefully my skills improve as the sew-along continues!

AMH Voile Quilt


voilequilt1

One of my best friends moved away this summer, something that’s always bittersweet.  I’m so thankful I know her and we were blessed to spend a lot of time together in the months before her move, which made it both harder and easier.

voilequilt3

I pulled out the voile quilt top that I pieced last year and decided it was the perfect thing to send with them to their new home.  The vibrant colors of the fabrics are a good combination of both our styles and backing it with the IKEA nummer fabric seemed a good choice.  I love the contrast and wish I wasn’t running out of that number fabric!  I have given away every quilt I’ve backed with it.

voilequilt2

The quilt is a simple patchwork design, comprised of 6″ (finished) squares and measures 90″ square.  Much as I love awesome quilt designs, there is something about patchwork that always makes me smile.  The best part of this quilt is the voile – such a soft, smooth hand and light weight.

voilequilt4

I quilted it myself in a simple cross hatch design on the diagonal through the center of each square and bound it in a black and white houndstooth print.   It feels good to have finished something, and even better to have sent it on it’s way!  It’s finish #5 for 2014.   I think I may need to get out the rest of that voile fabric and make another.

Have a great day!

More Fireworks Blocks


fireworks12

I’ve been slowly working through my Fireworks blocks and now have 12 of the 16 blocks made.   They haven’t been really quick blocks to piece but when they’re done I really love the way they look.

Here are four of the eight I’ve finished since posting last:

fireworks5


fireworks6


fireworks7


fireworks8

As I’ve worked on this project I’ve come to like the Bloomsbury Gardens prints even more than I did when I purchased them.  I’m happy to be sewing with them and look forward to putting this quilt top together.  Only four more blocks to go, and they are all cut out and neatly stacked on my sewing table.  I hope I can find time to work on them this week!

fireworks12b

Jennifer Linking to Freshly Pieced

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