Tag: quilting

Two months ago I made the first block for a quilt along I’d begun.  I saw the second block and got cold feet.  The block is great; I just wasn’t confident it would work well with the fabric I’m using.  A couple of weeks later I checked back and saw another block that I wasn’t sure I wanted to make with this fabric.  Cold feet once more.

And so my lone completed block has sat, for two months, on top of a pile of neatly folded fabric, looking at me every time I walk into my studio.   How’s that for being a finisher?  I know, disgusting.

Well, all the blocks are now available and the layout of the quilt has also been unveiled.  I’ve decided to finish the quilt.  I’m going to make 14 of the blocks, skipping the two I was unsure of.   Once they’re all made I’ll decide what to do; either make the blocks I’m hesitant about, choose two favorite block designs and make duplicates in different colors, or design something different.  I’ll work it out when I’ve got the remaining blocks complete.

I’ve finished four of them:


This block was a lot of fun to make and came together much more quickly than I anticipated.  I learned a new technique for making flying geese which was kind of fun.  I’m not sure I’m smart enough to figure out the math well enough to design or cut a quilt using the technique, but I’d really like to learn.


This block I changed a bit.  The design is supposed to have the red polka dot in the center, but I wanted to incorporate one of the large red roses so I swapped it in.  I’m not sure about this block, but my three year old princess likes it best.


This block was a lot of fun to make.  I enjoyed using the same print in four colorways for the patchwork squares.  The dark gray polka dot is from the Summertime collection.  I’ve used this gray dot to bind a quilt with and it’s one of my current favorites.


This pinwheel block might be my favorite.  I really like pinwheels and I love the way the blue really pops.  So pretty.

Now five blocks are complete and I only have 11 more to make!  (so much for my grand plans to stay caught up).  I’m hoping to complete them quickly and see how the project turns out.

Which one is your favorite?

Jennifer

At the end of 2010 I suddenly had a massive fondness for houndstooth.  Houndstooth anything, but preferably oversized and used in unexpected ways.  Since then I’ve been eyeing the traditional pattern, thinking that it really wouldn’t be too hard to make a houndstooth quilt.

I did a little searching and found a few patterns available on etsy.  Then this baby quilt pattern came out.  Still,  I couldn’t bear to spend money on a pattern when I’d sort of figured it out in my mind already.


I got up early Saturday morning to experiment.  I think it turned out great.  This piece is around 24 inches square.  I have a fun plan for it.

It was more tedious to piece than I anticipated, making me wonder if I really want to make a quilt.  Seeing the pattern emerge as I pieced the rows together was fun, however.

Either way, it’s nice to know that I can do it.  Hooray for learning new things!

And just so you know, it’s killing me that the Spring Quilt Market will be held in Salt Lake City, just 45 minutes from my house in May, but I can’t go.  It’s a trade show only, not open to the public.  What a bummer.  I can’t tell you how much I would love to walk through it and see all the new fabric collections being introduced.

HH

Phew.  I finished it.  Barely.

It’s a good thing there was a deadline of sorts on this project, or I’m not sure I would ever have finished sewing together countless rows of squares.  But the quilt top is now complete and I am very happy with it.


(The pictures are lousy.  I took them at sunset and have yet to invest time in learning how to really edit and manipulate photos.   I’ll take better ones when the quilt is finished.)

I was worried that I wouldn’t like this quilt, but it turns out there was no need for worry.


I love it.  It’s beautiful.  And it was made with fabric that’s been sitting in a drawer for too long.


I’ve become much better at straight line quilting, but have yet to learn free motion quilting.  I think this is the quilt to learn on.

If I can muster the courage…

HH