This is the time I wish I had a large design wall! I finished all 80 scrappy split 9-patch blocks, so I decided to play with layouts.
First I placed the blocks in a symmetrical layout. It looks good, but is a bit boring!
Then I rearranged them into a more asymmetrical design, but it still doesn't feel right to me.
I tried playing with different layouts in Electric Quilt, but it wasn't as satisfying as playing with the actual blocks!
I guess I'll have to continue to twist and turn. I had to stand on a step-stool to take a picture that would show most of the design!
Maybe this one will be the winner.
Let me know which one you would choose.
Check out all the creativity at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times
I finished the second part of my quilt guild's BOM. I decided to make both versions, and I wanted to sew the next part before I begin serious packing for our trip south for the winter.
Here's option 1 with the square in a square border attached. I had fun playing with some striped fabric.....
Here's option 2 with its square in the square border. The centre block was paper pieced on this one, and the border blocks could be done that way too. I chose the traditional method instead.
I just spent some time using EQ7 to help design the quilt for our Godson. I am using a pattern, but instead of making 16 blocks, I'll be making 35. My design is basic, but gives me the finished size of the quilt so I can calculate how much fabric to buy for the back, and also gives me the finished size of the two borders. These will be pieced on the quilt, using leftovers from the blocks, but I know what size they have to be, so I don't make pieces that are too short or two long.
I've been looking over my list of projects that I hope to finish this winter, and it is much longer than I thought. I keep a notebook with lists of projects that remain in our winter home, as well as batting, partial bolts of fabric, and rulers etc. That way I don't have to transport my entire sewing room, although DH accuses me of that, every year as he packs the van!
DH and I are off to Kitchener tomorrow, to have a visit with DS2 and DDIL2. We'll be delivering their Christmas gifts, and getting some extra hugs to last the winter. On the way home, we'll stop in Toronto to do the same with DS1 and DDIL1. Then three days of serious packing, laundry, cleaning, and checking our lists at least 3 or 4 times. DH gets pretty fanatic about his lists, but when we are packing for the winter, they sure come in handy!
As we were busy with preparations for our trip and getting ready to close down the house, little quilting was done this week.
This is a "clean up" project. The stripes were leftover after using this fabric as a border. I had pinned the pieces to my design wall, and instead of finding another place to store them, I decided to make this easy runner. It is made by cutting 60 degree angles on the ends of 2 longer strips, then cutting four 60 degree triangles for the ends. I still had some of the coordinating brown fabric, so I made the binding, and found a splotchy green fabric for the backing. I pin basted it, using some leftover batting, and it is in the pile to take south.
I also decided it was time to do something with my huge pile of 2-patch leaders and enders. If you don't know about leaders and enders, read about it here at Bonnie's Quiltville.
I made a stack of 4-patches, then sewed them into pairs, then sets of 4. The stack on the left has 24 sixteen-patch blocks. I spent a bit of time to design a quilt using EQ7, and I'm packing fabric to make the quilt. Here's my design... My quilt will end up something like this, but probably not as organized in the colour department. I design in EQ so I have fabric amounts, so I can find large enough pieces from my stash before I head out to shop!
Head over to Judy's blog to see all the creativity this week!
I decided to tackle the more difficult panels today. Both were of the narrow variety - one had two large rectangles, and the other had six squares with a border design on each edge. I wanted to use as much of the fabric as possible. I drew a rough plan using EQ7 to estimate the yardage.
I added some lime green strips to the top and bottom and between the two large rectangles.
I used the border design to separate the centre of the squares, then added some more of the bright squares with space designs to make the side strips the same length.
I found some bright yellow with dots and triangles for the binding too!
Now I guess it is time to pin-baste both small quilts. The purple alien in the top left square is holding a sign that reads "Galaxy Peace" so I think that will be a great name for this quilt.....
I finally got to blocks of the last colour - green! I spent some time yesterday printing out the setting triangles for the sides and corners, and have them cut and ready to go! Thank heavens for Electric Quilt - I was able to have accurate templates with ease!
I am still thinking of different ways to use the gradations in the borders - I'm sure I'll choose one by the time I get the blocks sewn together and all the paper removed!
Head over to Judy's blog to see all the other wonderful creations!
I've always admired the "triangle twist" quilt design. I found a lesson on drawing the block in Electric Quilt a few years ago and put it in my "to do" list. After finding the perfect gradated fabrics, I knew that it was time.
I drew the two different blocks last winter, but wanted to wait until we returned north to print all the sheets for paper piecing (I prefer to print these on the laser printer). One block is for paper piecing, and the other is used to design the layout.
Since all my other projects were caught up, I decided that now is the time!
These are the first few blocks. I pre-measured all the sections and made a list of the size strips that are required in each position. I'm cutting the colours as I go. I just cut the red pieces, as the next block has brown, gold and red. Once I figure which colour goes where in the block, I write the colour on the printed side of the paper, to make sure that I don't have to do much "unsewing", always a challenge when paper piecing. I'm not looking forward to removing the paper, but hopefully that will be TV watching work.
I've been finishing 2-3 blocks each day. My next challenge will be to figure out how to use the leftover fabric to make an equally fabulous border. Maybe I'll come up with an idea or two while making the drive the the Kitchener area and back this weekend......
Since I couldn't move forward on my "Pushin Up Spring" quilt until the backing fabric was washed, I decided to plan the layout for another applique project that I had worked on over the past winter. The pattern is called "Baltimore Bliss" and is found here.
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| Block 11 | | |
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| Block 12 |
These were hand appliqued using a wash-away stabilizer, and I recently spent some time adding a bit of machine stitched embroidery to each block. Here is the border fabric that inspired the colours in the quilt blocks.
I enjoy designing in EQ7. I imported pictures of each of the finished blocks, and then added a picture of the border, so I could see the actual border in place! Too much fun!
Since I was able to wash and dry the backing, along with the 15 yards of fabric that I recently purchase, I'll be spending the rest of the morning at the ironing board.
A while ago, I read Bonnie's blog about her latest scrap block pattern, called "Happy Hour" in Quiltmaker magazine. It interested me, as it is made from 2 inch and 1 1/2 inch strips, and I thought it would make a dent in my scrap bins.
I spent some time and drew the block in EQ7, then planned a quilt, complete with borders. The red and white border will be scrappy as well, made from my "leader and ender" squares, sewn into 4-patch blocks. Not sure what colour I'll use for the sashing, cornerstones and borders - it depends on how much fabric is available in my stash - no buying more fabric!
I used the EZ Quilting "Companion Angle" ruler to cut the hourglass pieces from 2 inch strips. I layered a light fabric on top of a dark, right sides together and cut 2 triangles. When you have finished putting the hourglass together, it has straight of grain on all four sides - you do have to be careful pressing the seams as you go - I finger press until the hourglass is complete.
I began by stitching all the triangles into pairs, making sure that the darker fabric was on top, and the square corner was entering the machine first (less chance of the points being eaten by the machine). I do use a straight stitch plate on my machine when I am piecing. I like to do assembly line sewing, so I stitched all the pairs of triangles first.
Next, I cut the matching pieces apart, and finger pressed the seams, toward the dark fabric, along the long straight edge.
I placed the pieces, right sides together, with the dark triangle on top, and the seams nestled together, then stitched along the long edge.
I then prepared the block for pressing, by opening up the tiny seam allowance at the centre of the block, and spinning the seam allowances...easier to show than describe.
Off to the ironing board to press the seams. I press from the right side, using a hot, dry iron. Now to finish the other 47 hourglass parts!
