Back to bright

I have enjoyed my foray into pastels for my circle quilt (which still continues) but I'm enjoying going back to my brights. The rainbow quilt is now layered and quilted, and just waiting for a binding.  I could use a scrappy border, but I think more of the lovely batik would be best. I'll see. 

I've also been making daisies from Jen Kingwell's pattern Daisy Doo. 

These are hand pieced and a bit fiddly, but I'm enjoying them so far.  I'm wondering whether I ought to start and join a few together, as I'm a bit concerned that with my slap dash approach to accuracy, they may not fit together, and even if they do, they won't be very flat!  Still, that problem is for another day! 

Border issues

I have been doing quite a bit of sewing recently, but mainly sewing scraps and bits.  I love playing with colours and patterns and never tire of sitting at my sewing machine joining bits of fabric together!  I love making blocks, quite enjoy joining them together, then that's where the fun stops.  Borders are tedious, layering up is a chore, quilting is OK and binding is fine.  That's why I have sets of blocks or quilts needing borders.  It's also sometimes hard to choose the border, as it's important to get the right one.  So, when Julie told me she had some multicoloured batiks for sale, I jumped at the chance to add them to my stash.  And here is the first one bordering my rainbow quilt. 

Absolutely perfect!  Thank you, Julie.  Now just put it in the cupboard until I can muster the patience to layer it up! 

Circles and stuff

I have successfully made 16 different circles and joined them together. 

They need bordering on the left and bottom, but then I'll be ready for the big border.  I love these blocks, and enjoyed the challenge of drafting and completing each one.  So much so, that I've started another quilt! 

Looks a bit dreary here, but in better light it looks pretty.  Quite a challenge for me, as I don't normally do pastels, but so far, it's fun. 

Since I have shamelessly stolen Jen Kingwell's idea of circles, I thought I ought to support her business by at least buying one of her books.  I chose 'Quilt Lovely' which has some lovely designs in it.  I couldn't resist raiding my stack of log cabin blocks to make these hearts. 

They are made from two log cabin blocks and two courthouse steps and with 1.5" logs, come out at 14". Great size for a Linus 9-patch!  The only snag is the red centres of the courthouse steps.  They keep reminding me of the the 'I think we need bigger buns!' bit in Calendar Girls!  I think if I make some more blocks with different coloured centres, and mix them in, it will look better! 

A full circle!

I have now completed all sixteen circle blocks.  I have to admit that the whole inspiration came from Jen Kingwell's Circle Games, with some blocks drafted from a photo of her quilt, and others from known blocks (eg. Utah, which is a named block which I drafted with great difficulty!) and blocks from other sources. 

Here it is, so far.  Each block will have sashing on two sides, then I will complete the sashing round the edge.  I was a bit concerned that the sashing overwhelmed the blocks, but I think it'll be completely in your face and that will be fine. 

This block was a lot of trouble.  I made the New York Beauty on the outside and it was too small!  So I starched and ironed it with vigour.  That made it bigger - too big!  All the points were gone!  I couldn't face paper piecing another, so washed it and let it dry hoping it would relax back into a better size.  I was delighted to find it did!  This time I had to add a little bit onto one of the rays (top right in case you didn't spot it!) but a bit of tweaking got it together.  I think the pink striped fabric looks great.  

This one is lovely too, and was very easy.  I can't remember where I saw this, but it looks great.  I want to use the blocks as my quilt class for next year, but don't want people to be scared of either the design or the wacky colours, so I'm contemplating making a smaller version with the easiest blocks, in a more restrained palette.  Don't know how I'll get on with that! 

Finishes

Just recently Ive been caught actually finishing stuff - mainly Linus quilts, but still!
The MAM quilt with the stars and little tulips is done, and I love it. 

It's fresh and fun, and I like the alternation of the blocks.  

I've also made an addition to the rainbow quilt.  I've added red squares, and I think it's better with them.  I've started to put the blocks together, but only the top two rows. 

Another finish is this dog quilt, with blocks made by the Hinckley U3A craft group.  I cut the dogs on the Accuquilt cutter, and they hand sewed them onto the white.  Despite the fact that the dogs are all the same, they seem to have little personalities of their own!  This should bring a smile to a youngster's face! 

Same old, same old

Leopards don't change their spots, and I don't change the way I quilt.  Never let a half completed project get in the way of starting something new!  

Well, I have completed my Dollies. They are a multiracial set, with no pink faces amongst them.  Lots of different sizes and styles, with various bits of machine and hand embroidery to set them off. 

The dolly with the pink dress has flowers embroidered onto her hat - albeit rather out of focus flowers!  She looks better in reality.  

Here is a quilt made from strips and strings.  I went through a lot of donated blue fabrics and cut 2.5" strips, and put them into this arrangement from Stuart Hillard's book '100 Scrap Quilts'. It's great for anyone who likes blue.  I think I'll make some more in different colours. 

I continue to be obsessed by MAM, and here is another way of using the blocks.  It uses plenty of 2.5" and 1.5" scraps too.  I'm looking forward to quilting it. 

And here is my latest obsession.  String blocks I found on the web.  (I'll credit them when I remember where I found the picture.). More blues to make, but fun to do.  

What's happening with my Sarah Fielke quilt?  Not much.  I have more interesting things to do at the moment!  But I will get back to it, soon, honest. 

Utah

I'm still fascinated by circular blocks and have actually been to my LQS (in this case, Mo's Fabrics in Rugby) to get more of the grey star framing fabric, so I can make my quilt bigger if I want!  The first nine blocks I made were comparatively easy, as I intend to teach them at my class next year, and since the nine are all done, now I can do any I like!  

Leap before you look has always been my mantra, so I thought I'd make this block, called Utah - can't imagine why it's called that!  I love the interlocking circles, and am big headed enough to think I could achieve it!  Drafting it was difficult, as although there are templates provided, they are too small for a 12.5" block.  I decided I could make it using the American method of piecing (drawing the sewing lines on the back of the pieces and sewing carefully on the lines.)  

Well, even if I gave this a good press, it still wouldn't look anything like interlocking circles!  So, back to the drawing board, and try a bit harder to make a symmetrical pattern.  I worked out that the red points are the halfway points of each circle, simplified and redrafted it, and decided that EPP would be the best way to go for accuracy.

That's better!  Although husband says he can't see any circles, I can, and I'm quite happy with that.  One of the orange segments was a bit puffy ( I took the paper out of it before I sewed the turquoise part on, and I think it stretched a bit) but a good press with some spray starch has sorted it out.  I'll appliqué it onto a background before framing it. 

And while we're on the subject of circles, I'll share this Linus quilt which was made by several people at Knit and Stitch.  It's circular log cabin, and was pretty easy to do.  It makes me think I'd like to do some blocks like this and arrange them in a traditional log cabin pattern.  Interesting.