Archive for Great Quilt Patterns

Friday? Again?

November 13, 2009 at 2:40 pm · Filed under Everyday Things, Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

Honestly. Where does the week go? Just a minute ago, it was Monday. I think I meant to post on Monday. Time flies when you’re, well, doing stuff. Not that it has been exciting stuff. Yesterday I washed dogs and all of the one-thing-leads-to-another related accoutrements. Well, here we are.

First off, I joined Andi’s Pay It Forward, which I am very excited about! So, now I’m looking for three people who want to Pay It Forward. If you would like to receive a handmade gift from me, and are willing to make and send a handmade gift along to three of your blog readers, please let me know in the comments. Once you accept, you will receive something from me within 365 days. In turn, you will have 365 days to fulfill your end of the bargain. So, if you would like to accept the challenge and commit to keeping this going, leave a comment.

EDITED TO ADD: You all are QUICK! :-) I’ll be sending to:

Jan
Michelle
Jenny

Among other things I’ve gotten myself into, I’m intending to quilt along with Kellie’s Joseph’s Coat Quilt-along. I really love this pattern. I’ve made a small beginning by deciding on a background:

grey

Moda Bella Solid in grey — a nice chalky mid-grey.

I’ve wrangled some of the Stitch N Wash too (although I keep thinking of it as Wash N Stitch — which just doesn’t make sense):

washfuse

Although, I just saw an ad today for a new product from C&T Publishing — Wash Away Applique Sheets. Sounds like it does the same thing AND you can send it through your ink-jet printer. Which appeals to me as I’ve drafted my Joseph’s Coat applique placement guide on the computer. I could send sheets and sheets of petal shapes through. Wheeee. But I won’t. Because I already have Stitch N Wash. FYI then.

In 2007, I saw this beauty from the Tokyo International Quilt Festival. Stunning, no? Here, I must stop and thank Jan because, while I remembered this quilt, I couldn’t find the photo. I sent her a vaguely worded SOS and she tracked down the photo for me. THANKS, JAN! Anyhoo, at the time I saw this, I was entranced. I have a lovely green background and the “border” print in green to do something inspired by that quilt. Oh, and I bought these:

tealeaves

I recall a couple of attempts at piecing the blocks. But, as I said before, time flies and here we are in 2009. While I don’t know if I will keep up, I will give it a try and will appreciate the motivational inspiration Kellie’s quilt-along provides. I have to try not to get mired in indecision when it comes to the color scheme for the petals. To be continued…

Oh, and I decided that nine spider web blocks is enough for now:

spidey

All righty! Hope you had a good week. Don’t forget, if you’d like to join my Pay It Forward, please leave a comment. (FILLED)

Comments (19)

World wide spider web

November 6, 2009 at 5:23 pm · Filed under Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

Do you want to see how I ever so slightly modified Marit’s superb spider web directions? Ever so slightly to use a paper “foundation.”

So, you’ll draft your triangle foundation just as Marit shows you but make it out of paper instead of fabric. You may need only one foundation or maybe two. If you’re making a big quilt, maybe make a few more. I would make them all at once so they’re all guaranteed to be the same. Of course, the lazy among us will make one and hope for the best. Yes, that’s me.

After making your paper foundation, fold up the outer triangle “flaps” just so you have a nice crease and can easily fold the flaps out of the way as you sew.

Next, cut a rectangle of center/background/kite fabric. I cut all of mine at 5″ x 6 1/2″ — this covers the height plus seam allowance and width plus seam allowance of my center kite shape.

Center the paper foundation on the background fabric which is wrong side up. Pin in place — a flat flower head pin works well (any small headless pin works; I tried fine glass head pins and was not happy with what happened when I pressed over them).

web1

Now, fold up one of the flaps:

web2

Lay a rotary ruler over this so that a 1/4″ seam allowance will be left on the fabric (i.e., 1/4″ beyond the paper fold):

web3

Trim background fabric 1/4″ from paper fold:

web4

Now you’re ready to sew on your first strip. I pre-cut oodles of Rouenneries strips of various sizes (between 1″ and 2″). So, cut a strip long enough to fit:

web5

Lay the strip underneath the background fabric so that the fabrics are right sides together. Take this to your sewing machine and sew a seam just next to the paper fold:

web7

Press the strip out and fold the flap back down so you can see how long the next strip should be. Cut the second strip.

web8

Fold the paper flap back and lay the second strip on top of the first, right sides together:

web9

Sew this seam using 1/4″ seam allowance:

web10

Press the added strip out. Fold the paper flap back in place and cut the third strip. Lay that on top of the second strip, right sides together and stitch the seam:

web11

And so on and so on using the paper foundation only to measure the length of each successive strip. Fold the paper foundation out of the way before sewing each seam.

Eventually, you’ll have this:

web13

And you will be ready to trim up your block just as Marit shows you in her tutorial.

In this case, after trimming, remove the paper foundation and use it for the next block. After trimming, I also spritzed my pieced triangles with some Best Press to help stabilize the bias edges a little bit.

Carry on.

Oh, wait. The Wretched Excess Division wants to check in.

salty choco

Well, they might run out. It has happened before.

On the other hand, this was flown in earlier this week so you would think there would be no chocolate panic.

naked choc

Ah, but there will always be an impending chocolate panic!

Comments (19)

It’s a problem

November 5, 2009 at 2:09 pm · Filed under Dollies Online, Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

I can’t seem to put down the Rouenneries fabric. Which, I believe, just goes to show that my fabric tastes are indeed all over the place. I don’t even think there is a single print that is my favorite single print. I love them all. And I love them all together. Their ability to scrap it up all together. Their warmth all together. I have three Rouenneries projects in the works. Overkill? Will I be well and done with it when the projects are done? We shall see.

spider

Inspired by Katy with technical direction by Marit (although we are doing a difference size and are using a faux paper piecing technique so as not to waste precious Rouenneries backgrounds). Still deciding how many blocks of this I’m going to do. My, my, they do take a while to make. The optimist’s goal is 12 blocks. In this century.

A second small quilt is underway with a third only in the planning stages:

dolliequiltstart

Dolly dresses in Rouenneries, of course — the beginnings of the Dollies Online logo quilt. I have a feeling these will be some well dressed dollies because I can’t see leaving them just ONE dress each, can you? That would be cruel.

Back to spider webs before the school bus comes roaring to a stop.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

October 29, 2009 at 1:15 pm · Filed under Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

I’m showing you my four-patch stacked posie quilt complete with its wrinkles because it is a completely fun project. It’s perfect for those of us who love a good WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? quilt. Once you get the concept down, you can play around with your setting. This was a blast.

posie

posie2

posiealone

I used Philip Jacobs’ lush Floral Burst print. Hmm, might have to get some of it in grey… I kept going with some mooshy lushness in some of the setting squares and triangles. I used the concept from Mary Lou Hallenbeck’s pattern for the blocks and just played around with settings.

Love. Fun. Despite the wrinkles. Can’t wait to see what happens when it’s quilted!

Comments (8)

A great day at the bookstore!

October 25, 2009 at 3:39 pm · Filed under Everyday Things, Great Quilt Patterns

bookstore

Comments (16)

Like a hole in the head

September 14, 2009 at 3:03 pm · Filed under Books, Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

I needed to start a new project like I need a hole in my head.

But the cutting was so fast. And the piecing was so fast. Now I just need to put the sashing all around.

It’s like it never happened. Well, I might play around with the layout because I can’t quite get the pattern here, so that may take a tiny bit of extra time…

flowerppattern

redflowerp

I think this might qualify as my Christmas quilt for this year.

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Romancing the quilt

September 11, 2009 at 2:28 pm · Filed under Books, Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

I am a lucky girl! Trying not to squeal so that you’ll hear me from way far away.

Witness:

quiltromance

Fresh from the mail carrier today! From the UK by way of Australia, this book has had quite the travels via Sarah. THANK YOU, SARAH!

It’s another delightful winner of a book a la Mr. Kaffe — and, look, if you are stateside, you can get yours now too!

Each of the quilts is wonderful — lots of fresh twists on the traditional, some providing a new way to look at the gorgeous Westminster fabrics. Lots of mmmmm… and aha! in this book.

OH, and also there is a wonderful profile of Kim McLean in the book too!

We had a once-through on the porch as soon as it was dropped off this morning. There is more quality coming later today and on into the future, I’m sure.

Along with this surprise, Sarah sent other lovelies.

Ooohhh, postcards from the V&A Museum exhibit:
quiltsva

vacards

More great reading! The Seven Easy Pieces book is a charmer with such calming uses of shot cotton. Feels like a deep breath of fresh air.

books2

Thanks, again, Sarah!!!!

Comments (13)

Ups and downs

September 9, 2009 at 1:38 pm · Filed under Everyday Things, Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

Yesterday was the day!

I’m sure we were all sad to say goodbye to the lack of schedule that summer brings. No alarm clocks, no lessons (OK, we kept up on piano for most of the summer), no homework (OK, we did do math through the summer and read a lot) — but mainly, aside from camps, days (and days) left to our own devices.

On the other hand, I’m a person who needs a little routine and sense of accomplishment. A growing nine-year-old is a work in progress — a joy and a treasure but not a finished product. So, I’m welcoming the return of some structure … although the 5 am walk is going to get old pretty fast what with the nocturnal critters and face full of cobwebs — well, and the 5 am-ness of it (although I highly recommend exercising in the dark –it’s almost like it never happened).

So, the day started off at the bus stop.

Fully loaded:

waiting

Waiting:

school09

Yea, it’s the big yellow transport!

yea

I came home to some paper piecing. Which is also good exercise if you don’t keep your cutting and ironing supplies right next to you. Up and down. Up and down. Up and down. I’m working on a Kaffe-y version of Kathy’s Gypsy Kisses quilt from the Material Obsession 2 book (here and here).

All I can say is “whee.”
arc1arc2

arc3arc4

arc10arc5

arc6arc7arc8arc9

Gee, only 38 more pairs to go. More ups and downs in my future.

stack

I previously gathered together other batiks and Westminster fabrics for a lovely basket quilt from Diana McClun and Laura Nownes called Going to Market:

basketsume

For me, it’s all about the striped bias handle!

basket

I really like the method used to make the basket handles. It is new to me and don’t we just love to learn something new? You can view the method on Diana and Laura’s web site where they kindly show us in an instructional video (it’s the preparing handles for applique video).

May your day be filled with more ups than downs…unless you’re exercising or paper piecing.

Comments (20)

Run, do not walk

September 1, 2009 at 8:12 am · Filed under Books, Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

You’ll want to dash over and get a sneak peek of the quilts in the new Quilt Romance book. Glorious Color has them all kitted up ahead of the book’s October (?!?!?) U.S. release.

oooh, I like that one and that one and that one and …

LOVE that one...

You get the idea.

Comments (9)

Color game

August 28, 2009 at 3:17 pm · Filed under Fabric, Great Quilt Patterns, Quilts

It’s rainy and cool here. It was rainy and cool yesterday. Tomorrow and Sunday? Rainy and cool. Not really complaining. But there is the need for regular brighteners when it’s like this. So I did this:

colorgame

Please imagine a striking GP31 Zinnia print in crimson for the border. Oh, it’s there. I just can’t get a photo of the whole thing at the moment. With all of the colors in the quilt, I figured it would be hard to choose the border. Nope. Took all of about 10 minutes to realize that print in that color was perfect. It’s got a nice and clear dark purple background. All of the haziness in the stripes and batiks needed something clear. Glad I could clear that up.

Oh, this is the Color Game quilt from the new Quiltmania mag. It’s the quilt on the cover. Very fast. Hardest part is choosing all eight colors — although the only real troublemaker in the bunch was mustard.

So, that project helped break through the clouds.

Another thing that helps out a rainy day is this chocolate chip cookie recipe. I’ve been making Tollhouse cookies for, ahem, about 30 years, give or take…. Can’t believe I actually tried something new. These are stellar! I think I’m on batch numero four in the last week or so…give or take….

Here’s hoping you find something sunny to do over the weekend!

Comments (17)

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