The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 6 Big Dipper

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 6 Big Dipper

I had a request for some of the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks to be shown off in the snow that we have had in March this year.  We have had almost a foot of snow, the most since 2010. It has taken until today to actually have a block finished to show you, but here it is , Block 6 Big Dipper, sitting on the snow which is now rapidly melting as the temperature has resumed its normal level and sun is actually shining.

Suzi cat

There was also a request for photos of Suzi in the snow.  I think the expression on her face answers that question.  She has settled on the Allietare quilt for the past few days, just watching the white stuff come down in disgust.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6, Border, Quilting and Finished!

Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015 - Fabadashery

It is finished!
In my last post I had the Allietare quilt top almost done, but I was pondering on the borders.  I devised something a bit different to the ones offered in Bonnie's original design which I am really pleased with.  Don't ask me for dimensions or instructions - I really don't know how I did it.  All I do know is that I had a lot of bias edges to deal with during the quilting process!


80's by 80's superfine cotton lawn - Great Flower Designs

Back in November when I had chosen my colour scheme for the Allietare Mystery quilt, I picked up a couple of metres of this fabric at the Knitting and Stitching Show with the intention of using as my backing.  It is superfine cotton lawn which is lightweight and soft - it feels lovely.

Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015 - Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting

Using my long arm quilting machine I have quilted an all over swirl and feather pantograph, Wave on Wave by Patricia Ritter.

Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015 - Fabadashery



So it is quilted, the binding is on and I have even made the label for it.  I hope to get it on the bed tonight. Thanks again to Bonnie Hunter for gifting this pleasure to us all.

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

Over the past few years bringing in the New Year has meant just one thing - Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt!  Thank you, thank you, thank you Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville for all your work and generosity.  It has provided me with so much pleasure.  This year I have been working in softer colours than my usual choice and already it is looking like a quilt that is going to blend in to the household quite comfortably.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

As suspected Bonnie released the BIG REVEAL for her Allietare Mystery Quilt for 2015 on New Years Day.  As we are at the end of the road for this quilt, the choice of colours I could use from my scraps for my cutting was limited, but it has just about worked out OK.


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6 Block

We had two blocks to work on.  With all the work from the previous stages all the pieces were there ready to go.  What I really love about Bonnie's instructions are the details about pressing.  Just knowing which way to press your seam makes such a difference when trying to get accurate points on your seams and the overall look of your quilt.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

For some reason the second block seemed easier to put together (probably because there were less of them!).


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 6

As you can see I have all the blocks together.  With my fabric colour choice the quilt is looking remarkably like an Italian marble floor.  I had hoped to have the borders on for the Monday Link Up, but after several auditions the combinations were not really working.  The Italian floor idea has stuck and after a good night's sleep, my design juices have been flowing and I think I have come up with a solution which I am off to work on now.  Watch this space!

I know how hard I have been working on this quilt over the past few days, so congratulations to everyone who has made it to the Monday Link Up!

To see my journey, see the links below or visit my Pinterest page

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5
Part 6 - Quilting
Part 6 - Finished

 

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 5

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 5

We really are building up a wide range of blocks for the Allietare Mystery quilt now.   Here I have laid them all out, some in their sets, others just piled high waiting for further instructions.  Everything is up to date as of five minutes ago whilst I finished my sewing in my pyjamas - I love the motivation of the Linky Party!

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 5

No cutting this week, so I started it off easy by stitching the corners on those large pieces.  I made the most of the bonus triangle again and really have a substantial pile of them now.  The next step took a bit longer in order to get those points matching, but I am pleased with my results.


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 5

Here are some arrangements made with this weeks blocks. All just for fun!


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 5

To be honest I have NO IDEA where all this is going.  I know traditionally that Bonnie does the big reveal on New Years day - that is only 4 days away.  I know that we are no where near having completed the number of blocks required for a 82" x 96" quilt. What lies in store over the next few days - WHO KNOWS? Only Bonnie - she is such a tease.

Linking up with all those who have made it to Part 5 on the 2015 Allietare Mystery Quilt.

I have also started a Fabadashery 2015 Allietare Pinterest Page if you prefer to see my progress in that format. 

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 4

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 4, Suzi the cat

This is Suzi the cat, my Mystery Quilt assistant.  She can't believe how much time I spent just cutting out this week!  IMHO Part 4 is a bit tricky and I needed to spread it out over three days and take great care in stitching each set as a batch.  It was made all the more tricky for me because I have switched my colours around.  I read the instructions many, many times to make sure I had the right combination of fabrics.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 4

Many, many 2" strips later I had cut about 720 pieces in total.  Again, if Bonnie told us this up front, the rotary cutter would probably not come out of its box.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 4


With more trapezoids, I decided to take advantage of the bonus triangles you can get from the stitch and flip method.  This meant an extra 480 lines of stitching for me, but also 480 bonus triangles to play with at a later date. 

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 4



With the others from Part 2, I think I could make quite a substantial quilt from these half square triangles which will finish up 1" square.


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 4

So here are all 30 sets done and they make a good dent into the total quilt and we are way past the half way mark.  The whole 'set' thing has completely thrown me this year.  With no more clips to keep these together I will just keep them laid out for the next two weeks  until they are made into a quilt.  They should be safe ...



Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 4, Suzi the cat

Bonnie is giving us Christmas Day off and plans to release Part 5 on Boxing Day.  Joining up with all the other Mystery quilters for Week 4 at the Quiltville blog!
 

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 3

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 3

Isn't this Allietare Mystery quilt fun!  Here is this weeks guess.  We have used all the colours now and look at all that neutral Bonnie has mixed in this time, it really adds a breathing space.  I don't think I have ever made a quilt with a piece as large as the neutral pieces we had to cut this week ( I usually work VERY small), but already I am thinking of the quilting potential that it offers. 

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 3

I get quietly obsessed with getting all those 4-patches thoroughly mixed up so that none are the same.  It adds time to the process, but as they say - simple things please simple minds.  All this neutral cutting has wiped out some of my scraps already, but with so many bits I know they will get distributed throughout the final Allietare quilt.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 3

So, everything is cut out and sewn for Part 3 and my little storage box is already full.  We are only half way through, but I can't wait to start getting the quilt together.  Thanks Bonnie, you are doing a great job!


Easy Street Quilt - complete and in use!

BTW - as it is Mystery Quilt season, I thought I would put my Easy Street quilt on the bed over the  Christmas period.

Still half way to go. Joining up with the regular Monday Mystery Link Up at the Quiltville blog!

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 2

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 2

Yes, it is Monday. Yes, I am up-to-date with the Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015.  This is a busy time of year for me at work and if I can keep up at this stage I know I will be able to complete the later stages, so really pleased to be able to get this post up today.


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 2

There was a lot of cutting for Part 2 of the Allietare Mystery Quilt, 454 pieces in all.  Bonnie is wise not to tell us this up front else we might never pick up the rotary cutter. In fact this is why I love her mystery quilts - she dishes it out in achievable parts.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 2


I happened to buy 20 quilt clips at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate a few weeks ago, not really knowing what I would be doing with them, but already Bonnie's instructions for us to keep these blocks in set of four has put them to good use.  The 'sets' are making me curious - why do they need to be 'sets'?


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 2

And now for the fun part - pulling out all the puzzle pieces from Part 1 and Part 2 to see what you can make of it.  Here is my effort and I quite like it.  In this photo my neutrals and greys (black) look very similar, but then I am going for a softer look with this quilt.


Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 2

I chose the 'stitch and flip' method outlined on Bonnie's instructions as I decided that there would be as much waste cutting trapezoids as if I did it this way.  I took the time to add another line of stitching and as a result I have a pile of bonus half square triangles.  They are about 1" square finished.

Here are the stats for Part 2
Part 1 - 8.4% of 7872 sq" (8.4% total)
Part 2 - 14.7% of 7872 sq" (23.1% total)

Joining up with the regular Monday Mystery Link Up at the Quiltville blog!
 

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 1

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 1

I am pleased to say that I have started the Allietare Mystery Quilt for 2015!  I wait all year for the details of the annual mystery and it hasn't been until today that I have been able to get hold of my rotary cutter and get going on it!  Here are just some of the half square triangles that I machine pieced today, but I am pleased to say that all the units for Part 1 of Allietare are complete.

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 1

Last week I shared my alternative Allietare Mystery Quilt fabric selection with you.  Since then there has been a slight change in plan with the original pink being swapped for tan.  As I mentioned, this quilt is going to have a home in the bedroom, matching the checked curtain fabric which you can see behind the bundles.  The pink was nice, but on closer inspection the fleck of colour in the curtain fabric was tan, not pink - no worries, there is plenty of tan in my stash!  Working with just the neutrals and the constant today meant I didn't have to make any final decisions about the combination of the other colours - maybe that will be next week ...

Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 1, Neutrals


One of the reasons I enjoy the Bonnie's Mystery Quilt each year is because it is a chance to reacquaint myself with my fabric scraps and my fabric stash.  In this selection of neutrals there is the remainder of the Jo Morton fabric which I used for the Humble Quilts Miniature Doll Quilt Swap back in May, the button fabric which first showed its face in the Celtic Solstice Mystery quilt in 2013, and a fat quarter of feather fabric which I knew I would use 'some day' - it certainly justifies those random purchases.

Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015 - Part 1, Constant

My constant is this two tone green fabric 'Sherwood Fern' (1501) by Henley Studio. I have enjoyed watching the different combinations appear as I pressed them open with the iron and am pleased with my colour combination so far.


Creative Grids 45 / 90 Triangle Ruler

As on previous times, I am using the Creative Grids 45 / 90 Triangle Ruler.  The shape and the lines on this ruler are different to the Easy Angle Ruler which Bonnie recommends, so I had a few trial runs to make sure I came up with the right size half square triangle unit.



Sewing machine maintenance

I also spent some time before I started to do a bit of maintenance I gave my machine a thorough clean with a brush, a blow of my aerosol duster, a new needle, lots of bobbins wound and making sure my single needle plate was in place - this accessory really does make sewing triangles FUN!


Suzi the cat - Allietare Mystery Quilt 2015

Suzi the cat did show her face today.  She learnt to sew whilst making the Easy Street Mystery Quilt in 2012, but has not been as enthusiastic this time around.  To be fair, the weather here is horrendous - wet, windy and not the sort of day you should leave the house.  She has chosen to snooze all day, oblivious to the weather and the launch of the major sewing event of the year. 

I will be linking up on Monday to the Quiltville blog and can't wait to see other fabric combinations.  Thank you Bonnie!

BTW; Bonnie's  quilt works out 7872 sq" - part 1 is just 8.4% of the total!
 

Allietare Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2015 - Introduction



Easy Street Mystery Quilt 2012

Welcome to the Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt journey for 2015!  This will be my third Mystery quilt.  The first one I did was Easy Street in 2012.  I managed to keep up and get the top done by January 2013.  Quilting has been another matter, but I am pleased to say that it is now quilted and in use.


Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt 2013

In 2013 I joined in the Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt.  This time my sister joined me and we had great fun getting the tops complete.  This one is not quilted yet, but is pencilled in for Spring 2016.  This time last year I was all set to join in with the Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt, but life took over as it often does. 

Allietare! - Bonnie Hunter Fabric selection


Bonnie has really chosen a pretty selection of colours this year - rich reds, warm golds, a grey to throw forward the colour, black and her usual neutrals.  There are a lot of neutral fabrics required for this quilt and there are rumours going about that there will be lots of strip piecing, similar to her beautiful Orca Bay quilt which you can find in her books.   Her colour inspiration comes from her trip to Italy and you can see the detail of her colour inspiration on her blog.



Allietare! - Fabadashery Fabric selection

To keep up with tradition I will not be using the same colour scheme.  My colour inspiration is not as exotic as an Italian holiday, but the curtains in our bedroom.  I know that the dark green fabric at the top will be my constant, the neutral  will be my neutral, but still deciding on the mix of the other colours.  I have plenty of grey and pink, but I am struggling finding the right shade of pale green.  It is always a risk mixing up the colours, but as long as I keep neutral neutral I am ready for the ride! With the decision made the first job is to restore order to my workroom, the fabric selection process has been traumatic to say the least.

9 days to go!