Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 7 Big Reveal - Finished

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Big Reveal

Here it is ladies and gentleman! My version of Bonnie Hunter Quiltville Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt. I have made it the full size, which is big and I am really pleased with the result.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Big Reveal

From this more detailed photo, the vigilant of you will see that I have changed some colours around.  When I saw Bonnie's version of Grassy Creek, I thought it was a bit busy to have on a bed, so I auditioned some other colours, swapped the red for yellow and changed the outer border for yellow too. My stash is officially out of yellow now.  Also, I went for straight string borders, again, to calm it down a bit.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Big Reveal

I put the quilt on my APQS longarm quilting machine last week and chose Nemesh Feathers for the quilting pattern.  This is one of my favourite quilting patterns. As we are in lockdown, I was stretched for backing fabric, so on this occasion I have used a Dorma King Size 300 thread count sheet, which I have used before on other projects.

'Nemesh Feathers' designed by Bethan Nemesh

Whilst it was on the longarm quilting machine I was able to apply the binding and over the past few days I have been busy hand sewing the binding, adding a quilt label and I have even added a hanging strip - it is officially DONE.

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Big Reveal

I have even cleared up my sewing room from the carnage which usually accompanies a big sewing project.  However, below you will see what I have left.  A large pile of red rectangles which were swapped to yellow, some spare half square triangles (?!?), flying geese, strip pieces and 'large' scraps in the box and 'small' scraps in the jar.  I can see three or four projects just from these scraps!

After a few years where I have had to forgo Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt, I am pleased that I was able to join in this year.  A BIG thank you to Bonnie!  The parts will be on her website until mid-February 2021.

#quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

#fabadasheryquilting

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 42 - Fruit Basket

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 42 - Fruit Basket

Yes, there is real fruit in this Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 42 - Fruit Basket, this time strawberries, from the Strawberry Fields Revisited Collection by Fig Tree Quilts.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 42 - Fruit Basket

I have also reached an epic moment in this quilt project where I have reached the end of my sewing thread - 500m in total.  There was a time when I never seemed to get to the end of a reel, but with my longarm quilting business I buy it in wholesale in large cops and get to the end of them more quickly these days. But these 500m have all been hand sewing.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 65 Peaceful Hours

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 65 Peaceful Hours

We are resuming normal service as we return to the Farmer's Wife blocks.  With my quilts on display here, there and everywhere I all of a sudden realise that I had better put a bit of effort into the current one.  Also, I have returned to indoor shots as the proper summer has finally arrived in the UK with some little rain falling and Suzi the cat spending all of her time indoors.
This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 65 Peaceful Hours.  This is quite a pretty one with 25 pieces to play with.  I am currently longarm quilting a Farmer's Wife quilt for a customer and have just quilted this, it is amazing how different it looks to mine.

Dear Jane Quilt - Festival of Quilt, NEC Birmingham, August 2018

'Dear Jane' quilt by Frances Meredith, 2018

If you are heading off to the Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK, this week you will be able to see my completed Dear Jane quilt on display, No FO48 in the Traditional Quilts section.  It is a few months since she was completed and there have been a few requests for a bit more information about how I reached the finishing post!  
I guess you need to start at the beginning, with the trip to Nantes, France in April 2013, where there was a spectacular 150th Anniversary display of Dear Jane quilts, which was the inspiration to start on my Dear Jane quilt.  Then in August 2015, once my Nearly Insane quilt was completed I was able to start my Dear Jane journey.  Wow, three years ago.  As you all probably know, my Dear Jane quilt was completed by hand, using English Paper Piecing in conjunction with the Electric Quilt Dear Jane software.  Steadily each block and side triangle was completed during trips away and in travelling time.

'Dear Jane' quilt by Frances Meredith, 2018

About a year ago in the spring of 2017 I managed to get the top completed and together, which was followed by the mammoth task of removing the papers.  There are 5163 pieces in the quilt. I think this took about 5 days this time and is not something I rush to do straight away.  Meanwhile, there were a few challenges that lay ahead - quilting the quilt and doing a scallop edge for the first time.  I will admit that I have a long pause between finishing a top and quilting my quilts, but a show deadline is usually a good prompt to get it done.

I am lucky enough to have a long arm quilting machine and having put so much time into each block of the quilt I wanted each one to shine.  Each block is stitched in the ditch and then I designed my own pattern for blank triangles and the sashing.  At the time of quilting the edge of the quilt was a straight border.

To tackle the scallop edge I would recommend making some practice quilts.  I made a few charity quilts for Project Linus which were lucky enough to have scallop edges.  By making these I ironed out the problems before I encountered them on my masterpiece.   I chose quite a narrow binding for the edge and applied it with the machine and then finished it by hand.  I only trimmed the scallop border once I had applied the binding on the machine.

'Dear Jane' quilt by Frances Meredith, 2018

Once I decided to make a Dear Jane quilt I knew I had to go the whole way - all the blocks, all the triangles, and the scalloped edge, just as Jane Stickle had done. Now this quilt is done, my next Dear Jane quilt can be done in any way I choose!  I will admit that while I was quilting each block I was reminded of what a fun quilt this was to make.  The variety of techniques that you can choose to make each block, makes it interesting. Fussy cutting each block makes it interesting.  Choosing colour combinations makes it interesting.  I wouldn't dismiss the idea of making another one.

How much fabric did I use to make my Dear Jane quilt? I don't know, but I know I have enough Kim Diehl fabric left to make probably three more of these!

As I write this I am reminded of the true beauty of English Paper Piecing.  When I was away in Nantes, I was most probably working on a few Nearly Insane blocks. Dear Jane has travelled with me for the past three years and my handmade quilts really do weave their way into my life.  They hold memories of where you were, trips you made and follow you when you are out and about living your life.  The quilts I make when I am sat down in the same room on a sewing machine, perhaps don't have that weight of value.  I am often asked 'How long did it take you?' Well, like friends, you don't measure the number of days you have been friends as a measure of special your friendships are, they are just friendships.

Kim Diehl Half Square Triangle Cat Mat

Half Square Triangle quilt layout

In a change to the usual Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt blocks I have another little project to show you.  It is another mat for the cat, using up the left over half square triangles from last years 'Scrappy Challenge'.  You won't remember that because I haven't shown you yet.  I am interested in trying out different layouts for HST's and there were enough left over to make this mat.

Quilting Feathers

I also wanted to use the project to test my quilting skills.  For over a year I have been practising  drawing feathers, but did not have the courage to try it on an actual quilt.  The muscle memory you gain from drawing really does help and when I took to my machine, they came out naturally - what had I been waiting for!

Quilted Cat Mat - Kim Diehl fabrics

The fabrics are the Kim Diehl leftovers from the Dear Jane quilt, which is still waiting to be quilted. Even with Dear Jane, my 2017 Scrappy Challenge and this small project, I still have plenty of fabric to make MANY more quilts.

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR13 Marlene's Pirouette

Dear Jane Quilt - Border Triangle Block RR13 Marlene's Pirouette

More border triangles to move this project along.  I appliqued the tiny triangles at the bottom, that is once they had been on a trip through the vacuum cleaner.

Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting

Since returning from holiday I have been very busy quilting customer quilts which has meant plenty of variety alongside my Dear Jane project, but little time for other sewing projects.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing and Applique
Pieces: 20 pieces

International Quilting Weekend 2016

Fabadashery Long Arm Quilting

Happy International Quilting Weekend!

Are you quilting today?  I am busy stitching some customer quilts on my long arm machine whilst watching the episodes of The Quilt Show which are FREE as part of the celebrations.  I have watched nearly six episodes so far and have plenty more to revisit.

Later tonight we are moving onto the next Star Wars film, so plenty of hand stitching to look forward to and the completion of another Dear Jane block.

Have a great day. 

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

Colourwave Workshop with Jan Hassard

Colourwave Quilt with Jan Hassard

I have been on a quilting workshop today with Bristol quilter, Jan Hassard, at Busy Bees Patchwork in Newport.  Here you can see the blocks I completed today pinned to my design wall.  It was a great day where we got an insight into how Jan works her magic with colour, but as always, too short and you wish you could spend the next 48 hours completing the project.

Jan sent instructions beforehand, so that we could do most of our fabric cutting beforehand, which was great, as it gave us more time during the day to actually focus on the design and machine stitch some strips together.  I am using batiks for this project, largely from the generous bundle I won from The Objects of Design, over a year ago.

Along with this, my head is full of ideas of projects I want to do.  Dear Jane is keeping me quiet, but I need to catch up with my Miniature Block of the Month, I am making a quilt for our camper van, and I have quilts to quilt.  Also, I am finding it hard to settle as I am quite sure Bonnie Hunter is due to release details of her 2015 Mystery Quilt soon ....