Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 6

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 6

Here is my first batch of blocks for Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 6.   I had a hunch there was going to be some foundation paper piecing in the 2020 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt, so I have been saving suitable 'paper'.  As far as I know, in the UK, paper telephone directories are obsolete, so I have been keeping an eye out  for alternatives.  I have a couple of Christmas Radio Times saved, but on this occasion the Sunday Times Magazine was a winner.  I removed the centre staples and was able to fit five blocks down the double length.  With the smaller stitches, the paper has come out like a dream.  

Sunday Times Magazine Foundation Paper Quilting

I managed to get a few strips of grey from my scrap box, but otherwise I have been cutting strips from by grey fabric selection.  My grey stash has taken a hit with this Mystery quilt, so I can justify a few purchases at the next available opportunity - let's hope there is a quilt show sooner , rather than later in 2021!  There are usually more than six parts to these Mystery quilts, so I expect a few more parts before the BIG REVEAL - we have not used much green yet.

 #quiltvillemsytery #grassycreekquilt

#fabadasheryquilting

Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - Part 6

4th July Independence Day Patriotic Mug Rug

4th July Mug Rug

Happy Fourth of July!  OK, so I am in the UK and naturally it is not one of our Public Holidays, but I love the colour scheme of red, white and blue and I felt the urge to make something quick and easy. As part of the Mini Doll quilt swap, I had received a lovely selection of Civil War reproduction fabrics from my swap partners, and in my stash I had a lovely blue starry fabric, which fits the patriotic quilt theme perfectly.


Patriotic fabric scraps

Just by using a few squares of fabric I had enough to cut strips for three scrappy mug rugs, two for my swap partners in the Mini Doll quilt swap, and one for myself.

Foundation Piecing - Carol Doak paper

I used my Electric Quilt software to draw up a simple log cabin pattern and I printed it out onto the Carol Doak foundation paper I bought a few weeks ago.  It is working great in my laser printer, I just have to remember to replace it with normal paper once I am finished(!).


Foundation Paper Piecing - Pressing with the iron

Foundation paper piecing is very satisfying when it is going well.  With a log cabin pattern I was only working with straight lines and with a quick press with the iron at each stage, the block was coming out a dream.

Quilting a Log Cabin block

With narrow strips and thick seams I kept the quilting simple by stitching in the ditch and in the centre square I stitched out a star.  Mine is currently sitting in front of me by the computer with a cup of tea - yes, the same stuff that started the American Revolution!


Fourth of July Mug Rug 6" x 6"

Miniature Block of the Month May 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month May 2015 - The Quilt Room

I have just been catching up with myself again.  The Quilt Room have issued their FREE Block of the Month foundation pieced star for May 2015.  This month there was a log cabin centre. It is only the fifth block I have made, but it feels as if I should have a lot more.

Carol Doak's Foundation Paper

I am continuing my search for the ideal foundation paper.   I was visiting the 2015 Malvern Quilt Show last weekend and Creative Grids had some of Carol Doak's Foundation Paper on sale.  It is a US, rather than UK, standard size paper but I purchased it knowing that. It doesn't say what weight it is, but it feels like lightweight drawing paper that I used to have in primary school. Thanks to Marly and Annie for their thoughts last month.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 18 ( ... the block with the most pieces)

Nearly Insane Quilt, Block 18 (the 6" block with the most pieces!)

Here it is! Block 18 - the one with the most pieces in it.  Three cheers for me.  Hip Hip Hooray! Officially 229 in this 6 inch block, and here it is with all but the outer edge papers removed. Pretty pleased with the way it looks, and how it has come together.  With that many pieces there was a risk it could look a bit of a dog's dinner.

Block 18, Electric Quilt Software Pattern, Nearly Insane Quilt

As you may know, I have been drawing up the blocks in my Electric Quilt software, and sometimes this gives me the chance to make a few alterations if I see fit.  Would you believe it, on this one, I decided to ADD more pieces.  In this case I added some extra cornerstones, which makes the total of my Nearly Insane Block 18,  243 pieces.  Also, on the original block, the miniature half square triangles,where going in different directions.  I have switched some, to make this Barber's Shop stripe effect.


English Paper Piecing - paper templates

Everything about this 6 inch block has taken longer - cutting out the paper pieces, cutting out the fabric shapes, and stitching it together.  There are 192 of those little triangles, all of which I covered using English paper piecing.  For the centre square, the pieces were just too tiny, so I opted to use foundation piecing for that bit.  I won't show you the back for that bit, it is way too bulky! 

Rotary Cutting tiny pieces for Block 18 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Now it is complete there is a sense of "if I can achieve that , I can achieve anything", with this quilt. There may have been easier ways to get the same pattern, with less pieces, but I guess it is the difference between climbing Mount Snowdon, versus taking the Mountain Railway.  Overall, not horrendously difficult, Block 43 wins there, but if you are thinking of doing this block, just allow yourself plenty of time to complete.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 243
DIFFICULTY: 8/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle 1/2" (12.5mm) x 3/8" (9mm) x 3/8" (9mm) 
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1 1/2"(38mm) x 3/4" (19mm)TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP) and Foundation Piecing
FABRICS: 
Calico
"Days Gone By" Exclusively Quilters (Rose Print)
Red with white pindot (unknown)
White floral on red (unknown)

Joining up with Connie at Freemotion By the River and Freshly Pieced.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 37

Earlier this month , when I announced Draw 10, I put up a few different design options for Block 37.  With the votes in, the results were pretty evenly spread, and as I had the casting vote, like JoAnn and Lynette, I went for Option 3.
Isn't it pretty?

BTW - if you enjoy voting, don't forget to vote for Suzi, No.71, over at the Pets on Quilts Show before Saturday 24th August 2013. She would love your support!


Block 37, Nearly Insane Quilt

I have just added up the number of pieces in this 6" block and it comes to 97. For 97, this one was not too bad.  Naturally, it takes more time to cut 97 little bits, and sew them together, but now it is complete, it is my latest favourite.

Cutting patchwork pieces for Block 37, Nearly Insane Quilt

It has got some of those teeny weeny triangles in it, and some of those half inch strips, but for this project, I would much rather have a 97 piece block than a 20 piece block.  I don't think I have tipped over 100 yet - ask me how I feel about them when I get there ....


Foundation Piecing - Nearly Insane Quilt, Block 37

For the first time I have used some foundation piecing for the centre of the block.  I am finding that the little pieces in the middle of some of the blocks are bulky, so I thought if I foundation pieced them (by hand!), it would remove some of the bulk, and it has done the trick on this occasion.
As I said, this is my latest favourite.


NUMBER OF PIECES: 97
DIFFICULTY: 5/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1/2" (12.5mm) x 5/16" (9mm) x 5/16" (9mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 1 1/2" (38mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Calico
Cream Bias Check Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5495 11
Tangled Threads in Apple Red, Mama Said Sew, by Sweetwater for Moda
"Christmas Past" (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda