Friday 20 March 2015

Anna Maria Horner Liberty Fabric Feather No #4



Liberty Fabrics - Anna Marie Horner Feather
Liberty Fabrics - Anna Maria Horner Feather
These Anna MariaHorner feathers are so addictive.  I thought I would make a little mug rug feather from some Liberty Tana Lawn scraps. The reality is I don't have Liberty Tana Lawn scraps and who does at £22.50 / metre?  The fabrics are so lovely that instead of cutting a set of them up, I thought I would showcase just one, and for this project I used Poppy and Daisy from the Liberty Art Fabrics collection.  The background is a French General solid.

Machine Quilting - Angela Walters Diamond Pattern
Machine Quilting - Angela Walters Diamond Pattern
Also, I felt like I would be wimping out by just meandering the background again, so decided to try something new.  I am not short of books of machine quilting and this time I reached for Angela Walter's 'Shape by Shape' Free-Motion Quilting book.  I found a great diamond pattern - great because it is made up of straight lines, so I could stitch it without having to lower the feed dogs.  I also liked it as it has an art deco style which fits nicely with the historical Liberty print. I had to mark the fabric with a water erasable pen, but it was worth it to get the lovely all over pattern.
Detail - Machine Quilting Diamond Pattern
Detail - Machine Quilting Diamond Pattern
I haven't used Liberty fabrics for quite a while and had forgotten how lovely and crisp the finish is.  Putting the binding on this one was a dream.  I also added some corner pockets on the back so that it could be hung as a mini quilt on the wall.  It won't be on my wall, as this one a is gift.
Liberty Mini Wall Hanging - corner pockets
Liberty Mini Wall Hanging - corner pockets
See more feathers here, here and here
Linking up with Confessions




Tuesday 17 March 2015

Anna Maria Horner Scrap Fabric Neutral Feather No #3

Anna Marie Horner Neutral Scrap Fabric Feather
Anna Maria Horner Neutral Scrap Fabric Feather
Here comes another Anna Maria Horner feather.  This one is made up from the scraps from my equilateral triangle quilt which I made last April with the Sassy Quilter  and is being modelled by Suzi the cat below.

Equilateral Triangle Quilt with Suzi the cat
Equilateral Triangle Quilt with Suzi the cat

The background fabric is  French General for MODA (#13529) which is a lovely natural linen colour.  I outlined the feather with stich in the ditch, outlined the shape again and then filled in the background with a free motion meander. 
Free Motion Meander quilting bachground
Free Motion Meander quilting bachground
Not only is the feather made up from fabric scraps, but I also used some scraps of wadding for the middle.  Having made a few of these, I can tell you that they are quite addictive.  I just love how they come out so differently.

Sunday 15 March 2015

Anna Maria Horner Scrap Fabric Feather No #2

Anna Marie Horner Feather
Anna Maria Horner Feather
A few weeks ago I mentioned that after making my scrappy Half Square Triangle quilt I had created a new set of scraps to use up.  They were mainly 1.5" strips from reducing 5" squares to 3.5" squares, so were quite thin and some of them quite short, but plenty big enough for another Anna Maria Horner scrap feather

Box of fabric scraps
Box of fabric scraps

I was working towards a particular colour scheme, so was able to pull out all the co-ordinating colours to foundation piece the feather.

Foundation Piecing Scrap fabric
Foundation Piecing Scraps
For the quilting I stitched in the ditch and then did a 1/4 inch outline around the feather shape.  Then I kept on going.  Because these are only small quilts / mug rugs they are a good place to experiment with new quilting patterns.  The trimmings from the HST's for this feather were only a drop in the ocean from my box of scraps, so I can see more of these in pipeline.

Scrappy Anna Maria Horner Feather Mug Rug
Scrappy Anna Maria Horner Feather Mug Rug
 Linking up with Connie at Freemotion

Sunday 8 March 2015

Nearly Insane Quilt - Update #4 March 2015



Removing English Paper Piecing templates
Removing English Paper Piecing templates
I expect some of you may be wondering what progress I am making with the Nearly Insane quilt.  As you can see here, I have had a go at removing the papers.  The tiny bits hidden under the seams have required the patience and precision of removing a splinter from a finger, but gradually progress is being made.  Suzi the cat knows it is going to be a long job, but is joining me for the long haul.


Suzi the cat offers moral support with the paper removal
Suzi the cat offers moral support with the paper removal
Another dilemma that I have been dealing with is the border.  The original design has a zig zag border.  I don't think it is the most attractive edging, but in the spirit of keeping to the original I intend to put a zig zag border around my Nearly Insane quilt.  When I saw the Dear Jane exhibition in France, I noticed how the quilts without the original full scalloped border didn't look quite 'finished', and that has stuck with me.  Maybe I will do something different on my next Nearly Insane quilt ...
Nearly Insane Quilt - Solid Red Zig Zag Border
Nearly Insane Quilt - Solid Red Zig Zag Border
You may have noticed in some of my early 'reveals' that I showed the developing red zig zag border.  I had done almost one and half sides by the time the rest of the quilt was together, but when laid against it, it just looked TOO bold.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Red with White Zig Zag Border
Nearly Insane Quilt - Red with White Zig Zag Border

So I started again, using some of my red with white fabrics for the zig zag.  Again, I had done nearly a side and it just looked wrong.  It looked TOO big.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Small Red with White Zig Zag Border
Nearly Insane Quilt - Small Red with White Zig Zag Border
So having stitched over two sides of the border I then decided to actually read the instructions in the book and make the zig zag the smaller size that was suggested ....

We live. We learn.

I think is eligible for Slow Stitching Sunday ...

 

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Miniature Block of the Month March 2015 - The Quilt Room

March Block - Quilt Room 2015 Miniature Quilt BOM
March Block - Quilt Room 2015 Miniature Quilt BOM
February was a short month this year.  Already March and another block has been released as part of The Quilt Room, Dorking FREE Miniature Block of the Month.  I will admit that I struggle with foundation piecing as I am easily confused by working on the reverse, flipping, reversing the colours etc. etc, but I do love the look of it.
Quilt Room 2015 Miniature Quilt BOM
Quilt Room 2015 Miniature Quilt BOM
They haven't stated how many there will be, but I assume it will continue up until the end of the year so that we have twelve blocks altogether.  So, in just three short months I have accumulated these delightful little blocks, which seems to be filling the void of the Nearly Insane blocks which I completed several months ago.

Saturday 14 February 2015

Miniature Block of the Month February 2015 - The Quilt Room


Minature Block of the Month February 2015 - The Quilt Room
Miniature Block of the Month February 2015 - The Quilt Room
Here is the February edition of the Miniature Block of the Month FREE from the Quilt Room, Dorking.  I am really enjoying this BOM so far.  Just one block means I can usually get it done quite quickly during one evening after work.

Just like last month I have put the pattern into my Electric Quilt software and printed off the foundation patterns.  I am pleased with the colours of the 'Snowman Gatherings' fabrics I am using.  I haven't taken any of the papers out yet.  I love the firmness and stability it gives - it reminds me of the more refined finish you get with dressmaking when you add an interfacing.

Suzi the Cat on her Cat Mat quilt
Suzi the Cat on her Cat Mat
We have had some warm winter days here lately which makes for hard work if you are a cat.  Moving from room to room following the sun is exhausting!

Joining up with Feline Friday! and Crazy Mom Quilts.
 

Tuesday 10 February 2015

Half Square Triangle (HST) Scrappy Quilt

Scrap Triangle Quilt
Half Square Triangle Scrappy Quilt
You may recognise this quilt.  I have been admiring it here and here.  I decided it was time to have one of my own.  It is a Katherine Guerrier design from one of my favourite books, 'Scrap Quilt Sensation' .
Scrappy Triangle Quilt
Scrappy Triangle Quilt

I have had a pile of random charm squares which were given to me in my stash for some time.  They are not fabrics I particularly like, but it was hard to turn down the offer of free fabric at the time. I don't think things have changed. This is the sort of quilt you can hide these ugly fabrics in quite easily.  Just to make it interesting I also added some of my favourite fabrics too.  The need to get as much variety as possible allowed plenty of petting and stroking of the fabrics in my stash. I had many happy hours in my sewing room. 
Double pinning quilt seams
Double pinning quilt seams

I think there are about 896 3" half square triangles in this quilt.  It is a surprisingly simple quilt to make, it is just the sheer quantity of square half square triangle blocks which need cutting, stitching and trimming which take up the time.  The finished size is about 84" x 96". Any half square triangle pattern really relies on accurate seam joins and I took time from the very beginning to double pin every seam to keep the seams in place as they went through the sewing machine. On the front (which is where it matters) they look as if they have behaved very well, but on the back there are a few which tried to go against the flow.

Half Square Triangle Scrap Quilt
Half Square Triangle Scrap Quilt
Comparing it to the same quilts I have seen already, it is clear that the look of the quilt will depend on the DNA of your personal stash.  I struggled for large scale prints for contrast, and I struggled for murky dull fabrics to stand out against the brights, but I wasn't about to go shopping for this project.  The aim was too get rid of some scraps, but in the process I seem to have created a new set of scraps! He ho ...


Joining up with Scraptastic Tuesday! and the scrap fans at Crazy Mom Quilts, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Saturday 17 January 2015

Minature Block of the Month January 2015 - The Quilt Room

January Miniature Block of the Month - Cross Canoes The Quilt Room
January Miniature Block of the Month - Cross Canoes
If you read my last post you will see that back in November I had every intention of doing Bonnie Hunter's 2014 Mystery Quilt, Grand Illusion.  I had the fabric and everything.  Sadly I was just too busy and it just feels too late now.  I know that if I am joining in a mystery quilt or Block of the Month, I need to be sure that I have the time to complete them.  To satisfy my stitching itch, for 2015 the Quilt Room in Dorking, UK is running a FREE Miniature Block of the Month. Yes, just one miniature block a month.  I think I can manage that.  The blocks are released on the first Monday in the month on their website.  I assume that there will be twelve 4" blocks altogether and they are using a blue and white colour scheme.  To make life easy I am following the same colours using up a Snowman Gatherings Layer Cake that I have.  BTW, we did have a very light covering of snow here this morning ....

January Miniature Block of the Month - Cross Canoes THe Quilt Room
Cross Canoes Block - Foundation Piecing
The first block is a Cross Canoes block.  After all the Canoe blocks I have made for my Nearly Insane quilt, it was very familiar.  They are providing the patterns and instructions FREE online and if you are local to the shop in Dorking, they are providing fabric packs and support. 

Foundation Piecing - Cross Canoes Block  Quilt Room
Foundation Piecing - Cross Canoes Block 
I transferred the pattern into my Electric Quilt software and printed off the foundations papers. I love the sharp finish you get with paper foundation piecing, but I will admit that I find it quite scary, especially the bit when you flip the fabric and discover that you have not sewn it correctly! So far so good.

With the Cross Canoe block completed for January 2015 I feel that I am well on track. 

Joining up with other finishes at Crazy Mom Quilts!



Tuesday 18 November 2014

Grand Illusion - Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2014 - Introduction

Fabric Selection - Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt 2014
It's that time again - Bonnie Hunter has launched her annual Mystery Quilt for 2014 - Grand Illusion.  She launched it way back in mid-October and caught me off-guard and it hasn't been until now that I have had the chance to put my mind to it.
 
This year I have decided to NOT do scrappy.  I need to make a quilt / pair of quilts in a particular colour scheme using warm greys and soft blues, so I have opted to use the mystery quilt as the pattern using the above fabrics.   It took a while to get to that decision - I should have taken a picture of my workroom - it was covered in fat quarters as I auditioned colours for the quilt. It's a mystery quilt, so I will be living on the edge to see if this colour scheme works.

The first part will be launched on Friday 28th November, only 10 days to go!

NB: Feb 2015 - This is as far as this one got, sadly I didn't get to join in for 2014, but only a few more months until 2015 is released!

Sunday 2 November 2014

Nearly Insane Quilt - Update #3 November

Nearly Insane Quilt - November 2014 update
Nearly Insane Quilt - November 2014 update
It's hard to believe you can be exhausted from sitting hand stitching all day, but last night as I made the last few stitches to get my Nearly Insane quilt blocks together all I could think about was going to bed.  The construction of this has taken longer than anticipated, but as you will see from the picture all the blocks, sashing and cornerstones are together.  If you look back a few posts you may also be able to play 'spot the difference', as several of the blocks have been changed partially or completely.

English Paper Piecing - Nearly Insane Quilt
English Paper Piecing - Nearly Insane Quilt
All the paper is still in and I imagine it will probably take me three months to remove all that!

Nearly Insane Quilt - November 2014 update
Nearly Insane Quilt - November 2014 update

When I started this project I now realise I partly imagined that once I had reached this stage it would be done, but todays project is to start get the borders together and there is still quite a journey to go.