Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 14, B9, C6, K4, L6

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 13, D12, E5, F11 H11

Here is the first set of blue blocks for my Dear Jane quilt.  It is a refreshing change to have a different colour, but due to other quilting activities it has taken me a while to get these done.


Dear Jane Quilt - Japanese metallic fabrics

I mentioned my sister has completed the top of her Dear Jane quilt, well here is sneak preview.  The top is complete and now she is preparing to quilt it.  As she reminded me, I still have a lot of blocks to do
With that thought in mind, time for the next draw ....

B9 - Tinker Toy
C6 - Ashley's Aura
K4 - Thea's Turn
L6 - Maze of Madness

Just like buses, you don't see a colour for ages and then they all come at once.  This Draw will be BLUE again. 

Miniature Block of the Month December 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month December 2015 - The Quilt Room

I am pleased to say that I have managed to complete the December Miniature Block of the Month offered FREE by The Quilt Room, called 12 Pointed Star.  Even after twelve months of trying to get my foundation piecing up to scratch, I still made mistakes and had to unpick.  I love the sharp look of this technique, but my brain hasn't yet worked out how to get a successful 'flip' first time.

Miniature Block of the Month - The Quilt Room

But my perseverance has paid off and here you can see all twelve completed blocks together.  They still have all their papers in them and I think deciding the layout for the them within a quilt will be a job for 2016.

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F11 On Target

Dear Jane Quilt - Block F11 On Target

Here is the last of the blocks for the Draw I made on 26th November,  F11 On Target  (clearly I am NOT on target ...).  This is another block that has taken a few shots.  I stitched on the applique pieces and then decided I wanted to change the colour. 

It is worth comparing this to the last one I made, D12 Crossed Swords, as it shows two different techniques to achieve the arrow shape, one piecing, this one applique.  I know which one I prefer ...

Techniques: English Paper Piecing, Applique
Pieces: 16

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!

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D12 Crossed Swords

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D12 Crossed Swords

Poor Dear Jane, she is being neglected at the moment.  This is block D12 Crossed Swords and it has taken several attempts to get this block completed, not because it was difficult, but the busyness that comes with time of year. 

I am slicing the arrows off these shapes and sewing them back on again, mainly to minimise the amount of applique I have to do.  With a busy fabric I think I can get away with it.

Just one more block, F11 On Target, to complete before I move onto the next draw.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 22

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!
 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E5 Rising Sun

Dear Jane Quilt - Block E5 Rising Sun

As you will see from my other posts I have a few other projects on the go at the moment which means Dear Jane is taking a back seat for the time being.  Even with the excitement of new colours, I am finding it difficult to find time to do the blocks.

This was a nice simple block.  In the original Dear Jane quilt, this block is done in red and white, which ties in with its original Japanese origin. Mine is blue.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing, Applique
Pieces: 17

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H11 Piercing Rays

Dear Jane Quilt - Block H11 Piercing Rays

Do you see all the fussy cutting I have done with Block H11 Piercing Rays?  The Kim Diehl fabric makes it look like an optical illusion.  Another easy English Paper Pieced Dear Jane block which could be classed as an octagon if necessary.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 16

Miniature Block of the Month November 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month November 2015 - The Quilt Room

I am not sure whether anyone had noticed, but I had got a bit behind with my Quilt Room Miniature BOM.  With the imminent announcement of the Part 1 of the Allietare Mystery Quilt, I felt I needed to get my house in order before 2016 was upon us.  So here is the November block, 'Evening Star'.


Miniature Block of the Month 2015 - Foundation Piecing

With each block being a month apart, I still haven't managed to get into the swing of foundation piecing, so it was a relief that this one was just simple strips.


Miniature Block of the Month  2015 - The Quilt Room

I now have eleven blocks complete and this next week should see the release of the December block and possibly the options for the final layout.  I still have to remove all the papers, but it has been nice to see this quilt quietly move along throughout the year.  Does anyone know of any BOM's starting at the beginning of 2016?

Miniature Block of the Month October 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month October 2015 - The Quilt Room

Yes, I know. It is nearly December and I have only just completed the Quilt Room's October Miniature Block of the Month.  This was due to a bit of a muddle there end and a bit of a muddle my end, so I am willing to share responsibility.  I wanted to get them done before I started this years Quiltville Mystery quilt and get ahead of myself.

This one is called 'Pinwheel Star' and could have had loads of different colour combinations.  The layer cake of 'Snowman Gatherings' which I have been using is coming to the end of its useful life and this is BOM becoming a scrap project.

I don't actually live near to the Quilt Room shop and haven't found many others doing this BOM online which makes me think that I need to update my social media habits - where do you spend most of your time these days to get you quilty fix?