Dear Jane Quilt - Block B9 Tinker Toy

Dear Jane Quilt - Block B9 Tinker Toy

Here's a pre-Christmas quickie, B9 Tinker Toy.  Easy English Paper piecing for me with just a touch a colour in this blue Dear Jane block.

If I have a bit of time I like to do a bit of research on these block names and here is what I found for Tinker Toy

Tinker Toy Construction Game

I am sure over the years a 'Tinker Toy' has been a staple for Father Christmas when filling stockings and a quick check on Amazon shows that they are still selling them in a more 'whizz  / bang' style for the 21st Century.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 13

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!
 

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?

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!
 

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

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 12, C1, D10, M1, M6

I think this set of blocks is my favourite so far.  I will always say that red is my favourite colour, but if you look at my clothes, my home furnishings and accessories, green comes a close second.

Time for the next draw ....

D12 - Crossed Swords
E5 - Rising Sun
F11 - On Target
H11 - Piercing Rays

The excitement continues with yet another NEW colour - BLUE.  If you like blue and you like Dear Jane quilts, head over to see what my sister has achieved. 

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M6 Simplicity

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M6 Simplicity

Whilst I am a keen English Paper Piecing addict, it is very rare that you will see a hexagon on this blog.  No hexagons today, just a big octagon.  Block M6, Simplicity is another opportunity to show off my fancy striped fabric, from the Winter Blessings range by Kim Diehl.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 25

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M1 Dogwood Days

Dear Jane Quilt - Block M1 Dogwood Days

With block M1 Dogwood Days complete, I have just been researching what the term 'Dogwood Days' is all about.  Apparently it is a celebration of the Spring blossoming of the Dogwood trees in the USA.  Further research revealed that loads of US states have fairs to celebrate the event. 

I will admit that is was more luck than judgement that the fussy cut squares in the centre of this block are four leaf flowers, like the Dogwood blossom, but doesn't it look great?  I will admit that I am loving these green blocks and this one is particularly cute.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 29

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D10 Battlefield

Dear Jane Quilt - Block D10 Battlefield

This is Block D10 Battlefield.  I was stitching this at one of my local quilt groups and a lot of concern was raised about the size of those corner triangles (and my mental health).  Whilst my paper templates were floating about I was more concerned if there was a draft or if someone sneezed!  Now they are safely stitched into the completed 4.5" block, they are in control - a bit raggety at the edges, but nothing the sashing won't rein in.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 42

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C1 Trooper Green's Badge

Dear Jane Quilt - Block C1 Trooper Green's Badge

This is my first 'green block'. It certainly makes a refreshing change and I think the fussy cutting with the stripes has added a bit of 'je ne sais quoi', and makes it look more complex than it really is.

With the clocks changing recently it has become a bit of a struggle to get decent photographs.  Oh to see a bit of daylight!

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 13

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 12, C1, D10, M1, M6

Dear Jane Quilt - Draw 11 A9, C10, I13, M8

More orange blocks from Draw 11, but all looking good.  Moving on to Draw 12

C1 - Trooper Green's Badge
D10 - Battlefield
M1 - Dogwood Days
M6 - Simplicity

As for the colour selection the next colour is - Green. This is quite exciting as the green Kim Diehl fabric selection I have is lush.

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!

Dear Jane Update, November 2015 - 3rd Anniverary Edition

Dear Jane Quilt blocks - November 2015

This week marks the 3rd Anniversary of my Fabadashery blog.  It all started when I joined in the Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Mystery Quilt and three years on I hope to be doing the 2015 Mystery Quilt, Allietare! Thank you to all my Followers who have joined the journey.  I had hoped to do something spectacular to celebrate, but it is a busy time at work for me and so I have opted for a Dear Jane update.  Since starting in 2012, I have also started another quilting blog which shares my longarm quilting adventures.  Please feel free to Follow along on that one too if you are interested.


Dear Jane Quilt blocks - November 2015

So back to Dear Jane. Here are all the blocks I have done so far and you can now see some pops of colour in the sea of orange compared to the last update.

43 blocks (25%)

4 triangles (7%)

 



Dear Jane Quilt - EQ Software - November 2015 update

In the pictures above you might spot some blocks that have yet to have their '15 minutes of fame'.  All I can say is that my stitching is more productive than my blogging - they will have their moment.  Also this update has reminded me that I need to keep up with the sashing, cornerstones and the blank triangles.

All this special blogging activity was encouraged by the monthly 'Help for Hexi- aholics' over at Sarah Did It!  Please visit. If you sew by hand, if you sew with paper, this is a safe haven to visit.  There are no hexagons in the stitching above, but if you look closely there is an octagon.

(PS: Sarah - Suzi says Hi!)

Dear Jane Quilt - Block I13 Sweet Harmony

Dear Jane Quilt - Block I13 Sweet Harmony

I love this sort of block, simple shapes and simple stitching, quick results contributing to the overall progress.

Blogging is hard work now the winter light is here. When it is daylight I am at work and even if I am about the sky is very grey and dark.

Techniques: English Paper Piecing
Pieces: 37