latest quilt finish

 Look what's back from my longarm quilter!

I was super excited when I opened my 'old maid's puzzle' quilt out of the courier package ... something about this combo of a simple repeat block + the colours + texture + quilting panto makes it extra special.

 *party in the quilt back

Old Maid's Puzzle quilt details:

Pattern: Old Maid’s Puzzle, a traditional block. Initially inspired by a free pattern from @prairiequiltco. I made 9" blocks for my version.

Fabrics: I used a scrappy selection of old & new favourite fabrics. I've been a little obsessed/focused lately - drawn to colours like these peachy pinks, rosy pinks, primrose yellow, aqua, & lavender, lots of those dusty/muddy tones. 

Loving the contrast of these soft pastels mixed in with the splashes of bright colour.

Backing: I adapted another finished older quilt top to use as my *backing again. It was a top I made back in Feb 2020, 'meadowland' quilt, with a soft muted combo of fabrics.

Quilting: I decided to send out a couple of quilts for long arm quilting with Leeanne again, and this was one of them. I chose an E2E quilting panto, 'compass rose'. The quilting is a little denser than I usually have, but I love how a simple repeat block allows me to go to town on the quilting choice!

Binding: I used a dusty darker toned floral, Aster from the Liberty Mayfair collection/Westminster. It captures all the main colours front & back. 

Quilt measurements: 58" x 58"

time to enjoy the flowers

I haven’t gone through my scraps in forever, so a week or so ago I started with sorting out the scrap basket that sits under my sewing table. I was quite determined and only made three piles - keep, chuck, or pass onto my friend Glenys.
While sifting & sorting was a pleasant trip down memory lane, I did have ulterior motive for this sudden burst of tidying ... I was really pulling out all my leftover floral strips ... ones I couldn't part with ... and I ended up keeping a good mix from the last couple of years.

This week, those strips kept tempting me! So instead of sewing the July blocks for my 'positivities' BOM, I got very sidetracked. Again!

I'm making a 'Checkered Garden' quilt #2, a free pattern from Ashley @filminthefridge. It's well written, fun & easy to follow. My first go with this pattern was made with all AMH fabrics (see back here for more details), and while I love it, I was keen to try out quite a different palette.

Using my focus fabric as a guide (a dark & moody AMH teal/green with a small floral print on it, perfect for bringing in some contrast), I started to select fabric strips in light - medium values in a variety of old & newer loved strips, loving the soft pastels - all from my newly-organised, colour-coded basket. 

Every block/garden cluster requires 5 fabrics. So, I decided that each block has a near-solid along with a print that complements for some harmony, a pale print/low volume to give some breathing space amongst my florals, and then whatever else I felt could work in nicely! It is scrappy ... but with purpose & intent.

It'll be made all from scraps - colourful & a little whimsical - and that's what I love about it!

Time to enjoy all the flowers as I sew.

Linda

under the stars

Yes, I'm still seeing sewing stars! When I began making these wonky star blocks, I didn't have any plan. I tossed up for a bit, wondering about combining in other different blocks and/or playing with the overall quilt layout.  

And in the end, I just kept making more simple blocks until I had enough for a throw size quilt.

I've used lots of Liberty florals in both lawn & cotton, along with a few more favourite AGF & Tilda florals from my stash, and I also added a good dose of solids into the mix.  Super happy with the contrast of the itty-bitty florals with the solids. 

Enjoy my progress photos ...

Many thanks to Jolene @blueelephantstitches for the detailed (free) 'wonky star' tutorial. "It’s kind of a special star… it’s not quite a sawtooth star, it’s got just a sprinkle of organic freedom, and it twinkles."

Once all 30 blocks were completed, I spent some time faffing about with the layout. My plan this morning was to stitch them all together & finish the quilt top ...

so simple yet so pretty 

- like a scattering of summery flowers under the stars

⭐⭐⭐

Linda

favourite florals

Just for a change (wink wink) I'm using pretty colours and lots of florals. For this wonky star🌟 project I started out with a bunch of summery delicate florals in various medium shades from the makers stash. I’m adding in more favourite florals from my stash - more Liberties, AGF & Tilda - and I'm also trying to add a good dose of solids into the mix - a little out of my comfort zone but I'm liking it so far.

Jolene of @blueelephantstitches recently posted a sweet (free) pattern/tutorial, Star Hollow Quilt. She includes great tips for how wonky you want the stars to be, I’m on the less wonky team! (see back here where I first made wonky stars). 

It's a fun design for my scrappy mix of fabrics, enjoy the progress photos ...

Not 100% sure where this is going yet, 

but I'm enjoying sewing with all these sweet florals.

Linda