(new) project alert

The Sawtooth Star (which goes way back to the 1860’s apparently) is a very versatile star, it can be made different just by simply changing up the centre. Back in 2019, I made a "little miss sawtooth star" quilt, using a free pattern by Melanie from southerncharmquilts. Like the original, I used a healthy dose of low volumes for the backgrounds and mainly medium value florals. I donated it to Hospice.

I'm thinking I'd like to make another one!

This time around though, I'm going with lots of colour! 

I recently bought a length of Anna Maria’s Beata's Garden from her Good Gracious collection, and after using some of it for borders, I still have plenty left to play with! Next up, I pulled fabrics from my stash baskets with similar tones. 

I'm using a limited number of "lights" made up of a few pale 'indelible soft' florals from AMParry. Love how all the whitish light bits give the other colours such sparkle.

Well, I had a vague idea of where I was going, however once I started cutting & piecing, each block was a lovely surprise! 

Here's my first few stars ...

Ava block #1

Luciana block

 Josephine block

Asha block

... ✂️a little fussy-cut fun, love the swimming circle of swans! 

Ava block #2

Olivia block

Juliana block

Jada block

Ava block #3

... how clever is that AM Good Gracious fabric 'town meeting' dew

here's how the (makeshift) design wall is looking so far ...

... it's going to be busy & bright ... in the very best way!

Linda

two little quilts get their bindings: pt 2

I promised you two little cuddle quilts and this second one is just as sweet as the first one. 

My scrappy 'star hollow & 9patch' quilt was a lot of fun because, with the "floating" stars method, every star point is perfect. No stress! I used a pattern by Jolene @blueelephantstitches, from her 'Scrap Quilt Diary' book.

Again, I dipped in & out of my fabric baskets, selecting a nice scrappy mix of old & new in toasty browns/pinks/oranges. I decided the blue shades would be/should be an accent only with limited use.
The backing fabric is a Heather Ross Strawberry print.

Channeling my inner Jolene vibe again, I opted for straight line quilting by *Leeanne @quiltmekiwi.
And for binding, I chose another blue & white stripe - cottage rose by Alex Anderson - it’s a clever way to pull out those blues, otherwise they sorta get lost. (for those who don't know, blue is really my absolute fav colour!) (for just about everything!).
Quilt measures 45" x 54".

 a little progress collage ...

*Leeanne was able to load both these little quilts onto the same backing & batting ...

I'm linking up today's post with my three favourite linky parties, see R) side bar.

Until next time, Linda

two little quilts get their bindings: pt 1

I started out this year making a few quilts from Jolene's @blueelephantstitches two books, a real treasure trove of scrap quilt ideas. I jumped right in, revisiting my scrap fabric baskets again & again. Once I'd pieced two super scrappy quilt tops together, I sent them off to Leeanne @quiltmekiwi and she quilted them beautifully for me. 

This week, I've set about getting both cuddle quilts bound & finished. 

Scrappy 16 patch & sawtooth star

This little one is a simple two-block combo, mixing up my scrappy 16 patches with 3 colour sawtooth stars, using ideas from Jolene's book.
Channeling my inner Jolene vibe, I chose simple straight lines for the quilting.
Backing fabric is a Heather Ross Strawberry print and my binding is Tula Pink's blue & white tent stripe. Quilt measures 40" x 48".

a little progress collage ...

Stay tuned - quilt #2 coming very soon!

I'm linking up today's post with my three favourite linky parties, see R) side bar.

Until next time, Linda

farm & folk sampler quilt

- party in the quilt back!

a few Farm & Folk Sampler quilt details:  

The #folksamplersewalong was hosted by sara buscaglia from farm and folk. Although we’ve all been making most of the same blocks most weeks, each one is so unique. So inspiring to see how everyone interprets the blocks in their own ways, through colour, pattern, texture and techniques. 

I think my sampler quilt - with its different weights of fabric, soft limited palette and a few solids tossed into the mix - captures that intersection of traditional quilting with a modern twist quite nicely.

I started out with a carefully curated selection of fabrics (a fabric bundle from @cottoneer back in 2018), I added in a mix of linens & cottons from my stash while still trying to keep my colour palette simple. My main background colour is cream, in assorted subtle shades.

I made extra sawtooth stars & one extra chain & bar block too - super fun revisiting the blocks and changing up different elements. And I think having some blocks that are similar in construction helps achieve some cohesion.

I used Ruby Star Society 'maze in goldenrod' for my sashing. Even though there's not really any gold in this, I love how it ties everything together subtly, with just enough contrast without being overpowering.

Ever conscious of that growing pile of quilt tops in the wardrobe, I decided to use a soft peachy log cabin quilt for my backing, #partyinthequiltback.  
I opted for E2E panto 'compass rose' quilting by Leeanne @ quiltmekiwi. It adds the perfect spark to the blocks, plus the texture is pleasantly soft. Pale thread blends well with all the colours.

My binding is a gold Alison Glass fabric - super happy with the unifying element this gold brings to both sides of the quilt. 

Quilt measures 53" x 67".  

*Gifted to Nona, our grandchildren's other granny, who is in need of a quilty hug just now. 

I'm linking up today's post with my three favourite linky parties, see R) side bar.

plan B

Things don't always run smoothly in the sewing room! 

Sometimes while making a quilt there comes a point where I begin to 2nd guess things, and this project was one of those times. I used Economy Stars Parade pattern by Rachel @stitchedincolor as my starting point and spent a bit of time trying to work out a nice (smaller) version. It seemed like a good plan, you know, simple piecing & quick to put together, until I came back to it the next morning. The white stars looked Too Much! 

Time for plan B. I still want some connection to the original pattern - a fun mix of scrappy square-in-a-square blocks with star blocks - so I'm trying a different layout now.  

 

This is all looking a bit more exciting now!

So, yes, it is going to be a bit bigger than I first thought and yes, it will take a bit longer to put together 

- but I’ll be much happier and that’s what it’s all about ... right?

I'm linking up today's post with my two favourite linky parties, see R) side bar.

who doesn't love economy blocks?

This square in a square/economy block WiP is one of my favourites at the moment. I think I’ve got it all covered - large prints, small prints, spots, stripes & a little black & white!

Economy Stars Parade pattern by Rachel @stitchedincolor is a unique twist on a classic! I'm using her pattern as my starting point, but as I don't want a really huge quilt, I'm faffing around with different settings.
I'm fixed on keeping some sort of secondary star pattern happening and where possible using a focus fabric for my center squares. 

Loving this blue & lavender combo.

Linda

diamonds in scrappy

Taking a little break from binding and began piecing my scrappy diamonds together today. Fabric is always a good starting point for me. I've been hoarding collecting Anna Maria's fabrics for some time, the colours are mainly rich & saturated, and the patterns are playful & pretty.

As many of you know by now, my default is colour. Love using large multi-coloured florals but sewing scrappy with prints like these can be off putting for some. I've used a mix of collections from both old and new AM fabrics. I've combined a selection of *neutrals from Anna Maria too, teamed up with the jewel tones, they create a nice cloudy softening. 

A *neutral/low volume fabric to me is a print/design on a white/light background but as you can see (wink wink) my version of low volume for this one is in fact quite colourful, and the boundaries occasionally merge just a little! 

Enjoy the photos ...

- possible binding option

It's a small cuddle quilt size.

I'm now at the batting, backing, basting & "quilt as desired" stage. 

Until next time, Linda