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

boardwalk bluebirds & binding

One last push to get this Boardwalk quilt finished. 

a few Boardwalk quilt details:

The challenge a scrappy quilt poses intrigues me constantly. Love this eclectic collection of colour, all prints (except the B & W Kaffe spot) from my scrap & stash baskets. These big 14 1/2" blocks were super fun to make, lots of favourite fabrics, bright colours, and memories. 

My backing is Bluebird in ivory by Heather Ross. Super happy with the contrast between the calm vibe of the back and the chaotic scrappy quilt front.

 

And the quilting? well, this quilt was the perfect example of why I sometimes send a quilt out for LAQ - I really really loved the idea of hand quilting it, but felt it would be like a slow-motion labour of love, one which I might or might not be happy with the end result? And would I EVER, in all reality, reach the end? Instead, I sent it out to Leeanne quiltmekiwi for an E2E quilting panto called coneflower. 

For the binding, I went with an early print by Denyse Schmitd, a two-colour plaid and I think the black lines on the plaid link up nicely with that B&W spot sashing. Oh, and it works well with the bluebird backing too!

My quilt measures 62" x 62".

Boardwalk pattern from Emma @treehouse textiles

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