mistake

A new quilt has begun.

Yes, I went with the scrap quilt from my last post. I kept returning to it again and again. 

As usual, I'll be modifying the layout a wee bit. The Cat's Cradle blocks were made using the Creative Grid ruler. It makes two blocks with very little waste. I'm determined to use some of every fabric from my collection* of random fat quarters. 

I'll be substituting those tiny triangles. Too fiddly and my first effort to make one *by eye* looks like this.

Yes, well. Let's see. Probably should have measured it up first. Never mind, I think I'll use it for the label.

The Cat's Cradle ruler lets you make a number of different sized blocks - the smallest 1 3/4 inches finished!

Hope you found time to sew a little.

*Collection - don't you like the way we quilters call our stash that. Gives it some credibility and gravitas.

indecision

I'm having trouble deciding what to do next.

Start a new quilt with fabric from the stash using this lovely layer cake or  . . .

Make the scrap quilt that caught my eye  and use the stash of random fat quarters I've collected or . . . 

Start quilting that pile of finished tops that are waiting for some attention or . . . 

Make a cup of tea while I think about it. It's important not to rush these decisions.

revival

G'Day!

You might remember me from previous blog posts although it was some time ago.

Not much to show for the last four months, I'm afraid but yesterday the sewing bug bit and I went back to working on my pretty floral quilt.

Just two more sides to add and I'll have a finished top. Maybe. I still might add another border that can be trimmed to straighten up the quilt after quilting.

I also folded all the leftover pieces which constitutes tidying up - which qualifies as housework*. 

*that's my story and I'm sticking to it

offcuts

I am determined to use as much of the fabric as I can, including the offcuts from the star blocks.

These blocks and others I've made will be used in the border. We had a long weekend so I had plenty of sewing time. Let's not discuss the housework that may or may not have been done.

I know this fabric style isn't fashionable anymore but I'm lovin' it! Hope you managed to squeeze some sewing or crafting into your weekend.

chilly

They are not called The Snowy Mountains for nothing

The ski season here in Australia started early when 40-50cm of snow fell on the mountains this week. I live a long, long way away from this winter wonderland but the cold winds blow all the way to Sydney.

Which means I get to wear my coats and scarves and gloves! For the morning at least.

After a couple of hectic weeks, I managed to organise some time in the sewing room which needed a serious tidy before any real stitching could begin.

When I resized the original Miss Rosie pattern, I miscalculated a wee bit and soon began to realise that the original 36in quilt was going to be around 100 and something inches. Yikes!

So I've split the project into two quilts. I even have a name chosen for this one. Not tellin' yet.

twenty-five

I think there is enough fabric here to make twenty-five quilts but for now I'm just making one.

There are a couple of fabric lines here - Sachet Potpourri by Faye Burgos for Marcus Fabrics (2009), some Lecien and random fat quarters.

I am loosely following a discontinued Miss Rosie Schnibbles pattern which I have resized. Schnibbles are about 32-36 inches I think.

I wasn't going to make floating stars at first but I'm glad I changed my mind.

I have been looking at blogs where the quilt maker is using pieced backs - with lots of pieces and I know some of my APQ blogging buddies do this too. I think I'll be doing that here just so I can use all this fabric.

stalled

Since my previous post, work on this project stalled but at long last (five years later?) this top is finished.

Phew!

The two blue borders are machined pieced but the rest of the top is hand pieced using the English Paper Piecing method.

The quilt top meaures 64 inches square.  As for quilting, that will have to wait. My favourite long arm quilter has retired (much deserved) and the number of loose threads on this thing is diabolical. Looks like I'll be quilting this one myself. 

The red fabric (by Robyn Pandolph) while beautiful frays like crazy. 

The quilt is my own design inspired by a quilt I saw in an APQ article about Make Do and Mend quilts.

I'm calling this quilt Federation Stars as it reflects the colours and design elements of the Australian flag and the star-filled night skies and red dust of the Australian outback.

The flag's original design (with a six-pointed Commonwealth Star) was chosen in 1901 from entries in a competition held following Federation, and was first flown in Melbourne on 3 September 1901, the date proclaimed as Australian National Flag Day.

I love it. It's a strong coloured quilt but ever since I made Patriotic Paisely for my brother, I've wanted to make another red, white and blue quilt.

Patriotic Paisley - from a pattern in an APQ Quilt Sampler with fabrics from a Minick & Simpson range

I also realised that I hadn't show you this finished quilt top.

Sorry about that.

This quilt is made from the offcuts of this quilt.

Abundant Baskets - a Kim Brackett design in Simple Abundance fabric by Bonnie & Camille

Well, while I search for a new long arm quilter, I can start on a new quilt from whatever fabric I pull out of the cupboard first.

Happy stitching!

turned

the corner . . . 

Three sides finshed and one to go. There was a time not so long ago when I fell out of love with this project.

The romance is back on.

Soon there will be borders. The suspense is too much!

degrees

. . . and lots of them.

Have I mentioned that I'm not a fan of summer?

To distract me from this I'm still working on the EPP quilt. This is the other side of the quilt and it will need trimming before I add the first border.

In other news, I've found my next scrap quilt.

My blogging friend Kelli H gave me a Cat's Cradle ruler a couple of years ago and I can use it to make some of the blocks needed for this quilt. Mine will be a square version.

Other UFOs  to finish first though.

sides

Sides make the meal. I quite like a good salad and French fries. Sides make a rag tag bunch of blocks start to look like a quilt.

At long last this project is showing some real progress. I borrowed this idea from crazymomquilts as most other versions involved cutting the blocks. After five years stitching these together there was no way I was cutting into them.  Needs a good press and a bit of a trim.

Meanwhile, on the other side. . . . 

Yikes - what a mess!

balance

Happy New Year!

As a rule, I steer clear of new year resolutions but I would like to achieve more balance in my life for 2019.

2018 was rather challenging on so many fronts and left me exhausted - mentally and physically. So, time to hit the rest button and look forward rather than backwards.

The break over Christmas has meant reading time (about the Bronte sisters), some family history research and sewing.

My EPP project is receiving some much needed attention. I'd like this quilt to cross the 2019 finish line.

My completed quilt tops from 2017 and last year didn't make it to the longarmer in time due to some indecision on my part with regards to background fabric.

This baby quilt needs quilting

and this quilt needs some work.

Lots to keep me occupied and off the streets (but not out of the fabric shops!).