Clearing the backlog…

Posted in Finished Quilts by wombatquilts

I have been working hard this week to start clearing the backlog of quilt tops I have floating around my work space. What is spurring me on is the fact that I have not donated quilts to Project Linus for a couple of months now and am feeling a little bad about it.

So I spent yesterday day basting some tops up and managed in amongst it all to get my 1001 Peeps top finally finished. I first blogged about this quilt months ago (you can find the link here). So without further ado here is finally a compete finish.

I love the 1001 Peeps range by Lizzy House, actually I love everything Lizzy House does. She is one of my favorite fabric designers and you will see her Pearl Bracelet range in just about everything I do.

This square in square pattern is so easy and just perfect for fussy cutting.

I backed the quilt using scrap bits of the fabric I had left over from making the front and a splash of solids.

Finally I bound and labeled the quilt so it is now ready for delivery to the Project Linus meeting this month.

I am hoping to get at least another two tops finished this week. Wish me luck.

29Jul2013

The fabulous Penny Lane – Paper Piecing Monday

Posted in Paper Piecing Monday by wombatquilts

When I saw the name of today’s block I could not help but smile. I know the block is named after the Beatles song, but Penny Lane reminds me so much of Kate Hudson’s character in “Almost Famous”, one of my favorite films. I think it is a fitting block for both the song and the character…

This 72 piece beauty is another fabulous block for the amazing Julie at 627handworks. You can find the free paper piecing pattern here. Her version of this pattern is darling and very different from mine.

This block was not without a hiccup or two. First there was the “not concentrating on what I am doing mistake” which resulted in this misformed section and lots of unpicking.

Then I managed to break a needle trying to go through the center bulk. I had forgotten to remove the paper bits from the middle section to make it easier to sew through. Whoops.

Despite all this I love how this block came out. It is going to fit beautifully with the other blocks. I may end up replacing my last green block which is also scrappy but which is too messy for me… if you are curious you can find it here.

26Jul2013

Getting back in the swing…

Posted in Finished Quilts, Scrap quilts by wombatquilts

After a month or so of being off my game I am pleased to say I have FINALLY finished a quilt top. Pausing for applause. I can not believe that the last time I posted a finished quilt/quilt top was the end of May.

So without further ado… here she is.

Yep I finished my Blush log cabin quilt top. I first posted about this block a couple of weeks ago… here. I wanted to make a quilt that used peach/apricot fabric, having seen a post on a Modern quilt site about how you should NOT use apricot in modern quilts. I really do love hearing that you should NOT do something, it just makes me want to do whatever I am not meant to do. (This feeling may possibly be the result of having an Army Colonel for a father).

My response was to find a way to make the colour work. I pulled this stash of fabric and started playing.

After a false start or two I got it to work… with this block.

Which turned into this…

Scrappy modern fabulous fun. And I think the peach/apricot fabric works perfectly. It is not at all dated or dowdy.

The fabulous array of pink and purple scraps help. What are your thoughts on the often maligned apricot/peach? Have your used it in your modern quilts?

24Jul2013

Dresden Plate challenge – wip Wednesday

Posted in WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

This week I decided to challenge myself, and try to make a block I had never done before – the Dresden Plate. I was so inspired by Susan at The Bored Zombie’s Dresden plate quilt, that I had to give it a go. So I bought a Dresden plate template (I went with EZ Quiltings) and pulled some fabric.

I decided to raid my stash of 1930’s fabric which has been sitting under my bed, untouched, for years. There is something about the Dresden pattern that just called out to be made in vintage style fabrics. I was actually shocked at how much of this fabric I had accumulated over the years – what is shown above is about 1/15th of my stash. I went through a period many year ago of making baby quilts out of this fun fabric ( I was partial to the Aunt Grace and Storybook lines).

With the fabric cut, I found the rest of the process really easy. I sewed the top of the cut pieces together using chain stitching.

Snipped the corner, turned it inside out and I was ready to go. I was so surprised how quickly I could get the pieces and block done. I thought it would take me hours to finish a block but it was really quick.

Then came the hard part. Having finished most of the block pieces I realized I wanted to make the block feel a little more modern. I started playing with what to back the block with and here are my top choices…

1. Hatched block back

2. Scrappy white back

3. Red & white dot back

4. Black & white dot back

5. Navy blue back

6. Grey linen print back

7. Red solid back

HELP! I can make a case for each of these fabrics and I am feeling a little overwhelmed. Please let me know which back you like best.

All selections, suggestions, advice, feedback, comments and support gratefully accepted.

22Jul2013

Paper Piecing Monday fussy cut edition

Posted in Paper Piecing Monday by wombatquilts

Today’s paper piecing Monday is a little detour from the regularly scheduled sampler quilt. Over the weekend Amanda at What the Bobbin? started a fussy square block swap and I was so excited I started making blocks almost immediately. There is swap joining details and a downloadable pattern on her site.

The idea of pulling out some of my fun novelty fabrics, fussy cutting them and making them into 4 inch blocks was too much fun…. here is what I have done so far.

I have so many great novelty scraps I can see myself getting quite carried away. But for now I am going to finish making my 12 blocks, then move onto finishing up some of the quilt tops I have laying in pieces around my work space. I want to have a finish for Friday.

Have a great week.