Granny Square Quilt…. wip Wednesday

Posted in Scrap quilts, WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

A little while ago I discovered the wonderful Granny Square quilt on Blue Elephants site. It was love at first sight. Using the tutorial on the site (they now has two different ways to make this quilt up) I started making my own Granny squares for one of my friends who has been waiting patiently for a quilt from me for year. I cut lots of 3 inch squares, played with the colour combinations and started making blocks..

I have made about 17 blocks so far and I have either 3 or 13 more blocks to go. I have not decided how big I want the quilt to be. Whatever the size of the finished quilt, I know I will have to get it basted somewhere other than my house. My quilts are usually for kids and are usually not much bigger than 60 inches wide. I do not have the floor space to baste anything bigger really. Luckily I have a quilting partner in crime who has more floor space at her place (heads up Lisa).

Anyway working on these blocks this week it made me think about using some of the spare 5 inch squares I had lying around to make a BIG version of this quilt. So yesterday I threw together this quick and simple quilt top for Project Linus.

The quilt top is currently 47 x 47 inches, just the right size for a little kid. I think there will be more of these in my future, it was just way to easy to make.

Now back to the smaller blocks… I keep missing my deadline to have this quilt finished. I am now promising delivery by August… just in time for a birthday, hopefully.

25Feb2013

Paper Piecing Monday

Posted in Paper Piecing Monday by wombatquilts

Well it is Monday….again, which means another block to add to my paper piecing star quilt. This week I opened Carol Doak’s 50 Fabulous Paper Pieced Stars and decided to make the first star I came across (actually the first star in the book), the Alabama Star.

I loved the boldness and simplicity of this star. I used scraps except for the dark inner star – I wanted that to be the same fabric for some reason! This really was an easy pattern using just 56 pieces.

Now there are only 7 more blocks to go before I call it quits on the red/aqua quilt…. not that I am counting!

22Feb2013

Dear Miss Banana

Posted in Finished Quilts, Quilts, Scrap quilts by wombatquilts

Dear Miss Banana,

I have just finished your quilt. I hope you like it.

I used bright pinks and yellows to make the blocks. I had fun picking out the fabrics, using lots of different bits and pieces to make it fun for you. There are some fabulous dogs, as you requested.

And some of my favorites including some cute Mariska dolls.

I did some simple quilting, which should make the quilt pretty when it is washed and will make it durable, so it should last as long as you need it. Any repairs over the years either me or your mum can help. Just in case, your mum can find the pattern for the quilt blocks here.

For the back of your quilt I used more of the doggy fabric you loved along with some fun yellows.

Then to finish the quilt I found this really great fabric that is different shades of pink so I made the binding out of it. I think it makes the quilt look really cool.

So I hope your like your new quilt. I put a lot of work and love into it and I hope it keeps you warm and comforted over the years to come.

Love

Auntie Cath

ps. I now have to find a way to get it to you in Australia. I am hoping there is some room left in good Uncle Nick’s suitcase, but it may have to be posted to you. There is no room left in my suitcase – it is full of presents and Lego!

21Feb2013

2013 Pantone Quilt Challenge

Posted in Quilts by wombatquilts

I have just entered my Grey & Green quilt into the 2013 Pantone Quilt Challenge. This is a first for me.

For the contest the quilt had to be started in 2013 to be eligible; the green fabric should be bright and as emerald as possible; and the quilt can be a mini, a full quilt or just the top. If you want more information you can find it here

I am excited to see what other quilters come up with. I do not use green that much as I find it hard to work with as the main focus colour, but this year I have challenged myself to try and use it more.

20Feb2013

The joys of paper piecing – wip Wednesday

Posted in Scrap quilts, WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

This week I have been working away on a couple more quilts, all of them paper pieced, and it got me thinking about the pros and cons of using a paper foundation pattern for your blocks.

Lets start with the new block I started this week.

I loved this colour combination and I wanted to make a high contrast block where the pattern would be crisp and clean. It looks so easy but I must admit I managed to commit several of the paper piecing deadly sins. According to quiltbug.com they are:

• Placing the fabric wrong side up
• Not following the design – putting the fabric in the wrong place. Sometimes this is caused by not realizing you are working on a mirror image block.
• Placing the fabric the wrong way so it doesn’t fit the block when you flip it over
• sewing on the wrong line
• cutting the fabric piece instead of the seam allowance
• cutting the paper pattern
• catching one fabric piece in the seam allowance of another.

Yep yesterday I managed to do most of them…. I am blaming tiredness. It is simple to commit these faux pas, and with the detailed Monday paper piecing patterns I post, it is more than likely I will have to unpick at least 6 or 7 times while making the block. Ah the fun.

Then there is the joy that is bits of paper floating around your house. My floor is currently scattered with little bits of paper that have evaded the vacuum cleaner after preparing my purple and aqua quilt for basting.

The advantages for paper piecing for me are:

1. I do not have to accurately cut into my scraps – I can just pull the little bits and pieces, iron them and then use them where they fit.

2. It helps me with my inability to be precise. I can, and have accurately measured, cut and pieced quilts but I get frustrated easily when things do not line up. This is also the reason that I love “wonky” and “modern” as quilting styles!

3. It allows me to make detailed, accurate blocks that I could not make freehand – in particular my star sampler could not be done without paper patterns. I do not have the skill to make these patterns without help!

In the end I think extra steps of paper piecing (like ripping the paper pattern off) and the little hiccups (aka the deadly sins) are worth it for most of the quilts I make. When I started quilting I was overwhelmed by it all and a paper pattern helped me step into the process without freaking out too much. I am so glad I had that gentle introduction to the process, because now I am confident enough to just go with what ever I want.

I may even, one day, be confident enough to attempt curves!