Low Volume Log Cabin

I have finally finished the top for my low volume log cabin quilt.  I was inspired to make this quilt after finishing my first ever low volume quilt (see my previous low volume posts).  I had squares and scraps left over that just screamed to be made into log cabin blocks.

quilt top

I like the idea of the structured pattern of a log cabin with the random low volume scraps.  All my other log cabins blocks have had a uniformed repeating colour pattern so when they are placed they form an overall quilt patterns.  For example:

cropped-cover.jpg

The blocks in this quilt make for a scrappy quilt with no over all pattern.  I find myself looking at the fabric and not at the block pattern.  I tried to use lots of different fabrics – geometrics, stripes, dots and lots of novelties.  Hopefully some kid will appreciate looking at all the fun bits and pieces to be found within the quilt.  Now onto quilting….

block detail

Gold and Grey

I have just finished my gold and grey quilt which I started a couple of weeks ago.  My arm is still playing up so my quilting has slowed to a snails pace.  I was inspired to do this quilt mainly because I had a stack of yellow and orange scraps left over from another project…. and I love this colour combination.

final full quilt

The block I decided to use is a wonky square. I have done this quilt layout before with a normal block and love how it feels almost woven.  I do think the next time I will reverse the colours – a  darker colour/fabric needs to be used  as the predominant fabric.  I f I had replaced the grey with a white fabric the woven pattern would be clearer.  I now know for next time!

quilt details

I originally started making this quilt with scrappy gold fabric and a solid grey fabric.  As i played with the blocks on my design floor I realized that the solid grey was too dominant.  My husband took one look at it and suggested using scrappy grey instead.  In a quilting first for us, he was right!  I did keep three of the original solid blocks in the quilt, but they are tempered by the lighter grey fabrics.

block detail

To finish the quilt I made a back using some of the scraps of gold and yellow fabric I had in my stash and then quilted it using straight lines. After last weeks stippling misadventure it is straight line quilting for me for the next couple of quilts I think.

Detail of the back of the quilt

Detail of the back of the quilt

Wonky Star Addicted

I have become addicted to making wonky star quilts.  I find them easy and fun, and it is a great pattern when I have to make quilts in a hurry.  I have made at least 10 of these quilts so far, all of them different in some way.

I have just started another one.  I was inspired to make the quilt by a charm pack of 5 inch squares of Pat Bravo’s colorful Oval Elements fabric (www.liveartgalleryfabrics.com/oval.html) and Elizabeth Hartman’s Sparkle Punch pattern as the inspiration for the star layout (www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2012/01/sparkle-punch-quilt-along.html).
Like most of my star quilts, it is completely scrappy.  I raided my scrap bins  for brights to compliment my selected Oval Elements squares, as well as tone on tone whites.  I am hoping to have the top finished this week some time… but here is a sneak peek.

Low Volume Part 2

My first low volume quilt is now finished.  I started this quilt a couple of weeks ago and blogged about my struggle working without bright colours here.

I opted for a simple straight line quilting, it was all that seemed to be needed for this quiet quilt.

I backed the quilt with a wonderful Alexander Henry fabric I had in my stash. I must admit I back a lot of my quilts with either Alexander Henry or Michael Miller or IKEA fabrics.

I love how the quilt ended up.  I was not sure at first but it grew on me as it came together.  I was so pleased I have started a new low volume quilt – this time using a log cabin pattern. There was something fun about using such a structured pattern in an unstructured way.  Here are some of the blocks I have done so far….

Scrappy four patch

I have just finished this quilt…..

It did not turn out quite like I wanted, but it was a fun using a new pattern to make the blocks.  The center piece of the quilt was made using a quick four block pattern that was demonstrated to us at Project Linus.  I have attached a version of the pattern here.

As I was finishing the quilt it was fun to see how the colour border size and shape affected the look of hte quilt.  I ended up trimming the quilt a couple of times to get a balance I was happy with.