Colours of this week are purple & aqua!

Posted in Finished Quilts, Project Linus, Quilt patterns, Quilts, Scrap quilts by wombatquilts

This week has been a weird week. I have not got as much done as I would have liked, as our family is preparing to run away to Australia for a couple of weeks. In between the packing and the last-minute shopping I did managed to get this quilt finished.

This quilt is made up of 16 of these 12 inch blocks.

I used a really easy pinwheel paper piecing pattern and lots and lots of scraps of fabric. There are a number of simpler versions of this block on the web but I love the extra punch of the added pinwheel. The pattern and dimensions I used are:

Eight of these pieces make up one of the finished blocks. If I was to do the quilt again I would probably stick with more strongly contrasting fabrics – the blocks that have the dark purple against the aqua are so much more punchy I think . The contrast makes the pinwheel pattern really pop.

I am still doing just straight quilting…. maybe when I return from vacation I will be sufficiently relaxed to forget the stippling nightmare. I have to be braver with my quilting. The backing is a selection of different fabrics I had in my stash. Nothing too exciting but I like how it looks, particularly the Erin McMorris “Somersault” fabric.

I finished it all up with a scrappy purple binding. I do love scrappy binding – bits of solids, bits of prints, different shades, different patterns. The scrappy does not work with all quilts but it seemed to be just right for this one.

Now it is back to packing and cleaning…..

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!

15Feb2013

Green & Grey finished

Posted in Finished Quilts, Quilts, Scrap quilts by wombatquilts

I finally finished the binding on my green and grey quilt yesterday.

The quilt did not quite turn out like I envisioned it but I am pleased with the results none the less. When I started making the blocks I thought there might be more stronger contrast between the grey and green so you could clearly see the pattern of the star, but alas it was not meant to be. Instead I think I have a quilt that you have to search harder to find the repeating pattern, making the whole thing more interesting. The finished quilt is 48 inches by 48 inches, just the right size for a kids quilt if you ask me!

If you are interested in the start of the process for me, and links to the pattern you can find my older post here.

At the end of the process I had an extra block (my maths is not what it used to be) so I decided to use it on the back.

I played with a couple of different bindings (scrappy, grey and green) and settled on using a Kona solid I had in my stash. I continue to be amazed at how something as simple as a binding choice can radically change how your finished quilt looks. The solid bright green just gave the quilt an extra pop.

It would be interesting to hear what you think of the finished quilt. Does it work for you or is it too muddy? I really value the opinion of my fellow quilters/artists out there.

13Feb2013

Wonky Stars – wip Wednesday

Posted in Finished Quilts, Project Linus, Scrap quilts, WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

Today’s work in progress is all about the wonky stars. When the call went out last week for more quilts to replenish the Project Linus stocks, I turned to the old faithful wonky star. It is a fast, fun way to make simple kids quilts.

I have managed to finish one quilt….

I love how the quilt turned out and in particular the scrappy nature of it. I used different white and cream blocks for the background and blues for the star. I know it should, in theory, be the other way round – blue background with white stars, but I had a stack of white/cream scraps I wanted to use up. The quilting is simple as I want to get as many of these done as I can before next weeks monthly Project Linus meeting.

The quick and easy nature of the wonky star is why I choose to focus on them for this drive. I have managed to get another top done this weekend which I will try and get quilted this week. I “borrowed” the idea from another quilter I came across on the “wip Wednesday” hop. They had used a wonderful Eric Carlyle print as the center of their wonky star to great effect. I went with a Jone Hallmark kids print that had been sitting in my stash for a while.

My final wonky star is currently sitting on my design floor waiting to be sewn. It is the left over star bits from a quilt I finished a couple of weeks ago.

I hope to have it sewn and ready for quilting by the end of tonight, so I am going to stop blogging and go sew!

8Feb2013

Postage Stamp quilt finished

Posted in Finished Quilts, Quilts, Scrap quilts by wombatquilts

I finally finished the postage stamp quilt…

In the end I think it was worth the madness…. though I did not make the quilt as big as I originally planned. I love the brightness and variety in this quilt. Some kid is hopefully going to love exploring all the different fabric. If you are interested in my process and a pattern link you can check out my previous post here.

Because the quilt was so busy I went with simple straight line quilting and a backing of just one fabric piece.

I am busily trying to get some more of my quilts finished, as our chapter of Project Linus has had a huge call on blankets in the last week. A local school, Crestline Elementary in Vancouver WA, burned to the ground and Project Linus is delivering 500 blankets/quilts to the kids this week. The kids affected are aged between 5 to 10 years old so the call is out to replenish our kids blanket/quilt stocks. The sewing machine will be going full pelt this weekend.

Happy quilting.