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.

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:

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….

6Dec2012

Gold and Grey

Posted in Finished Quilts, Quilts, Scrap quilts by wombatquilts

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.

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!

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.

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

30Nov2012

Misadventures in quilting….

Posted in Quilts by wombatquilts

It has been a few weeks since I last posted but I promise I have a good excuse. I hurt my shoulder about 6 weeks ago and have struggled to do simple things with limited use of my right hand. It really made quilting a slow and painful process. I desperately wanted to sew but could only stand short stints. So it took me a few weeks to finish the piecing and quilting on my latest creation.

My inspiration for this quilt was a fun floral fabric I had found at Joann’s and I built the quilt around the colours from that fabric, using mainly scraps from my collection. I made a collection of different square blocks, just doing what ever took my fancy.

Then for some reason I decided that it would be a good idea, with a sore neck and shoulder, to stipple quilt the finished quilt top. Madness I know. I have only stipple quilted twice before, and I believe both times I swore never to do it again. For those that do not know, stipple quilting is process of free hand quilting a random, rambling pattern onto the quilt like this…

So over the course of the last couple of nights I have battled with my machine and my disobedient arm, to finish the quilting. A couple of times I thought about unpicking it all but that just seemed crazy. As I look at the finished top I am not thrilled with it at all. If I could do it all again I would do something different but as my husband pointed out to me, some kid is going to get this quilt and love it.

So now I just have to do the binding and it will be ready for delivery to Project Linus. Hopefully it’s new owner will not see all the quilting mistakes I do.

8Nov2012

Wonky Star Addicted

Posted in Quilts, Scrap quilts by wombatquilts

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.

6Nov2012

Low Volume Part 2

Posted in Finished Quilts, Quilts, Scrap quilts by wombatquilts

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….