Apr-May-Jun Review

My 2010 Quilt Challenge continues to forge ahead... and I am already at the midway point. It has been an enjoyable journey so far, as I continue to check out those quilting books on my own bookshelf. Some of them have waited until now to be enjoyed. Take another look at the projects that I’ve blogged about over these last three months:

--Quilting Books on Review--

Several main goals still being maintained for this challenge are...
· EXPLORING the books in my own library,
· USING fabrics I already own,
· CREATING small projects to test out these new techniques.


APRIL 2010

Easy Does It for Autumn
Nancy Halvorsen

Halloween Candy Quilt

Book Project                            My Quilt

My sixth project was definitely fun to make and there are a few more projects in the book that I'd love to try. I usually change things that don’t fit my way of doing them. First off, I did not include any buttons, as they were specialty ones that I would have had to go buy. The only item I am allowing myself to purchase for this challenge is batting. And, secondly, I added a binding to the quilt when the pattern didn’t use that method; therefore not adding the hanging tabs, either. These types of quilts are my favourite as they are small, the machine appliqués are done with fusible web, and the quilting is easy to do on my own machine. My favourite choice for batting in these wall-hangings is fusible Pellon. This bright quilt will be certain to get attention with its beautiful autumn colors. If you prefer stitcheries, then you may like to make the smaller version in embroidery, as shown above. This project is: 9" x 24". Mine was very close at: 9 3/4" x 24 3/4".

New Collection of Classic Quilts
Lynette Jensen

High Country Pinwheels – Christmas

Book Project                                My Quilt

My seventh project went together quickly as it was all done by piecing the cut fabrics together. This method seems too plain for me, as I love embellishing with appliqué, buttons, and mock piping. However, the opportunity to use some of my Christmas fabrics, and see how fabric can create such an amazing result; were two factors in my choice. I also love the process of cutting up fabrics with my rotary tools, so it was still enjoyable. The projects in the book are mainly large quilts, so downsizing of the pieces was in order to get this one finished. Even though there are many beautiful quilts in this book, I think this is the only one I will try. This project is: 56" x 56". Mine was 32 1/4" x 32 1/4".

MAY 2010

The Bargello Quilt Book
Piecemakers

Mini-Bargello

Book Project                      My Project

My eighth project was inspired from all the colourful quilts shown in the book. So, did I follow the pattern? Yes and no! Firstly, the method is so simple... and fun. It is a must to follow the technique to achieve what is called “bargello”. However, the color palette is completely your own! I don’t know if I’ll make this exact pattern again. But I do know that trying a variety of “bargello styles” would be fun to explore. It was rather difficult to pick my colors, and when nothing suited the amount of print fabrics that I had on hand, I chose one print and the rest were plains. I hadn’t seen that color choice done before. And, then, I only picked seven colors instead of ten. I chose to do the ‘diagonal quilting’ over the ‘in-the-ditch quilting’. This quilting was actually quite fun... an opportunity for me to go out of my comfort zone. Although I still did breathe a sigh of relief when I got to the binding stage! I hung my quilt with the points going downward. The project shown is: 27" x 35". Mine was 29" x 25 3/4".

Four Seasons of Quilts

Cori Derksen and Myra Harder

Pumpkin Patch Baby Quilt

Book Project                        My Project

My ninth project began with enthusiasm; however, I just couldn’t get myself motivated to work on the freezer-paper templates and creating all that bias for the stems. Even with this background, you can see I have difficulty with random placement of color. So, I had to decide if I could push myself to doing it anyway or change the project to one I could complete. I went with the latter, and was very glad I did...

Holly and Berries Table Runner

Book Project            My Project

With a Christmas project already made in April, my first choice from the book was this autumn project. However, because this one wasn’t going to happen and I wanted to keep this book for May, this table runner was my second choice. Of course, I had to try my own method when doing the paper piecing portion. It worked out perfectly with the appliqué and my piece of holly and berries fabric. I had also planned on doing the stems in hand embroidery, but after spending so much time on my first attempt, I went with machine stitching, instead. Of course!

There are four fun mini projects (14” x 9”) that I’d go back for, but I still don’t know what I’ll do with my “Pumpkin Patch” appliqué-less quilt top. This completed project from the book is: 16" x 38". Mine was 15 3/4" x 34 1/2".

JUNE 2010

Turning Twenty... Again
Tricia Cribbs

9 Blocks – 3 x 3 setting

Book Project                        My Project

My tenth project was a perfect choice for using up some of those fat quarters that I have and aren’t particularly fond of as I like my fabrics to have two selvage edges. And fat quarters aren’t always so perfectly cut. I chose the smallest size because that is what I work with best. And, if you like to do everything will precision and order, then this technique is a sure thing to challenge you. When it says, “it makes no difference which side you choose”, it means exactly that. Of course, I am challenged when doing things randomly. So, if I ever make another one of these, I may just use my scrap fabrics, and choose my colors at random, to keep me from wanting to always match things up evenly! When quilting the layers together, I think all those seams and edges wanted to take a stretch because it wasn’t fun to quilt. I did, however, finally get it to work.

The project shown is done with the 12 blocks -3 x 4 setting. The finished size without borders would be 48 1/2” x 64 1/2 and with a 6 1/2” border would be 60 1/2” x 76 1/2”. Mine was the 9 blocks – 3 x 3 setting, and the pieces decreased by about one half to finish at 29" x 29".

Thanks for reading...

Enjoy your quilting adventure for... 2010!!

Next Week:
July begins my third quarter of quilting topics and book reviews. For more details of upcoming quilting techniques and more great books check out my website for even more inspirational ideas!!

Bargello Quilts

Book:
The Bargello Quilt Book/ by Piecemakers

Time to reveal my next project... I choose: "Mini-Bargello" on page 12.  

Book, Fabrics

There are other great Bargello books that vary in design and complexity and would be fun to try. However, my goal is to dig through my own library of books that I haven't used yet and explore those possibilities first before I buy or borrow more.

My other goal, is to use my own fabrics and therefore the fabric colors are either matched as closely as possible or it allows me to do something totally different.

And, then…  as I usually gravitate to the smallest projects first, I was delighted that they included a “mini” version, just for someone like me. 

FABRIC SELECTION:

There are two main tips and then the rest is up to you.

1.  Use either prints or solids or a combination of them. The main rule is to shade fabrics from light to dark.  

2.  Choose a few fabrics you love and continue to expand from them.

There were some fat quarter fabrics that I would have chosen but wasn’t sure if I’d have enough yardage for the mini version. So now, I’d say, yes! It just means you’ll cut more strips, but sewing them together still works fine. 

I couldn’t decide from the larger pieces that I had… so, when I finally decided upon one print fabric, I chose all solid colors for the rest. I also went with only seven fabrics, instead of the ten used in this pattern.

What I loved, was the little black and white sketch of a quilt on the first page. It only used six colors, but it was so cute. If I had a few more blacks and whites, I would have tried making it.

Now, even though I don’t think I’d make another Bargello quilt, one can never be too sure. There are more interesting variations available in other books, that just may need further exploration.

As always, buying new fabrics in all the correct yardages, with the help of the quilt shop staff makes the fabric selection go very smoothly. But here I am talking about using the fabrics you already own, and that means allowing new choices to be tried. Try shopping in your own fabric corner for great color choices!!

THE PROCESS

After the fabric colors have been cut into strips, they are sewn together. Then from this, they are cut into the widths required, as shown below. I used a white label to mark the sizes as some of them really look similar when the process is ongoing.

 

Fabric Strips Marked by Size

A Pile of Strips

Sewing the Strips Together

Quilt Top Complete

Quilting the Layers

The Quilt Binding

Just remember, if you feel good about it, then enjoy the process as it unfolds. Who really knows… maybe you’ll come up with a unique design of your own, that others will enjoy making, too!!

My Bargello Quilt

Finished Size: 29” x 25 3/4”

Next week...

My next book choice and then a reveal the following week. If you wish to see what books are being featured you can also check out my website for more details.

Happy stitching!!