Year In Review

A look back...

Since I had taken a quilting break through part of 2010-2011, I wasn't quite sure how to begin again. I still felt the need to stick with the materials I had on hand; and therefore, it was clear that I would need to figure out how to proceed.

Many people have already discovered how enjoyable SCRAPPY quilting was, and since that wasn't an area I had worked in, thought, why not try it!! Here is what transpired...

Click on the images or links below for more details on these projects: 

 Images--for my original blog entry   /   Links--for the designer's website/blogs



Storm at Sea

John Flynn's, "Storm at Sea" was such fun to create. I love it when any fabric choices made can still turn out a great look!!

Visit his website to see more color choices and the quilting lines used to create a perfect flow for that stormy sea.  Or check out the opportunity to attend a quilting seminar next summer, in Montana.

 

Fabric scraps taking over your life... then this scrappy method is just one medicine the quilt doctor would prescribe for you!!

 

 

String Quilting Primer

I really enjoyed this process... actually it is quite addicting, so be advised that this may affect you the same way!!!

Bonnie Hunter's, "String Quilting Primer" instructions are great to get you started. For more quilting fun, check out her books, free patterns, and her 10-day Bali adventure in 2012 on her website.

Here are two more inspiring sites to visit for this technique, a guild challenge and a video:  SelvageBlog, Quilty.

String-X Quilt!

Bonnie Hunter's, "String-X Quilt!" instructions are great to get you motivated to try more string quilting.

This design was fun, with the added challenge of setting my blue pieces into a uniform effect.  I still like a balanced look. Not yet ready to try going totally random.

  

Four Patch & Furrows

So many great free patterns on Quiltville, I had to chose a few more to try. This one used up more of those scraps.

This one challenged my color selection process, and in time, I dug up enough yardage to create the furrow section. It was a joy to make. Check out the instructions for "Four Patch & Furrows!

 

Scrappy Mountain Majestics!

This quilt was really fun!! This was my second favorite design from the scrappy quilts. 

Bonnie Hunter's, "Scrappy Mountain Majestics!" instructions are super easy. These start out with 8.5" blocks. There are several options to reveal different looks--like creating magic, it is!!

Crumb Chaos

I found Patti Chartrand's "Crumb Chaos" featured on the Quilting Gallery and it looked so delightful. However, this technique has my lowest votes, as it simply isn't for me.

If you have lots of tiny pieces and love this technique, the results can be truly awesome. 

Check out the tutorials for Bonnie's "Crumbs, Crumbs, Crumbs" and Patti's "Crumb Chaos" on their blogs: Quiltville, Patti's blog. 

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog!! More to come, next year!!

I wish you all a very bright future as the year "2012" dawns. May it bring peace and prosperity to all. Cheers!!

Four Patch Magic!

Here is my third scrappy quilt from quiltville.com.  It is called, "Four Patch and Furrows". I started with two inch strips in a variety of colors. From these strips the four patch blocks are made.

Strips--Four Patch

The second part is making the half-triangle blocks, and then arranging them to complete the quilt top.

Blocks--Half Triangles & Four Patch

I usually sew my blocks together in rows and continue until all the rows are attached. Here are three rows ready and waiting to be sewn together.

Four Patch and Furrows

This quilt top is really too large to display on the loveseat below, so I have it folded in half to show how colorful it turned out. Since I had cut lots of strips, I was able to bring them into the quilt in the border.

Quilt Top--closeup

It is always a fun project when one can use up old fabrics from the stash cabinet.  I have been enjoying this SCRAPPY quilt journey.

  

My Quilt Top

Four Patch & Furrows -- (approx. 63" x 75")

Please visit Bonnie's website or blog, for more details on this pattern. I have one more to share next time.

Hope you enjoyed this project. Until next time... cheers to you all!!

Strings with an X-Factor!

It's time to share my next SCRAPPY quilt design!! This one is also from quiltville.com. Originally, when I first looked at Bonnie's site, I picked out two of her free patterns to try. I had just enough of the thin, blue fabric to use for the foundation material.

 

Scrappy Strings

Once again, I began covering my foundation pieces with fabric strings (1.5" wide and less), until completely covered. After all the pieces were done, the ends were cut down to form a point.

Foundation Fabric Covered with Strings/Ends Cut to A Point

To see the overall effect and help me decide what fabric to choose for finishing the blocks, I laid them all on the floor (my design wall).

Pieces Laid Out As Per Design

I had several shades of blue in fat quarters, and cut out the required pieces. Only after they were cut out, did I work out the placement for the blue fabrics. I ended up with an overall balanced theme that I was happy with. The next step was to sew the blue triangles to the main pieces.

Sorry for the poor photo. I don't usually stop sewing just to wait until the next day, for daylight, for better photo ops.

X-design Construction

Here is a closeup, to show you a better view of the X-block.

Quilt Top--Closeup

One thing I had difficulty with was choosing the fabrics for the borders. When doing scrappy quilts, I think staying with the fabrics I have, should suffice. But, not always does that plan work out as one thinks.

Therefore, it took some time to work out what I would do. That was when I decided to add a strip of orange mock piping. And, much later, I added the white and orange borders.

Mock Piping and Borders

This project: 48 single blocks in total. Four blocks sewn together were trimmed to 14" square. Borders were cut at: white-2.5"; orange-3.5".



My Finished Quilt Top

String-X Quilt!  (approx. 50" x 63.5")

 

Thanks to Bonnie Hunter for inspiring me to try this scrappy technique for quilting!! I will be posting two more of her quilt designs, coming soon...

 

Please visit her website or blog, for more details on this pattern.

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this project. Until next time... cheers to you all!!