My Churn Dash

I have been wanting to make a Churn Dash ever since I first saw one on-line. I don't know why it took me so long, maybe because I am always trying to find new quilt patterns and always changing my mind on my fabric choices.


But I came to the conclusion my next quilt was to be a Churn Dash, but then it was what fabric do I use. I had two dessert rolls to choose from and I kept going back and forth on what one to use. Then I finally decided what roll to use I wasn't sure if I really wanted to cut it for a Churn Dash... Arrgghh the indecision!!

I was worried it would be just a bit much red and a bit full on. But as per usual, once it is all together I loved it. I loved the boldness of the colours together.

I was rather chuffed of how well my points came together. I absolutely want to make this quilt again. I have another design roll, but I might hold off for now. Get a couple  of other patterns before I revisit this one.

I have given this one away to a friend who just needed a little pick me up. But first this kids had to have a test run, just to make sure it was perfect for watching tv and relaxing.

I finished the back with flannel chevron in black and white, I thought it complemented it perfectly.

Tx

Cross Quilt

For a last wee while I have been searching for the right fabric to make a cross quilt. I have loads pinned and a couple of times I have thought I had found the right fabric only to change my mind.


Originally when cut this fabric into 5 inch squares I had another quilt planned for it. But I didn't quite have the right amount, I needed a solid to go with it and I am trying, as always, to only use what I have at the moment. I went back to my pins and my scribbled down quilting notes and remembered this one and thought I would see if I had enough.



I have enough... Depending on who it ends up being for. It makes a great large baby quilt, but with a border it will make a great couch quilt. I just have to assess who it is for. I have a baby shower coming up, sex unknown, and I have a friend having an operation. Both worthy recipients.  I don't know if it would work for a baby boy, it is lots of blue and green so I guess it could. The colour way is slightly more adult.... I just don't know.



The fabric is Botanica by Free Spirit.



And just to finish, a wee photo of Venus and Jupiter.

Tx

Simple Retro-Retro

I really like to search the net for new quilting books and I came across Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley. It looks like the book has been out for about a year which makes sense as thats about the time I had been busy with my photography course. 

Of course then I googled finished quilts from her book and came across a great amount of inspiration on Flikr and blogs. This did mean that I had to make my own quilt and i made the Retro quilt.

I decided to make it from scraps with some grey. The pattern used two fabrics and then one contrast. To replicate this I used the grey and then one block of hot pink. 

I do like a good scrappy quilt, they end up a bit like a memory quilt. I look at all the different fabrics and reminisce about what I made, what age the kids were, what was happening in our lives at that time. 

The blocks did take a little bit of time to put together, but once I got a wee system going and had a few good hours to commit to it it felt like to time at all and it was all done.

I used so many different fabrics. Each fabric was use only twice, once in corners and once in the diagonal squares.

Here it is. I think I will give this to one of the friends who are pending new babies. 

Its school holidays next week, I am thinking on using that time to back and quilt some of the tops I have on the growing pile. I want to get them off in the post to their intended friends. I think thats a good aim, I only have four to completely finish so thats not an unachievable task.

Tx 

Black, white and Pink

I have been wanting to make a quilt of black and white for a long time. But I have never known what to do as the colour. I have seen a number with red and a few more with blue, which I have loved.

I brought a number of years ago a fat quarter pack with black and white and pink. I was never convinced this was what I was going to do, so it sat there and sat there  and sat there until I brought a plain just black and white jelly roll. Well, what do you know, the pink looked amazing! I figure I need a new quilt for me, but after making it I realised this one would be going to a new home. A friend just turned 40 and I thought this would be perfect for her. She is a bit of a hidden girlie fan. She rides horses, in the army but every now and then will wear a glam frock and brush her hair. This quilt made me think of her, pretty serious with a splash of colour.












I say that I am trying to use up my older stash, but I just keep buying more to replace what I have. I really don't have a lot of pre-cuts. I do usually buy what I need, but I have three large bins of clothing off cuts which I am trying to make a dent in. I have already cut my next quilt top out and it hardly made a dent. Every now and then I will make a donated quilt and use my off cuts and that wont make a dent either. I have two choices really, make more scrappy quilts or donate more quilts. Both come back to "Make more quilts". And I am fine with that!! Greta's day-care hasn't received a quilt from me so I can do one for them. Although they could have the one I have made and haven't backed, it's folded up on my shelf. So many quilts!


Tx

Baby Gift

This present is a little late, but better late than never. The baby this quilt is off to was born in December, but a quilt isn't really a super new born gift anyway ;)

I was so busy finishing my course and doing so much else that I just didn't have enough time which is terrible.

I have had these fabrics for years, like truly years. I have been trying to use up my stash, and have made a good dent. Which means I did go out and buy a little (massive) amount of fabric this afternoon, but thats a secret.

I really didn't know what I was going to do with it, so I started cutting 5 inch squares thinking I would just do a square quilt like my Little Kukla.

But I changed my mind and wanted to do something different, I make a lot of square patchwork quilts  and whilst I do find them rewarding still, but this time, chevrons. I think they are still in fashion, I don't know, I still like them.

This is "Wishing Well" by the designer Jenean Morrison and in a fan star moment, I posted the quilt on Instagram and she liked it!!!! Said she loved it!!!!!!

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tx

Little Kukla Quilt

We have new neighbours, they built on the section in front of us and they not only have a new house but have a new baby girl too. I though what could be more welcoming than a cake and a quilt. I spent the afternoon and following morning putting together the gift. I made a simple 5 inch squared quilt from the Little Kukla range. It came in a fat quarter pack so there were some complementing fabrics from other fabric ranges. It is really bright, very bright, I thought it would look a bit, well not as bright, but it is still nice and I hope they liked it.

I love the little dolls, I do think it needed a little less green or yellow and a little more of the purple or maybe even blue. Anyway here it is.

Tx

Pinny by Make it Perfect

I had a spare couple of hours and I thought I would make a dress for Greta. She picked the fabrics, I wasn't so confident on the colours. But I must admit I am rather pleased of how well it looks. Greta says she will wear it tomorrow but I am not so sure.

I used a pattern from Make it Perfect, Pinny, and it goes together so quickly and easily. I did do it a little different than the instructions. They explain to cut to pieces and sew together but the length was the width of fabric so I just did that instead and had a seam up the back.

The fabrics I used are call Secret Garden by Free Spirit. They are lovely shades of autumn colours. Not really little girlie but I think they come together so nicely that if she wears it, it is still a fantastic lovely girl dress.

When I was sewing it together, from the above photo you can see I had the top of the dress a messy stripes sort of fabric. When I sewed it together I some how got it in the wrong way and ended up with the lining on the outside, which was fine as it was just one of the bands. AND I really didn't like the stripe so I am rather pleased I messed it up. And looking at it now, I put the bands in a different order too.

I am pretty pleased with it, I really hope she wears it. She still hasn't even tried on her Frozen skirt and with how much she loves Frozen I just don't understand it!!!

Tx