Good morning ladies!
Diana, Wil, Janine and I got together last night to discuss ideas for our Featherweight Friends Bee.
After browsing through some books, and checking out the new Quiltmania, we came up with an idea!
Not everyone has had the chance to make a complete project with their Featherweight, so Diana thought that we should start with something simple in order to get used to one's "little black beastie" (as Wil likes to call them). Giving us something to do during the gatherings should also keep our fingers too busy to grab munchies....lol!
Since we're working with vintage sewing machines, why not make a true vintage quilt in the "make-do" spirit? A sort of ugly quilt? Janine started pulling out the "ugliest" fabrics and although I got excited, Diana had her doubts.....
From the photo I worked out a pattern which, should you decide to take on this challenge, can be altered to suit your needs, and here is the game plan:
Quilt size: 185 cm x 195 cm
Fabrics: lots of scraps, varying prints, from bold prints, to shirting fabrics. Here, contrast is important.
Nine patch block: 21 cm finished size. There are 13 nine-patch blocks.
Alternate blocks: 21 cm finished size. There are 12 alternate blocks.
Border blocks: 15 cm finished size. There are 42 border blocks.
Quilt Border: 40 cm finished size. There are 2 borders.
If you'd like to prepare and bring pre-cut fabric to the next gathering, then:
1. Cut for each nine patch block:
Five "dark" 8 cm squares, and four "light" 8 cm squares.
2. For Alternate blocks:
Cut twelve blocks 22 cm square.
3. For Border blocks:
Cut 42 blocks, 16 cm square.
For the quilt border you will need: approximately 2 meters fabric.
That's it for now. Again, if you'd rather work on your own projects that's absolutely fine!
The challenge is to try to use fabrics you would normally not use, fabrics that don't really match, and colors and patters you would say "yuck"! to. The object is to re-create that " this-is-what-I-had, so-this-is-what-I-used" feel. Good fun, no?
I'm curious to hear what you think!
piecefully,
Heidi
Note: Our first gathering will take place on Thursday, 7th of October. On the right side you'll see an events calendar that will tell you the next date we meet!