More Nine Patches and those Churn Dash blocks!

Well I did make a few more of those nine-patches

Here are 12 blocks out of 16 which will make a 4x4 layout.  






Using the other four nine patches I completed 4 churn dash blocks to try out my solids choices against the thirties fabric.   Unlike Julie's quilt I am using the same solids for each Churn Dash.  

And then I added a thin sashing strip with contrasting cornerstone in the same fabrics as the ninepatches.  So far I am liking it!  

I was not sure of the size of Julie's nine patches but I am sure mine are giant-sized compared to hers.  No little lap quilt this after all!  This is one-quarter of the quilt top unless I add a border too.

But I cannot finish without getting more of those solid fabrics - back to Mandy at Simply Solids then...

Nicky




Measurements
block size  14.5" square
quarter quilt size 30" square 
projected quilt size 60" square



Solids are Kona Peridot and Snow from Mandy at Simply Solids
Inspiration from Juliekquilts



Related post More orphan blocks!

Farmer's Wife 7

Is it week 7 already? 



Here are my blocks this week

The periwinkle block - a bit like the flower shape I suppose  

 OK why is this one called the box?

Honeycomb - I get that one  

Three blocks this time so I could but them all together for this photo 

 

Is this coming together?  Will it gel?  What do I need more of?

Any suggestions gratefully received as I am sort of out of my comfort zone with these fabrics and such a range of colours - so don't leave me stranded!  

Think I also need to try some more complicated blocks next - don't want them all at the end.

Nicky 

Basket quilt finished!

As you will know from a recent post I have been dithering pondering about how to quilt this basket quilt - well those days are over and here it is in all it's glory....

The back is also pieced and although I tried to centre it I seem to have missed that target by a smidge.  As smidges are quite small I am trying not to worry about a little wonkiness here and there....between friends!

I have so far kept to just outlining my baskets in cotton perle and the border has the opposite - in-lining if you like!??

I was considering further decorative quilting on the background but for now at least I have decided against this to let the fabrics speak for themselves without distraction.  This quilt was made in tribute to the lovely fabrics so I have to defer to them...

The binding is two similar fabrics - one large scale, the other small scale flowers

My label is embroidered on the front in back stitch but not all the way though as this is a double sided quilt and I didn't want to end up with an unsightly mess on the other side

I am pleased with the outcome of this little quilt. It is a showcase for fabrics I love and it does that job pretty well I think.  I also love the simple quilting - I'm hoping you agree that it doesn't really need anything more.  My embroidered label is up front and visible in a contrasting thread - not so sure I want my stitching that visible but hey 'tis done and I'm not so bothered I want to unpick it and redo it.

So another UFO completed - that makes 3 (or 4 if you count the galaxy quilt as two quilts in one) and 9 to go I think...oooh that's a challenge!




Nicky

Birds of a feather, flock together!

Well, I now have two bird tops completed to be put together back to back but do you know what?  I cannot decide which is to be the front - can you help me decide?

This one you have seen before, which is using the attic window block 

If you have been following my progress you will know that I have been making birdbath blocks - just a few to go on the back of this quilt.  Well I'm sorry to say I have failed to do just a few....I LOVE this block and soon did this many..

I took Mary and Katie's idea of pink background and Susan's idea of green and it came together just like so... 

So the question is which is the front - attic window or birdbath?

Or is there a third way??


Looking forward to seeing how you cast your vote - the bigger the sample of voters, the better, so any lurkers now is the time to make yourself known, to have your say, to come off the fence...this quilt needs your opinion!

Nicky

Farmer's Wife Post 4

Onto the fourth post of the Farmer's Wife quilt along - and some more complicated blocks with more HSTs. 


Have to say I am not really loving these and am considering a re-think on the concept of plaids and funky florals.   May have to be either plaid or floral and something else as I do not seem to have much value difference in my blocks, which was something else I wanted to explore in this quilt along.  


Oh well I do quite like the ugly block look in antique quilts so a few yucky ones will be ok but I do not want to end up with an ugly quilt...?

Block 88 Star of Hope

and Block 93 Swallow

and here are my eight blocks all together

At least the colours seem better balanced with a bit more blue as I was thinking I had gone too pink.  But now I need to work on more value contrast I think.  


This is certainly a learning process...


Nicky

Farmer's Wife - I'm jumping in with welly boots on!

I know I've been saying no new big projects until my UFOs are complete but now you know why I keep saying it - I am trying to keep myself in line when what I really want to do is jump on the next thing that comes along.


I have picked this book up several times and put it back down again but when I saw that Lynne from Lilysquilts had committed to joining in a quilt along using the Farmer's Wife book (available here!) using brighter fabrics my will power just threw in the towel, my resistance melted away and I had ordered the book before I knew it!   

The quilt along is being hosted by Angela from Fussy Cut and Amanda at Msmcporkchopquilts.  The Flickr group is here: Farmer's Wife Quilt flickrgroup

You probably already know all of this as there are lots of bloggers joining in on this one. 

I have never done a quilt along before so this is scary new territory to me but I have just received my copy of the book and I am throwing caution to the wind.

There are 111 blocks, some quite simple and all are 6" square!  The challenge is to complete 2 per week so here are my first two

Puss in the Corner

Autumn Tints  

The unpick gadget got a lot of use with this one before I was happy enough with this simple little block - eek - what will I do when I get to the difficult ones???

During this challenge I will be trying to learn more about value of fabrics and given that the book is called Farmer's Wife I want to introduce something of the countryside into my blocks but with a brighter colourway so I am cutting up my collection of plaids and hope to build my blocks around them and some funky florals.  

Nicky

Carried away....!

I am a bit carried away by this quilt so again I am posting about the galaxy quilt.  Yesterday I was trying out some BIG stitching in grey cotton perle thread outlining those stars.  


Although this is quick stitching I have not finished but I can let you have a sneaky peek....

I love this style and speed of stitching and thanks to those who suggested it to me - I am 100% in accord and special thanks to Mary from Molly Flanders for helping me decide on the colour!


Not too long before the big reveal I hope!


Nicky

In a galaxy far, far away....is a quilt!

(Sorry if you are fed up of seeing this one but I was on a roll here...)


After sewing all those completed star blocks onto the galaxy quilt I still had a few diamonds ready cut out.  


I could not make a star out of one or even two of the remaining fabrics - but three or four would make a star so these latest ones are scrappy indeed.  And do you know what?  I think I like them best of all!  

My galaxy is full up now and so I got it layered and basted ready to be made into a quilt at last.... but what did I use for the back of the quilt?  Well it was quilt UFO number 14 which you haven't seen yet......!  Until now ....

I made this quilt top at the same time as the lone star and out of the same recycled fabric.  I had intended to make two quilts for twin beds but decided they go together so well I would just put them back to back!  And the other attraction was one quilt less....makes my target easier to hit I hope. 


I did have to add the piano key border top and bottom but I think it looks good - haven't tried one of those but I know Bonnie Hunter likes them a lot and do you know what?  I do too! 










May the Quilting Force be with you!


Nicky

A galaxy of stars!

Well I am prone to a bit of exaggeration .... but I cannot call my lone star, lonely star nor in fact lone star anymore so unless you can suggest another name that suits it better then it will be a galaxy of stars...

Here it is with the stars I made previously and found hidden away with my leftover fabric .....

...............and I have every intention of adding  a few more.

As the fabrics are recycled, some from Oxfam and some I bought from Worn & Washed, many are quite faded. 

I considered whether I should include them against the white background but then I thought of the stars in the night sky that you can almost see but not quite as distinctly as others and thought these might just have been on a longer journey....?

Hope you like it

Nicky

More Rose Dreams!

I posted about this block here! a couple of days ago.  I had completed 3 blocks during or shortly after the workshop I attended in October 2009!




I am pleased to say I have now doubled my total to six!




Here they are displayed together - not yet stitched together as I am waiting to see how the other blocks will fit in!

I am loving the pattern across the blocks and the dark, medium and light value that is beginning to show with just the two colours. 


What I forgot to tell you before is the white fabric is an old sheet so I am doing a bit of recycling as well.



The quilt pattern is for 36 blocks so I am one sixth of the way there...!  I don't know whether to be happy or sad at this news....???




Nicky

Old Quilt Books - but new to me 3!

This is another post about some second hand books I bought by Jan Halgrimson from Abebooks (previous posts relating to them here and here)

I think this book is my favourite of the three, 'Scraps Can Be Beautiful, a collection of over 100 quilt patterns suitable for using scraps'.  There are just so many beautiful blocks here and the more I look at and make quilts the more I seem to be attracted to the scrappy kind as I can pack more fabrics in and lots of colour.

Some of my favourites (so far) are here below:

I think this could look absolutely stunning with the right colour combination although Jan notes that it isn't really a beginner's block despite the name.

another tricky one - lots of bits and curves too but look at those gorgeous tulips - one to aim for I'm thinking! 

I liked the simplicity of this one as there is only one piece for block and border but I think this one could sing with the right light/dark fabrics!

  

And lastly I have picked out this one as Jan says it is perfect for a beginner!  I don't know it and it looks like it would make other patterns too when blocks are joined together, which is fun! 

These are not the only ones I like but an overview of some I do not recognise that interest me. 

Unlike the previous book I looked at, Patching Things Up, these blocks only come in one size although I'm sure the majority could be re-drafted if required.  There are also several pieced blocks to be appliqued onto a background square or circle and some applique blocks too.

As ever I have found interesting and varied blocks in Jan's books, certainly ones I do not know.  It will be a while before I can get started on one of these unless it is just to try it out. 

But which one would you start with?  


And do you have any favourite old quilt books I should be looking for?

Nicky