TGIFF! - Rainbow Beaver Mug Rug

Welcome to TGIFF!

One of our Beaver leaders is stepping down so I wanted to do something nice for her. Her Beaver Leader name is Rainbow and she loves my rainbow quilts so it was fitting that this mug rug include some rainbow, don't you think? Ann Kelle Bright Remix stripe coming right up!

I also wanted the kids to have a chance to sign it so she'd have a keepsake from her time with us. We had them sign their names on the back with fabric marker. Despite being supervised, one of the kids managed to sneak in writing 'poo'. Grrr! I'm thinking that it may be a perfect spot for some creative appliqué. LOL!

Hope Rainbow likes her rainbow beaver mug rug!

An InLinkz Link-up

Bright Stripes - Blogger's Quilt Festival

Bright Stripes - Close up

Bright Stripe

Ah, one of my favourite times of the year -- the Blogger's Quilt Festival! It's a great way to explore the fabulous quilty eye candy out there in the blogosphere!

I'm sharing Bright Stripes for this festival. People have asked me if I pieced the squares ie. the white and colour stripes. Whoa! No way! That's Anne Kelle's Bright Remix stripes by Robert Kaufman.

For those who are here for the first time, this is my test of my Falling for Stripes pattern (coming soon).

This is quilted on my domestic machine with white 50 wt. Aurifil thread (#2024) with spirals, a small double line around the outer spirals and then straight lines.

Bright Stripes - Front

Quilting Detail - Double line
separating the spirals
from the straight lines

Quilting Detail

The spirals were started with free motion quilting, but then I switched to my walking foot so that I'd get more even and uniformly-spaced spirals. I'd seen this on someone else's blog, but now I can't remember who it was. Sorry! One lesson learned was to do at least 10 turns of the spiral to make the centre free motion spiral large enough so that the walking foot can maintain a smoother curve.

I love effect the texture effect of the spirals done this way, but man it was a pain in the arse to quilt! It's worth it though.

For the back, I took one strip of scrap Bright Remix and some white. Simple. I like it.

I also used the Bright Remix for the binding, just like I did with What The FMQAYGQAL? I love, love, love Bright Remix as a binding.

Bright Stripes - Back

Quiltography: "Bright Stripes," by Michèle-Renée Charbonneau, Ottawa, 45" by 57", 2013.

I'm entering this into the ROYBGIV category of the festival. Thank you to Amy for doing such an amazing job organizing this festival. Go check out the other quilty goodness in the festival!

Here are my entries into past Blogger's Quilt Festivals:

Spring 2013
Fall 2012

Spring 2012

Fall 2011

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3...

Original Falling For Stripes

As I mentioned the other day, I'm writing a pattern for Falling for Stripes.

I'm using Ann Kelle's Bright Remix Stripe for Robert Kaufman. I love this fabric. I used it for the binding for What the FMQAYGQAL? and I've been hoarding collecting the rest for this project.

The main directions in the pattern are for the 6 fabric layout of the original Falling For Stripes quilt.

There will also be a couple of alternate options, one of which is a solid colour background. There's also the option of not using stripes in the pieced blocks so it has more of an hourglass block look to it.

Here's the top of the first test, using just white for the background:

Whadya think?

The quilt will be 55" by 67"-- a good throw size.

Interested in testing this pattern out for me? I'm looking for 3-4 people who could make this quilt in the next six (6) weeks.

Just so you know what you are getting into, the fabric requirements for the quilt are:

Fabric A (Stripe) – 2 ¼ yards (includes ½ yard for binding)** This calculation is based on using all the fabric as it is cut, without trying to have the stripes meet in the blocks. If you think you’d like to match your stripes, you'd best double this amount.

Fabric B (Light Orange) - ¼ yard long

Fabric C (Dark Orange) - ½ yard

Fabric D (Pink) - ½ yard

Fabric E (Burgundy) - 1/2 yard

Fabric F (Purple) – 1 yard

Backing – 3 1/3 yards

Batting – 3 1/3 yards

Here's how the testing will work:

• You let me know you are interested in testing the pattern in the comments below or by emailing me at quiltmatters(at)gmail(dot)com. If you are a no reply blogger, please leave your email address so I can get back to you. 
• I'll send you a PDF of the pattern, which you'll download to use to make the quilt.
• You make the quilt in the next six weeks and send me some feedback and photos of what you make.
• I'll send you two copies of the final pattern -- one for you to keep and one for you to give away on your blog or to whomever you wish -- and share your photos on my blog. And you'll have my undying gratitude! 

Thanks for considering this!

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend!