EB Round Robin Quilt Swap - fabrics

These are the fabrics I am using for the EB Round Robin Quilt Block Swap. The swap involves 12 participants making up the same 12 inch quilt block in everyone else's fabrics. Once eveyone gets back their 11 blocks plus the one they make themselves they will have 12 quilt blocks in their fabric of all different designs (like a sampler quilt). Then we just have to put it together as we please! My finished quilt is going to be for Miss M's big bed when she moves out of the cot. I have a fat quarter bundle of the fabric collection 'Riley' by Anna Griffin which I am using.

Most if not all of the other participants are going for creams/whites as their backgrounds I think but this is my background fabric for all the blocks - bright enough? YES!

And the following are the fat quarters that I am using out of my bundle for the rest of the blocks - we send off one fat quarter of the background plus 2 fat eighths of different fabrics for contrast.

Take-a-long quilt . . .

I am thinking of adding something like this little quilt to my 'shop' as a "Take-A-Long" Quilt that you can roll up into a little bag. It measures 85cm x 100cm so a decent size for taking to mum's group or the park for bubs to lay on, plus also good as a comfort blankee or cradle size quilt. I put the quilt top together last night after dinner and sandwiched and FMQ it today at lunchtime while the kids slept - it seriously was a quick little one to make up! Just need to do the binding.

Quilt top

Backing

Close up of FMQStill learning . . . a little bunching on the back from the FMQ

Quilt finished and a good day out

Apologies firstly for the terrible photos. This was about 10pm last night, inside under the lights. I really should have got a better shot today outside but the weather has been cold and miserable and we are finally getting some decent rain.

I finished the binding while hubby watched the footy.

I took this quilt to the craft fair I had a stall at today and received lots of lovely comments. It was terrible weather but luckily we were inside. I had a great day, with lots of new and returning customers from a previous craft fair which was really great to see. Some people were even seeking me out because of comments from friends from the last craft fair with others asking which craft market I was going to be at next which was very positive! I also caught up with a friend of a friend who also had a stall at the craft fair today and makes the most gorgeous little softies and gifts with chenille. You can find Leah here.

FMQ finished

I started FMQ this quilt yesterday lunchtime and had drama after drama with the tension on my machine, I was getting very annoyed and had to do lots of unpicking. I wasted so much thread and gave up. I got stuck back into it last night determined to get it done and after more tension issues, more unpicking, finally I finished it - with hubby saying 'are you coming to bed - its late!' lol It wasn't that late. I don't know what was happening with the tension, I got the setting all right and then about half way through the bobbin my machine would crack a wobbly and I would have to change the tension to the complete opposite settings - its was driving me up the wall! Anyway, its finished now, just waiting on my binding material from the FQS that hopefully is at the post office today! I love the crinkly effect the FMQ gives the quilt.

Quilt top

Close up of back
Back of quilt - I just went with plain natural coloured homespun with a simple strip of random colours a quarter of the way up

Quilt top finished

Finished off this quilt top this morning (just needs a good press). And happy enough with the sashing colour. Went with a natural coloured homespun, but do find it quite see through. Am planning on using some of the same for the backing mixed up with some larger panels of some of the strips of fabric somehow, not really sure yet. Undecided on what colour thread to FMQ with too. Either a creamy colour like the homespun or go with something like a really really pale pink, which I think will look really great on the back, might even have a go at some little butterflys or dragonflys or something, need to look into the FMQ a bit more for some tips on that though ; )

A new quilting project

I have been wanting to get into another quilt for a few weeks now but have been so occupied with market sewing that I haven't had the chance. I knew exactly what I wanted but couldn't find a pattern I like so decided to have a go at making up my own pattern. I wanted to use the jelly roll that I had bought recently (see previous post) so wanted to make up some simple blocks using these strips. There are 7 different 8 inch square blocks, with a total of 20 blocks in the quilt. I am planning on adding strips of plain white or off white material between the blocks as well as around the edge to really make the blocks stand out. Then FMQ again as I really enjoyed doing that with the last quilt.

So I drew up what I wanted and spent an hour or so working out the calculations and checking and double checking all my measurements (I felt like I was back in school!) lol

Cut and make up these blocks which actually turned out to all be the right size - yay!
Now I just need to get my plain fabric I want for in between the blocks and around the edge and work out what i want the backing piece and binding to be. It should measure when finished 40" x 52" (approx 100cm x 130cm), so a good size for a cot quilt. If all goes to plan I might even do a tutorial for this one as it has taken no time at all to get to this stage, jelly rolls make it so easy!

New quilting fabric

Don't you just love it when there is a big fat parcel from the US sitting at the post office for you - you just know its full of beautiful fabric! I bought these at the Fat Quarter Shop's recent pre-cut sale - a fat quarter bundle of 'Riley' by Anna Griffen and a jelly roll of Nouveau. No idea what these will be made into yet, but possibly a quilt for Miss M when you moves into a big bed, maybe a quilt for the spare bed? Not really sure, it was a sale and i just had to buy something! lol

WIP Wednesday

Well, it's been a week since my last post which was also a WIP Wednesday, does that mean I have achieved not much this week??? Well, I did finally (nearly) finish Miss M's cardi. I am not totally happy with the fit, a little shorter in the body than I would like and a little long in the sleeves, but oh well. Just to decide now if I will still add in the blanket stitching around all the edges in a contrasting colour, something like the pink wool in the photo??? Maybe even some embellishments of some sort.

This is my sewing space. A little card table in my office that is impossible to work out most days. I seriously need to sort out some storage and get a much bigger desk. The overlocker is currently situation at the kitchen table, so am moving backwards and forwards between these two work areas at the moment. The storage tubs under the table are full of fabric and haby bits and pieces and the dresses sitting over the machine are waiting to be finished.
Quilting inspiration - I 'sort of' like this pattern I found in an old quilting magazine. I am looking for a design to make a quilt for Master T's bed now. Something pretty big, probably double size and something that will last a while. I also found some gorgeous designs by Miss Marzie that would look fantastic in the boys room.

And finally a couple of vintage patterns I picked up last week. The dress/top looks really comfy, a good one for pregnancy wear or nice and light for hot summers, but I wonder if I will ever actually make the lingerie one???

First Quilt Completed!

Its finished! I have finally completed my first quilt, which is for Miss M. I found it quite enjoyable and already have plans for many more projects! I love the design and this fabric is growing on me more and more. The pictures really don't do it justice, the prints are so bright and beautiful on the fabrics. The fabric is Soiree by Lila Tueller and the pattern is Hip Baby by Busy Bee Quilt Designs which I purchased from the Fat Quarter Shop. I also had the help of some great blog tutorials; Free Motion Quilting with Oh Fransson! and Binding with Emma at Sampaguita Quilts.

Quilt Top

Quilt Back

Close up of binding and FMQ

More of the FMQ

Quilting Progress - Free Motion Quilting completed

I finished the quilting of the quilt today. I decided to give Free Motion Quilting (FMQ) a go and am very happy with the result. All up it took me about 3 hours to quilt and about 4 bobbins of thread. I love the gentle meandering of the lines all over the quilt, it really brings it to life. Now to bind the edges and it will be done.

Top of quilt

Backing

Quilting Progress - quilt top complete

Quilt top is now finished for Matilda's quilt. I wasn't too sure about all the colours when I first starting cutting up the fabric and making the blocks but now that I can see it all together, I am loving the bright colour combinations. There are certainly some "not quite so perfect" lines if you look really close, but I am happy with this first attempt at quilting and am sure that it will be the first of many! Now I just need to get some batting to quilt and then bind.

Close up of some of the blocks.

Quilting Progress

I have finally made a start on Matilda's quilt and these are just some of the blocks. There are 45 blocks to do and I only have 9 to go - yay! Then there are 3.5" x 3.5" squares all around the edge before the binding. I can't believe how quickly it is coming along and really want to get it finished now. The hardest bit so far has been the very fiddly 1.5" x 1.5" squares, they are so tiny!

ETA - Finished all the blocks now and layed them out roughly to get an idea of what it will look like. Still to add is the border of little squares all the way round, then the binding.

Fabric & Pattern for Matilda's Quilt

Fabrics for Matilda's quilt. Binding in the stripes, backing in the white with green pattern and the rest for the quilt top

Quilt patterns

Fabrics and patterns from the FQS to make Matilda's quilt. I am going to use the Hip Baby pattern for the quilt using these fabrics from the Lila Tueller Soiree collection.

Thinking about Quilting . . .

So this new book arrived in the post this week from the book depository as I have been thinking a lot about doing a quilt for Matilda's cot/bed, so this book is my beginner way into quilting. Just need to make a firm decision on the fabric. I was thinking this range from the fat quarter shop, but not sure now. Anywho, would love to have it done for winter so best get cracking and make a decision about colour choice. I also like this pattern, which is the size I am after too. Decisions, decisions . . .

Thanks Becky for the help sorting out how to do the links!