Recreating an old Favourite

I have always loved the Hearts and Crosses coverlet in the Quilters' Guild collection and have made two previous quilts with more than a nod to the original. 

This time I wanted to make a 'modern' version using the same dimensions as the original. 

When I look at the original (on the cover of the pattern), I can see that the maker sometimes changed fabrics part way along a strip.  How 'Improv'! I guess nothing is new.

I wanted to use Improv crosses (slash and Insert) rather than the Victorian style ones on the original.  I moved the hearts to the cornerstones.  Their appearance is more subtle than in the original.  I left the sashing plain as the quilt is already very busy.  The eye needs to rest somewhere!

So, what do I think of it, so far?  In retrospect, I think that using more pale strips would have been easier on the eye. I am not used to adding random colours to a quilt.  I am a planner and always coordinate the fabrics I put together.  I was determined to take a more carefree approach.  I found it difficult but will persevere as I think serendipity can be good, too.  If I had not been trying to mimic the original, I would have chosen to use my striped fabric in all of the sashing...but it is what it is!

I have finished piecing the top and now need to get ready for my least enjoyable part of making a quilt - the sandwiching!  I also still need to think about a backing fabric for the quilt. 

Some Progress

Now the summer is a distant memory, I have been able to make some progress with my quilting and patchwork.  As always, I have several projects on the go.

I started a log cabin quilt at a workshop about a month ago.  I had a kit that had sat waiting for a couple of years.  The workshop seemed a good opportunity to start it.  Over 1700 pieces of fabric later, the top is finished.  Not sure when I will get around to quilting it, as I still need to cut 200 more squares to piece the backing.

I have finally quilted the Di Ford Hall quilt 'Rochester'.  I just need to hand sew the back of the binding...then, I will take a photo.

I finished free motion quilting a Hoffman digital panel.  I just followed the edges and veins in the leaves.

I still need to hand sew the binding on the little butterfly quilt.  I used some South African Shwe Shwe fabrics.  I tried grafitti quilting for the first time.  Next time, I need to have greater differentiation of the motifs.

Binding

I have the binding on my large Tulips and Hearts quilt.  I still need to hand sew binding to the back - 300 inches, so will probably save that task for next week when Hawkinge Patchwork group starts up again after the summer break.

I find myself being pulled more towards modern quilting and improv quilting.  I'm not sure why,  but I think it might be to do with the white space.  When I first came across the modern quilt movement I was unmoved.  Initially, it seemed to only use a very limited palette of colours such as blue, beige, orange, black and grey and retro patterned fabric. Maybe that was a misconception on my part.  More recently it seems to have become a much broader church with every colour represented and a real mixture of solid and patterned fabrics.

I think I am happiest when I allow myself the freedom of working with freedom and without pressure or expectation.

Yesterday, I used a photo my husband took at Stonehenge last year as the starting point for a little improv piece.  It was an experiment really.  I used my light box to trace the shapes of the standing stones...but I squared them all off in my tracing. Initially I was going to use the traced diagram as a pattern and cut the pieces exactly...but then I decided to free hand cut the pieces.  After all, I wasn't interested in making an exact copy of the stones.  Before cutting the pieces, I fused some Steam a Seam Light to the back of the fabric.

I used a small piece of Benartex Caryl Bryer Fallert fabric I've been hoarding for the background.

I have machined the binding and just need to hand stitch the back to finish.  I have ideas of doing more in this style, but we will see!

Once I had fused the pieces, I fused the pieces of the monument.  When I looked at it, I realised it needed something else so dragged out my Sizzix and cut a circle for the Sun.  This also gave me the name for the piece - 'Solstice'.  Before sandwiching and quilting, I roughly free motion quilted around all the pieces of fabric in black thread.  I changed out my top thread for a lovely variegated Isacord thread and quilted some wavy rays to finish the piece.

So, what do I think of it?  I'm reasonably happy but I am never thrilled with the fraying I get with raw edge applique.  It drives me nuts.  Either I need to learn to do it better...or maybe just try to relax about it!!!

Hearts and Tulips

Making progress with my design.  It is the first large quilty I've designed in a long time.  I took the photo a couple of days ago.  Since then, I've hand appliqued the corner hearts, sandwiched and stabilised the quilt top.  I started FMQ the centre medallion, but wasn't happy...so am now in the process of unpicking!  The quilt will finish 76 inches square.

Swap Quilts

I recently took part in the UKQU Mini Swap.  It is a three way swap.   I have done several in the past and enjoyed the experience.  I always make two minis based on a sheet of my swap partner's likes and dislikes and then send the one I think she would like best.

Both of this year's efforts were foundation paper pieced and finished at just under 20 inches.

The first mini was based on traditional New York Beauty  blocks but with a modern interpretation.  I really enjoyed thinking about the free motion quilting to sew in the white space.

The second mini was a much smaller version of Peggy Martin's Summer in Provence quilt.  I think the original was 36 inches square.

Both were fun to make.  I added a little bling to both with some heat set crystals.

It was difficult yo decide which to send, but in the end I sent the NYB.

I received a lovely Improv mini from my swap partner.  I love Improv quilts, circles,  log cabins and bold colours, so my swap partner was right on the money!

Maling Road

I have finished Maling Road 1 year and 5 days after starting it at a workshop with Di Ford Hall.  I mostly used her fabrics but changed some of the colours and used a few fabrics from my stash.

I really enjoyed the hand applique.  Because I used wash away applique paper and glue, I washed the top on a delicate cycle in my washing machine before sandwiching and quilting.  The laundering is very important, as the paper and glue make the appliques stiff.  Washing the top leaves them lovely and soft.

Maling Road is a very 'busy' quilt, so I kept the quilting simple - echoing and a small stipple  around the appliques.  Most of the rest of the quilt was quilted with my walking foot.

2019 and Review of 2018

Below I copied and pasted my 2018 Plans.  Where did the year go?

I think it would  be fair to say that 2018 was a quilting disaster.  We decided to put the house on the market.  We found a buyer the first day (last June), but are still waiting in a chain.  Here we are on the 2nd January, 2019, and we still don't know if the sale will go through or if the chain will collapse.  It is impossible to plan anything...and all the hassle can be overwhelming! ...Oh, and I am waiting for surgery on both feet!

Enough excuses.

2018 Plans

WIPs and UFOs carried forward

TQS 2017 BOM - HALF COMPLETED - sewing machine -Have finished the beauty block border this year.

Passacaglia quilt - NO PROGRESS - hand work - No progress

2015 Quiltmania Mystery Quilt - NO PROGRESS - hand work - Still no progress.

Hexi wallhanging - NO PROGRESS - hand work - No progress

Phoebe quilt - NO PROGRESS - mix No progress

Rambling Ways - TWO BLOCKS DONE - hand work No progress

Etoile rouge - 3 MONTHS DONE - sewing machine No progress

Quiltmania 2016 Mystery quilt - NOT  STARTED - mix No progress

Amish II Nancy Rink Quilt - NOT STARTED - sewing machine No progress

Diamond Hill by Esther Aliu - ONE BLOCK ONLY DONE - hand work No progress

Priorities for 2018 - first 3 months

Sewing machine
Finish large feathered star quilt - Finished
International Miniature Quilt Exchange Finished

 TQS 2017 BOM - HALF COMPLETED
Etoile rouge - 3 MONTHS DONE

Hand work

Hexi wallhanging - NO PROGRESS

Rambling Ways - TWO BLOCKS DONE

So - I was awful at progressing my Wips.

What did I start and finish in 2018?

 Feathered Star

 Playing with Jacquard Dye-na-Flow

 Inktense pencils

 Inktense pencils

 Tiny mosaic

  Playing with Jacquard Dye-na-Flow

 Bally Birds

 IMQE 1

 IMQE 2

 Mini swap - first attempt

 Mini swap - 2nd attempt

Drunkards path

Failed attempt at stack and cut.

Pythagorus' paper piecing nightmare

Playing with Jacquard Lumiere paints and swallow block

First attempt at mini swap

Second attempt at mini swap

 

Improv quilt

OK...so I did get some quilting done...but there is no coherence...just like my life...chaotic!

Plans for 2019

Is there any point in making any plans with life in limbo?  I shall just plod on doing what I can until my life sorts itself out!

I have started  a Skitch a Day project with GourmetQuilter.  I have done the first week's little skitches.

I also want to get properly to grips with EQ8.

Happy New Year! x