Thursday 14 May 2015

Arizona - an Aztec styled quilt

I while ago I bought a bundle of Arizona fabric by April Rhodes. The bundle included matching Art Gallery solids from the Pure Elements range which made a nice set of 14 fat quarters. I haven't used matching solids in my quilts before rather I tend to use a white background to my blocks so I wanted to explore a design that would incorporate both the solids and fabrics together.

I was fortunate enough to share my design with Quilter's Companion magazine who will be featuring my quilt later in the year so I can only share with you a couple of progress shots for the time being.


I incorporated some flying geese blocks and some square in a square blocks and decided to use a quilt as you go method as the blocks are quite large to make the quilting more manageable on my domestic machine.


I bought some matching Aurifil cotton mako' threads in the 40 weight which is a little heavier than the standard 50 weight thread but shows off the quilting stitches nicely. I love that there is just so many colours to chose from making it so easy to match the fabric you are working on perfectly.


I did some shadow quilting around the geese and squares in the quilt to create texture.


I really liked the feel of quilting with the aurifil threads which I hadn't used before.





I am loving the way the quilt is coming together it has a real Aztec feel to it and I can't wait to finish it off with a final border using the Nocturnal solid from the Pure Elements Art Gallery range.

The quilt will be Queen sized and I will be keeping this one for me for my spare bed and I'm sure it will make it's way on the couch now the nights are getting colder here.

Linking up at Freshly Pieced for WiP Wednesday!

Till next time....happy sewing....

xx Jenny

Saturday 11 April 2015

Etno Fabrics - Collaboration with Pat Bravo


As a typical quilter I love fabric but every now and again I see a fabric range I have to have. When I first stumbled across Pat Bravo's new range "Etno" whilst trolling through my Instagram feed I knew this was one of my must haves.

I was fortunately enough to be able to work with Pat and using Etno fabrics design and make a quilt for an upcoming issue of Patchwork and Stitching magazine here in Australia. When the fabric arrived it definitely didn't disappoint.


With a very tight timeframe I went about hurriedly cutting and sewing blocks together. I chose a traditional quilt block called fox and geese and mixed it up a little. The block I made is put together with 2 different sized half square triangles and some white squares. I wanted to keep some of the fabric in larger pieces to really showcase each of the designs.


Ironically this is the first time I've ever designed a quilt on point and with the cornerstones and sashing it took a little bit of quilt math to work out the finished product. The quilt was then sent to Donna, my trusted longarmer who worked her magic as always and I must say I loved the finished result.


With the left over fabric I made up my signature scrappy binding that contrasted with the white in the quilt background perfectly finishing it off.


I backed this quilt with a fabric called "Flight" from the Waterfront Park Collection by Violet Craft for Michael Miller Fabrics.


Packed in an express post satchel and shipped off promptly I can wait to see the final photos in Patchwork and Stitching Magazine due out in May.

I'm linking up with these fun places today Crazy Mum Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.
 
Till next time....happy sewing....
 
xx Jenny

Friday 27 March 2015

The Linen Cupboard Quilt


I love the opportunity of supporting local quilters and designers so when I saw Emma Jean-Jansen's new range "The Linen Cupboard" I knew I needed to create a funky quilt with it. Check out my previous blog showing the wonderful diversity of fabrics in the range here.


I set about designing and constructing a quilt with this lovely range. I was given a brief of creating a quilt with a Hexie theme so decided to simplify the process by using equilateral triangles to form the hexies.
 
 
In keeping with the triangle theme I had my wonderful longarmer, Donna quilt this one with a design called tangled triangles.


Given all the contrasting colours in the quilt I decided to bind with a trusty old favourite, black and white stripe.


I must admit binding is now becoming my favourite part of the quilt making process. I enjoy hand sewing in front of the television and I think it's also because it is a sense of overall achievement when you know the quilt is almost done.


The final quilt will be available to see in full and make yourself soon, as it will be published in Down Under Quilts magazine in Australia in May. Unfortunately I have only been able to show you a few sneak peaks here.

I'm linking up with these fun places today Crazy Mum Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.
 
Till next time....happy sewing....
 
xx Jenny

Saturday 21 March 2015

Out to Sea


Today I wanted to share with you a nautical inspired quilt made from the beautiful Michael Miller Littles collection. The fabric is super sweet with anchors, boats and lifesavers and also includes some great complementary dots and stripes.


I had fun making this one up adding 3 sailboat blocks as a feature in the centre.


The quilt is cot sized and would make the perfect edition to any little boys room.


In keeping with the nautical theme the quilt was quilted with an all over wave design by my longarmer, Donna.


I backed this one with Britten Nummer fabric from Ikea. It is 150cm wide so is perfect backing for cot quilts and requires no joining.


This quilt was featured in Patchwork & Stitching nautical inspired edition.


If you would like to purchase this quilt it is available in my shop here.
 
I'm linking up with these fun places today Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.
 
Till next time....happy sewing....
 
xx Jenny

Thursday 19 March 2015

Pathways - A Table Runner in progress

I'm excited once again to be working on another little project for Fat Quarterly magazine this month - the brief was simple make something with curves.
 

I have always been worried about curves and have tended to shy away from them so when this opportunity came up I grabbed it. I ordered myself a drunkards path ruler and away I went.


I must say I was really surprised at how easily and quickly these blocks came together and it has inspired me to start my own King bed quilt for my bed at home. I will make sure I blog some progress shots of that too.


I was sent the fabric which had amazing green and blue tones so decided to team it up with some charcoal shot cotton I had in my stash and I was very please with the result.


Some simple but effective straighline quilting 2cm appart and I can wait to show you the completed runner out in Fat Quarterly soon.


Till next time....happy sewing....
xx Jenny

Friday 13 March 2015

The Friendship Patch


A few months ago I was asked if I would like to provide Down Under Quilts magazine with a Christmas inspired quilt. I had already made a cute little advent calendar wall hanging for Love Sewing Australia here so I wanted something simple yet effective.

I decided I would make a quick and easy quilt using traditional quilt blocks (friendship patch block and four patch block) and classic red and white colours but not use Christmas fabrics. See the fabrics I used here. I figured that this way the quilt could be utilised all year round and not packed away in the cupboard after the festive season ends.


The result was my Friendship Patch quilt seen here on the cover of Down Under Quilts Christmas edition.


I'm very proud of this one as I love simple clean lines and it's a quick yet effective quilt and fits perfectly on a single bed. It would look fantastic in a red and white inspired little girls room (pity I only have boys).


The quilt was quilted by my longarmer, Donna with an all over stars design. I even made a few extra blocks to feature on the back of the quilt.


This quilt is currently available for sale at my shop here.


I'm linking up with these fun places today Crazy Mum Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.
 
Till next time....happy sewing....
 
xx Jenny

Thursday 12 March 2015

A Whale of a Time - Work in Progress


A few months back I posted about some gorgeous fabric from a range here called Marine Too by Dan Stiles for Birch Fabrics which also happens to be 100% certified organic premium quilting weight cotton.

I was totally in love with this fabric when I first saw it that it spend a number of months in my display cabinet and become one of those fabrics that we just look at and don't want to cut up !!


Well guess what I did cut it up well just a little. A lot of this fabric features very large prints so I was looking for a quilt pattern that would utilise large blocks that would feature the fabric rather than distract from it.

This is where I want to mention the fabulous Jera from Quilting in the Rain. Like me she has young children and like me only gets to sew when they are sleeping for that few hours during the day or at night. Often I find lots of piecing and large quilts difficult to complete as I am always starting and stopping and as a result I lose my momentum and sometimes my interest. Well not anymore !!


Her fabulous book Quilt as You Go Made modern is a fresh approach to quilting for us busy people and features some great patterns that make putting a quilt together any size a quick and easy process. The blocks are simple and effective.


Making up a block at a time and quilting it gave me a sense of completion every step along the way and the sewing together was simple and easy. The pattern I used for my quilt was called "Rainy Days". I found that I could keep my large prints features and just added some of my white jelly rolls strips I'd had lying around for a while.


I'm loving this quilt so far and all I need to do is back with some super cute whales from the collection and I think some bright red binding too.


If you want some simple and fun quilts to make I really recommend you purchase this book as there wasn't one project in the book I didn't want to try!!

 
Linking up at Freshly Pieced for WiP Wednesday! 

Till next time....happy sewing....
 
xx Jenny


Saturday 17 January 2015

Herringbone Quilt and Fabric Giveaway


Being a mum of young boys with not much time to sew I recently started using a number of quilt-as-you go techniques when I was in need of a quick quilt. I must say one of my all time favourites is Maureen Cracknell's Herringbone quilt. You can find the brilliant tutorial here. This is  super quick project for a decent size quilt that uses long batting panels and 2.5 inch strips.

I am always making quilts for others and wanted something for me this time to sit with on the couch of an evening. I had a beautiful set of fat quarters from Tanya Whelan's Dolce collection on hand that was begging to be used.


Given the brightness and busyness of these fabrics I decided to bind with a simple black and white stripe which I think finished the quilt of beautifully.


My beautiful quilt made over the weekend now sits on my couch ready for me to snuggle under each night and I love it !!

To celebrate my quilt finish and thank the wonderful Maureen Cracknell for her great tutorial I'm teaming up with my sponsor the Fat Quarter Shop to give away FOURTEEN prints of fat quarter cuts of Maureen Cracknell's latest range "Wild and Free. " Isn't it just amazing !!!

http://www.fatquartershop.com/wild-and-free-fat-quarter-bundle


GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

1. To be in the draw simply leave a comment on this post (one entry). I'd love to know what you would make with this gorgeous bundle.

2. My followers get a second entry. If you follow me on Instagram just let me know by making a separate comment to record that entry (optional extra entry).

That's 2 possible entries. The draw will take place at 8pm (Australia - EDT) on Sunday 18 January 2015, and the winner picked at Random. The winner will be announced by edit to this blog post and will also be contacted by email.

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE. If you are a no reply or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment !

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED
 
Thank you to everyone who entered the Giveaway !! Mr Random says the lucky winner is....
 
Comment #60
 
 
 
Congratulations Kathy !! Kathy has been contacted by email.
 
http://www.fatquartershop.com/

The Fat Quarter Shop, founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly,  brings you the best selection of Fat Quarter bundles but also yardage, pre-cuts, notions, patterns, books, BOMs and more.

 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
We hope you enjoy visiting the Fat Quarter Shop's sites!!

Till next time....happy sewing....

xx Jenny

Thursday 15 January 2015

6 Steps to create the perfect baby clothes quilt

I have had so much interest in my baby clothes quilts I thought I'd put together a brief guide on how to make one for yourself. This will show you how to make a baby clothes quilt with a squares design.

Step 1 - Cut your baby clothes in 6 1/2 inch squares and interface to stabilise


The first step is to get your baby clothes and lay them out to find the most interesting pieces. I use my 6 1/2 inch ruler and rotating cutting mat to find my favourite feature and cut out my square. I look for writing, embellishments, ruffles etc. anything that will create interest in the finished quilt. I then cut 6 1/2 inch squares from light weight fusible interfacing and per the manufacturers instructions fuse to the back of each square. This helps stabilise the fabric when you join them together. I choose light weight as I want my finished quilt to still feel soft and snuggly.

Step 2 - Layout your squares into rows in a pleasing design


I use my design wall or floor and layout my clothes into rows to balance out the colours in the quilt. Don't worry there are so many different fabrics and colours in the quilt it is meant to look scrappy I just make sure that all my pinks (for example) are not on one side or in one corner.

Step 3 - Sew your squares in rows with your sashing

 
For my quilts I chose a sashing width of 1 1/2 inches but chose whatever width you feel comfortable with. Be careful when sewing not to pull the fabrics to much and use lots of pins to avoid stretching and warping. 
 

Step 4 - Sew your rows together with your sashing to form the quilt top
 

Similar to the above be careful and take your time sewing on the sashing strips and pin, pin, pin. The interfacing does help stabilise the fabrics, especially those stretchy ones but as it is lightweight only they is still quite a bit of stretch.

Step 5 - Add your borders


For this quilt I used a boarder cut at 7 1/2 inches wide to frame the quilt. The customer had requested purple sashing so I needed a print to tie the pinks in the clothes and the purple sashing together.

Step 6 - Quilt as desired and add your binding to complete



Till next time.....happy sewing....

xxx Jenny