POTC Feathers

Lucy and wash-away …

 

I’ve been through a significant phase of loving Lucy Boston’s ‘Patchwork of the Cross’, which I think began my adventures in fussy-cutting holes in fabric! I’d read and loved her ‘Greenknowe’ series of books as a child, but at that time didn’t have a clue about her patchwork. Such a talented lady now much admired for her handwork, and if you’re interested, have a look at my Pinterest collection of ‘Patchwork of the Cross’ from patchworkers around the world.

Using a few fat quarters that caught my eye to experiment with, there are now a couple of table runners in the collection. Lisa at ‘Sunset Seams’ made acrylic templates in 1.5″ size – as I prefered both a larger size than the standard 1″ and to hand-piece at that time – another phase on the journey! (Have you been through this phase too?)

This one has sat around unquilted just waiting for the right time – and so it seems that’s now! Also in the cupboard is some of ‘Matilda’s Own Aqua Web’ ready for playtime. Saw this used – way back when – for quilting and pulled it out to have a go. What design to use on the block reminded me that’s exactly why it’s been waiting so long. So bit the bullet, and drew on paper a ‘feather’, then flipped and traced it onto the Aqua Web, placed the web on the block and started stitching.


This is not a tearaway, where you have to pick out bits from under stitches, this is a wash-away, so into the washing machine it went (along with a colour catcher just in case). A bit of a nervous wait until it came out – but it worked!

 

So that’s another one done and dusted – plenty more in the pile, it’s a case of which one pushes and juggles it’s way to the top. How’s your pile doing – any dints in it yet?

RobynsPatch

 

Split Hexies

What was I Thinking …

Found some very old hexie blocks in the dark depths of the stash – perhaps they should have stayed there! Another blast from the past when making first attempts at exploring hand piecing, hexagons, weird scrappy fabric combinations, and ‘now what can I do with this stripe?’

Rather than throw them out – which by consensus from PP quilting buddies was definitely the preferred option – I used them as an opportunity to think ‘so, what next?’

Split Hexie

The stripes didn’t line up when putting it together – no matter how much fudging was tried – and those annoying little corner pleats were everywhere, but it was eventually blanket stitch appliquéd to a background.

Cross hatch quilting the background was an obvious choice, however quilting the hexagons became the challenge. An all over meander was not my choice as I wanted the ‘centres’ to pop. The pink hexagons were individually anchored, while the darker ones were left un-quilted.

Split Hexie – centre quilting

The radiating hexagon seams stood out, so why not make use of that by drawing the eye visually to them – and that became the ‘light bulb moment’ for the quilting pattern.

Split Hexie – quilting pattern

Apart from another skulking UFO finished – what next! As a recently interviewed  author said ‘ … there’s a book for everyone, even if it is only one book and one person…’ so as quilters we know, that there’s always a quilt at sometime, for someone, somewhere!

Split Hexies – back

This little quilt, almost thrown away as blocks into the bin, has been happily taken away for a little girl and her dolls!

Not only that, but ‘Orphan Sunscreen’ (yikes from 2017), now well and truly faded, has found it’s next life as a puppy blanket – so no matter what, there’s always a quilt for someone at sometime!

RobynsPatch

 

Scrappy Sunscreen


Old (… cringe …) blocks put to use at last.

Oh what was I thinking! Where did these fabrics come from? I must have ‘acquired’ them some how, way, way, waaay back on this patchwork quilting journey.

I do remember using them to learn this technique, but obviously put the blocks aside in the depths of the stash. Not letting them go to waste, they made another piece for quilting decisions.

No, the corner points where the blocks meet don’t match and the blocks were not even the same size! Some creative ‘fudging’ was needed to put it together.

Although the main block has a strong visual look, I decided to quilt in the secondary ‘square’ pattern using Westalee’s ‘Spin-e-fex’ Quilting ruler. That would hold down the strip piecing seams. With so many mismatched colours perhaps a variegated thread would make a good choice. It was okay but the quilting got lost, so an echo in a solid colour helped make it pop out a bit more.

That left the centres of each block and the myriad of seams where the blocks join together. The Westalee ‘Stepping Out – Yin & Yang’ ruler made this part quick and easy.

Oh, and UFO #5 for 2019 is finished!

So why is it called ‘Scrappy Sunscreen’? Our car is also getting on in years, made before windows included UV protection for the interior. The back window ledge is exposed to fading, so not only does this provide protection but it helps find the car in the supermarket car park!

Yes it too will fade over time, and who knows what it’s next use will be – perhaps as a pet blanket?

RobynsPatch

Snuggle and Read

It’s ‘Hearty’

One of my book club friends had a significant birthday, so of course a small lap quilt was the go! Just the thing to snuggle up with a good book during these cold winter months.

’Pink’ is her favourite colour, and with that start, it was off to the stash to find – luckily – enough fabrics for the task. As the birthday was imminent, it needed to be a quick simple design. Squares and rectangles lend themselves to chain piecing for a fast sew of a pattern, easy done!

‘Snuggle and Read’ a quilt for Jo’s birthday (bookclub)

Stitching in the ditch to anchor the blocks, mmmm …, okay but needs more than that to give it another level of ‘looking’.

What quilting would suit, and which quilting rulers to use – just love this part of the process – is the challenge. Two Westalee Rulers, the small arc template and the heart template fit like a glove.

Heart template

Quilting pattern of arcs and hearts

RobynsPatch