Monday, April 20, 2009

Nine Patch Quilt - Strawberry Patches

FROM MY QUILT STASH

I have made quite a few quilts that have challenged my sewing skills, but late in 2008 I really wanted to make some quilts that were made from simple and easy to piece blocks.

I have chosen nine patch blocks as they are fairly quick and easy to sew but are highly effective in showing off lovely fabrics. I also selected predominately red and pink fabrics, with just a small splash of orange. The finished size of each nine-patch block is 6 inches.



In the center of each nine-patch is a solid white fabric which gives the quilt a balanced, fresh and modern look. White fabric is also used for sashing to separate each block, with a small fussy cut corner block. The finished sashing width is 1 inch.

The small corner stone block in the sashing is a favorite Liberty Fabric which was fussy cut to so that all these little blocks are identical. I do love Liberty Fabrics, they are a dream to sew with and have the most beautiful designs, feel and drape, however, they are just so expensive in Australia, retailing at $AUD50.00 per meter! AAaaaargh!


I also pieced the back of the quilt. I generally don't have large quantities of fabric pieces in my stash, as a result I often piece the back of my quilts. I must admit that I do enjoy the process of piecing the back!

The bird fabric is from Alexander Henry called "Starling"


This quilt was basted using cotton batting, which I think results in thin quilt that has a nice drape. I then quilted it on my domestic sewing machine, again just using straight lines by cross-hatching diagonally and by quilting "in the ditch" either side of all the sashing.


I chose a red with white polka dot binding to frame this quilt. I like my binding edge to be quite small, therefore I cut binding strips at 2.25" rather than what seems to be the standard 2.5" strips.

The finished quilt measures 42" x 42".

I really enjoyed the selection process for the fabrics in this quilt, and finding a way to combine them together so that the red and pink fabrics don't clash by adding the solid white fabric. It is also a quilt made with a very traditional block and simple sewing techniques, that has been given a fresh and modern make-over by using bright and colorful fabrics.

I hope you enjoyed this quilt from my quilt stash!

37 comments:

  1. This is so cute! I love it! And now I want to make one.

    I'm so glad I found you at the festival! Fun stuff!

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  2. This is so pretty! I love your new blog and am very much enjoying your quilting style. So much eye candy to see here! :o)

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  3. Gorgeous fabrics! Red is probably one of my least used colors but I love it!

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  4. Very beautiful! So lovely colors!

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  5. Ohhhhhh, that is one fabulous quilt! I really love the polka dot binding, the white center block and the white sashing---helps the eye focus and balance. But my most favorite part...the back. Absolutely lovely!

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  6. Your quilts are outstanding! Thank you for letting me see them.

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  7. Oh, that is so adorable!! It's amazing how the white balances everything and keeps it looking fresh and clean! I go even smaller on the binding- I cut my strips at 2" for all my quilts.

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  8. How pretty! I love the back a lot!

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  9. Gorgeous! I actually added this quilt as a favorite on flicker months ago! I LOVE it! I'm planning my own version using stash fabrics in blue and green. The white square in the center of the 9-patch totally makes this quilt! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  10. I remember seeing this one on flickr awhile back and I love it! I also remember the quilt that is in your header and I love that one too! Your work is inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Wow! This may be one of my favorite quilts on blogland. Ever.

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  12. I love red and white ( and now with a touch of orange ! ) quilts ! Great job, and thanks for sharing !

    Beth

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  13. I just found your blog through twiddletails and I am so glad I did. This quilt is so lovely. Great job!

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  14. I LOVE YOUR QUILT!!!! I wanted to do a 9 patch with red and aqua and I might use the aqua like you did your white!!! This is BEAUTIFUL!!! I love how is is so fresh and crisp!!!! GREAT job. I can't wait to get started on yet another quilt!:)

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  15. This nine patch is gorgeous. I love the red and pink color combination, but especially how you put a white square in the center. I would love to make one like this, so thank you for the inspiration!

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  16. I'm so glad you're blogging...I love your quilts!!!

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  17. Welcome to blogging! I love your blog and your quilts are just lovely. I have added you as favorite and I am now a follower. Looking to seeing more wonderful creations!

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  18. This is the most cheerful quilt! Thanks for sharing! I've added your blog to my RSS feed - I look forward to seeing more of your work.

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  19. Just discovered you through a fellow blogger. You are amazing. And so inspiring. I make this quilt process much too hard, I think.
    thanks for the great inspiration.
    ~a

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  20. Wow, it's beautiful. I just love a quilt with this delicious color combination and it looks very well done. Lovely.

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  21. My Redwork Club would love that quilt.

    Janie

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  22. Thank you everyone for your comments. I really am overwhelmed by all your kind words. I was so hesitant about starting a blog, instead I am overwhelmed by the positive response and how welcome I have been made to feel. All comments are much appreciated. Thank You!

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  23. Just discovered your blog... what beautiful work you do... and from a beautiful part of the world too!! Nice stuff!!Lx

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  24. I've just popped over from the Twiddletails blog. I love your work.
    i was so pleased to discover you're a Melbourne girl too.
    I'll be adding you to my blog roll.
    Andi :-)

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  25. It's just beautiful and I love the entire narrative that accompanied it - it gives us quilters insight to a great artist's design.

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  26. That's just BEAUTIFUL! :) (And as you know, I like red!) :)

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  27. what a fantastically beautiful quilt! i LOVE it!!! i also adore the quilt in your header. i think i'm going to have to start doing some fussy cutting. :)

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  28. That is really lovely!! You have a fantastic eye for colour. Your other quilts are gorgeous as well.

    So nice to see another Australian blog too.

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  29. This really is a delight to look at !!
    Red is great with everything !

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  30. This quilt is also lovely!
    Kind regards,

    Beertje Zonn

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  31. Again...flawless. As much as I love the front, the back is my favourite. Just gorgeous!

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  32. Hi there,
    I found this when i was looking for red and white quilts, and i love it!!
    It is so pretty, and gorgeous selection of fabrics.
    Cheers,
    BJ

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  33. I absolutely love your quilting style. The fresh look is so inspiring. Looking at your quilts is right up there with my favorite indulgences (coffee, chocolate and a good glass of wine).

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