Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Finale ~ Broken Dishes Quilt

I hope you'll bear with me as I show you more pretty pics of my Broken Dishes Quilt - this time it is indeed the finished quilt.  Hooray!


And so today was the perfect day for picture taking  - blue sky, occasional cloud, and even mild enough to be out in my pj's at 8am to snap away with the camera.  The neighbors are used to my early morning -- before the sun creeps up over the horizon, casting long shadows -- antics.


Quilt Back ~ piecing details
  • First piece the actual "tumbling blocks".
  • Arrange the blocks as desired - I arranged my blocks on a large piece of Kona Cotton (Ash) to help me visualize and plan the design.
  • Add to each individual tumbling block an over-sized "border" from the same fabric as your background fabric.  For some of the blocks I added a basic frame border, and for others (those blocks that are "on point") I pieced over-sized triangles to each side which helps reduce fabric wastage.
  • Orientate/arrange the tumbling block at the angle required, and then trim back the block to a square/rectangle for easy piecing. 
  • After trimming return the block back to the panel to see what is required from the next block; placement, size, shape.
  • Continue till all tumbling blocks have been placed on panel, and like a puzzle fit the squares and triangles together.  You might need to trim or even add more fabric to some blocks to make them all fit.

Quilting:  I've quilted a double set quilting lines from edge to edge a little further than 1/4 inch from either side of the seam lines using the outer edge of the walking foot as a quilting guide.  I have also zig-zagged my way around the inner white border and stitched in the ditch around the outer border triangles. 


For binding fabric I have used Kona Cotton Lagoon ~ an easy decision as it is one of my favorite Kona colors ~ it adds a subtle frame and nice finishing touch to the quilt.


I have updated my Etsy Store:


You can find the listing for the Broken Dishes Quilt here ~ SOLD

RELEVANT LINKS:
1. Kona Cotton Work in Progress
2.  Broken Dishes
3.  More Broken Dishes

Happy browsing,
Rita

Pin It!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

More Broken Dishes

Thank you for all of your kind comments left on the previous post featuring this quilt top!  I really appreciate it.  I never can tell how a quilt is going to be received by my blog readers; although I do know that you ~ just like myself ~ enjoy COLOR!

Today I have some pretty pictures to show you of the progress made over the last day or so.


I have added a final pieced triangle border to all four sides of the quilt.  Really easy to piece and nothing was wasted ~ I've used the small triangle trimmings for the quilt back  ~ herewith a quick snapshot of the  quilt back (quilting as yet unfinished) :


As much as I like the overall design of the tumbling blocks I must say that I this kind of irregular piecing, with  odd angles and off grain pieces of fabric, is not my favorite piecing style.  I wasted much fabric trying to get all of the blocks to fit in at different angles, and although I am glad to have tried such unstructured piecing, I was quite pleased to finish the panel.  More practice required.


I have basted the quilt sandwich and spent quite some time at the machine already.  With a cool start to the day the Winter sunshine pouring through the window and over my work station was very welcome indeed.

I hope you've had a fun sewing day!
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Broken Dishes Quilt - A Finished Quilt
Broken Dishes Quilt - Work in Progress

Monday, June 27, 2011

Broken Dishes

It's definitely time for an update!


This traditional layout/design is call Broken Dishes ~ pieced entirely from half square triangles.  I think I may have harbored a secret desire to make this block in each and every Kona colorway in stash, but I might just have reached my HST saturation point (for the time being!).


I really like this particular layout and although I tend to only see the four-patch single color block (maybe because that is what my focus has been whilst piecing the blocks), now and again I also catch a glimpse of a myriad of colorful pinwheels - can you see them?


Today I am working on adding some borders ~ which does involve piecing with more triangles.   I am really looking forward to quilting this quilt top as I think it will add a whole other dimension to the overall look of the quilt.


Looking forward to, and wishing you all, a fun and productive sewing week,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Broken Dishes - The Finished Quilt
More Broken Dishes - Work in Progress

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday Stash #99

Some stashing from local stores this week ~ including Patchwork House (where everything was on sale!) and GJ Discount Fabrics:


From left to right they are:
  • Old New Fabric Collection 30's, Printed by Lecien (Japan)
  • Sevenberry Dots on a linen blend base as previously seen here: Sunday Stash #93 in two new colorways.
  • Echino by Etsuko Furuya for Kokka - dots on a green background ~ extra wide @ 62 inches and 85% cotton 15% linen which is surprisingly lightweight and has lovely drape.

    And then ... there was this Kokka Print ~ Trefle Strawberries. There are five different prints across the width of the fabric all featuring strawberries or text relating to strawberries.  Printed on a cotton/linen blend base.


    I believe this elusive print has been around for a while, and I was pleased to pick it up at a sale price considering the original price tag.

    I hope you're all having a wonderful Sunday!
    Rita

    Thursday, June 23, 2011

    Kona Cotton ~ Work In Progress

    Today was a productive sewing day and after much indecision it came down to using those fabrics that were right there in front of me all along and piecing sets of four Half Square Triangles.


    I seem to naturally gravitate towards the saturated colors when working with solid fabric and have enjoyed watching how nice these colors all play along side one another.  Once again taking progress pictures along the way has been a useful tool in taking a step back to see what is missing from the color spectrum at hand.


    Of course I have a plan for all these Half Square Triangles, and cannot wait to move onto the next step of the process to watch this quilt top unfold.

    Rita

    Wednesday, June 22, 2011

    Kona Cotton Fat Quarter Bundles


    I don't know if you've seen the super dooper delicous boxes of Robert Kaufman Kona Fat Quarters (which I have been eyeing-off for some time), unfortunately shipping these across the Pacific just isn't an affordable option, and so these bundles of Kona Fat Quarters in a selection of colors are definitely the very next best thing!


    From left to right:
    • Flying Purple People Eater Fat Quarter Bundle
    • Candy Corn Fat Quarter Bundle
    • Greener Pastures Fat Quarter Bundle

    Now for some time at the sewing machine ...
    Rita

    Tuesday, June 21, 2011

    Sunday, June 19, 2011

    Sunday Stash #98

    Some fun and funky arrivals this week:


    From left to right (purchased and available from Fabric Worm)
    • Monaluna Organic Anika - Geo Dots
    • Monaluna Organic Marin - Peacock Feathers
    • Monaluna Organic Anika - Foxes
    • Monaluna Organic Anika - Polka
    And a most unexpected, but very welcome and treasured package of the sweetest prints was delivered to my mail box (courtesy of Weston and Amanda from Westwoodacres @ Etsy)


    This collection is Little Apples by Aneela Hoey for Moda and is due for release in the Fall (or Spring depending on where you are).  This is Aneela's second fabric range (preceded by Sherbet Pips) and looks like it will another fun collection to work with.  Loving your work Aneela!

    Enjoy Sunday! 
    Rita

    Friday, June 17, 2011

    Milk and Cookies ~ Part III

    And with a full day at the machine yesterday quilting like a woman possessed, and this morning again to finish the binding, the Milk and Cookies quilt is finished:


    Fabrics:

    For backing fabric I have chosen a fun print from the Sherbet Pips collection by Aneela Hoey; a little extravagant but definitely warranted for a quilt with such special prints.  (See a full image of the quilt back: here).


    Again, I have quilted with horizontal and vertical straight lines, stitching from edge to edge along both sides of all seam lines twice.  Twice the work, but well worth the effect.


    For binding fabric I have chosen a soft grey/red/white stripe (Lecien - Color Basics).  It is a subtle finish/edge for this quilt which is really all it needed.  


    Quilt Design:   Simple squares - it doesn't get any easier than that.  The large squares measure 5 1/2 inches and the row of small squares measure 3 1/2 inches (all measurements include seam allowances).   All fabric squares were laid out on my design floor, and re-arranged until I was happy, prior to starting the piecing.  Piecing was done by sewing the squares in the vertical (longer) rows first, and then sewing the rows together into a quilt top.


    I have listed this quilt in my Etsy Store:


    The listing can be found right here:  Milk and Cookies @ Etsy.

    Thank you for stopping by,
    Rita

    Thursday, June 16, 2011

    Milk and Cookies ~ Part II

    I've made good progress with my current quilt project:


    Since this photo was taken I have added another row of squares to the length of the quilt to better balance the proportions of the quilt size.  I have also pieced a quilt back with some super cute Sherbet Pips fabric ... and basted. 


    And so today is a quilting day:


    I like to think that I am on the home stretch with all horizontal lines now completed even though they are the shorter quilting rows.  Once the majority of the basting pins are removed it does seem to speed things up.

    A limited number of Aunty Cookie screen printed fabric bundles ~ as used in this quilt ~ are now listed in Shannon's Etsy Store:  HERE   SOLD

    Hoping your Thursday is a happy one!
    Rita

    Wednesday, June 15, 2011

    Milk and Cookies

    In stark contrast to the colors and prints of last week's project  here is sneak peek at what I am working on this week : ~


    Late last week a super sweet bundle of fabric arrived from the lovely Shannon Lamden, the creative force behind the Aunty Cookie brand.  


    Shannon sent me a selection of her limited edition hand printed designs in grey on a white back ground. These fabrics are printed with environmentally friendly inks on a 55% linen/ 45% cotton base in Melbourne, Australia.


    The subtle grey/white prints are a welcome change from my otherwise bold and colorful palette, and has given has giving me the opportunity to pull out from stash some of my VERY favorite prints (there are many!).  I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with these fabrics.


    More soon.

    Rita

    Monday, June 13, 2011

    Loulouthi - Beach Huts ~ A Finished Quilt

    I am starting this week with a finished quilt, and a colorful one at that!


    I've really enjoyed the color play and arranging and then again re-arranging the prints in this quilt.  Working with these fabrics hasn't been easy and there has been much self-doubt and some self deprecation.


    It wasn't until the binding was sewn onto the quilt that I started to really love this quilt.  Choosing binding was the easy part this time; nothing except for a plain black/white pin stripe fabric seemed to frame and complete this quilt in its entirety. 

    The binding ~ as well as the black polka dot on white background ~ has giving the eye a place of focus and rest.  It is a great finishing touch to an otherwise busy and colorful quilt.

    For the back of the quilt I have pieced together some of the left-over fabrics that were also used for the front of the quilt, and combined them with a pre-dominantly Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton (Ash) background.


    I have quilted this quilt with vertical straight lines approximately 1 inch apart using both the seam lines as well as a quilting guide attached to the walking foot as a guide.  Bernina has recently released a new walking foot (not just for the Bernina 820) which now allows for the quilting guide to be used with my sewing machine; I've really missed not having the use of a quilting guide!


    Fabrics Used:
    • Loulouthi by Anna Maria Horner ~ selection of Fat Quarters
    • White Polka Dot on Red background TA DOT by Michael Miller
    • Black Polka Dot on White background ~ Japanese import
    • Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton (Ash) for backing fabric
    • Black and White Pin Stripe for binding - Color Basics by Lecien

     Quilt Design:
    I have listed this quilt in my Etsy Store:

      You can find the Etsy Listing here.   SOLD

      Thank you for stopping by,
      Rita