Friday, August 31, 2012

An Hourglass Patchwork Pillow

Today (and yesterday) in stitches:
Inspired by:  a printed seat cover spotted in Marie Claire Idées [(A French magazine) I discovered Zinio for Ipad this week, a digital magazine stand which makes these magazines so much more accessible and affordable!)].  My immediate reaction was to patchwork piece the printed design and play with the layout. 
I have used Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White, and three of the recently released colors:  Lipstick, Water, and Citrus.  These colors really do combine well for a saturated and fresh look.

And I have spent some time quilting. Lots of quilting for this project; even managing to conquer those bulky seams with the Juki

For the back of the pillow cover I have used a fun bicycle print from stash:  Lucy's Crab Shack - Cruiser - by Sweetwater for Moda, a medium weight canvas fabric.  The pillow cover has a zippered seam for easy insert removal and cleaning.


I have listed this pillow cover in my Etsy Store.  You can see the listing here:  Modern and Colorful Patchwork Pillow Cover. - sold

It's been refreshing to work on a smaller project to finish the week.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Rita

Relevant Links:

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Nursery Versery Quilt ~ A Picture Post

I've thoroughly enjoyed making this quilt, right from fabric selection to machine stitching the binding late into the the night.  No, it's not a complicated design; this one is all about the colors, the fabrics and for the sake of some happy stitching ....


I have quilted this quilt by outlining the seam lines, then promptly decided that wasn't enough and stitched a grid of diagonal lines - cross hatching - through all of the squares.   Lots of quilting!


And for the back of the quilt I have used a border panel of Children at Play - On Parade - by Sarah Jane combined with a row of patchwork, and Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in Pale Pink (top).
I have finished the quilt with a soft grey/white stripe fabric for binding.  The quilt measures 44.5 inches x 56.5 inches.  It's pink, soft, and really girly.  I think it is going to make some little girl rather happy.
I have listed this quilt in my Etsy Store.  
You can see more images and all the details here:
Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Relevant Links:
Nursery Versery Collection by Heather Ross
Nursery Versery Quilt - in progress

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Nursery Versery Quilt ~ Sneak Peek

I thought it was time to cut into my stash of Nursery Versery by Heather Ross (featured in Sunday Stash #152).  This happy stack of cute characters sat around in my workspace and never left my field of vision. It was calling out for a little action.

My favorite part ... the fabric play.  I have added numerous fabric basics from stash including: Mono Pez in Pink and Grey, Gingham in Pink and Yellow, Kaffe Fassett Polks Dots in Sprout Green and Magnolia, Ta Dot in Lime and Black, and Bella - Large Flower - by Lotta Jansdotter.


More soon.
Rita

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sunday Stash #154 ~ Oh Deer! by MoMo

Oh Deer!
Oh Deer! by Momo for Moda

MoMo has created another wonderland of whimsy and modern Japanese style.  Very much reminiscent of the earlier ~ It's a Hoot ~ collection in color and bold design, this range features a rainbow of forestry, playful deer and fluttering birds.
I have  segregated the dots from this collection as on their own I think they're an excellent addition to any modern fabric stash.  Polka dots are so versatile and easy to use; these simple/graphic prints help "join the dots" - integrate - colors and designs across numerous collections. 


I am also rather taken by these tiny deer.  How darling are they?

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

Friday, August 24, 2012

Neutral Study Quilt II ~ A Custom Quilt

A picture post ~ with all of the details just in case you fancy making your own Neutral Study Quilt.

The finished size of this quilt is 64.5 inches x 80.5 inches and consists of 80 Log Cabin Style blocks made using this RPQ tutorial:  Log Cabin Block Tutorial.   You can easily custom size your quilt by adding more or less rows/columns of blocks.  


Center squares solid fabricsPure Elements collection by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics :: Emerald, Tile Blue, and Lemonade, as well as Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton :: Corn Yellow, Amber, and Red.


Solid Neutral Fabrics include:

Feature fabrics:  include text fabrics (see also Sunday Stash #148), hand screen printed Maze and Vale designs (see also Sunday stash #130), Classic Moda - Chicken Wire, Black/White stripe, and three prints from Bella by Lotta Jansdotter collection.


Although it has been an enormous amount of work to make this custom quilt, it has also been a wonderful opportunity (and a pleasure) to work with a customer who allowed (and trusted) me to create instinctively and without constraint.
 
This quilt is already winging its way to Ireland  ...  I can't begin to tell you what it feels like to have my quilts loved in places so far away!

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Neutral Study Quilt II ~ A Custom Quilt

It's been a world of Log Cabin Blocks here! 

Over the last week or so I have made 80 Log Cabin blocks for a custom quilt order that will eventually be heading all the way to Ireland.  (This quilt is based on the original Neutral Study Quilt made in May 2012.  See this previous blog post for all the details of the original quilt:  Neutral Study Quilt)

What I have learned is that I am super slow at piecing log cabins.  I like to press (and trim) each log as I go and then choose the next fabric/log.  Without taking over the whole house, I am unable to set myself up to ensure a more efficient flow of work, and as such I got up from behind my sewing machine, let's see ... 


80 Log Cabin Blocks
8 logs/seams for each block
piecing two blocks at a time:
I got up to press and trim: 320 times!
(and it felt like:  2000 times)

Once all 80 log cabin blocks were completed the quilt top came together effortlessly.  I am keen to get started on the quilting.  Let's hope I can push through the usual basting procrastination phase quickly this time.

More soon,
Rita
RELEVANT LINKS:

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Sunday Stash #153 ~ Lecien Floral Collections



Lecien ~ Flower Sugar ~ Spring 2012

Vintage inspired floral prints by Lecien in yellow, red, pink, green, aqua and white; a blend of classic designs and candied colored happiness.  I did say I was on the look out for small scale floral prints and then promptly stumbled upon these.
 Lecien Old New 30's by Atsuko Matsuyama

And couldn't resist these prints from the (Lecien) Old New 30's collection by Atsuko Matsuyama.  This selection is a cotton/linen blend, lightly textured by the weave and with a gorgeous hand and drape.
Last,  and also part of the (Lecien) Old New 30's collection by Atsuko Matsuyama, these gorgeous floral prints ~ Spring Meadow Flower ~ again cotton/linen blend fabrics but with a slightly coarser weave and texture.  

Lecien Flower Sugar - Spring 2012 also available from:
The Fat Quarter Shop

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Brandywine Shawl - A Finished Knit


The Pattern:
The Yarn
2 Skeins (50g)  Lorna's Laces
Shepherd Sock Solid (approx 400 yards)
in Carol Green
Brandywine Shawl is a lace shawl design by Romi Hill.  The pattern includes both written and charted instructions, and although I normally prefer to work from the charted instructions, I found that I had to refer to the written instructions to get started.  Once I understood the pattern repeat I was able to follow the charts.  This pattern required my attention more so than usual; it wasn't easy TV knitting, but the finished shawl is lovely!




For more pictures and all the details check out my Ravelry page:




Have a wonderful weekend. It's PERFECT knitting weather here today!
Rita

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Fabric Stash ~ Basics

FABRIC STASH BASICS ~ those fabric staples that make up a significant portion of a fabric stash.  Stash basics vary from sewer/quilter to quilter but for me that usually means dots, stripes, checks, solids, and more recently chevrons.   It just so happens that it has been a week of basics stashing.

Lecien -  Color Basics  
  • Stripes in Pink, Yellow, Green, Red, Black and Grey
  • Pin dot in Black
  • Medium Dot in Turquoise
Robert Kaufman ~ Everything Nice 
Apron Dot in Red, Aqua, Sunshine, Green and Grey.

And last ~ Chevron - Small by Riley Blake in a rainbow of eleven different colors.


Chevron  - Small by Riley Blake is a narrower Zig Zag Stripe than the original Riley Blake Chevron released earlier this year (now known as Chevron - Medium)  
Chevron - Small by Riley Blake available from:

I generally like to purchase half yards when stashing basics although if I feel that a particular fabric would also make a good binding fabric - like Lecien Color Basics Black/White Stripe - I will purchase additional yardage.


Happy Stashing!
Rita

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Bloomsbury Gardens II ~ A Finished Quilt


Bloomsbury II Quilt ~ 53 inches x 53 inches
441 squares each measuring 3 inches (including seam allowance)


I love working with fabric scraps!  It's so satisfying to create something out of what seems like nothing,  those scrappy leftovers.  Obviously there was plenty of fabric leftover from my 1/4 yard bundle of Bloomsbury fabric to create a useful and practical size quilt.  


I pieced this quilt in a process similar to that described in the Postage Stamp Quilt Tutorial, (with wider ~ 3 inch ~ strips).  And I have quilted this quilt in a grid of straight lines outlining seam lines, staying clear of cross-hatching (diagonal lines) so as not to add another graphic element to this already "busy" quilt top.


For the back of the quilt I have used a delicate and low volume print by Valori Wells - Del Hi Paisley in Scarlet.


Binding fabric:  by A Day in the Country ~ An Australian fabric company that produces an extensive range of excellent quality basic fabrics:  stripes, checks, dots, and small scale designs in a wide range of colors.

At this point I normally link up to where this quilt can be purchased.  However, on this occasion the quilt was sold prior to completion!  I have a feeling this quilt will be much enjoyed by my customer.

 
It's ready for shipping.

As always, thank you for stopping by!
Rita

Relevant Links:
Bloomsbury Gardens Quilt II ~ in progress 
Bloomsbury Gardens Quilt (A Snowball Quilt)