Sunday, December 30, 2012

Sunday Stash #169 - 2WENTY-THR3E

2wenty-thr3e by Eric and Julie Comstock 
for Moda

2wenty-thr3e by Eric and Julie Comstock (the Cosmo Cricket team) is a fun new collection due to hit store in March 2013 - limited pre-cuts have been available since Quilt Market in November 2012.

The collection consists of 8 different designs, each design available in several different colorways ranging from soft yellows (Mustard) to pink (Petal) and grey (Pavement).  Included also are a great selection of text and number prints with a photography and movies/cinema theme.

No collection is complete without a set of basic stash prints - I love these graphic prints!  I think these will combine well with other fabric collections and will probably be the first to make an appearance in my quilt projects.


And last, but certainly not least, are these camera prints - in five different colorways.   So unique and fun, they are definitely my favorite print in this collection.  

I am looking forward to cutting into these ... perhaps even step out of my comfort zone and make a camera bag or a camera strap!

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

2wenty-thr3e by Eric and Julie Comstock is due to arrive in store in March 2013.

Sign up for notification of arrival here:
The Fat Quarter Shop

Friday, December 28, 2012

Daybreak :: A Finished Knit




Being crafty is what I do and taking a break - and clearing all of my sewing paraphernalia from my sewing area - doesn't come easily.  And so, I cast on a knitting project on 23 December for some social knitting and several consecutive nights of marathon knitting, only to finish this shawl by 27 December.


As with most of my knitting projects this shawl - Daybreak by Stephen West - is an easy and well written pattern, suitable for beginners with some basic knitting experience.  Once you get the general idea of the placement of the pattern increases, progress is quick.


The Yarn:  
Kauni 8/2 Effektgarn (EQ)
 Madelinetosh Merino Light in Silver Fox


The magic of this shawl and it's rainbow of colors is all in the yarn.  I used Kauni Effektgarn yarn (alternated with solid yarn) which is a long repeat self striping yarn, with beautifully dyed saturated colors.  It was a pleasure to watch the changing colors glide through my busy hands and the impact that each color change made upon the quickly growing shawl.





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


In October - whilst on holidays in the USA - I also made a shawl for my mother for Christmas.   She loved it.


The Yarn:  Madelinetosh Merino Light in Luster
See all the details and more photos here:  Ravelry ~ Maia

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Sunday Stash #168 - Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander

Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander

Architextures is Carolyn Friedlander's first fabric collection for Robert Kaufman Fabrics and is inspired by her background in architecture. 


I absolutely adore this clever collection and love that it further adds to, and expands upon, our love for all things text fabric

Architextures - Ledgers - in Grey, Ivory and Multi

(I love these ledger prints! - I was an accountant in my distant past you know, hence the thing for numbers)


Architextures - Scribble Notes in Black, Navy and Charcoal


 Architextures - Foliage in Blue, Grass and Grey

Did you notice that this collection also includes a crosshatch print in 6 different colors?  These are such versatile background and stash fabrics.

Architextures - Crosshatch in Plum, Black, White, Grey, Tangerine and Peach

Enjoy Sunday!

Happy Holidays!  Stay safe and enjoy time spent with family and friends.

Rita xx

Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander is available from:

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Zippered Pouches

A Handmade Christmas - Part 2

five, six and seven inch zippers
These colorful zippers came home with me in a spur of the moment decision to finally overcome my fear of sewing with zippers as well as to make a few stocking fillers for Christmas. I've had a go at making zippered pouches once before although I felt that some further refinement of my skills was needed. And so it began.   
These three pouches were my first attempt.  I searched the Internet for zippered pouch tutorials (and there are lots!) and found this tutorial by Noodlehead to be particularly easy to follow and had success making these pouches without difficulty.
Fabrics include:  Owls by Annika Wester for Kokka

I then decided that I wanted to try my hand at a pouch with zippered tabs and used Colleen's (The Busy Bean's) tutorial found here:  Basic Pouch with Zippered Tabs to get started.  I have fiddled around with size and also found a more suitable interfacing (iron on) product at my local store, GJ's Discount Fabrics.  (I have only used interfacing for the exterior fabrics).

Fabrics Include:
Echino  by Etsuko Furuya for Kokka (Fall 09)

All of the zippered pouched have been lined with quilting cottons.  Choosing zippers and fabrics has of course been the most fun!

And I've also moved on to making patchwork pouches; this one featuring fabrics from the Notting Hill collection by Joel Dewberry, a gift for my young niece filled with pink and orange pens, pencils and markers.  I have lined the exterior patchwork fabric with iron-on interfacing rather than batting, then quilted it.


Ah yes, you can see what some of my family and friends will be receiving in their Christmas stockings this year.  There's plenty to go around, and I think they make an unique and thoughtful handmade gift.
Good times.  A fear of zippers conquered, and gifts ready for wrapping.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Relevant Links:
A Handmade Christmas - Part 1
Christmas Crafting
A Cherry Christmas Quilt

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Sunday Stash #167 - Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry

Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry for FreeSpirit Fabric

The latest collection by Joel Dewberry - prolific designer of modern quilting fabrics - is Notting Hill.  The fabric collection - Notting Hill - is inspired by the London based community of Notting Hill and features  bold, color rich designs including beautiful large scale floral prints.


The collection consists of 36 different prints in three color palettes:  Poppy, Aquamarine and Tangerine.
Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry is available from:
Not currently available.

Notting Hill - Tangerine - Zippered Pouch - more details coming soon.

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Glimma by Lotta Jansdotter

Last week I received a surprise package in the mail from Windham Fabrics. Nice!  A sneak peek of Lotta Jansdotter's new fabric collection (due in stores in April 2013) - Glimma.   And so it started.  I spent some time contemplating how best to use these fabric squares and soon came to the conclusion ....


.... that it might be fun to mix Lotta's new Glimma collection together with both of Lotta's earlier collections, Echo and Bella.  The prints are all large scale contemporary prints, and when combined together they appear to have a commonality that certainly suggests all are created by the one designer.


The colors of the prints across the three collections are not exact matches - the orange Glimma palette a little deeper, the blue Glimma palette a little brighter - however I don't think these subtle differences are obvious when combining these fabric collections.  I rather like the cheerful look of the combined collections.


I am also rather partial to this stripey binding - it had to be a sunny yellow for this quilt.  The binding fabric is Clown Stripe by Michael Miller in Limeade.


It's been a fun sewing week - easy piecing patchwork squares - which still is one of my favorite quilt layout/designs.   The humble square is foolproof and highlights the fabric beautifully.  By the way, the four different solid fabrics used in the quilt top are part of the Glimma fabric collection - they somehow escaped the photography session of the squares received in the mail.


The finished quilt has been listed this quilt in my Etsy Store. SOLD

You can find the listing for this quilt here:  Modern Patchwork Quilt - Glimma

Ready for shipping.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita
Relevant Links:

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A Custom Quilt in Stripes - Part 2

A Finished Quilt

I hope that you are ready for the standard picture overload of a finished quilt, although I must say it was tricky to get a good photo of the whole quilt due to it's size.


The finished size of the quilt is 65 inches x 80 inches with each of the finished squares measuring 5 inches x 5 inches; a simple quilt design.  This quilt is all about the fabric and it felt great to be upcycling these vintage fabrics, in addition to working with stash fabrics.


The back of the quilt is pieced and features a horizontal panel of patchwork squares from the same fabrics as used in the quilt top.  The straight line quilting grid is a set of double lines of both sides of all seam lines (completed in an epic quilting day - really, this took hours).

I couldn't resist completing this quilt with a black/white striped binding.   
No surprises.
This quilt has already been shipped off to it's new owner and is destined to be used in a remodeled 1880's farmhouse.  I couldn't think of anything more perfect.  It makes parting with this quilt so much easier.  


I've spent some time tidying my work space.  I even cleared my cutting table to reveal it's surface, all in in preparation for whatever may be next.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita


RELEVANT LINKS:
A Custom Quilt in Stripes - Part 1
Reclaimed Striped Linens

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COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

Winner ~ Noteworthy by Sweetwater FQ Bundle!

Thank you for all of your wonderful entries - there could be only 1 lucky winner .... 



Congratulations, Georgia!
Happy Stitching, enjoy this bundle of goodness!

Happy Holidays!
Rita

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Stash #166 - Noteworthy by Sweetwater

A Moda Fabrics collection.
Noteworthy by Sweetwater

This is such a fun collection - 40 Fat Quarters in total - of dainty doodle prints, complete with classic stripes and dots, in soft reds, orange/yellow, green, grey, blue and a neutral background.


Floral Print in Blue Mist, Daisy and Cloudy


And a favorite: text fabric complete with more doodles,endless buckets list ideas - take the summer off, go on a road trip, make a quilt for each of my children, get rid of clutter, become a photographer ....

Paisley in Pickle, Kisses, Blue Mist, Vanilla, Tangerine

Noteworthy by Sweetwater yardage is due in stores in January 2013.

I hope you're still reading?  I am giving this Noteworthy bundle of 40 Fat Quarters away to one lucky reader.  To be in the draw all you need to do is leave a comment on this post (please ensure that an email address is available on your profile or is included in your comment - NO EMAIL ADDRESS = NO VALID ENTRY).  International visitors are very welcome to enter!  One comment per person/email address will be eligible to enter the draw.) 

The draw will take place at 9 am on Tuesday 11 December 2012 (Australia EDT) at which time comments to this post will be closed. The winner will be announced here the same day, and will also be contacted by email.
Thank you for all of your entries!


ENTRY HAS NOW CLOSED AND 
A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY

Spreading some early Christmas cheer,
Rita