Thursday, March 31, 2016

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt ~ Part 1

Work in Progress.
Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

As promised, this week's quilt is a scrap buster quilt. I don't manage my fabric scraps well. My scraps are all odd sized pieces, a mix of prints and solid fabrics, in every color of the rainbow and more, all squished into two over-sized plastic tubs. It's not a pretty sight ... until you tip them over and see the treasures that are in there.

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Almost all of the printed fabrics used in this quilt top have been rescued from my scrap bin. Admittedly, some are new fabrics that recently arrived and were still sitting on my cutting table, and I just couldn't help cutting into them! More scraps were made. The solid fabrics - all of which are Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons - were taken from stash. I think that is a well balanced quilt top ~ some rescued, some just in, and some fabrics from stash

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

The quilt design is a traditional Drunkard's Path block sewn together in four-patch units to form a complete circle. I set out to make 100 full circles. That's 400 Drunkard's Path units. The circles are small, measuring 4 inches in diameter, and I used a specialty ruler by Bloc-Loc (a 3" Finished Drunkard's Path ruler) to piece each of the Drunkard's Path units. Bloc-Loc templates and rulers are based on over-sizing and trimming blocks (squaring up) for accuracy, and that is exactly how I like to sew. 

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

The Bloc-Loc trimming template has a groove that hugs the curved 1/4" seam which makes trimming quick, easy, and accurate - with the standard being that the curved seam is pressed away from the inner quarter circle. However as I wanted all of the seams to nest I pressed the seam allowance for half of the Drunkard's Path units towards the quarter circle. I was still able to use the Bloc-Loc trimming template to square up the units simply by lining up the line on the template with the seam. Initially I clipped the curved seam allowances prior to pressing but soon realized that the curve was just as smooth and neat without clipping. Furthermore, no pins were used to make this quilt top! 

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

QUICK QUILT STATS
400 Drunkard's Path Units.
800 patchwork pieces.
100 four-patch Circle Blocks.
Each Drunkard's Path unit measured 3.5" x 3.5".
These units were then sewn into four-patch units to form a circle.
Each four-patch Circle Block then measured 6.5" x 6.5".
To create the balance of printed fabric vs solid background fabric I trimmed
the four-patch Circle Block to measure 5.5" x 5.5".
All solid fabrics are Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton.
Quilt top measures 50.5 inches x 50.5 inches.

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of piecing this quilt top and I LOVE how it has turned out. It's bright and colorful, and although you would not know it by looking at my scrap bins, I have rescued at least 200+ small pieces of scrap fabric!

Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Ready for basting and quilting.

More soon.
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Tutorial - Sewing Curves without Pins
Confetti Drunkard's Path Quilt ~ Part 2 (The Finished Quilt)
Bloc-Loc (USA) and Bloc-Loc (AUST)
More RPQ Quilts made using Bloc-Loc Rulers and Templates
More Scrap Buster Quilts

More RPQ Drunkard's Path Quilts
Confetti Drunkard's Path Scrap Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Pin It!
Follow on Bloglovin
COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Sunday Stash #326 Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell

Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell for Moda Fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell
for Moda Fabrics

Following on from last week's Sunday Stash post (featuring the Speckles and Lollies collections) this week's fabric collection ~ Behind the Scenes ~ is also by Jen Kingwell. Just like every great production needs a supporting cast, Behind the Scenes is a collection of background fabrics that make the stars of the show shine.

Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell for Moda Fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell for Moda Fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell for Moda Fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

This collection of pin dots, cross-hatch and geometric prints in taupe, gray, beige, and brown  make a perfect accompaniment for any collection as background fabric or quilt sashing. I really like the variety of designs in this collection and although not immediately inviting I can readily visualize this collection used as a background fabric to create an interesting and strong contrast with colored fabrics.

Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell for Moda Fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

BEHIND THE SCENES BY JEN KINGWELL is due in stores this month and will be available from:
The Fat Quarter Shop
Pink Castle Fabrics

Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell for Moda Fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Behind the Scenes by Jen Kingwell for Moda Fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Click on any image for a larger view.
Happy Easter!
Rita

Pin It!
Follow on Bloglovin
COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content (this specifically includes all photos) from my blog without my written permission.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt

A Finished Quilt and a Picture Post.
A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

When cutting fabric and making units/blocks for a quilt I like to steam ahead and cut and sew until I have undoubtedly made enough units/blocks for a whole quilt. Almost always I find that when laying out all the pieces I have to go back to the cutting table and sewing machine to make more units. For my last quilt - The Summer Rain Quilt - I surprised myself by making way too many four-patch units and also cutting too many low volume squares of fabric. 

A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

In fact, I was left with enough extra units to make a baby quilt. To add variety I played around with a design for the center of the quilt (a design not unlike that featured in the Modern Red and White Star Baby Quilt that I made in 2014). I trialed various color palettes for the featured design and found the combination of black stars with strong contrast fabrics the most striking.

A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
QUILT STATS 
A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt
The finished quilt measures 34.5 inches x 43 inches* (or 88cm x 109cm) -
a great size for a baby play mat and a manageable size for toddlers.
62 four-patch units each measuring 3.5" x 3.5".
Contrasted with low volume background fabrics (3.5" squares)
The center feature solid fabrics are Robert Kaufman Kona cottons.
All cotton fabrics and thread.
Warm & White batting from The Warm Company; 
a low loft cotton batting perfect for use with low volume and bright white fabrics.

A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt - binding | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

For the back of the quilt I have used a single fabric from The Simple Life collection by Tasha Noel. And for the binding I have again used a black/white stripe fabric; this time I have used a very narrow stripe fabric by Australian design team an distributor - A Day in the Country

A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

I love making baby quilts! This was such a fun project and I loved putting those leftover pieces to good use rather than adding more fabric to my already overflowing scrap bins. (And I was also able to use up a leftover piece of batting!). Managing the scraps is becoming an issue, and the plan for my next project is to work my way through my scrap bins. Needless to say, if I am serious about busting my stash of fabric scraps, then my next project will be bigger than a baby quilt.

A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

This quilt is for sale and is listed in my Etsy Store.

All the listing details are here:
Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt
(SOLD just prior to publishing this blog post)

A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

A Modern Rainbow Baby and Toddler Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts Etsy Store
The Summer Rain Quilt
Modern Red and White Star Baby Quilt

Pin It!
Follow on Bloglovin
COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The Summer Rain Quilt

A finished quilt and a picture post ~
The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
Summer Rain Quilt - 2016

Squares. Squares. And more squares. That's how my week unfolded. I love simple sewing and it doesn't get much easier than sewing together a whole bunch of squares. Having said that, setting squares on point does add another level of skill (and patience), especially when it comes to basting a quilt where the grain of all the fabric is on the diagonal rather than straight. The same technique but a different stretch and movement of fabric.  Thankfully, all went well!

The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

Once basted, I quilted the quilt with an all over cross hatch (diagonal straight lines) by ditch stitching the seam lines, and stitching through the center of the squares (and four patch units), creating an all over grid of 1 1/2 inch squares. Lots of quilting! But the texture is so worth it.

The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

For the back of the quilt I have used a single pink floral fabric from the Cookie Book collection by Kim Kight for Cotton + Steel. I have been saving this yardage for backing fabric for the right project and this was the one!

The Summer Rain Quilt - binding | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

For the binding I have once again used a classic black/white stripe fabric by Timeless Treasures  which in this instance provides just the right amount of contrast for this colorful quilt.

The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
QUILT STATS ~ Summer Rain Quilt 
The finished quilt measures 55 inches x 73 inches or 140cm x 185cm.
192 four-patch units each measuring 3.5" x 3.5".
Contrasted with low volume background fabrics (3.5" squares)
and Kona Highlight (96 squares each measuring 3.5" x 3.5").
All measurements include seam allowances.
More than 180 different stash basics were used for the four patch units and
more than 150 different low volume background fabrics.
All cotton fabrics and thread.
Warm & White batting from The Warm Company
a low loft cotton batting perfect for use with low volume and bright white fabrics.

The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

This quilt is for sale and is listed in my Etsy Store.


The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016
The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

As always, thank you for stopping by,
Rita

The Summer Rain Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts 2016

RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts - Etsy Store
The Summer Rain Quilt - Work in Progress (includes details of Kona Cotton - Highlight)
2016 RPQ Finished Quilts

Pin It!
Follow on Bloglovin
COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.