Hand Pieced Hexagon Star Quilt

Please let me start by telling you that this isn't my work.  Instead, this is a recently completed hand-pieced quilt made by my mother-in-law.

Hand-pieced Scrappy Hexagon Star Quilt

Finished Quilt measures 55 inches x 70 inches

The progress of this quilt has previously featured on my blog, right from the very first hand pieced stars blocks:

• 26 January 2010
• 23 February 2010
• 30 August 2010

Machine Quilted by Karen from Quilts on Bastings

Three years and much hand-stitching later the quilt is finished (my MIL has also worked on several other hand pieced and applique quilts during this time).

All of the diamonds have been traced onto fabric using a single plastic template, positioning the template so as to fussy cut the desired fabric portion.   Fabric has been been cut by hand, a seam allowance marked with pencil and hand stitched with tiny and consistent stitches.  Truly inspiring.

Some of the fabrics used may look familiar as my MIL has free reign over my scrap bin and stash.  Other fabrics are from my MIL's fabric stash and swapped with sewing group friends.  The red/white polka dot backing fabric and red/white bias binding are a perfect finish touch to this colorful quilt.  

252 Hexagon Star Blocks

3000+ diamonds

My MIL's work is inspirational, and one day I hope to have the patience to piece with such precision.  Perhaps I'll start small, and an English Paper Piecing (stabilizing the fabric shapes with pre-cut paper templates) project may well be in my future.  

With thanks to my MIL for allowing me to photograph and share this amazing quilt.

Enjoy the picture overload,

Rita

EDITED TO ADD:
My MIL did not use a pattern to make this quilt, instead all that was used was this 60 degree plastic template.  The plastic template is placed on the fabric and a line traced around the template with pencil.  The fabric is then cut out with a small pair of scissors.  A 1/4 inch seam is marked on the fabric again using a pencil in preparation for hand stitching.

This template is from Victorian Textiles - a 60 degree 2.5 inch Hex.  Code VT917.

Tickled Pink - A Finished Quilt

Tickled Pink

Finished Quilt Size:  44 inches x 56 inches

I have finished my hourglass quilt and I love it!   I so enjoy working with simple traditional quilt designs, and randomly collating modern fabrics (from my fabric stash) to make a quilt. 

I have combined a wide range of fabrics in every shade and saturation of pink, as well as a mix of fabrics with a predominantly white or off-white background to make a scrappy quilt with an overall cohesive look.  I think you'll recognize many of these fabrics used from previous projects.

As this quilt is all about fabrics I have limited the quilting detail by ditch stitching all of the seam lines  (horizontal, vertical and diagonal).  It was a lot of slow and careful stitching, but I think the result is well worth the effort. The quilt still has the lovely texture created by the quilting but there are no visible lines of stitching across any of the fabrics.

For the back of the quilt I have used a fabric that I have been saving for just the right project - Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey (Scooters in Vanilla Ice).  And although I auditioned many different fabrics for the binding there was no other fabric that made quite the same statement as a black/white striped fabric.  

This quilt is listed in my Etsy Store.  SOLD

It is going to make a lucky girl very happy.

Here are some of the work in progress pictures

 of this quilt posted on Instagram.

My Instagram profile:  redpepperquilts

Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate it.
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Tickled Pink [workinprogress]
Hourglass Block Tutorial

Sunday Stash #174 - Posy by Aneela Hoey

Posy by Aneela Hoey for Moda Fabrics

Aneela has done it again!  Posy is the latest collection by UK designer Aneela Hoey for Moda. The collection consists of 9 designs in up to four colorways. Reminiscent of all things girly but also Spring and a change of seasons.  For us down under we are ready to welcome Autumn; a more gentle season after a dry and long hot Summer.

Weave in Lily of the Valley, Foxglove and Lilac

Stripe in Lily of the Valley, Geranium and Hollyhock

Story in Daisy, Foxglove and Lilac

Posy includes small scale prints, stripes, and text prints, all of which are excellent stash basics - fabrics which combine readily with other collections and to which I turn to often when collating a fabric stack for a quilt project.  

Bouquet in Forget Me Not, Honey Suckle, Daisy, Foxglove and Lilac (bottom).

I am particularly obsessed taken with the Bouquet design (above), and although I have started with this bundle of Fat Eighths, I have re-ordered these in yardage!   You may also have noticed that several prints from this collection have already made an appearance in my Hourglass quilt top (see last blog post).

Bunnies in Honeysuckle, Lilac and Foxglove.

Posy by Aneela Hoey is now available from:

Fabric Worm

Fat Quarter Shop

GJ's Discount Fabrics

Enjoy Sunday!

Rita

[workinprogress] Hourglass Quilt

Tickled Pink

It's been a week of all things pink in my "studio" and I am happy to say that although it has been a while since I have been quite so heavy handed with the pink color palette, it has been ever so delightful.  

I am also revisiting my love for Half Square Triangles and the traditional Hourglass Block; repetitive easy piecing although dealing with bulkier seams - where points meet - is always a little tricky.  I have pressed the seams together and have tried to be consistent throughout the piecing of this quilt top to ensure that seams lock together and try to avoid excessive bulk. 

My fabric selection is from my stash of pink fabrics, with a touch of red and orange.  I have contrasted these with a wide variety of low volume white/black prints which has added much detail.  My initial plan was to make two baby quilts however once I saw the impact of the small hourglass blocks on my design floor I revisited the plan and pieced a single quilt top.  

More soon.

Rita

Relevant Links:

Hourglass Block Tutorial

Be Squared - A Finished Quilt and Pattern

Be Squared Quilt

Finished Quilt size:  56 inches x 72 inches

And so I have finished my quilt made with my treasured Oakshott cottons.  I am so glad to have finally cut into my Oakshott Colorbox.  It has been such a wonderful week.  Working with these fabrics is a privilege!  Delightful.

My plan had been to go heavy with the quilting (closely spaced lines both horizontal and vertical), but once the quilt top was finished and I could see how amazing these fabrics really are I decided to keep it simple to ensure that the fabric and the colors would be the highlight.

For the back of the quilt I have used a text print - Headliner News by Blank Textiles - a welcome and quirky contrast to the non-print fabric used in the quilt top.  I have matched this with a subtle text binding fabric:

Binding fabric:  Mama Said Sew

Sewing Guide in Black - by Moda Fabrics

40 different colors/fabrics

504 1008 fabrics squares

I have listed this quilt in my Etsy Store.

You can find the listing for the finished quilt here:  Be Squared Quilt

I have written an easy piecing  pattern for this quilt - suitable also for beginners.

The pattern is Jelly Roll, Fat Eighth, Fat Quarter and Yardage friendly.

Fabric requirements and cutting instructions are included for four different quilt sizes.

The pattern includes a guided tutorial with photo images for piecing and pressing seams which will assist in the successful completion of this quilt.

The Be Squared Quilt Pattern (pdf file) is now available here:

and my Etsy Store:

All my patterns are PDF files and if purchased from my Etsy Store are available for immediate download upon receipt of payment.

Happy Stitching!
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts Pattern Store
Red Pepper Quilts Etsy Store
Oakshott Work in Progress
Oakshott Fabrics - and sign up for newsletter

Oakshott [workinprogress]

Like I said ~ Use it or Lose it.  This stunning colorbox of Oakshott cottons has been a sitting idle in my fabric stash since, dare I say, March last year.  It has been much admired but, not willing to mess around with the color arrangement, it hasn't seen a lot of action.

That has all changed this week.  I have popped the lid, messed up the colors, and got busy with the rotary cutter and sewing machine. What took me so long?!  

Oakshott cottons are a fine quality fabrics which are ethically hand loomed, in an environmentally friendly way, in the south of India. The cotton weave is shot - with a warp and weft of different tones - which creates a beautiful luminous and iridescent hue.  And so beautiful to work with!  

It has taken me a few days to sew this quilt top.  Working with these fabrics and endless color combinations was simply delightful.  I was in my element.

A whole bunch of squares.  I am thinking of writing a pattern - with quick and easy piecing instructions.  But first:  BQB - basting, quilting, binding.

Thank you for stopping by.

Rita

Relevant Links:
See the finished quilt here:  Be Squared Quilt - Oakshott Cottons

Oakshott Fabrics - and sign up for newsletter

Sunday Stash #133 - Oakshott Fabrics

Oakshott Bear Paw Pillow Cover Pattern 

Vintage Stripes ~ Quilted Pillow Cover

A small scrap bundle of stripe fabric has been sitting on my cutting table since finishing my stripe quilt earlier this month, awaiting my next move - use it or bin it.

I love working with these stripey fabrics, and this time decided to cut the fabric pieces on the diagonal (off-grain);  more wasteful (of fabric) than anticipated but a fun variation.  I did have to call upon some stash fabrics to add variety.

The finished product is a pillow cover, basted and quilted with edge to edge diagonal lines (cross-hatched).  One of the great things about a small project is that the basting is not a chore, and the quilting is no hassle.   It goes a long way in re-setting my enthusiasm for making larger quilts.

The pillow cover includes a zippered side seam for easy insert removal and cleaning.  

For the back of the pillow cover I have used heavier weight home decorator fabric from the Authentic collection by Sweetwater which I have been zealously hoarding for the right project.  This was it!  My fabric motto for 2013 is Use it or Lose it!

I have listed this pillow cover in my Etsy Store.   

You can find the listing here:  Modern Patchwork Pillow Cover.
SOLD

A nice way to end this Australia Day long weekend as well as start a new week.

Rita

Relevant Links:
Reclaimed Striped Fabrics

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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.

Sunday Stash #173 - Micro Mod by Rob Bancroft

Micro Mod is Rob Bancroft's debut collection for Cloud 9 Fabrics.  Micro Mod is a collection of 12 fabrics featuring a set of retro-inspired geometric prints on a intimate scale; 7 small scale designs in not necessarily a masculine palette - black, grey, teal, purple, and a touch of rusty orange and mustard yellow.

Seaweed in Teal, Vertigo in Teal, Tick Tock in White, Night Vision in Teal

Seaweed in Purple, Vertigo in Purple, Tick Tock in Teal

Hey look!  Some much need purple fabrics for my stash.  

Arches in Grey, Library, Arches in Black, Night Vision in Black, and Zombie.

Micro Mod is a modern -100% Certified Organic - graphic collection that immediately appealed to my eye for clear pattern and color.  I am particularly drawn to the black/white fabrics (pictured above), which will  compliment my stash perfectly.  The purple fabrics will be my challenge prints.  I do like the color purple but  continue to struggle to use purple in my quilts.

Enjoy Sunday!

Rita

Disclosure:  This Micro Mod bundle of fabric was sent to me courtesy of Cloud 9 Fabrics without obligation - the words, photos and opinions however are all mine.  No persuasion needed.