Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt - A Finished Quilt

QUILT DETAILS

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt

The finished quilt measures 60 inches x 60 inches.

36 Courthouse Steps Blocks - 6 rows of 6 blocks.

FEATURED FABRIC:

Outback Wife 2017 by Gertrude Made and

Essentials by Gertrude Made

both collections for Ella Blue Fabrics

BATTING:

Low loft cotton batting.

BINDING:

Checkers in Black by Cotton + Steel (yarn dyed woven

gingham fabric).

Well, I am rather chuffed with how this quilt turned out! There were several things that could have gone horribly wrong with this quilt but thankfully it all went to plan. The heavier weight fabric and quilt top created no problems when quilting it (other than having to heave more weight through the machine, again and again - an excellent upper body work out!) and the quilt back lined up remarkably well.  I have lots of photos to share with you today ~

Click on any image for a larger view.

The quilt is quilted with edge to edge straight lines ~ first ditch stitching the horizontal and vertical seam lines of the Courthouse Steps Blocks, then adding additional lines at 1 inch intervals, and finally adding one set of diagonal lines that intersect in the center and corners of the blocks. 

I have used Aurifil 28wt thread (the gray spool) for quilting (28wt top thread - 40wt thread in the bobbin).This is a heavier weight thread which makes the stitches stand out and adds another point of interest. The stitches are long and the thread weight heavier/thicker than I would normally use, which complements the heavier weight fabrics used to make the quilt and gives the stitch greater definition.

For the binding I have used a yarn-dyed gingham fabric (Checkers in Black by Cotton + Steel) which I think worked well with the overall vibe of this quilt and the fabric collections used.

This quilt is available for purchase from 
my Etsy Store.

See the listing details here:
OUTBACK WIFE - COURTHOUSE STEPS QUILT

As always, thank you for stopping by and scrolling through all the photos.

I am ready to start a new project!
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts Etsy Store
Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt - Work in Progress
Sunday Stash - Outback Wife 2017
Sunday Stash - Essentials by Gertrude Made
Outback Wife Quilt - April 2017
Gertrude Made
Ella Blue Fabrics

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COPYRIGHT and DISCLOSURE: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. Outback Wife 2017 and Essentials by Gertrude Made fabric bundles kindly supplied by Cathi Bessell-Browne and Ella Blue Fabrics. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt

Work in Progress ... lots of photos!

Outback Wife 2017 and Essentials by Gertrude Made (the solids, gingham, and yarn dyed fabrics) are the most recently released fabric collections by Cathi Bessell-Browne for Ella Blue Fabrics - Cathi is an Australian designer and dressmaker with a passion for vintage floral fabrics. It is no secret that I love fabric and even though these colors and large scale floral designs are not usual style I was immediately drawn to them, and was thrilled to receive a complimentary bundle of both collections from Cathi and Ella Blue Fabrics.

Click on any image for a larger view.

Over the festive season these fabric bundles were never far from my sight; propped neatly on my cutting table awaiting inspiration to strike. Every time I walked past I wondered if cutting the beautiful large scale floral designs into small patchwork pieces would not be the best use of these fabrics, but my instincts told me to go for it. I played with several traditional quilt designs including Log Cabin and Flying Geese blocks, before settling on Courthouse Steps blocks and working with light/dark fabrics for contrast in the design of the quilt.

The Outback Wife range of fabrics are barkcloth fabrics; soft, thick, slightly textured cotton fabric heavier in weight than standard quilting cotton, but no more difficult to handle, cut, sew, and press, than quilting cotton. The barkcloth fabric base has a gorgeous texture and is much softer than I had anticipated. The barkcloth fabrics also worked well with both the yarn-dyed fabrics and quilting weight gingham/stripe fabrics from the Essentials range. Furthermore, I did not hesitate to add several linen and linen blend fabrics (as well as quilting cottons) from stash into the mix. Texture + texture + texture!

QUILT DETAILS

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt

Quilt top measures 60 inches x 60 inches.

36 Courthouse Steps blocks.
6 rows of 6 blocks.
 Each finished block measures 10" x 10"

[cut center square 2.5" x 2.5" and cut all surrounding

logs 1.5" wide]

FEATURED FABRIC:

Outback Wife 2017 by Gertrude Made

Essentials by Gertrude Made 

Outback Wife - Courthouse Steps Quilt

60 inches x 60 inches.

The use of the heavier weight fabrics means that this quilt top is significantly heavier than my usual quilt tops. It is heavy in a good way though ... perfect for a cold Winter's night in front of the TV and providing comfort when used on a bed. I am planning to further add to the weight of the quilt by piecing a quilt back from the larger pieces of leftover barkcloth fabrics.

RELEVANT LINKS:
Sunday Stash - Outback Wife 2017
Sunday Stash - Essentials by Gertrude Made
Outback Wife Quilt - April 2017
Gertrude Made
Ella Blue Fabrics

Thank you for stopping by and scrolling through the many photos!

More soon,
Rita

Follow RPQ on:
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COPYRIGHT and DISCLOSURE: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. Fabric bundle kindly supplied by Cathi Bessell-Browne and Ella Blue Fabrics. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

Courthouse Steps Quilt - A Finished Quilt

And a Picture Post.

My Courthouse Steps Quilt is finished! I have so enjoyed working on this quilt; this really is my preferred patchwork piecing style. I enjoy both the repetitive piecing as well as the fabric play, working on one block at a time, ticking off the blocks and counting down to a finished quilt. 

It was a lot of sewing, pressing, trimming and repeat, but I loved every moment of it, even when I decided that the quilt top needed two more rows of blocks. And it was worth it.

I have quilted the quilt by ditch stitching and top stitching a 1 inch grid of horizontal and vertical lines. Again, this was time consuming but it has given the quilt a lovely soft texture. The stitching lines are subtle and are a visual feature on the back of the quilt, and a tactile feature of the quilt as a whole.

For the back of the quilt I have used a single - and sought after - fabric: Girl on Swing from the Sherbet Pips collection by Aneela Hoey. Again I have used a black/white stripe fabric for binding. (Quilt Label information here).

Quilt Stats:

Quilt measures 54 inches x 63 inches

72 Courthouse Step Blocks

and 63 different printed/color fabrics,

many more low volume fabrics.

918 patchwork pieces.

This quilt has already been sold and is now in transit to a new owner. 

RELEVANT LINKS:
Courthouse Steps Quilt - Part I and Tutorial
Courthouse Steps Quilt - Part II 

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Courthouse Steps Quilt ~ A Quilt in Progress

Here is what I have been up to this week. Piecing, piecing, piecing. And truly this is my favorite way to work; playing with color as well as low volume fabrics, and sewing blocks with small strips of fabric. It has been a good week. Busy. But good.

This quilt is my interpretation of my new(ish) IKEA rug (and yes I did have to vacuum the rug before taking this photo because I don't have any doubt that you would already know that it is usually decorated with threads). This quilt and the rug both say much about me. Although I LOVE color and I love working with color, my home furnishings and my clothing preference is much more reserved. Instead I add pops of color with my quilts and pillows, and in Winter a colorful knitted shawl drapes permanently around my neck.

This quilt is made up of traditional Courthouse Steps block. It is a simple block and is pieced from the center out, starting with the small - red with white polka dot - square and adding strips to both sides of that square, alternating color (light/dark) as you go. It was time consuming but I soon found my sewing rhythm. This quilt and layout also required some fabric/color planning as each Courthouse Step block is made up of two adjoining fabrics.

Here is what each block looks like. My block measures 7.5" x 7.5" which includes the seam allowances, and the fabric pieces are cut as follows - starting with the center square:

A 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches (red fabric with white polka dots)
B 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches
C 1.5 inches x 3.5 inches (square up block to measure 3.5" x 3.5")
D 1.5 inches x 3.5 inches
E 1.5 inches x 5.5 inches  (square up block to measure 5.5" x 5.5")
F 1.5 inches x 5.5 inches
G 1.5 inches x 7.5 inches (square up block to measure 7.5" x 7.5")

B D and F are low volume fabrics (low contrast fabrics with a light/white background).
C E and G are printed/color fabrics. I have chosen small scale designs for stronger contrast and color blocking.

I prefer to piece by slightly over-sizing units and trimming back. For example, I cut my strips 1/8th of an inch wider than the 1.5 inch requirement for units C - G and then trimmed back the block at intervals as noted above.

My quilt top isn't yet finished. I'd like to add another two rows each of 8 blocks. So it is back to the sewing machine for me.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Courthouse Steps Quilt in Progress II
Courthouse Steps Quilt ~ A Finished Quilt