Liberty Tana Lawn and Chambray Checkerboard Quilt ~ Blues

It is back to basics for me this week. Having just finished the Scrappy Apple Core Quilt which involved the sewing of many tricky curves, what I needed was a simple sewing project. This quilt is all about the fabrics and colors, and a traditional checkerboard layout. I love classic patchwork squares and never tire of collating fabrics for a given color palette. Fabric play is the best part and I even enjoy the repetitive (meditative!) tasks required to make this quilt; cut, sew, press, and repeat!

I have many beautiful Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics in deep color hues and thought these would pair well with a natural chambray fabric in a traditional Checkerboard Quilt. The background fabric is a Melange Yarn Dyed fabric in Natural by Lecien, which is a 100 percent cotton fabric with a cross weave that creates a textured appearance much like traditional linen. This fabric is similar in weight and cuts, sews, presses, and  feels just like standard quilting cotton. (It seems this fabric is no longer available).

My choice of color for this quilt started with an all blues theme, however it soon progressed into a mixed blue, purple/pink, black/grey color palette. While many of the fabrics are Liberty of London Tana Lawn, I have added quilting cotton fabrics from stash as well as several reclaimed shirt fabrics (including the gingham in blue and purple/magenta).

This quilt was strip pieced and I followed the same piecing method as set out in my Checkerboard Strip Piecing Tutorial (I cut my fabric strips 3" x 10" and cross cut the strip sets at 3 inch intervals). I also spent quite some time randomising the strip-pieced sets by taking strip sets apart, as well as adding individual patchwork pieces (for example all fussy cut fabrics).

Click on any image for a larger view.

QUILT DETAILS

Liberty Tana Lawn and Chambray Checkerboard Quilt - The Blues

Quilt top measures 60 inches x 60 inches.

100+ different fabrics. 

I  have made 36 16-patch blocks. 

  A total of 576 patches of fabric (24 rows of 24 squares).

(Refer to the Checkerboard Strip Piecing Tutorial for detailed piecing details).

Each finished square measures 2.5" x 2.5".

Printed fabric:

A mix of Liberty Tana Lawn, quilting cotton, and reclaimed shirt fabrics.

Background Fabric:

2 yards Melange Yarn Dyed fabric by Lecien.

Now ready for basting and quilting. I can't wait to add more texture to that background fabric!

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Strip Piecing Tutorial for a Checkerboard Quilt
Liberty Tana Lawn and Chambray (Black) Quilt - July 2014
Summer's End Checkerboard Quilt - March 2017
More RPQ Liberty of London Tana Lawn projects.
More RPQ projects using reclaimed 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 #431 Big Sky by Annie Brady

Big Sky by Annie Brady

for Moda Fabrics

Annie Brady's first collection for Moda Fabrics is a journey into the Montana wild. Out past the urban cityscape, the sky opens up and seems to go on forever. There are mountains and forests, deep valleys and rivers. It is a place where animals and nature reign. There are no cars or people, but it's far from quiet as the forest has its own kind of language. There are bears, moose and buffalo ... this is Big Sky Country.

The complete quilting weight cotton collection consists 24 fabrics: 7 designs each available in up to four different color ways. I was immediately drawn to the colors and fun designs of this collection. The mustard/yellow color palette is often hard to find and the bears especially are super cute, plus I think there are some excellent stash basics in this collection.

BIG SKY BY ANNIE BRADY is available from:
Stash Fabrics
The Fat Quarter Shop
Lady Belle Fabric
Fort Worth Fabric Studio

SPONSOR NEWS

The Fat Quarter Shop  20% off Basic of the Month: Pure Elements by Art Gallery Fabrics. 30% off Notion of the Month: Triangles on a Roll, 30% off Book of the Month: Quilty Fun by Bee in My Bonnet, and 20% off Pattern of the Month: Bee in My Bonnet PDF patterns. Prices are as marked. Ends 30 April 2018.

Miss Matatabi  Just in: Panorama by for Cotton + Steel and Nani Iro 2018 by Kokka. AND $15 Flat Rate International Shipping for orders $100+.

I Love Fabric  Peter Pan by Sarah Jane for Michael Miller now available for pre-ordering.

The Quilted Castle  JUST IN: Lemon Tree by Tilda Fabrics and Merton by Morris & Co for FreeSpirit Fabrics.

Alice Caroline  Shop the Sale Category - Liberty of London Tana Lawn at reduced prices. Prices are as marked.

GJ's Discount Fabrics (Melbourne) Meet Anna Maria Horner in store in June this year. FULL Day workshop, HALF day workshop or the LECTURE / meet and greet. Places are limited. Class/lecture details and tickets available here.  AND NEW: Sashiko workshop with Hitomi Fujita - details and tickets here.

Enjoy Sunday!

Rita

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COPYRIGHT and DISCLOSURE: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. I have personally selected (and purchased) all featured Sunday Stash fabrics/products, unless clearly stated otherwise. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

The Fat Quarter Shop Jolly Bar - Giveaway!

What is a Jolly Bar? A Jolly Bar is a Fat Quarter Shop exclusive pre-cut, usually 42 pieces of Moda fabric - often from a single collection - each measuring 5 inches x 10 inches. That's half a Layer Cake or double the fun of a Charm Pack. 

Harmony by Sweetwater for Moda Fabric - Jolly Bar

These pre-cuts are a great size if you want to sample a fabric collection and especially useful if you looking for small fabric pieces for say a scrap quilt. Plus, each Jolly Bar comes with an exclusive Fat Quarter Shop coordinating pattern including quilt patterns ranging in size as well as table runners.  See all available Jolly Bars here.

The Fat Quarter Shop has also released a Jolly Bar Book which includes the first twenty patterns published for their exclusive precut, perfect for beginner quilters as well as more experienced quilters. Twenty fast and easy (and fun!) patterns collated in a spiral bound book for just $9.95 represents excellent value! Jolly Bar Book available here.

Topsy Turvey Quilt Jolly Bar Quilt Pattern

made using Handmade by Bonnie and Camille Jolly Bar

Quilt Kits also available.

Due to popular demand the Fat Quarter Shop have also made available several Jolly Bar Quilt designs as complete Jolly Bar Quilt Kits. These kits include the quilt pattern and all the fabric required to complete the quilt top as well as binding. See all available Jolly Bar Quilt Kits here.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Kimberly and the team at the Fat Quarter Shop are giving away a Jolly Bar to THREE lucky RPQ readers. The winners get to choose the Jolly Bar that they would like to receive.

To be in the draw leave please a comment on this blog post. Only one comment per person/per email address - email me if you are not able to leave a comment (redpepperquilts at gmail dot com) and I will leave a comment on your behalf. International entries welcome!

The draw will take place at 2pm (Australia EST) on Sunday 15 April 2018, at which time comments to this post will be closed. The winner will be announced by edit to this blog post, and will also be contacted by email.

Thank you for all of your entries!

ENTRY HAS NOW CLOSED

====================

 The three lucky winners are:

Barbara W

Erica McM

Amber W

All three winners have been notifed by email.

With thanks to the Fat Quarter Shop for their ongoing support of my work and sponsorship and this fun giveaway!

Good luck everyone!
Rita

FAT QUARTER SHOP LINKS:
All Jolly Bars
Jolly Bar Quilt Kits
The Jolly Bar Book

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COPYRIGHT and DISCLOSURE: The Fat Quarter Shop is a sponsor of my blog, I am not paid for clicks or by commission from this sponsor or any other sponsor. Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. Product banners and logo images provided by the Fat Quarter Shop and used with permission. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com,

The Finished Scrappy Apple Core Quilt

The Scrappy Apple Core Quilt is finished. (This quilt was made using the acrylic templates provided with the Nickels and Dimes Quilt Pattern by Everyday Quilts). I am so pleased with how it turned out and love that I was able to work out a way to machine piece the quilt top. This quilt may otherwise have remained unfinished. Forever. I do however want to continue to work on my hand piecing skills but intend to start with an easier project. Perhaps a quilt with straight seams only. Slow sewing is so relaxing!

Click on any image for a larger view.

I have quilted the quilt by simply outlining the seam lines. Having to slowly meander along both sides of the the curved seams of the quilt is not as easy as it sounds or looks. It is slow going manoeuvring the whole quilt from edge to edge at a steady and even pace to ensure that the the stitching lines remain smooth and continue to follow the curves of the quilt design. Having the quilt well supported is a must as are steady hands and strong arms!

For the back of the quilt I have used a single small scale floral fabric from the Retro Child Smile  (Spring 2016) collection by Lecien Fabrics. This reproduction print perfectly complements this traditional design and the vintage vibe of the quilt.

For the quilt binding I have used a red hexagon dot fabric by Suzuko Koseki for Yuwa Fabrics. And as you can see I have preserved the curvy edges of the quilt. I made two attempts at making and attaching the bias binding to the quilt. My first attempt was immediately after finishing the quilting and trimming back the batting/backing fabric. It was also just after midnight and I thought it might be nice to finish the evening by "quickly" sewing the binding on to the quilt. Well, it didn't take long to realize that maybe this wasn't a quick task, that after midnight was not a good time to try my hand at an unfamiliar task, and that I had not made enough binding to wind its way around the curvy edges.

My second attempt at making and attaching the binding to the quilt (the next day) was much more successful. I made more bias binding and while not a single pin was used to piece the quilt top, I used many pins to sew the binding to the quilt! It took at least an hour to make my way right around the quilt ... pinning, sewing, stopping, adjusting the binding, adjusting the quilt, moving pins, etc. I then slip-stitched the binding to the back of the quilt by hand. I think it was well worth the extra effort and I wouldn't hesitate to work with bias binding and curvy quilt edges again.

QUILT DETAILS

Scrappy Apple Core Quilt

The finished quilt  measures 51 inches x 51 inches.

144 Apple Core Units

sewn into 36 blocks of 4 Apple Core Units.

288 patchwork pieces.

200 different quilting cottons.

Machine pieced.

Quilting:

Machine quilted by stitching along both sides of

the curvy seam lines (edge to edge).

Thread:

Cotton thread for piecing and quilting.

Batting:

100% low loft cotton batting.

The finished quilt is for sale and is listed in my Etsy Store.

See all of the listing details here:
Scrappy Apple Core Quilt

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

RELEVANT LINKS:

Red Pepper Quilts - Etsy Store
Scrappy Apple Core Quilt - Work in Progress
Sewing Curves without Pins

Templates from the Nickels and Dimes Pattern

by Everyday Quilt - Sandra Boyle.
More RPQ Quilt with curved machine piecing:
Chambray Flowering Snowball Quilt - December 2017
A Piece of the Pie Quilt - July 2014
A Drunkard's Path Quilt - June 2014

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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 #430 Liberty of London Cottage Garden and More

Liberty of London's latest quilting cotton collection - Cottage Garden - has arrived in stores and it is delightful. The Liberty design studio has taken inspiration from archive prints and redrawn beautiful flowers such as forget me nots, bluebells and anemones. The colour palettes include warm dusty pinks, coral tones mixed with lavender, denim and cornflower blues.

Cottage Garden - Cosmos Meadow

Cottage Garden - Morning Dew

The designs are printed on a lovely quality 100% cotton base (44 inches wide) created especially for quilters. All Liberty fabrics are printed using traditional screen printing techniques, which ensures deep penetration of ink dyes and flat, solid areas of colour that match and co-ordinate across the collection.  The complete collections consists of 24 fabrics, eight designs each available in up to four color ways (not all fabrics/designs are shown here).

Cottage Garden - Little Vine

Cottage Garden - Forget Me Not

LIBERTY OF LONDON - COTTAGE GARDEN available from:
Alice Caroline
Pink Castle Fabrics
Bobbie Lou's Fabric Factory

Also added to stash are these beautiful Japanese cotton fabrics:

Dear Little World Bunny - 

Floral Bouquet in White and Pink for Quilt Gate

Fleurs by Suzuko Koseki for Yuwa 

SPONSOR NEWS

The Fat Quarter Shop  20% off Basic of the Month: Pure Elements by Art Gallery Fabrics. 30% off Notion of the Month: Triangles on a Roll, 30% off Book of the Month: Quilty Fun by Bee in My Bonnet, and 20% off Pattern of the Month: Bee in My Bonnet PDF patterns. Prices are as marked. Ends 30 April 2018.

Miss Matatabi  Just in: Amalfi by Rifle Paper Co for Cotton + Steel and Nani Iro 2018 by Kokka. AND $15 Flat Rate International Shipping for orders $100+.

I Love Fabric  Just in: Yucatan by Annie Brady for Moda Fabrics and Mariner Cloth by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics.

Lady Belle Fabric  30% off Selected Bundles. Prices are as marked. 

Kiwi Fabric (Etsy)  Shop the Sale Category.  140+ items reduced to clear. Prices are as marked.

GJ's Discount Fabrics (Melbourne) Meet Anna Maria Horner in store in June this year. FULL Day workshop, HALF day workshop or the LECTURE / meet and greet. Places are limited. Class/lecture details and tickets available here.  AND NEW: Sashiko workshop with Hitomi Fujita - details and tickets here.

Enjoy Sunday!

Rita

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COPYRIGHT and DISCLOSURE: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. I have personally selected (and purchased) all featured Sunday Stash fabrics/products, unless clearly stated otherwise. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

Apple Core Quilt - Work in Progress

Since finishing my Mandolin Quilt - an English Paper Piecing project - I have been on a quest to get started on my next slow sewing project. It didn't take long to find the Nickels and Dimes Quilt Pattern by Everyday Quilts which is written for hand piecing (not EPP). Nickels and Dimes is a vintage inspired quilt pattern based on the traditional Apple Core block.

Click on any image for a larger view.

I was keen to try my hand again at hand piecing, although admittedly my hand piecing skills still require some work and those curved seams might not be ideal for a beginner hand piecer. Yet I was determined to give a go.

The pattern includes a set of 2 acrylic templates; one for cutting out the half apple core units, and one for tracing a ¼ inch seam line onto the fabric pieces. The templates are fabulous and all of my fabric pieces were cut by tracing around the outside of the template with a tiny (18mm) rotary cutter, and then marked with a standard grey lead pencil.

I spent a lot of time pulling fabric from stash and cutting one or two pieces from each fabric, cutting enough fabric pieces to make a quilt top, then marking each piece .... but just two hand pieced blocks into the project I began to wonder if I could perhaps machine piece this quilt. Testing commenced immediately, and to my delight I quickly figured out a way to proceed, pressing seams in such a way that all seams would nest when my blocks (of 4 whole Apple Core units) were ready to be sewn together into a quilt top.

It was still slow going by machine, sewing one curved seam at a time, all without a single pin. I am not a pinner, and prefer to sew curved seams without pinning. It takes practice and you eventually get a feel for how the fabric feeds and lies in the curve, with some fabrics handling with more ease, and others requiring more persuasion to fall into place. I always sew curved seams with the concave fabric piece on top, thus requiring much "flipping over" of the blocks as they were pieced, and then the quilt top itself as the blocks were sewn into rows, and rows were sewn together.

QUILT DETAILS

Apple Core Quilt

Quilt top measures 51 inches x 51 inches.

144 Apple Core Units

sewn into 36 blocks of 4 Apple Core Units

288 patchwork pieces.

200 different quilting cottons.

Machine pieced.

So much for my slow sewing project! But I am glad I pushed ahead and finished piecing this quilt top by machine. I love how it turned out, and I adore the curvy quilt edges almost as much as the quilt top itself! The easy way forward from here would be to square up the quilt edges (trim off all those pretty curves) but I am keen to preserve the curvy edges and work with bias binding to finish the quilt. I rarely make bias binding and have a mental block about the best way to make bias binding - I have watched YouTube videos that involve making a tube, and for some reason I can't get my head around the process, but I am determined .... I can do this!

More soon,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

The Finished Scrappy Apple Core Quilt 
Sewing Curves without Pins

Templates from the Nickels and Dimes Pattern

by Everyday Quilt - Sandra Boyle.
More RPQ Quilt with curved machine piecing:
Chambray Flowering Snowball Quilt - December 2017
A Piece of the Pie Quilt - July 2014
A Drunkard's Path Quilt - June 2014

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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.