Robert Kaufman Kona Color of the Year - Special Exhibit

Highlight Hexagon Mini Quilt

Robert Kaufman Kona Color of the Year

20 inches x 20 inches.

English Paper Pieced.

400+ hexagons.

5/8" Hexagons (Imprezzio Paper Pieces).
Professionally machine quilted by:
Karen Terrens - Quilts on Bastings.

1 July 2016

4 July 2016

5 July 2016

6 July 2016

10 July 2016

21 July 2016
Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons in:
Highlight, Tomato
Peony, White

Quilt back - paper pieces removed.

A few months ago I was asked to contribute a project for a special exhibit featuring 60 mini quilts each celebrating the Robert Kaufman Kona Color of the Year: Highlight. My instructions were to make a quilt measuring 20 inches x 20 inches "using whatever technique you want and to make the most you quilt you can" so as to celebrate the Kona Color of the Year with the limited color palette supplied (not all contributors were given the same color palette). I think my mini quilt fits the brief. 

The exhibit of mini quilts was showcased for the first time last weekend at Quilt Market in Houston, will also be on show at Quilt Festival, and will then go on to travel to several more quilt shows in the US.

This mini quilt is made from 400+ hexagons (5/8" sides) and represents several hours cutting hexagons and glue basting, and many more hours of happy slow sewing! 

Thank you for stopping by,

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
The Summer Rain Quilt - featuring Kona Color of the Year: Highlight
More RPQ English Paper Piecing Projects

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COPYRIGHT AND DISCLOSURE: Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton fabric supplied by Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission. This is original content from www.redpepperquilts.com.

Mini Quilt Monday ~ Jagged Chevron Mini Quilt

Jagged Chevron Mini Quilt

Measures 20 inches x 24.5 inches

78 Half Rectangle Triangles (HRT's)

Click on any image for larger view.

It has been so very long since my last Mini Quilt Monday blog post! I love making mini quilts for they are a great way to experiment with fabric, color, patterns, rulers, templates etc as well as learn and practice new techniques.

This design has been on my mind for some time and is created by joining rows of Half Rectangle Triangles, then offsetting and separating each rows with a strip of fabric - sashing - to create a jagged Chevron effect. It did have to experiment with block size (and several different color combinations) and sashing width to finally get a result that I was happy with. 

I have again used my Bloc-Loc Half Rectangle rulers for the job of trimming the over-sized HRT units to size, with the diagonal channel hugging the seam allowance for quick/accurate ruler placement. Over-sizing and trimming units is still my preferred sewing method so these rulers really do suit my needs. [All Bloc-Loc Rulers are now available from the Fat Quarter Shop]. This one set of rulers makes up to 14 different HRT sizes.

Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton colors used:

456 Shale (grey), 479 Mediterranean (blue), 476 Grellow (yellow), and 1387 White.

My favorite part however was the quilting, and I really went to town on this one. Lots of quilting using the walking foot, with much turning of the quilt. Not any of the lines were marked, instead I used the edge of my walking foot as a guide and visually estimated the turning point. It took some time to find my quilting groove and for a while there my seam ripper was my very best friend, but after some trial and error it all fell into place.

I also matched the top thread to the color of the fabric, and added a few contrast colors for interest. I use a shorter stitch length - 3.2 as compared to my usual 4.0 stitch length - which made it easier to gauge if another stitch, or more stitches, were required prior to turning.

I would like to make Mini Quilt Monday more of a regular feature here, however I don't make any promises for this small piece took way longer than anticipated. I loved making it though so I will definitely have to make time for more small projects like this.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
More RPQ Mini Quilts
More RPQ Half Rectangle Triangle Projects
More RPQ Bloc-Loc Ruler Projects

RJR Cotton Supreme Solids Blog Hop AND a Giveaway!

A few weeks ago I was asked to participate in the RJR Cotton Supreme Solids Blog Hop and today is my turn for posting my project. This Blog Hop is brought to you by Pink Castle Fabrics and RJR Fabrics.

What Shade are you? I got to choose my own colors!

 (fabrics were supplied to me at no charge - courtesy of RJR Fabrics)

[The colors I have used: 274 289 292 328 327 291 301 126 127 347 348 346 249 204 339 49 276 131 159 218 326 222 337 182 103 176 278 339 257 325 330 218 331 333 279 317 332 33 34]

I already had a plan ~ a foundation paper pieced block that I has long been on my must make list:

Color Wheel - from the Kaleidoscope Collection for EQ7
Pattern/Design by Andrea Bishop
16 inches x 16 inches.

This block/mini quilt is from the EQ7 Kaleidoscope Collection. The block is called Color Wheel and is designed by Andrea Bishop. It is foundation paper pieced in eight separate sections, and I had the most fabulous time playing with the colors! It is the perfect block to highlight the range of RJR Cotton Supreme Solids available and the subtle differences in shades/hues. 

And then of course I had some leftover fabric scraps to play with:

Making Waves - Improvised / Free Hand Curves Pillow Cover
and matchstick quilting
24 inches x 17.5 inches
Listed for sale in my Etsy Store: Modern Waves Pillow Cover

The pillow cover is again made with all RJR Cotton Supreme Solids. This is my first time working with improvised wavy, curvy lines and found the free form cutting, sewing, and quilting completely liberating. I was even surprised by how much I actually loved the process!

For the quilting I have color matched the top thread with the fabric, although I have swapped some of the colors around ~ for example, orange thread on a yellow solid fabric, and yellow thread on an orange solid fabric. My sewing machine was in a wonderful mood and stitched nicely, but I wasn't going to push my luck by changing  the bobbin thread for each top thread color change. I think it worked out well. I wish you could touch the screen and feel the texture!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

-------------------------

RJR Fabrics are giving away a Fat Quarter bundle of Cotton Supreme Solids in the same colors that I also received/used to one lucky RPQ reader.

To be in the draw please leave 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 9 am on Monday 12 May 2014 (Australia - EST). 

The winner will be announced by edit to this blog post and will also be contacted by email.

What can I say? I LOVED working on both these projects - a sewing high, of course late at night, followed by hours of restless sleep. With thanks to RJR Fabrics for their generosity and Brenda from Pink Castle Fabrics for your support!

Thank you for all of your entries!

ENTRY HAS NOW CLOSED.

The winner:

Congratulations, Kris! Kris has been contacted by email.

Thank you for stopping by!

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

RJR Cotton Supreme Solids available from Pink Castle Fabrics

RJR Cotton Supreme Solids Blog Hop
Making Waves Pillow Cover now listed for sale in my Etsy Store.
Tutorial: Cutting and Sewing Free Hand Curves

New York Beauty - Circle of Flying Geese Quilt

Almost Wordless Wednesday

New York Beauty Circle of Flying Geese Mini Quilt

THE DETAILS

The New York Beauty Circle of Flying Geese Pattern

 is by Janice Ryan from Better Off Thread

Foundation Paper Pieced.  Pattern available from Craftsy.

Color spectrum fabrics from stash.

Background fabric: from the First of Infinity collection by Kumiko Fujita.

Backing fabric: Bloomsbury from the Summersville Spring collection by Lucie Summers.

Binding fabric:  Black and White Stripe by Timeless Treasures.

Finished size: 22 inches x 22 inches.

I absolutely love this mini quilt and can't possibly part with it.   It has already found a spot on the wall where from my vantage point I will enjoy it every day.

Thank you for stopping by,

Rita

EDITED TO ADD:  

Need help with Foundation Paper Piecing?  Here's an excellent online class by my paper piecing hero Carol Doak:

Carol Doak's Mastering Foundation Paper Piecing Craftsy class.

Christmas Crafting

A little weekend sewing ...

A spur of the moment crafty project entirely inspired by copied from Lisa's Geometric Paintchip Christmas Tree design.

From paint-chips/paper to fabric this design works equally well; a traditional Christmas tree layout made from simple squares and Half Square Triangles.  My finished patchwork units measure 2 inches x 2 inches (finished mini quilt 18.5" x 20.5"), although any size block will work equally well.

I have jazzed my mini-quilt up with a black/white and text fabric background, and it could possible benefit from some embellishing ... mini lights, a little glitz and glitter.

Keeping the Christmas spirit alive.

Rita

Fabrics Used:
Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solids in:
Kiwi, Juniper, Jade Green, Clover, Lime, Peridot, Poppy, Papaya, Chestnut

No Signal!

A new TV (new to us) arrived in our home this week.  A widescreen TV.  We can now see and read all of what is presented on the screen.  I am not sure if that is such a good thing.

We are not so clever when it comes to installing and programming TV/Video/DVD players and together with the fact that this TV was so incredibly heavy and there were so many cables it was never a task for the faint hearted. 

After many cable exchanges, much button pushing, and a gasp from the - not so helpful - onlookers, there was sound, and then finally an image.  The image transported me back to a time when TV stations did not transmit 24 hours a day, and the TV test pattern was a regular screen feature.

I knew immediately that I could replicate the No Signal - Test Pattern in quilt form.  I started and finished this mini quilt project on Friday evening and it's the most playful sewing fun I've had in a while.  I started cutting and piecing without a plan, no measuring, no calculations, just taking one step at a time and trimming back when things got a little out of proportion.   I think it worked out rather well.  Lucky!

I love making mini quilts especially the quilting part!   All of the quilting was done with a walking foot, even the circular spiral on the background fabric.

Quilt Notes:

Mini Quilt measures 25 inches x 25 inches

All solid Test Pattern and binding fabrics are Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman

Background fabric is Alexander Henry - Heath in Metal

Backing fabric - Kona Cotton in Chartreuse

More mini-quilt projects are likely!

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita