Flea Market Fancy Progress III

My current quilt project has taken some time to complete, but the Flea Market Fancy Quilt top is now finished (and will remain without borders).

The quilt top measures 60.5 inches x 60.5 inches

With 100 paper pieced blocks each measuring 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches.

200 paper pieced units,

800 pieces of fabric,

and many happy hours of stitching.

Once all the blocks were complete the quilt top came together without too much difficulty.   Although all of the corners of each block (the edges of the printed fabrics) were off-grain, I had taken steps to ensure that all of the edges of the white fabric were perfectly on-grain.  Most seams aligned without too much fudging ...

Fabrics used:  Flea Market Fancy  ~  original collection as well as 2012 Legacy Reprint.

Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White

I am now wondering if my quilting style suits this quilt (I am concerned that I might ruin it!) and therefore contemplating sending the quilt top to my long arm quilter.

As always, thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Pattern reference:  Quilt Revival by Nancy Mahoney.

Progress Links:

Flea Market Fancy Progress I

Flea Market Fancy Progress II

Flea Market Fancy Progress II

Just so that you know that I haven't been sitting on my hands this week, here is a little of the progress that I've made on my Flea Market Fancy Kaleidoscope Quilt.

The above image was taken at first count.

 You know when you are beavering along sewing blocks, 

not stopping to check on "how many more?" 

in the hope, that when you do eventually count, 

that you're almost done?  

Well, this only half way there ...

But late last night early this morning I finally met my target of 200 paper pieced triangle units and therefore 100 blocks.  Paper piecing is a wonderfully rhythmic process, but after say 100 the same units it does become a little tedious.  Trust me on this.

I have minimized off-grain side edges of  blocks and therefore all foundation papers have now been removed.  I can't wait to sew the blocks together and finally see the full impact created by the fabrics and the design.

Rita

Flea Market Fancy Progress

My Flea Market Fancy blocks are coming along nicely!

These twinkling star blocks are machine paper pieced and rather slow going, but for the sake of accuracy it is a technique well worth the extra effort.  I drew up my own foundation papers for a six inch finished block, and have since discovered that this same paper pieced design/pattern is available in, and featured on the front cover of this book:

Quilt Revival: Updated Patterns from the 30's 

by Nancy Mahoney

This star block is a traditional pattern from the 1930's and isn't unlike a Kaleidoscope block.

I have set up my work area for better work flow; moving the ironing board alongside and at the same height as the sewing machine was definitely a step in the right direction for efficiency.  The rubbish bin for threads and used papers is right at my feet.  Coffee within easy reach.

There are many blocks already at various stages of completion with good intentions to work on creating more on the weekend.

Rita

Flea Market Fancy ~ Legacy Reprint 2012

Flea Market Fancy. So this is where it all started.

Way back then, when my children were still - children - in primary school the release of Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt sparked an interest in fabric and quilting.  I was surrounded by crafty family and friends (and their fabric stashes and projects) but crafty was just not my thing.  I had dabbled a little, but not with commitment.

And then Flea Market Fancy came along.  The bold colors and simple designs drew me in completely.  Katie Jump Rope also be Denyse Schmidt followed thereafter, and I was committed.  I am a Fabricaholic.  There, I said it.

By popular demand Flea Market Fancy ~ Legacy Reprint is back!  Legacy reprint is a selection of 21 prints from the original range. The hues are refreshed, and the collection includes new colorways of several designs, including two additional grey prints, which I adore!

As much as I like to work on just one quilt project at a time I have had to cut into my Flea Market Fancy fabric stash (and these are still just blocks which goes some way to explaining the mismatched seams).

Rita

It's Finished - A Flea Market Fancy Quilt

 .

With thanks again to Nettie (A Quilt is Nice) for the inspiration, the Flea Market Fancy Quilt is finished.

In brief some of the details:

Fabrics:  Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt

Cutting Instructions:  Cut 480 squares each 3.5 inches and arrange randomly.  Sew squares together into rows, then sew together the rows.

Finished Size: 60 inches x 72 inches

Backing: Kona Cotton Solid in Chatreuse and Laurie Wisbrun - Tufted Tweets

Binding:  Kona Cotton Solid in Cyan

Quilting:  I have outlined all of the seams, stitching just a quarter inch on either side of both the horizontal and vertical seams.  Of course I have tried out my new sewing machine, and it has quilted beautifully.

Unfortunately I don't have the heart to sell this quilt, these fabrics are just too precious! It is definitely a keeper.

More Flea Market Fancy Quilt in Progress

The Fancy Quilt top is complete and although it doesn't sound like a lot of work to sew the rows together, the quilt top wasn't finished until late into the evening.  A last minute decision was also made to add 2 extra rows to the length of the quilt top. 

I have absolutely no regrets about cutting into my FMF stash.  It's definitely all about the fabrics for this quilt.

Now as for the backing fabric ~ what to use?  More FMF?  Perhaps just a splash of color to tie in with the quilt top.

Enjoy the eye candy.
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Fancy Quilt - Work in Progress

My new project has been a long time coming, and was spurred on entirely by Nettie's Market Quilt (A Quilt is Nice) as pictured:

Image from A Quilt is Nice by Nettie

Much time has been spent considering just how best to use my Flea Market Fancy stash; many different layouts were contemplated at length.  It has, once again, come back to keeping it simple. 

  It is time to Stitch It rather than Stash It.

I have spent oodles of time cutting individual squares to ensure a random layout of color and pattern.  More than 400 squares each cut as 3.5 inch squares. 

The process of sewing rows together has commenced and I am really enjoying working with the colors and prints.  I love watching the quilt top emerge from the patchwork pieces.  Although I already have a pretty good idea of how the quilt is going to look, I am still very excited about this project.

Working with precious Flea Market Fancy fabrics is a joy!

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Katie Jumpe Rope Quilt ~ Bento Box Quilt

It's done!

The quilt measures 60 inches x 72 inches

Complete with a pieced backing and hours of quilting straight lines.  Most of the quilting lines were straight lines on either side of a seam line, or diagonal lines through the large blocks.  I also ended up doing some "in the ditch" quilting which still requires a high level of effort and concentration!

The binding fabric is a Katie Jump Rope stripe in Orange:

And there was lots of it (machine stitched, as usual):

I have thoroughly enjoyed piecing this quilt, choosing the fabrics, preparing the blocks, cutting and rearranging them until I was happy with the layout.  I can highly recommend this easy piecing design.

My Etsy Store has been updated and you can find the listing for this quilt here.  SOLD

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita