A Chambray Flowering Snowball Quilt

I love a "big block" quilt and a large scale Flowering Snowball Quilt was always going to happen, and now seemed like a good time. I have had fun playing with the layout/coloring of the blocks in EQ8 (quilt design software). Although using a limited color palette - as I have done for this quilt - does not come easy, the design possibilities are endless and dare I say, this won't be my last big block Flowering Snowball Quilt.

Click on any image for a larger view.

This quilt consists of 16 Flowering Snowball Blocks (each finished block measures 11" x 11"), and the fabrics have been cut using acrylic templates. The fabrics used are Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons (in White and Quicksilver) and a denim chambray fabric by Andover Fabrics. The chambray fabric is a light weight cotton/denim fabric with a white weft for contrast and interest.

The quilt is quilted with edge to edge straight lines creating a foundation of intersecting lines (by first ditch stitching the seam lines of the blocks) and then adding more lines of stitching in between. The stitching lines are closely spaced - a 1/2" apart - to create a texture that is lovely to touch and at the same time gives the quilt a soft drape.

In addition, I have used a heavier weight thread for extra stitch definition; for the quilting I have used Aurifil 28wt thread for the top thread and 50wt thread for the bobbin thread. This combination of different thread weights works well in my sewing machine and doesn't create any problems with stitch tension.

For the back of the quilt I have used a single text fabric from the Sun Print collection by Alison Glass, and I have finished the quilt by again using the blue chambray fabric for the binding.

QUILT DETAILS:

Chambray Flowering Snowball Quilt

The finished quilt measures 45 inches x 45 inches.

16 Flowering Snowball Blocks - finished block measures 11" x 11".

11" Flowering Snowball Block Acrylic Templates.

Fabric:

Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in:

Snow and Quicksilver.

Chambray in Denim by Andover Fabrics.

Thread:

Aurifil 50wt cotton thread for piecing.

Aurifil 28wt cotton thread for quilting.

Batting:

Low loft cotton batting bleached white.

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

See all of the listing details here:

Modern Geometric Baby and Lap Quilt

Thank you for stopping by!
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Red Pepper Quilts Etsy Store

More RPQ Flowering Snowball Quilts
Flowering Snowball Quilt - September 2016
Berry Marmalade Flowering Snowball Quilt - August 2017
Low Volume Flowering Snowball Quilt - November 2016

More RPQ Big Block Quilts
Two Big Block Baby Quilts - January 2016
Big Block Half Square Triangle Quilt - January 2016

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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.

Berry Marmalade - A Flowering Snowball Quilt

The Finished Quilt

My Berry Marmalade Flowering Snowball Quilt is finished and I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. I have lots of photos to share with you today so please bear with me - I feel the need to show them all! It was difficult to get a set of photos that accurately represented the quilt and the design, especially the contrast of the linen look circles and the white circles, but I think that these photos do the quilt justice.

The quilt is quilted with edge to edge straight lines creating a foundation of intersecting lines (by ditch stitching the seam lines of the blocks) then adding more lines of stitching in between. The lines are closely spaced - 1/2" apart - to create a texture that is lovely to touch and at the same time gives the quilt a soft drape.

For the back of the quilt I have used a single fabric from the Trinket collection by Melody Miller for Cotton + Steel: Happy Garden in Orange. This is a happy fabric indeed! I have had a small amount of yardage - suitable for a quilt back - in my stash for a while and this was the perfect quilt for it.

For the binding I have used a simple red/white stripe fabric from the Ella Basics collection for Ella Blue Fabrics.

QUILT STATS

Berry Marmalade - A Flowering Snowball Quilt

(see here for Work in Progress details and photos).

The finished quilt measures 48 inches x 48 inches.

A total of 64 Flowering Snowball Blocks.

(8 rows of 8 blocks).

Each finished block measures 6 inches x 6 inches.

576 patchwork pieces.

That tiny black center square measures 1/2" x 1/2".

Background Fabrics:

Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White

Robert Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Homespun in Natural

Templates:

6" Acrylic Flowering Snowball Templates from Sunset Seams (Etsy).

Batting:

Low loft Warm & White batting from The Warm Company.

This quilt was sold prior to listing in my Etsy Store and prior to publishing this blog post.

If you are interested in purchasing one of my quilts

 - even one that I am still working on -

please don't hesitate to contact me by email.

I have loved working on this quilt and I am super pleased with the end result, especially the warm color palette. I dare say once again that this is not my last Flowering Snowball Quilt, although for the time being I am happy to step back from this block with its short and tight curves.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Click on any image for a larger view.

RELEVANT LINKS:
Berry Marmalade Quilt - Work in Progress

Sunday Stash: Robert Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Homespun
6" Acrylic Flowering Snowball Templates by Sunset Seams (Etsy)

More RPQ Flowering Snowball Quilts:

Flowering Snowball Quilt - September 2016

Flowering Snowball Quilt 2 - November 2016

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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.

Berry Marmalade ~ A Flowering Snowball Quilt

Work in Progress.

The Flowering Snowball Quilt block is a traditional block and quite possibly one of my favorite quilt designs. It is one of those blocks where size, print, and color placement can really affect the design. The potential to change the design by the placement of fabric and the use of color is limited only by imagination. 

I spent some time playing with the overall quilt design using EQ7 (quilt design software), playing with color and in particular adding subtle variation in the background circles. I have used two background fabrics to create the circles: Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White and Robert Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Homespun in Natural.

Essex Yarn Dyed Homespun fabric is lightly textured fabric and has a natural linen look about it. It was lovely to piece with. My Flowering Snowball blocks are small (6 inch finished blocks), and the fabric pieces are smaller still. The seams are short and the curves are tight, and although the fabrics varied slightly in weight they all worked so well together.

Once I was happy with the quilt design I printed out the layout and worked out the blocks required. That is, the combination of background fabrics for the units of each block, and how to best sew the blocks together and press the seams so that all the seams would nest when pieced together.

If you stop by here regularly you may already know that I am not a pinner, and this quilt was pieced entirely without using a single pin. I have written a tutorial here which shows you how I sew curves without pinning, and this same technique has worked for this block. I do however like to nest my seams and I was able to nest all seams by pressing the seams for all blocks in exactly the same way. I did not clip any of the curved seam allowances and with a warm and gentle steam iron the blocks pressed up very nicely.

QUILT STATS

Berry Marmalade - A Flowering Snowball Quilt

Quilt top measures 48 inches x 48 inches.

A total of 64 Flowering Snowball Blocks.

(8 rows of 8 blocks).

Each finished block measures 6 inches x 6 inches.

576 patchwork pieces.

That tiny black center square measures 1/2" x 1/2".

Background Fabrics:

Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White

Robert Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Homespun
Templates:

6" Acrylic Flowering Snowball Templates from Sunset Seams (Etsy).

Now ready for basting and quilting.

Thank you for stopping by,

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

Berry Marmalade Flowering Snowball Quilt - the Finished Quilt
Flowering Snowball Quilt - September 2016

Flowering Snowball Quilt 2 - November 2016
TUTORIAL:  Sewing curves without Pins

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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.

Flowering Snowball Quilt 2

A Finished Quilt (and lots of photos!)

Today - this last day of November - I am sharing with you the finished Flowering Snowball 2 quilt. November has been exceptionally good to me. I have spent the last few weeks travelling with my husband; a trip to the United States that involved the running of a marathon (my husband!), endlessly wandering the streets of New York City and of course yarn and fabric shopping at fabulous stores like Purl Soho, The Brooklyn General Store and Knitty City. It was a wonderful trip but as always there is no place quite like home and although it has taken a week or so for the jet lag to wear off, I have basted, quilted, and attached the binding to this quilt in between fighting off sleep and the temptation to nap at random times of the day.

I have loved making this quilt! From choosing fabrics - especially working with low volume fabrics - to piecing the small Flowering Snowball blocks, even though I initially feared that I would not be able to neatly and consistently sew these tightly curved blocks. And truly, once you have made a handful of these blocks you soon find your sewing rhythm and with confidence sew all 80 of the required blocks! 

The quilt was finished with my usual backing fabric and binding treatment: backing fabric is Newsprint from the Story collection by Carrie Bloomston and binding fabric is a narrow black/white stripe by Timeless Treasures (available at Fabric Bubb at the moment). Quilted with straight - edge to edge - horizontal and vertical lines spaced 1 inch apart using Aurifil 40wt thread.

QUILT STATS

Flowering Snowball Quilt 2

The finished quilt measures 48 inches x 60 inches.

A total of 80 Flowering Snowball Blocks.

(10 rows of 8 blocks).

Each finished block measures 6 inches x 6 inches.

720 patchwork pieces.

That tiny black center square measures 1/2" x 1/2".

6" Acrylic Flowering Snowball Templates from Sunset Seams (Etsy).

Cotton batting ~

Warm & White batting from The Warm Company;

a low loft batting perfect for use with low volume and bright white fabrics.

See Work in Progress blog post here: 

http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2016/11/flowering-snowball-quilt-2-work-in-progress.html

Flowering Snowball 2 Quilt
Click on any image for a larger view.

This quilt was sold prior to publishing this blog post.

If you are interested in purchasing one of my quilts
 - even one that I am still working on -
please don't hesitate to contact me by email.

Thank you for stopping by!

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

Flowering Snowball Quilt 2 - Work in Progress

6" Flowering Snowball Block Acrylic Templates 

Flowering Snowball Quilt - September 2016 - 9" blocks

Sewing Curves the no-pins way - a Tutorial

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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.