A Flock of Flying Geese

The Birds of a Feather quilt is finished.  The colors and layout of this quilt really pack a punch!

I so enjoyed the color play of this quilt!   I had no definite design plan when I started making the Half Square Triangle units, instead the design was simply allowed to evolve from the arranging and re-arranging of the patchwork pieces.

For the back of the quilt I have used a brand new - straight out of the box - Orla Kiely bed sheet (Multi-Stem).  I don't know if you can see how perfectly the design repeat of the quilt back matches that of the quilt top ~ it couldn't have worked out any better if I had planned it!

I started stabilizing the quilt sandwich by stitching on either side of the vertical and horizontal seam lines, and  then bravely choose to zig zag my way horizontally through all of the Flying Geese units twice.  That involved much turning, wrangling and quilt maneuvering and heightened levels of impatience!

Fabrics Used:

• Kaffe Fassett shot cottons in a range of colors ~ color chart would come in handy here.
• Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton ~ Pepper
• Alexander Henry ~ Heath in Black for background and binding
• Orla Kiely - Multi-Stem for backing

Block Size and Piecing Details:

• 16 different solid/shot cottons in a range of colors to be set against a background fabric
• 320 Half Square Triangle Units each measuring 3.5 inch square (including seam allowances) ~ 20 of each color chosen.
• 2.5 yards of background fabric ~ includes sufficient for 6 strips of binding
• Sew 20 units of the same color together into vertical rows.  Press seams in one direction, alternating the direction with each row so that seams nest together when joining rows.
• When sewing together the vertical rows press seams open to reduce bulk.

I have updated my Etsy Store:

 

You can find the Etsy Listing here. - SOLD

Thanks again for stopping by!
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Birds of a Feather - Quilt in Progress

Progress Report

I just thought I'd show you a little something of the progress of my latest quilt project.

This week has been an all or nothing week; with much time "wasted" (you know ~ internet browsing, shopping, hair appointment, catching up with friends ~ the fun stuff)  in between bursts of frantic piecing, usually late at night.

Once all the Half Square Triangles were pieced I played with the layout for quite some time, arranging and re-arranging the unit orientation as well as the color sequence with which I am now (finally) pleased.  I am still considering adding sashing strips between some or even all of the rows.

Fabrics used:  Alexander Henry ~ Heath (Black) as well as Kaffe Fassett - Shot Cottons, except for the solid black fabric which is Robert Kaufman ~ Kona Cotton (Pepper)

Loving working with (semi) solids!

Rita

A New Quilt Project

No surprises here!

I've started on a new quilt project and as you can see it involves Half Square Triangles, shot cottons, solids, as well as a black/white cross stripe print by Alexander Henry ~ Heath (Black).  I wasn't immediately taken  by, nor could see the potential for this Alexander Henry print until I spotted this particular work in progress image on Flickr:

DQ10 Progress by Kate from Swim, Bike, Quilt

How could I now resist?  I sourced my own stash of this print and have started a quilt with similar elements, although the overall block/design/layout will be quite different. 

It's all planned out (in my head), and there is every chance that I will change "the plan" several times as this project unfolds and as I can play with the colors and blocks on my design floor.  

As a starting point, the color palette for this quilt is coming from the above gift bag that a party-goer brought into my home on the weekend.  I often find inspiration in items found in my everyday environment, both common items and obscure items.  You just have to try and see beyond the product and it's function, and take in the colors/design/patterns. 

Only time will tell if the finished quilt resembles any of what I've shown you here today! It's back to trimming some Half Square Triangles for me.

Rita

Flower Sugar

The Summer that never was - wettest in 17 years - is officially over and we've transitioned into Autumn without noticeable difference.  Those of you who have been dancing and praying for rain to break the decade long drought can now stop.  Enough rain already.

The one good thing about a cloudy day is how the light lends itself to taking half decent pictures.  This bundle of fabric is Flower Sugar by Lecien.  Sweet and pretty floral prints don't usually make it into my stash, but an exception was made for these strikingly colorful fabrics. Red, green, blue, yellow ... pink.

I have been busy processing another batch of half square triangles.  It felt like it had been a while since my last HST project, but not so.  140+ HST blocks are pieced and trimmed.

I have teamed up the Flower Sugar prints together with some of those from Tanya Whelan's Delilah range and contrasted the prints with a grey semi-solid.  The grey fabric is a Shot Cotton by Kaffe Fassett (SC67 - grey).  I think I have found a (another) new favorite fabric!

Now joining blocks into to rows.  It's coming together just as I'd imagined.

What have you been working on this week? 

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Flower Sugar Quilt - Work in Progress
A Finished Flower Sugar Quilt

Kaffe Fassett ~ Shot Cottons Stash

Just in case you need a little color in your day:

What were you doing at 1am this morning? I was arranging and re-arranging these fabrics in color order  and was so absorbed in my own quiet little world that  I was shocked to see the time.  Someone please tell me how it is that those evening hours pass by in just a jiffy.

These pretty solids are Shot Cottons by Kaffe Fasset.  Shot cottons are not true solids, they are woven using cotton thread which is dyed in small batches. Variations in color and small imperfections in the weaving are a natural part of the process and creates soft and subtle shifts in color.  Tonal solids are less harsh/vivid than true solids.  There are more than 50 colors in the range.

I so wish I could tell you with color codes and names here (Kaffe, we really need a color card as images can, and some do, vary greatly in color, please ... it would make choosing and identifying colors so much easier).  

Enough color infusion?
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Chaos Quilt - A Shot Cotton Quilt
Flock of Flying Geese Quilt - A Shot Cotton Quilt
Kaffe Fassett - Stripes

A Finished Chaos Quilt

The Chaos Quilt is finished and what follows is a picture post.

Finished Quilt measures 58 inches x 44 inches

This project was so much fun.  I started this last week whilst my family were enjoying a water skiing trip to Yarrawonga, way north of Melbourne.  With the house to myself and a night off from work, all my Kaffe Fassett shot cottons, checks and stripes gathered on my sewing table.  What followed can only be described as a rotary cutting frenzy.

My initial focus was on blue and green shot cottons, and as I ran out of those colors new were added. I also used all of my Kaffe Checks and Stripes irrespective of color. 

I initially feared that my range of checks and stripes fabrics were insufficient and after a very very late sewing evening, a quick trip was made to my local fabric store, Sunspun, which specializes in all things Westminster and more, the very next day.  It was an unsuccessful trip in terms of finding more checks and stripes, but I did enjoy a coffee with my MIL in the nearby and very trendy Mailing Room in Canterbury.

Once the quilt top was complete I started on the backing.  It is pieced quite haphazardly using more shot cottons as well as some of  Moda Cross Weave fabrics. 

The Chaos Quilt is quilted with straight lines, both horizontally and vertically. All of my straight line quilting is done using a walking foot on my sewing machine and 100 percent cotton thread.  I used a dark beige/light brown thread which blended well with most fabrics. Don't forget to increase your stitch length for a nicer quilting stitch.

The binding is also a shot cotton in aqua, possibly "Jade".

I am happy to report that the Chaos Quilt was SOLD before it was finished, and is now winging its way across the ocean to the USA.  Tanya was looking for a gender neutral quilt, and  I am delighted to tell you that this colorful quilt too will be enjoyed by an adopted baby. 

RELEVANT LINKS:
Chaos Quilt in Progress
Kaffe Fassett - Shot Cottons

More of Chaos

Thank you!  Thank you!  What a wonderful response to the Chaos Quilt top featured in yesterday's Wordless Wednesday post.  I think I need to add some words though.

This quilt top is made from Kaffe Fasset shot cottons, as well as Kaffe's checks and stripes.  I have tried to source more of the colorful checks and stripes without success.   It seems they have been discontinued and replaced with a new range of checks and stripes fabrics.

The pattern that I used for this quilt is from the Rowan book - A Colorful Journey (also now difficult to source!).   The quilt pattern in the book is called Co-Ordinated Chaos.  I have used my own color palette, substituting the red/orange fabrics with blues and greens, and is perhaps a little less coordinated, hence the name.   

Co-Ordinated Chaos Quilt by Sally B Davis

from A Colourful Journey by Kaffe Fassett

The quilt top that I have made measures 58 inches x 44 inches, and has been basted.  I have also started quilting it.

This quilt top is really striking and colorful, but was desperately in need of some added texture.   I am quilting it with straight lines (using a walking foot), both horizontally and vertically, clustered close together. 

Not much more to go.  Stitch, stitch, stitch ...

RELEVANT LINKS:
Chaos Quilt - A Finished Quilt
Kaffe Fassett - Shot Cottons

Wordless Wednesday

and

RELEVANT LINKS:

Chaos Quilt - A Finished Quilt

Chaos Quilt in Progress
Kaffe Fassett - Shot Cottons

Sewing up a Storm

I promised to show you more of the quilt that I am making with the Kaffe Fassett Shot cottons and woven Checks and Stripes:

I have loved cutting into and sewing with these fabrics, so much so that...

Does that happen to you?  My favorite extra long tape measure.  At least it it is right towards the end of the 120 inch tape measure.

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On a matter quite unrelated to this progress report,
Susie from Flower Press is featuring me (me?) on her blog. 
If you would like to read more of my Show and Tell
interview head straight over there.

RELEVANT LINKS:

Chaos Quilt - A Finished Quilt
Chaos Quilt in Progress
Kaffe Fassett - Shot Cottons