Step Back in Time

Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt

It has been quite some time since I last featured a quilt from my "early days", before blogging.  This Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt was made in 2007 and it is my first log cabin quilt.

I have many fond memories of making this quilt and looking at it takes me back to a time and a place.  With this quilt also came the realization that I love small patchwork piecing, the repetitive kind.  Cut, stitch, press, trim ... again and again.

It is obvious (to me) that my fabric stash has evolved since then.  This quilt is heavy on Kaffe Fassett fabrics, which I don't often reach for today and many of these fabrics have since been passed on to quilters in my community. I note also that there is not a single text fabric used in this quilt!

Sometimes I catch a passing glimpse of this quilt and all I can see is the color purple, a color which I now struggle to use.  This quilt is however a catalog of my fabric stash circa 2007. I am very fond of the Katie Jump Rope as well as (original!) Flea Market Fancy fabrics used, and I like the use of the light (low volume) fabrics for contrast.  The quilt was quilted by professional long arm quilter (and my sister), Karen from Quilts on Bastings.

This quilt is made from just one block, a very traditional Log Cabin Block. Nothing new here, but I thought I would share with you the size and construction details of each block.

Cutting Instructions:

A - Center Square 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches
B - 1 inch x 1.5 inches
C - 1 inch x 2 inches 
D - 1 inch x 2 inches
E - 1 inch x 2.5 inches
F - 1 inch x 2.5 inches
G - 1 inch x 3 inches
H - 1 inch x 3 inches
I - 1 inch x 3.5 inches
J - 1 inch x 3.5 inches
K - 1 inch x 4 inches
L - 1 inch x 4 inches
M - 1 inch x 4.5 inches

Points to note:

• Half of the log cabin block is made using light fabric (C, B, F, G, J, K) and the remainder of the block is made using dark fabric.  
• All measurements include a scant 1/4 inch seam allowances.
• Each finished Log Cabin Block measures 4.5 inches x 4.5 inches including seam allowances.
• I have made 144 log cabin blocks.  The finished quilt measures 48.5 inches x 48.5 inches.
• It is a good idea to make a test block prior to cutting all of your fabrics for your project.
• There are many different layouts for this light/dark log cabin block.  I have used a traditional layout called Barn Raising.  Once you have finished making all your log cabin blocks lay out all blocks in whatever design you prefer and sew together in rows.

Having said all that, and having given you all of the exact cutting instructions I prefer to cut logs longer and wider, trimming back after each piece has been added.  It is time consuming but ensures accuracy.  I prefer to sew way - there is no right or wrong way.

I have been cutting 1.5 inch strips for some time just in case I decide to make another scrappy log cabin quilt, or even a string quilt.  Perhaps it is time to use them.

Happy Stitching,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

Log Cabin Block Tutorial (block size 8.5 inches x 8.5 inches)

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A Finished Quilt and Picture Post

Sew Simple.

A traditional patchwork quilt made from stash fabric including many small and medium scale floral prints as well as stash basics such as ginghams and dots.

Sew Simple was my sewing motto this last week or so; a week of school holidays, frosty cold - and late start - mornings and long lazy days.  Collating fabric continues to bring me much joy and I am grateful that it comes naturally.  I am often asked about my process for choosing fabrics and must admit that I don't spend much time thinking about the process, but rather just do and trust my eyes and instincts.

Whilst the sewing was simple I did spend extra time on the quilting.  I have quilted a 1 inch grid of intersecting lines - all quilting lines run from edge to edge - using a quilting guide attached to my walking foot to space the lines at regular intervals.  Stitch, stitch, stitch ... it is time consuming but well worth the effort.  I love this texture! 

Of course, ahem, it needed a black/white stripe binding ...

I have updated my Etsy Store.  

You can see the listing details for this quilt here:  Classic Patchwork Quilt.

As always, thank you for stopping by!

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

Red Pepper Quilts Etsy Store

[workinprogress] - details and pictures of this quilt in progress.

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Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway - Winner!

Thank you for all of your entries! 

The winner of the 30's Playtime FQ bundle as given away by the Fat Quarter Shop is:

Congratulations Siobhan!  

There were more than 1200 entries to win this FQ bundle 

and your entry came up as the winner.  Lucky!

Enjoy your rainbow of fabric.  Happy Stitching!

With thanks to the Fat Quarter Shop for such a generous giveaway and to my readers for supporting my sponsors.

Rita

Fat Quarter Shop ~ Giveaway!

A sponsored giveaway.

The Fat Quarter Shop was founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly and carries all of the latest fabrics, exclusive kits, quilt clubs, Block of the Month programs, patterns and more.  Hard work and a commitment to excellent service - every order, every customer - has seen this business has thrive.  

30's Playtime by Chloe's Closet for Moda Fabrics

The Fat Quarter Shop is a long time Red Pepper Quilts favorite place to browse and shop.  I regularly stalk check the What's New and can say the same again for the Coming Soon section.  I love receiving their carefully packaged parcels in the mail.

Today's giveaway is one you don't want to miss!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Kimberly and the team at The Fat Quarter Shop are giving away a Fat Quarter bundle of 30's Playtime by Chloe's Closet to one lucky reader. There are 40 Fat Quarters in this delightful collection - and yes, I have been rather impatiently waiting for these to arrive. 

30's Playtime by Chloe's Closet for Moda Fabrics

Imagine what you could do with this bundle!  

To be in the draw to win a bundle of 30's Playtime by Chloe's Closet all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post.  International readers are welcome!  Only one entry per person/email address.  If you are a no-reply blogger please be sure to also leave your email address.  

A winner will be drawn and announced on Tuesday 2 July 2013.  The winner will also be notified by email.

Fat Quarter Shop Links:

SHOP ONLINE : : JOLLY JABBER BLOG

FACEBOOK : :  TWITTER : : PINTEREST : : YOUTUBE

Thank you to Kimberly and the Fat Quarter Shop team for such a generous giveaway.

ENTRY HAS NOW CLOSED 

A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY

Good luck everyone!
Rita

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[workinprogress]

Thank you for stopping by!  I have some pictures to share with you of what I have been working on this week.

Rather than tidy up my sewing space and fold fabric from my last project I have instead cut a whole bunch of squares (4.5 inch squares) and stitched up another quilt top - this is otherwise known as productive procrastinating, although that happy mountain of fabric still needs folding. 

This quilt is much easier than the last, but these simple squares continue to make me rrr-ridiculously happy.  I love the traditional patchwork look and enjoy immersing myself in fabric play; an anyone can do project and  completely stress free.  It was exactly what I needed this week.

It's all about the fabric.   As well as the many Japanese import fabrics I have used floral prints by designers such as Pam Kitty Morning (from the Pam Kitty Love collection), and fabrics from Bake Sale by Lori Holt.  I have also mixed in basic stash prints - like gingham fabric and the occasional dot fabric.  

More soon.
Rita

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Kaleidoscope Medallion Quilt

I know.  You have probably seen enough of this quilt, but my Kaleidoscope Medallion Quilt is now finished. So that I can move on I am going to post a whole bunch of pictures of the finished quilt and you can rest assured that today is the end of this one ...

I spent some time pondering how best to quilt this quilt and in the end decided that I didn't need to add any more detail to the already busy design. Instead of top stitching I have ditch-stitched almost every single seam line. That involved much quilt wrangling; turning the quilt often, sometimes stitching only a few inches and then turning the quilt again.  Stitch and turn. Both the Flying Geese Units and the Dog Tooth border tested my patience but I am really pleased with the look and drape of the finished quilt.  All up the quilting alone took approximately 6 hours of stitching to complete.  

For the back of the quilt I have used a single fabric - a small black dot on a white background - and have matched it with a black and white stripe binding.  The binding fabric frames the quilt, draws the eye in and complements the medium scale black/white text border.

I have not kept note of how many different fabrics that I have used for this quilt, but I guess it will be close to 200 different prints, including both neutral background fabrics as well as the colored fabrics. An extensive fabric stash is a wonderful resource and I love working from stash. It has taken a number of years (and a lot of hard work) to have on hand such a great collection of fabrics and I intend on using every last scrap.  Eventually.

This quilt is for sale. I have updated my Etsy Store ~

and you can find this quilt listed here: Kaleidoscope Medallion Quilt.

Kaleidoscope Medallion Quilt   550 Patchwork Pieces

ITTY BITTY DETAILS (starting from the center of the quilt):

• 16 Kaleidoscope Blocks made using Free Paper Piecing Pattern
• Dotty Border 1 - 1.5 inches wide including seam allowances.
• 48 Flying Geese Units each measuring 3.5 inches x 2 inches including seam allowances.
• Dotty Border 2 - 1.75 inches wide including seam allowances.
• Dog Tooth Border - 3.5 inches wide including seam allowances.  I drew up my own foundation papers using EQ7 for this border.  Four 3.5 inch square Economy Blocks also paper pieced.
• Text Border - First of Infinity by Kumiko Fujita - 2 inches wide including seam allowances. 
• Outer Border - 72 Rectangles measuring 2.5 inches x 5.5 inches. Four 5.5 inch square Economy Blocks also paper pieced.

RELEVANT LINKS:

Red Pepper Quilts Etsy Store

The Week in Stitches - Kaleidoscope Medallion Quilt in Progress

Kaleidoscope Block - Free Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

Any questions?  Please don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you for stopping by,

Rita

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The Fat Quarter Shop ~ Blogger's Choice Bundle

I was asked to pick a Blogger's Choice bundle for The Fat Quarter Shop!

It was a little tricky to choose a bundle of fabric weeks in advance - and from computer screen - so have I gone for my "safe" pretties ~ a mix of not quite low volume fabrics together with stash basics: dots, stripes and small scale prints that will happily mix with stash fabrics. 

Available now!

Head on over to The Jolly Jabber (The Fat Quarter Shop Blog) for your chance to win this bundle  (click here), or purchase this bundle from The Fat Quarter Shop (click here).   

In the meantime this is my view - basting and quilting my Kaleidoscope Medallion Quilt.  It's easy on the eyes ...

More soon.

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

Blogger's Choice Bundle at the Fat Quarter Shop

The Week in Stitches - Kaleidoscope Medallion Quilt in Progress

Kaleidoscope Block - Free Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern

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