Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Part 3

A FINISHED QUILT

QUILT STATS

Finished quilt measures 74 inches x 74 inches.

37 rows of 37 squares.

1369 squares each measuring 2.5" x 2.5" (incl seam allowances).

200+ different printed fabrics.
100% cotton fabric, batting, and thread.

A really happy finish! First I would like to thank everyone who stopped by my Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt Tutorial. As always, I really appreciate it, including your kind comments. Currently all blog comments are being moderated/reviewed prior to publishing, so if you don't see your comment straight away, please know that I will still get to read it. 

I have loved everything about making this quilt, especially that I was able to use stash fabrics as well as scrap fabrics from my scrap bin/s. Oddly, I enjoy the what can be the otherwise laborious task of piecing block after block with many patchwork pieces. I enjoy the prepping of the fabrics, the chain piecing, and even the pressing of the seams!

This quilt is once again one of my bigger quilts - 74 inches x 74 inches - which can make for uncomfortable basting and quilting. I therefore decided to stitch in the ditch this quilt, quilting only seam lines. When I say only I don't mean that this quilt is lightly quilted, for by quilting all seam lines an all over 2" grid of intersection lines is created, giving the quilt a lovely subtle texture.

For the back of the quilt I have used my current favorite backing fabric ~ Newsprint from the Paint Collection by Carrie Bloomston; for not only was this the only backing fabric that I had on hand with sufficient yardage but it is also a fabric that complements many of quilts, especially the scrappy ones. A perfect match and handy to have on hand.

I have also once again  matched the backing fabric with my favorite binding fabric ~ black and white stripe by Timeless Treasures for a classic and clean quilt edge.

This quilt is for sale.
SOLD

This one will be hard to part with however I already have plans to make another! Or at least plans to continue to bust my stash!

Thank you for stopping by,

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:

Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Part 1 - Work in Progress
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Part 2 and Tutorial
More RPQ scrap busting projects

COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Sunday Stash #289 Cotton + Steel 2015 Paper Bandana and Honeymoon

Paper Bandana by Alexia Abegg

Sunday Stash this week features two more 2015 Cotton + Steel Collections (see the first two collections here ~ Picnic and Lucky Strikes). First up is Paper Bandana by Alexia Abegg; a collection inspired by Kirigami, a Japanese paper cutting craft. 

Paper Bandana features painted and hand drawn geometric motifs for an earthy, handmade look. The unbleached cotton prints and low volume designs complement the warmer and more saturated colors perfectly.

The adorable tiny Panda Bears are a favorite! I love the mix of vibrant larger scale prints and whimsical designs. As always they all blend well with previous Cotton + Steel collections.

Honeymoon by Sarah Watts

Honeymoon is Sarah Watts' latest collection for Cotton + Steel, and it is based on the sketches she made on her Honeymoon to Costa Rica. They playfully capture the lush landscape of a romantic and colorful jungle full of hummingbirds, iguanas, sloths, toucans, wild horses, and hot springs.

I always enjoy seeing how despite the designers vastly different and personal points of inspiration - in this case Japanese culture versus Costa Rica landscape and jungle - the collections are ultimately and uniquely drawn together by color and distinctly "Cotton + Steel".

Spring 2015 Cotton + Steel is now available from:
Pink Castle Fabrics
The Fat Quarter Shop
Fabric Bubb
Fabric Worm  *Spend $50+ and save $5 with code redpepper. Every day.*
Stash Fabrics 
Miss Matatabi (Etsy)
GJ's Discount Fabrics  (Melbourne)
Lady Belle Fabric
The Quilted Castle

SPONSOR NEWS:

*Expired coupon codes and sales/promotions have been deleted.

Honeymoon by Sarah Watts

Enjoy Sunday!

Rita

COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.

Miss Matatabi and a Giveaway!

Miss Matatabi is an Etsy based, family owned online fabric store specializing in modern Japanese fabrics, shipped directly from Japan. The store is run by Frances, an Australian who now lives in Japan and has a love and a keen eye for beautiful fabrics. Frances curates the selection of gorgeous Japanese textiles herself, and takes joy in being able to share not only the most popular Japanese textile brands such as nani IRO, Kokka, Yuwa, Kei, but also fabric collections by well know design house Cotton + Steel, and unique and hard to find fabrics of the highest quality.

JUBILEE Printed Matter Line Angelfish by
Yasunobu Shimizudani for Kokka

In Frances' own words: Having lived in Japan for more than 10 years I have developed a deep appreciation for Japanese craft and design aesthetic and love that handmade is still a valued part of Japanese culture. As a maker, as well as a store owner, taking time to source textiles I not only think you will love but that I also adore to sew with is one of the best parts of my work day. I'm honored to be able to connect with so many interesting and kind people from all over the world through a shared love of textiles.

Unique fabrics by popular Japanese textile designer by Suzuko Koseki

I am a long time, regular Miss Matatabi customer, and a good portion of my Japanese fabric stash has been purchased right there. I check often to see what is new, and my orders have always been carefully packaged and shipped promptly. Great customer service is a priority for Frances which I so appreciate. I also  love(!) that many of the fabrics (including the new Cotton and Steel collections) are available as fat quarter cuts.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Frances is giving away  to one lucky RPQ reader a fat quarter bundle of fabrics (16 fat quarters) from Rashida Coleman-Hale’s Zephyr collection for Cotton + Steel.

To be in the draw please leave a comment on this post - 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 8pm (Australia - EST) on Friday 10 July 2015, at which time comments to this post will be closed. The winner will be announced the same day by edit to this blog post, and will also be contacted by email.

Thank you for all of your entries.

ENTRY HAS NOW CLOSED

The winner of the FQ bundle is:

Congratulations Beth! Beth has been contacted by email.

ONLINE STORE including ~

Cotton + Steel 2015

nani Iro

Clearance Section

FACEBOOK :: INSTAGRAM

TWITTER :: BLOG

Good luck everyone and thank you for supporting my sponsors.

Rita

Images by Miss Matatabi and used with permission.

Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Part 2

The Irish Chain Quilt is coming along nicely, and is now a complete quilt top. This quilt top has been so fun to piece, it's up there with my top 5 favorite projects. The design is traditional but the fabrics are modern and feature many "i-spy" elements from animals, birds, and bees, to accessories, tools of the sewing trade, flowers, faces, and more. 

QUILT STATS

Quilt top measures 74 inches x 74 inches.

37 rows of 37 squares.

1369 squares each measuring 2.5" x 2.5" (incl seam allowances).

Pieced in Blocks - Block A and Block B (see below).

13 Block A units and 12 Block B units.

200+ different printed fabrics have been used to make this quilt top.

Fabrics used:

1. Flower Drops in Pink from the Milk, Flower, Sugar Collection by Elea Lutz (1 yard*)
2. Pinhead in Black by Michael Miller (7/8 yard)
3. Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in Iron (3/4 yard)
4. Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White (1/2 yard)
5. Lots of 2.5" square scraps!

*Fabric requirements are for the quilt as pictured made from 2.5" squares, and based on 44" wide fabric. Estimates are generous for rotary cutting but if using a fabric cutter you may need extra yardage.

Quilt Layout ~ alternating Block A and Block B
5 rows of 5 blocks
13 Block A Units
12 Block B Units

The quilt is made from two alternating blocks ~ Block A and Block B. I prefer to press seams together (to one side) and to ensure that all seams "nest" when sewing the blocks together I have pressed seams for my blocks as follows:

Block A

Arrange fabric pieces as pictured - seven rows of seven squares - and sew squares together in horizontal rows, pressing seams for each row as indicated by the arrows (starting with top row: out and away from the center square, then for the next row press seams in towards the center square etc).

Block B

Arrange fabric pieces as pictured taking note of placement of the feature fabric, and sew squares together in horizontal rows, pressing seams for each row as indicated by the arrows (opposite to how seams are pressed for block A).

Pressing seams - Block A (Left) and Block B (right)

Once you have sewn all seven rows for your block, sew rows into blocks and press the final seams as indicated - for Block A press seams out and AWAY from the center row of squares, and for Block B press in and TOWARDS the center row of squares. Pressing your seams this way will ensure that regardless of which way you turn your blocks all seams will "nest" when sewing block A and Block B together. 

My quilt top is made from 25 blocks in total ~ 13 Block A units and 12 Block B units. After sewing my blocks together in five rows of five blocks the quilt top was as pictured above.

I have since added a single row of squares right around the edge of the quilt top so as to complete to repeat pattern. Cutting these additional 140+ scrappy squares has taken just about as long as it took to cut all of the other squares ... well, it certainly felt that way.

More soon,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Irish Chain Scrap Buster Quilt - Work in Progress - Part 1
Irish Chain Scrap Buster quilt - The Finished Quilt - Part 3
More RPQ scrap busting projects



COPYRIGHT: Do not copy or use any content or photos from my blog without my written permission.