petunia checker quilt

Apr13

Working with Kaffe Fassett fabrics is always a pleasure. The fabric designs and patterns are so diverse, the colors vivid, but always matching. Over the years I have collected a lot of scraps from my projects. I had them always stored in a separate bags or boxes, no mixing with other fabrics or designers. It was time to use them for a quilt.

petunia checker baby quilt - skalabara quilts

It was clear for me that I want to do a checkerboard – post stamp quilt. As the scraps had different sizes, I made out that I need to cut the squares 2 1/4″ so that I could use as many scraps as possible. I knew I wanted a bright color for the base and I had a fabric like this on stock. It is Petunia from Moda Fabrics – Bella Solids line.

I pieced units with 4 x 4 squares, each unit measuring 7″ x 7″ finished size. I added and extra row to the top and bottom of the quilt. Altogether there are 21 x 27 rows = 567 squares 2 1/4″. When piecing the checkered pattern there is more pressing than sewing. Accurate pressing helps to match the pattern by nesting the seams. I didn’t use one pin for the assembly of this quilt.

The batting is a 80/20 cotton/polyester mix, a nice and cosy medium weight batting for quilts or light quilted jackets.

For quilting I have selected an easy design – straight lines with the walking foot on the diagonal. Stitch length is 4 mm. For the pink squares I have used a Mettler Quilting 40 thread in cotton – color fuchsia. For the Kaffe Fassett squares I have selected a King Tut 40/3 in cotton by Superior Threads in a variegated version – color #934

I looked through my fabrics on stock and found a nice piece of a Kaffe Fasset extra wide backing fabric, the perfect match to the quilt top! Needed a bit of width, here I have added a strip of the petunia solid.

The quilt colors are made for a small princess – with all the bright pinks, purples and oranges. To finish this baby quilt I have selected a pink for the binding, Kona Solid Medium Pink.

This quilt was quite a while on the waiting list to get quilted. I have worked on the quilt top last year in the summer. But somehow other projects got the preference. This quilt is a donation to the rescue dog charity that my little Dotti came from.

Pattern : Checkerboard or Postage Stamp quilt

Quilt size : 37″ x 47″

Wadding : 80/20 cotton polyester blend

Quilting thread : Mettler Quilting 40 in fuchsia + King Tut 40/3 variegated #934

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Happy quilting, till next time

barbora

a hexagon quilt

Mar18

Meet the next baby quilt made with a pattern from quiltylove.com. This pattern is called Triangle Hexies. Once more a versatile quilt pattern, with many size options, to use your scraps or a nice fabric collection.

The background fabric is from the Kona Solids in grellow and the thin grey hexagon borders are in Kona silver. The rest of the fabrics are from a Sun Print collection designed by Alison Glass. As I wanted to try out this pattern and did not have a lot of fabrics, I decided to go for a baby quilt size.

The triangle hexie blocks come quickly together. The quilt is pieced in straight rows, no “y” seams. Both cutting and assembly are explained clearly in the quilt pattern.

I have used batting from Vlieseline – Natur Cotton Mix 80/20 cotton/polyester. It is a medium weight batting developed specially for quilts or light quilted jackets. This was the first time I have purchased the batting from Vlieseline and I am happy with the quality. I will use it surely in the future.

For the backing I have selected a rest piece of a duvet cover from Ikea. A colourful jungle motif with birds. The fabric pattern reflects all the colors in the quilt. The duvet cover fabric is 100% cotton and has a good thread count.

I have quilted this project using the walking foot and following the hexagon pattern. I have marked all the quilting lines by drawing the straight lines first, i.e. parallel to top and bottom. Afterwards I have added the 60 degree lines to finish the all over triangles. The quilting lines are 1 1/2 inch apart.

The quilting is not too dense, but gives the quilt a nice and neat structure. Quilting thread is from Superior Threads King Tut 40/3 in cotton, variegated gold/yellow/aqua/lime shades color #934. Stitch length is 4,0 mm.

For the binding I have selected a medium pink solid fabric that matches well with both sides – quilt top and backing fabric.

I have pieced the quilt top last year and ist the first of my “UFO” projects for the coming months. It was fun piecing the hexagons with no “y” seams and going for a new quilting design. I can imagine to make another version of this quilt, but this time in larger – as a good quilt size for the bed.

Pattern : Triangle Hexies by Emily from Quilty Love

Quilt size : 45″ x 45″

Wadding : Natur Cotton Mix 80/20 by Vlieseline – 80/20 cotton polyester blend

Quilting thread : Superior Threads King Tut 40/3 in cotton, variegated #934

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Happy quilting, till next time and thanks for visiting!

barbora

a heart quilt

Feb28

Well, meet my first ever heart quilt. I have been following quiltylove.com for some time. This year Emily launched a wonderful heart quilt before Valentine’s Day and a quilt along with her new pattern Patchwork Hearts. The design is simple but very attractive and versatile.

patchwork hearts baby quilt - skalabara quilts

The scrappy version was my favourite and I started organizing my fabric selection as soon as I saw the pattern. I went for a baby quilt size as I wanted to use my diverse orange/pink/yellow fabrics with purple shaded hearts.

The heart blocks are 9″ square and are pieced with 4 units. Both cutting and assembly are explained clearly in the quilt pattern.

Almost all fabrics are Kona solids. For the first time I have used batting from Vlieseline – Natur Cotton Mix 80/20 cotton/polyester. It is a medium weight batting developed specially for quilts or light quilted jackets. I have washed the batting befor use.

For quilting I have selected the extra wide zigzag stitch on the Bernina. Started with lines between the blocks and quilted every 1 1/2 inch. At the end, I have quilted lines every 3/4 inch apart. The quilting is not too dense, but gives the quilt a nice and neat structure.

I looked through my fabrics on stock and found a nice piece of a “book pattern” fabric in pinks to use for the backing.

To get the right width I have added a strip of dotted fabric. This baby quilt can be used from both sides. If you don’t want to see the hearts, you can change to book shelves.

The quilt colors are made for a small princess – with all the bright pinks, purples and oranges. To finish this baby quilt I have selected a medium pink for the binding.

This quilt is solely made in 2022 – started and finished within 3 weeks. It was good fun piecing the hearts and quilting with the large zigzag stitch. I can imagine to make another scrappy version of this quilt, but this time in a throw size or even larger.

The above photo features my doggy Dotti. She is now with us already 1 1/2 years – the time moves so fast! She is such a darling and a happy little dog.

Pattern : Patchwork Hearts by Emily from Quilty Love

Quilt size : 45″ x 45″ / Block size : 9″ x 9″

Wadding : Natur Cotton Mix 80/20 by Vlieseline – 80/20 cotton polyester blend

Quilting thread : Gütermann Sulky Cotton 30 in pink – color 1119

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Happy quilting, till next time

barbora

sun print cushion cover set

Feb4

Introducing my last project from 2021 : a set of two quilted cushion covers with the last fabric pieces from Sun Print collection by Alison Glass.

quilted cushion set with sun prints - skalabara quilts

Two cushion covers, two different designs, two different quilting patterns. But the same cushion size and the same fabrics. The background fabric is Kona Haze, a solid in a very light grey shade.

Both cushion covers are 18″ square. They have the same backing fabric – a colorful yellow/pink/purple fabric from a Laura Ashley bedding set.

I have opted for an envelope closure and added a lining fabric for thickness. But no wadding or quilting.

Cushion cover #1 has a simple grid design using 2,5″ cut squares from the Sun Print collection. I have cut strips 1,25″ wide for the sashing between the pattern fabric squares.

Quilting is in straight lines using the walking foot and just following the pattern.

For cushion cover #2 I have used all “odd or scrappy” pieces leftover from the Sun Print collection. I have pieced 9 units and cut them to 4,5″ squares.

The sashing between the the scrappy units is 1″ finished size (cut 1,5″). The outer borders are bit wider. Here I have used strips cut 2,5″ wide.

The quilting is in a diagonal grid with lines 1,5″ apart. For both cushion covers I have used the same quilting thread : Mettler Silk Finish Cotton 40 wt in light grey. Stitch length is 4,0 mm.

Cushion cover size : 18″ x 18″

Wadding : Quilters Dream in Natural, 100% cotton in “Select” quality

Quilting thread : Mettler Silk Finish Cotton 40 – color light grey 0331

Looking forward to new projects! I have already started a few and I am working on some small projects. I have two or three large UFOs on stock. These are on my to-do-list for 2022.

Happy quilting!

barbora

a set of quilted placemats in pink

Jan21

2022 – here we go! I have started this year with a small project – two placemats for my dear neigbourghs. A little late Christmas gift. But here in Spain, the Three Holy Kings bring the presents on the eve of 6th January. And I have made it till the 6th, so it is officially a Christmas gift.

set of quilted placemats in pink - skalabara quilts

Got out my pink scrap basket and a piece of Kona Solid in Ash for the background. I have made some calculations about the size of the placemats and the individual pieces. The pink units are cut 5″ square and finished 4,5″ square.

The borders in the center – between the pink units are 1″ finished size (cut 1,5″). The outer borders are a bit wider : 1,5″ finished size (cut 2″).

I have pieced altogether 12 pink scrappy units and divided them into two piles – for two placemats. When deciding on the placemat layout, I have rotated the units by 90º. So that three units are in vertical and three units are in horizontal direction.

Quilting the placemats was straight forward : stiches on the diagonal, each line is 3/4″ apart. This fairly dense quilting leaves the placemats nice and flat after washing in the future.