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 flower small skalabara quilts

sneak peek of the turquoise quilt

Dec5

The first half of this year I was working on a secret project – a quilt for my Mum. She asked me to make her a new quilt for the couch in her kitchen. Her colour choice for the new quilt was the same blue/turquoise/green.

cushion covers in turquoise - skalabara quilts

Matching to the new quilt, I made 5 cushion covers. All with the same color palette and all Kona solids. The background fabric is Kona solid in Ash – a wonderful hue between beige and grey. A very versatile neutral color.

Browsing my computer to upload photos of all five cushions covers, I couldn’t find them. Ohhh jeee, forgot to save them properly. This one I have pieced from all the leftover scraps. See this blog post.

patchwork city improvisional cushion cover - skalbara quilts

The two cushion covers have geometrical patterns. One is a checkerboard block with 2,5″ cut squares, finished cushion size is 18″ square.

Quilted with the walking foot in diagonal lines, stitch length is 4,0 mm. I have added a turquoise binding as a decoration element.

The second cushion cover has a stripe pattern, using 1,5″ wide fabric pieces. The quilting is in diagonal, the stitching lines are 1″ apart. Cushion size is 16″ square.

For both cushion covers, I have used the same thread : Mettler Silk Finish Cotton 50, color 2792 in turquoise.

Here a few more shots :

Turquoise checkerboard cushion cover : 18″ x 18″

Turquoise stripe blocks cushion cover : 16″ x 16″

Wadding : Natur Bamboo Blend by Rosello – 50/50 bamboo cotton blend

Quilting thread : Mettler Silk Finish Cotton 40 – color 2792 turquoise

Lesson learned : save photos correctly on the computer to find them later ! Happy quilting.

barbora flower small skalabara quilts

a gift for my friend Irena

Nov20

My friend Irena comes twice a year to Spain to spend some quality time at her house. Because of the pandemic, she was not able to come for two years. We were so happy to meet in August. She is born in September and this year we could celebrate her birthday together. Instead of buying something, I made for her three matching cushion covers.

cushion covers for irena - skalabara quilts

A few years ago, I made for Irena a table runner for her house. I thought it would be nice idea, to match the table runner with cushion covers. The three cushion covers have a distinct pattern, but still reflect the same style. All are 18″ x18″.

There is a fussy cut flower in the center – same as the table runner. The solid backing fabric is Spectrum in Antique White by Makower.

For the cushion backing I have used a matching fabric with a small flower pattern, this I had on my stock. The covers have a zipper closure on the bottom.

All three cushion covers have the same quilting design. On the front diagonal lines 1″ apart, the diagonal lines on the back are 2″ apart. Both, front and back of the cushion covers are with a sandwich with wadding and muslin.

Set of three cushion covers, size : 18″ x 18″

Wadding : White and Warm from Warm Company

Quilting thread : Aurifil Mako 40/2 – color Light Sand #2000

Happy quilting!

barbora flower small skalabara quilts

cushion cover with highland cow #2

Nov7

No blogging is not equal to not sewing or quilting. Since my last post, I have finished the quilt for my Mum and a few small cushion projects. In my the first post after my extended blogging holidays, I would like to show you a cushion cover. The pattern is the highland cow from the book Animal Quilts by Juliet van der Heijden, website The Tartankiwi.

cushion cover highland cow - skalabara quilts

This cushion cover was a wish from my friend Alice. She liked the highland cow cushion cover I made two years ago. Alice asked for a beige background instead of turquoise. But happy, colorful highland cow hair.

I have used my diverse Kona solids from stock, the background is Kona Ivory.

Quilting design is the same as the last cow cushion cover. Straight lines on the background. Copying the hair and face with colorful quilting thread.

I have inserted a zipper on the cushion bottom. The cushion backside is with same Kona Ivory as the cow background. This time I have quilted the back in diagonal lines, 1 inch apart and stitch length of 4mm.

Highland cow cushion cover with a laurel bush in the background.

I was taking the photos one late afternoon with less sunshine than we have normally. So this time each photo has an individual touch.

A photo of the cushion top before turning it into a cushion cover. It was so much fun working on a paper piecing project after some time. All my other projects were “pure cutting and piecing” patterns.

Where has the summer gone? We are now heading for Christmas. The cool and dark days are here. This gives me more time to prepare new posts instead of going to the beach. I hope you have enjoyed reading my post! Happy quilting!

barbora flower small skalabara quilts

cushion covers for alice – part 2

Jun4

Before I write the actual blog post, I just wanted to mention that I am taking park in the Summer Sampler 2021. This time under the motto “Vintage Restyle”. Starting on 7th of June and running till 6th of September. Looks like a fun project, receiving a block pattern every Monday for 13 weeks.

But now back to the cushion covers for Alice. Alice gave me her wish just for one cushion cover. It should be a rectangle shape and use Pineapple Farm block pattern by Elizabeth Hartman. The other two cushion covers should be 15″ square and colorful. And have the same background as the pineapple block.

Fabric selection : background – Kona Ash, pineapple leaves – Kona Pewter. The yellow fabrics are from my stash.

Quilted in diagonal lines with the walking foot, 1″ apart and stitch length of 4 mm. Quilting thread is Mettler Cotton Silk Finish 40 in light grey 0331.

For the backing of all cushion covers, I have used the background fabric – Kona Ash. I have finished the cushion covers with a zipper closure on the bottom. Quilted in diagonal lines with the walking foot, 2″ apart and stitch length of 4 mm.

The other two cushion covers are with two diverse color shades. One with reddish tones and the other one with turquoise fabrics. The pattern is Color Wheel Quilt by Rita from Red Pepper Quilts. I have resized the original block by printing out the pdf pattern with 90% scale instead of 100% – actual size. When cutting the concave part, I have added 2″ on the sides to increase the block size with the background fabric.

Quilted in diagonal lines with the walking foot, 1″ apart and stitch length of 4 mm. Quilting thread is Mettler Cotton Silk Finish 40 in light grey 0331.