Category Archives: patchwork

quilting book, threads and a wiener

Since the temperatures are up to 37° C it is wise to stay inside and stick my nose in the last batch of books I have received. I am absolutely smitten with the  Free Motion Quilting with Angela Waters : Choose and Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts.

Very descriptive explanations of various quilting patterns, this is now my “quilting bible”. I have practiced some of the patterns on scraps. My absolute favorite is Seafoam – combination of 2 patterns: Concentric Circles (this one I need to learn) and Pebbles (this one I am practicing).

Yesterday I have started quilting the sandwich I made before I went to Prague. I decided to combine the patterns pebbles and waves. I shall only quilt the white fabric (background) and leave the color rectangles to float – as the quilt’s name is Floating Colors. When I read the book I also noticed that Angela’s favorite thread is a 50-weight polyester So Fine by Superior Threads. I like to follow experienced advice and I have ordered some more thread at Barnyarns in the UK. Here a quilting detail from the backside.

So far free-motion quilting. In the meantime I finished a dog quilt . The design caught my eye whilst browsing the world-wide web. I loved the photos and I also found the author of the pattern: Boo Davis and the quilt I’m a Wiener Baby Quilt is from here book Dare to be Square. Since I have ordered sooooooo many books over the last few weeks, I decided to make the quilt just from the photo. I went through my stash and found enough material from the collection  Innocent Crush from Anna Maria Horner. I think the result was worth while calculating all these cutting dimension from the various fabrics.

May I introduce you now to my version of the Wiener Baby :

And a quilting detail – I have used both straight line quilting with a walking foot as well as free-motion quilting on the body, ear and head:

And my last work this week was a customer order for 3 pillow covers :

Till next time, Barb

my orchids and a new top “avenue loop”

This week was once more filled with some surprises – not only that the painters came, but I have also received all the books I ordered from Amazon. I am fully smitten, love them and I am a proud new owner of these wonderful books.

Let me list all titles, one after the other:

  1. Elizabeth Hartman : Modern Patchwork – 12 Quilts to Take You Beyond the Basics
  2. Transparency Quilts : 10 Modern Projects by Weeks Ringel and Bill Kerr
  3. Modern Quilting Designs .: 90+ Free-Motion Inspirations
  4. Free Motion Quilting with Angela Waters : Choose and Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts

Especially #4 was very inspiring for me. I have done some FMQ but a few new hints always make life easier. I have found some new ideas and some other information about quilting threads. The threads are already on their way down to Spain and I am looking forward to work with them. Well, I  live here in a quilting “desert” and any kind of literature and information is warmly welcome.

In the meantime I have started with a new quilt “Avenue Loop” with fabric that I have ordered some time ago. It is a FQ collection of Freshcut from Heather Bailey. It has sat some time in the closet and I finally got an idea for a new quilt. Here a small detail  :

Also a few snapshots of my orchids :

and blossom in Spain :

This all for now, have a good time and thanks for stopping, Barb

floating colors #2 is ready for quilting

The summer has taken over a we had a few very hot days. Luckily the nights are still a bit cooler, so no need for air-conditioning through the night.

I have worked on my blocks for the MQG Challenge. I am nearly there, just need to do a few small alternations and think about block names.

My second and larger quilt “floating colors” is ready for quilting. This time also I want to combine straight line and free-motion quilting – like on “oh baby, baby #2“.

We are having the house interior painted. This puts the quilting back, but I can always do something on the computer or go a take a few photos of the flowers that are now full in blossom.

Happy quilting, B.

modern block challenge from www.quiltcon.com

Some time ago whilst I was catching up with my favorite blogs on the web, I found QuiltCon, presented by The Modern Quilt Guild. This is a quilt block challenge with the motto “What  does modern quilting mean to you?” So I thought this could also be a new challenge for me. I have ordered and received the solids from  Fat Quarter Shop.

QuitCon Challenge Modern Quilting

All the colors are very bright, both the cool and warm ones, and the grays have nice shade. These eleven fat quarters are waiting to be cut into smalls pieces and sewn together!

Every morning, when I take my dog for a long walk, I have enough time to think about different designs of modern blocks. Ideas are running through my head: what block size shall I go for, which colors  and what color combinations do I prefer. I have done a few sketches, both drawn by hand and in the computer. Now I just need some time to fiddle around, cut, sew, pin, get the design wall full with pieces, design blocks and rearrange them. Looking forward to this “different work” over the coming weekend.

Thanks for stopping by,

Barbora

floating colors – another finished quilt

This week I did my best and finished the quilt. Yesterday my sewing machine had a hard day – quilting for hours. I enjoyed sewing all these parallel lines. It was something else than free-motion quilting. I like both techniques and think it is always good to change the routine. The quilt size is 40″ x 54″.

My next project is a quilt with the same pattern but larger, with more blocks. This one I shall definitely finish with free-motion quilting. So that I can compare the same pattern but different quilting techniques.

Can’t wait to start with it!!