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 flower small skalabara quilts

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 flower small skalabara quilts

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 flower small skalabara quilts

patchwork city quilt in turquoise

Dec17

In this blog post, I want to share with you the turquoise quilt I made for my Mum. The only condition she had was to use her favorite color palette : blue/turquoise/green. After checking my Kona Solids on stock, I selected a few more shades from the Kona Solid colour chart.

Since the Brexit, I cannot order easy in the UK. Some shops stopped delivering to continental Europe because of the customs. But I have found a super online shop in Germany stocking a wide range of Kona solids. So I sent my order to Quiltzauberei.de and within a week I had all my fabrics at home.

I had a special quilt pattern on my mind, one that I wanted to try out for a long time. It is from the book Patchwork City by Elizabeth Hartman. Since I purchased the e-book back in 2014, it was sitting a long time on the shelf. At the end, I selected the pattern Uptown because of the dimensions.

I am not writing a review about this book, but I must admit, it is written very well. There are 3 block sizes (5″ x 8″ ; 8″ x 8″ ; 5″ x 14″) that make up pieced together a block 14″ square. There are different techniques, like precise cutting and piecing or foundation paper piecing.

The first half of this year I was working on this secret project, quilt for my Mum. She wanted a new quilt for the couch in her kitchen. The “old” one has come into years, I made over 10 years ago. Actually, it was my first big quilt I made on my own. A sampler quilt with 12 blocks, each 12″ square, using batiks in blue/turquoise/yellow. I didn’t even take photos of this quilt.

I started February this year and till the end of August I made the 60 individual blocks needed for the Uptown Quilt design. I got used to working with very thin fabric strips and my piecing got accurate. Since I knew I was going to Prague in October, I had Septmber to finish the quilt.

An I made it! Ende September I could take photos of the finished quilt. Piecing the quilt blocks went well and the quilt came out beautifully.

As the pattern is very geometrical, I though quilting with wavy stitches would break it up a bit. Quilting thread is Mettler Silk Finish Cotton 40, color 2792 turquoise and the stitch length is 4,0 mm.

For the quilt backing I have used a bedsheet with paisley pattern purchase at Zara Home.

The binding has all the different fabric hues from the quilt, pieced with 20″ long strips.

This was my big project for 2021. All the other quilts or quilted cushion covers I made this year are here : quilts made 2021.

Uptown from Patchwork City – Quilt size : 65″ x 81″ / Block size : 14″ x 14″

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

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

Thanks for visiting my blog in 2021 and taking part in my quilting adventures. Wishing you a wonderful festive season and all the best for 2022! Happy sewing and 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.