Tag Archives: block

candy cat and fishy bones

Browsing on the web for foundation paper piecing projects with cats I found these two great blocks (and the best : both are for free) on Craftsy. The designer is Jo from Unicornharts. The blocks are Candy Cat and Fishy Bones.

cusion cover candy cat 1 - skalabara quilts

My friend Julia is a passionate cat mom for two of these species. I thought a cushion cover with two hungry cats would make a nice gift.

cusion cover candy cat 3 - skalabara quilts

Foundation paper piecing is still high on my sewing agenda. The Candy Cat is a straight forward block with fairly large fabric pieces. But the Fishy Bones block ia a bit tricky as it has a lot of small pieces : a new challenge for me.

cusion cover candy cat detail 1 - skalabara quilts

I decided to finish the Fishy Bones block still as an entire fish but with a visible skeleton.

cusion cover candy cat detail 2 - skalabara quilts

cusion cover candy cat 2 - skalabara quilts

I have quilted the back of the cushion cover in diagonal lines using the walking foot.

cusion cover candy cat back 1 - skalabara quilts

cusion cover candy cat back 2 - skalabara quilts

To quilt the cushion front I have decided to go with the walking foot. This time no straight lines – but irregular waves instead.

cusion cover candy cat detail 3 - skalabara quilts

I have added a zipper closure to the bottom of the cushion cover following a tutorial by Vicky from veni vidi vicky blog.

cusion cover candy cat zipper 1 - skalabara quiltsCushion cover size : 20″ x 30″

Wadding : Quilters Dream Cotton Request (very thin loft)

Quilting thread : Gütermann Sulky Cotton 30 colour 1082

 

Linking with :

 

Hope you enjoyed reading this post and maybe this is an inspiration for you to make some more Candy Cats! Happy quilting!

barbora flower small skalabara quilts

cross tile quilt – a variation

In my earlier post I have shared the finished Cross Tile Quilt – pattern by Emily of Quilty Love. I was so happy with the result that I wanted to make another one. This is Cross Tile Quilt Variation :

cross tile quilt variation - skalabara quilts

I did not want to piece a new quilt exactly the same, but it should be very similar and matching. So I decided to swap the cross in the block center for a simple log cabin-like square feature. The fabrics used and the block outline are the same as in the original quilt, but the “block inside” is different.

cross tile quilt variation detail 1 - skalabara quilts

I have also added only a square to the sashing – instead of a cross in the original pattern :

cross tile quilt variation detail 2 - skalabara quilts

Matching quilts mean matching quilting – straight lines (mostly) one inch apart using the walking foot :

cross tile quilt variation detail 3 - skalabara quilts

cross tile quilt variation quilting - skalabara quilts

Matching quilts mean matching backing – used the same fabrics for both quilts (luckily bought enough material during my last visit in Prague) :

cross tile quilt variation backing - skalabara quilts

and the same fabrics for binding of both quilts – Kona solid in silver .

cross tile quilt variation binding - skalabara quilts

cross tile quilt variation 3 - skalabara quilts

cross tile quilt variation 2 - skalabara quilts

cross tile quilt variation 4 - skalabara quilts

Here the two quilts in comparison :

 

Quilt size : 62″ x 78″  /  Block size : 14″ x 14″

Wadding : Warm & White by The Warm Company

Quilting thread : Mettler Quilting Cotton col. nat 4 and Aurifil 40/2 colour 2600

Linking with :

Happy quilting!   barbora flower small skalabara quilts

flowers for the window

As you know, I am a big fan of Elizabeth Hartman and here playful quilt designs and clearly written patterns. This time I have been working with her Greenhouse Quilt pattern. I have made only a small quilt to cover the (ugly) shutter box over the window in the spare room.

greenhouse for window 1 - skalabara quilts

Since I have made some new cushion covers for the spare room and also got some new curtains, the old shutter cover would look a bit funny. It was in black and white with birds sitting on a branch – all in applique. Well, it matched the old curtains.

The Greenhouse Quilt pattern is written straight forward and is easy to follow. The “worst” part was to decide on a color palette. I used the same fabrics as for the cushions – so this was easy – various hues from Kona Solids by Robert Kaufmann. Here photos of the flowers in detail :

greenhouse for window detail 2 - skalabara quilts

greenhouse for window detail 1 - skalabara quilts

I added a sleeve on the back to hang the quilt on a curtain pole. I have sewn the top part of the sleeve with the binding, the lower part of the sleeve is finished by hand.

greenhouse for window back 3 - skalabara quilts

Once more wavy quilting with the walking foot – the “easy” free-motion quilting version. I have added binding in the same fabric as used for the background. The backing fabric is calico from IKEA – a good price/quality purchase.

greenhouse for window back 2 - skalabara quilts

I have followed the small Greenhouse Quilt pattern version to piece the flowers, but made some adjustments to the size of the quilt – added more fabric to the left and right of the flowers and less fabric on the top and bottom of the flowers.

greenhouse for window 3 - skalabara quilts

And the quilt “in action” :

greenhouse in window - skalabara quilts

quilt size : 16″ x 54″  /  block sizes vary : 6″ x 11″ – 15″

wadding : Quilters Dream Request – very thin

quilting thread : Mettler Quilting Cotton col. nat 4

Linking with :

Happy quilting!    barbora  flower small skalabara quilts

 

 

 

 

cross tile quilt with kona solids

In the moment I have seen a photo of this quilt on the web, I knew that I wanted to make it. The pattern is by Emily from Quilty Love and is called Cross Tile Quilt. I liked the strong bold colours and the white background. Also the blocks are 14″ x 14″ and it is a quick sewing project.

cross tile quilt - skalabara quilts

As mentioned before, I am trying to use the fabrics that I have on stock. I have a big box full off fabrics from the Kona solids collection.  As I wanted to make a quilt throw, I needed to choose 20 colours. The photo is before I decided on all colours, four are still missing. Made staples with the first colour combinations – they changed constantly.

cross tile quilt kona solids - skalabara quilts

And voila, the top was finished and basted for quilting.

cross tile quilt baste 1 - skalabara quilts

Bought backing fabric during my last stay in Prague. The fabric is “European”, i.e. is has a width of 59″. I added some Kona solid in silver to top up the quilt backing.

cross tile quilt backing 1 - skalabara quilts

A “x-ray” photo of the quilt taken against the sun from the back. Here you can see the piece on the right with the silver solid fabric.

cross tile quilt backing 3 - skalabara quilts

I wasn’t sure how to quilt it. I did some thinking about the pros and cons between free motion quilting and quilting with the walking foot – and yes, the walking foot made it. I decided to quilt it with straight lines approx. 1″ apart and did guidelines with the Hera Marker.

cross tile quilt baste 3 - skalabara quilts

A detail photo of the quilting – the lines are somehowy straight, but I am very happy with the result. It is handmade!

cross tile quilt detail 1 - skalabara quilts

cross tile quilt detail 2 - skalabara quilts

cross tile quilt detail 3 - skalabara quilts

I have used the same fabric for the binding as in the original quilt by Emily : silver from Kona solids.

cross tile quilt binding 1 - skalabara quilts

I am very happy with this quilt – it turned out even better than I thought. Bright colours and a simple design – once more: thanks Emily for the great pattern!

cross tile quilt 5 - skalabara quilts

cross tile quilt 4 - skalabara quilts

Quilt size : 62″ x 78″  /  Block size : 14″ x 14″

Wadding : Warm & White by The Warm Company

Quilting thread : Mettler Quilting Cotton col. nat 4 and Aurifil 40/2 colour 2600

 

Maybe this bright Cross Tile Quilt could be inspiration for your next project!

Happy sewing, barbora  flower small skalabara quilts

unicorn cushion cover

Paper piecing is the next adventure on my quilting journey. I have made a few small projects some time ago with this technique and I was not really keen on it. But when I wanted to make a cushion cover with a unicorn block, there was no way around, but to start once more with paper piecing.

unicorn cushion cover for kate 1 - skalabara

The cushion cover is for Kate and I have used the same fabrics as for the previous cushion covers and the Magenta and Golden Flowers Quilt. The background fabric is magenta from the linen texture collection by Makower UK and the prints are diverse fabrics from Kaffe Fassett Collective.

unicorn cushion cover for kate detail - skalabara quilts

The pattern is from Unicornharts shop at Craftsy.

I have quilted the unicorn cushion cover using the walking foot and Gutermann Sulky Cotton No. 30 thread in straight lines, both on the front as well as on the back.

unicorn cushion cover for kate back - skalabara quilts

unicorn cushion cover for kate - skalabara quilts

Size : 20″ x 20″ / 50 x 50 cm – for a standard inlet cushion size

By the time I have made the unicorn paper pieced block I started to like this sewing technique and I got confident with it. So I knew that I shall continue with paper piecing. The next project was already on my list … – more in my next post.

Happy quilting,

barbora flower small skalabara quilts