As mentioned in my last post, I have some cat lovers among my friends. What could be a better gift than a cushion cover with a cute kitten face? Using The Kittens pattern by Elizabeth Hartman I have sewed two cushion covers.
I have quilted both cushion covers using the walking foot with Gütermann Sulky Cotton 30 thread, one in straight lines, the other one with a wavy pattern.
Happy quilting, barbora 
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.
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.
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.
I decided to finish the Fishy Bones block still as an entire fish but with a visible skeleton.
I have quilted the back of the cushion cover in diagonal lines using the walking foot.
To quilt the cushion front I have decided to go with the walking foot. This time no straight lines – but irregular waves instead.
I have added a zipper closure to the bottom of the cushion cover following a tutorial by Vicky from veni vidi vicky blog.
Cushion 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
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 :
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.
I have also added only a square to the sashing – instead of a cross in the original pattern :
Matching quilts mean matching quilting – straight lines (mostly) one inch apart using the walking foot :
Matching quilts mean matching backing – used the same fabrics for both quilts (luckily bought enough material during my last visit in Prague) :
and the same fabrics for binding of both quilts – Kona solid in silver .
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
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.
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 :
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.
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.
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.
And the quilt “in action” :
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
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.
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.
And voila, the top was finished and basted for quilting.
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.
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.
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.
A detail photo of the quilting – the lines are somehowy straight, but I am very happy with the result. It is handmade!
I have used the same fabric for the binding as in the original quilt by Emily : silver from Kona solids.
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!
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
