dotti and spinning windmill quilt throw

Dec29

It has been lately quiet on my blog about my projects. But in this time I concentrated on other things then sewing or quilting. A big change came two months ago : we have finally adopted a dog – so please meet Dotti, a rescue bitch approx. three years old.

Dotti is a mix bread, it is hard to identify the parents, but is very gentle and brings life to our house.

In the middle of the confinement here in Spain, just after Easter, we have lost our loyal and handsome companion of 10 years, Strubbel the Catalan sheepdog. The loss came from one moment to another, and it took us by surprise. I believe that he is happy in his hunting heaven chasing all those rabbits. He will stay with us forever in our memories.

After working with tiny blocks on the last cushion covers – read this blog post – I wanted to work on a quick and easy project. I have always been fond of any windmill blocks and made a quilt throw for the rescue kennels that Dotti came from. Finally, I selected a 12″ square spinning windmill block to do the throw.

spinning windmill quilt throw - skalabara quilts

I took out the fabric bundle that I ordered earlier this year : Sun Print 2020 by Alison Glass. The collection includes 27 quilting cotton fabrics in diverse colors. From my fabric stack I have matched the solids, mostly Kona from Robert Kaufman.

I have made 20 blocks with a quilt layout of 4 x 5 blocks, adding borders to left/right and top/bottom. The background solid fabric is Kona Solid in Silver by Robert Kaufman.

The backing fabric is once again a colorful Ikea bedding cover, with tropical birds and flowers.

spinning windmill quilt throw backing - skalabara quilts

The binding is this time colorful, made up with all the diverse solid color fabrics that I have used for the center spinning windmill blocks.

I have quilted this throw with the walking foot selecting the curvy running stitch #4 on the Bernina. I have adjusted the stitch length to 3,75 and increased the curve length to 250%.

spinning windmill quilt throw quilting detail - skalabara quilts

I have enjoyed making this happy quilt throw as it was a quick finish.

Quilt size : 54″ x 66″ / Block size : 12″ x 12″

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

Quilting thread : Aurifil Mako NE 40/2 – color 2600 Dove

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and let’s look positive into the year 2021!

barbora flower small skalabara quilts

checkered quilt with liberty fabrics

Sep3

This summer was hot on the east coast of Spain and the pandemic situation forced me to stay more at home. No blog posting doesn’t automatically mean no sewing. Actually, I was busy sorting out my fabrics and all the scrap baskets I found.

liberty checkered quilt 1 - skalabara quilts

This quilt pattern was always on the top of my list. But I couldn’t decide what solid color to choose. I am also taking part in this year’s Sugaridoo/Bernina quilt along – here I am using the Kona solid in Haze. As I was short of this fabric, I had to get some more. And why not get even more for the checkered quilt?

liberty checkered quilt detail 1 - skalabara quilts

The Haze solid blends well with the Tana Lawns by Liberty London fabrics I have on stock from my previous projects. Kona Haze is a versatile neutral shade, not grey, not beige, not white, but still a warm color.

liberty checkered quilt detail 2 - skalabara quilts

Quilting is once more with the walking foot. I have added stitches in the Haze squares on the diagonal. And also stitched on both sides of the vertical and horizontal seams.

liberty checkered quilt backing 1 - skalabara quilts

Last month I went to IKEA to get some calico cotton. I have also visited the bedding department and found some nice sheets and duvets covers to use as quilt backing. This is one of them : a black and white duvet cover with butterflies and beetles.

liberty checkered quilt backing 2 - skalabara quilts

liberty checkered quilt detail 3 - skalabara quilts

I have used the same Kona solid in Haze also for the binding. Keeps the quilt neutral and calm.

liberty checkered quilt binding 1 - skalabara quilts

liberty checkered quilt binding 2 - skalabara quilts

Here a take of the quilting on an early morning just after the sunrise.

liberty checkered quilt detail 4 - skalabara quilts

liberty checkered quilt 3 - skalabara quilts

Quilt size : 54″ x 74″

Squares : 999 pieces (27 x 37 rows) – cut size 2,5″ x 2,5″

Wadding : 50% – 50% cotton – bamboo from Rosello

Quilting thread : Aurifil Mako NE 40/2 – color 2600 Dove

This is all for the moment, more to come! I have further quilt finishings on my to do list, keep safe

barbora

a train quilt for baby adam

Jun28

A few weeks ago my mum asked me if I could make a quilt for a baby boy. A quilt for her friend’s great grandson, Adam. Little Adam is turning one this summer and a baby quilt would be the right gift. They gave me a theme: a pattern with trains.

I found a nice a pattern with a train motif, but it was too large. The quilt pattern is All Aboard by It’s Sew Emma and it is for a twin size or a wall hanging. I needed only a pattern for a baby quilt. So I “redesigned” the train block to the right size and added Adam’s name.

There are 4 train blocks, each block is 32″ x 10″ finished size. I have added background fabric to the top and bottom and the outer borders are 4″ finished.

The letter blocks are a free design over at Temecula Quilt Company. All Little Letters are easy to piece and have explicite instructions. The letter blocks are 4″ x 4″ finished size.

train quilt quilting 3 - skalabara quilts

The background fabric is Kona Solid in Dove. This is a wonderful neutral shade that matches with the blueish color of the border and letters. This fabric from the Linea Collection by Makower in Duck Egg.

Rest of the backing fabric is also from Makower – Baby Jungle Alphabet (that I bought to make a dress).

train quilt backing 2 - skalabara quilts

Quilting is once more with my favourite walking foot. I used stich number 4 on the Bernina, a wavy pattern that I quilted 1″ apart.

And the binding :

train quilt binding 1 - skalabara quilts

Here photos of the quilt sandwich with lines prepared for quilting. I have marked the lines with Hera Marker from Clover. And I still prefer to prepare the quilt sandwich with basting pins.