quilting in circles

Sep16

Today I just realized that it has been some time since my last post. As we had some rain this afternoon (after months) and the temperature dropped, I decided that it was the right time to get on the computer and share some news. We have had very hot and sunny weather over the past weeks and I did not feel like sitting inside for a long time and sewing. But after all I finished another 2 small projects for Christmas :

a set of place mats for my sister-in-law. The design is by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts :

a wall hanging pattern that I found at Wooden Spoon on Flickr. I like to work with small squares and I wanted to try quilting in circles.

The outer circles are easy to quilt with the walking foot, but the smaller the circles are a challenge. Next time I have to sew slower and with a firm and steady hand.

So, for this year I have my Christmas decoration done. I am looking forward to start with my next project. This will be a new sewing room in the house and it means moving some furniture. I will have all my fabrics, wadding, tools and the design wall in one room. No need to tidy up every time I stop as I can close the door and leave everything as it is till the next time.

Happy sewing, thanks for stopping, Barbora

twister tool tested

Jun21

Whilst searching the internet where to buy a ruler for Dresdner Plate blocks, I stumbled over Lils Twister Tool. The quilts made with the twister caught my eye and I couldn’t resist not to order this simple, but effective tool to make pinwheels. I was always happy with my standard rectangular and square rulers, so I never looked for something else. I found a nice tutorial at Quilting Linda for a Christmas wreath block made with the twister tool and I really liked it. So last week my parcel from Creative Grids finally arrived and I have worked on some blocks. I am aware, that all quilts made with the twister are easy to recognize, but the design is so outstanding (at least for me) that it doesn’t bother me. Here the two blocks : a Christmas wreath and a block using fabrics by Kaffe Fassett :

Fabric requirements for the Kaffe Fassett block, finished size 18″ x 18″ :

12 green 5″ square
12 red 5″ squares
1 yellow 5″ square
4 strips 3,5″ wide in yellow for the border (Kona Solid Corn Yellow)

Here the first step : arrange your 5″ squares as desired, piece and press all seams open.

Add the borders and press seams open :

Now we need the twister tool. It comes with a good explanation how to use it. Top left you can see the “newly” cut squares with the pinwheel effect.

Here a cutting detail :

Place the cut squares in the same order as cut and you can automatically see the pattern. Piece once more and that is it!

Here my Christmas wreath, size 27″ x 27″ – a table runner or wall hanging :

Have nice weekend and thanks for stopping, Barbora

table runner for Irena

May18

My friend Irena has done some house refurbishing and asked me if I could make her a table runner. So last week we got the colors sorted, I bought some fat quarters by Moda Fabrics and found a nice pattern on the web by Modify Tradition. This is how my design wall looked earlier this week :

I am preparing a Dresden Plate design for patchwork classes and shall make a pillow cover out of it. Following the finished table runner, size 21″ x 36″ :

Quilted with the walking foot, straight lines in diagonal and some squares, detail :

There is some more work waiting for me – pieced units for a new quilt :

and leftover half-square triangles ready to press from the Swoon quilt for Mary :

Something for the belly – I have opened the jam making season with medlar or loquat and the first apricots :

And something for the eye – my flowering orchids :

Happy sewing, thanks for stopping and till next time,

Barbora

butterfly, thread and fmq

Oct27

There was no spectacular sunrise this morning to take photos, but instead I found a butterfly on the street. He looked like that he is having a rest. But he wasn’t – what I found was just a colorful dead body of a butterfly.

As I am going to Prague this Saturday I was finishing my last pieces that I want to take with me. I made more Christmas Tree Blocks – original design by Christen from Love By Hand. Each block is on its own and makes a nice table decoration or a wall hanging. I have used (as before) Kaffe Fassett fabric designs. Once I had made the quilt sandwich I realized that I do not have any of my “neutral” thicker quilting thread. But I had the exact hue in Aurifil Mako 50/2 as I have pieced the blocks with this thread. I just wasn’t sure if I can take it also for quilting. After some research on the web ( a nicer expression for google ) about threads I decided to stick with this lighter weight thread also for free-motion quilting. According to the motto : learning by doing. Over the years I found out that there are no strict rules in quilting. Each quilter can find its own way, own technique that they prefer, threads that they love. I have also done some experimenting with threads and I always go back to Aurifil Mako 50/2 for piecing and Sulky from Gutermann for quilting.

Here a close up of my meander design free-motion quilting:

And the 2 Christmas Tree Blocks:

Happy sewing, I am over to have a look on Bloggers’ Quilt festival at Amy’s Creative Side. Next time hopefully with one of my quilts!

Barbora

a thank you for my sister-in-law

Sep30

During our stay in August in Germany we were warmly welcomed by my sister-in-law Doris and her family. We got pampered and sought after like real royals. It was a holiday to remember. So I decided to make a Christmas table runner for Doris as a thank you. This one shall be in the mail by Wednesday.

And my dear friend Irena wanted a “neutral” table runner for her daughter-in-law. One, that she can use all year around, with no Christmas motives. Once more I have used Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

I have also written a short pattern just with material required, cutting and design – Funky Table Runner, a pdf file.

I can’t believe that we already have October, up to now we have had a super weather year. September was nearly too warm and I still go swimming every day. Take care, thanks for stopping, Barbora

skalabara quilts

modern handmade quilts and patterns

Tag Archives: table runner

quilting in circles

twister tool tested

table runner for Irena

butterfly, thread and fmq

a thank you for my sister-in-law

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