Sunday, November 2, 2014

I was sewing, and a winner

Consider Quilt - sorting the fabrics

I spent much of yesterday sewing - a lot of hours. Earlier last week I had washed and pressed - yes I am a totally dedicated prewasher but you don't have to be - my set of the she can quilt blogger's bundle from Fabric Spark.  When Daryl gave me the chance to pick this bundle, it took me a long time to decide on the bundle because I wanted to choose the fabrics with particular projects in mind and actually use them. Yesterday was my opportunity to get those projects started.

First I laid out the fabrics for another version of my new pattern, Consider. Then I redrew the pattern and checked all the measurements and cut according to the pattern, and it even worked.

Consider Quilt - choosing borders

Once I made the centre motif I laid it out to pick the outer borders. My plan had been to use that subway Gramercy print on the left. But, the truth is I don't like quilts that are that busy, and this pattern is again supposed to be a large geometric modern sort of motif inspired by Josef Albers, so some negative space seemed like what I needed.

So I pulled out some more fabrics that I have big enough pieces of and asked the instagrammers. No clear consensus arose and I did not like any of them much, so I decided to sleep on it. Right now, my last large piece of  Kona Charcoal is in the dryer. I am pretty sure I will either use it or Kona Snow - predictable but both good as negative space.

Giant Plus in progress

So my plan for the rest of my bundle was to make another giant plus quilt. So I cut up the remaining bits of my bundle into 5" squares. I started laying them out on my design wall. When I realized that I did not have enough for lots of full pluses, I just made some with empty middles. I rearranged and sewed the vertical rows together. I pulled out the Kona snow and made squares and later strips to finish it off.

As I look at this quilt now, I realize if I had been paying more attention I would have moved those two similar blue pluses so they were not aligned in the same row. But maybe it's more random this way, and anyway she is sewn together so I am ok with that.

Giant Plus top

And before I went to bed, the quilt top was all done. I just love the simple sewing of this kind of quilt. A number of folks have asked, and I have promised before, so I will make it a priority to make a pattern for my approach to this quilt too. In the meantime, if you need one, google it or check on Craftsy as there are many others available already.

she can quilt bloggers bundle - Fabric Spark

So I used up my entire set of 12 fat quarters in one long day of sewing. Today I hope to get some of the quilting done on these tops, we shall see. In the meantime, I used the random number generator and drew the winner of the bundle donated by Fabric Spark to give away. The lucky winner is # 106, Rhiannon, who blogs at Sew Punny. Thank you all for joining in the fun, and a big thank you to Daryl for such a lovely give away.

If you want your own bundle and did not win, Fabric Spark has some for sale here.

Today I am off to quilt a little and to finish the first written version of the Consider pattern so that I can give my pattern testing volunteers a chance to try it. I have a Decipher Your Quilt post to write for Thursday and to take some photographs for. I want to work on my scrappy projects and maybe sort and tidy those scraps some more. I've already voted over at the Blogger's Quilt Festival, you should too. It's a good thing that I have an extra hour - we are off daylight savings time in Canada today.

Best,

Leanne


16 comments:

Camilla said...

I always enjoy these process posts Leanne and the colour palette of these quilts is lovely!

Afton Warrick said...

The disappearing plusses are a nice touch, and a clever solution to a fabric shortage.

Anonymous said...

Hi Leanne! I love this! You have re-designed the plus-pattern so beautifully! I love those 'empty' spaces and lots of white around! Thank you for inspiration! x Teje

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts said...

That is a great idea to put a white square in the middle of the pluses. It looks like you planned it that way and doesn't scream "fabric shortage!" Great idea!

Judith, Belfast said...

Beautiful bundle and I love how you're using the colours. Jxo

Katy Cameron said...

Would you mind being a little less prolific next time I'm out of action for a week, it's taking me ages to catch up ;o)

Loving the texture on Peace, the colours in the bundle, and your holey plusses

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

I really like the bundle of fabric you chose. I especially like the way you used it in the plus quilt

MariQuilts said...

Such lovely fabrics.....I love how that top turned out!!!

Lorrie said...

Reading about the processes of other people is so interesting and inspiring. Your quilt is going to be beautiful.

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

I like how the plus quilt ended up with some 9-patches of "empty" centers. More interesting I think.

margaret said...

this has worked beautifully so good to read your thinking process too very helpful

elle said...

A good plan. I'm going to start thinking simpler and random.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I love your process posts!

SewPsyched! said...

Really enjoying the process posts! Yes, none of the backgrounds seemed to leap out and say, pick me, so I'm looking forward to seeing the kona snow or charcoal. Whew! You sure do get alot done!! XX!

OPQuilt said...

Nicely done to get all that sewing out of a bundle of FQs--you do lead us on in so many ways!

Elizabeth

the running hare said...

I think the holey pluses work well and you can't tell that they weren't meant to be!