Dream Big Quilting

In my last post I mentioned that I taught a Dream Big Quilting Panel and I thought I would share my samples with you.

I love these panels by Hoffman Fabrics and it felt so good to finally be quilting one.  Why do we buy something and then keep it for best?!  I think cutting the panel into quarters mentally made it easier.  When you look at the full panel there are a LOT of petals to fill, but once you are working on a quarter you can fill them pretty quickly

I did three samples each showing different techniques:   FMQ; grids and fill work; and feathers.

My first one was FMQ.  This was the first time I had done FMQ on my new Amara, which I have had since August.  That Pro-Stitcher has proved a big distraction and I am loving learning something new.  But FMQ really is my first love and after several months away it was wonderful to get back to it ...... and to see that I could still do it - result!

There are eight new to me designs in here and I just loved finally stitching them out after lots of drawing and doodling.  

This one, from Margaret Solomon Gunn's book,  I saw demonstrated by Kelly Ashton in the class I took at Handi Quilter Academy.  It has taken me a while to get it to flow but I love the result.  In the workshop I taught there was a mixed response to this and it was actually named the ugly pumpkin by one student!  But I love the versatility of it - once you have the muscle memory and travel path there a lots of variations you can do which all result in a very different end result.

This pattern also can be done with lots of variations and is a great filler for spaces.

This is a pattern I have seen Sea Sherilyn Sew quilt out on several videos and, whilst I have done it on some scrap pieces, this is the first time I have quilted it out properly - I love it!!!  You get such great texture and it is a very forgiving pattern once you've got it going.

The next sample is for the Grids and Fills section of the workshop:

The grids were made using a blue water soluble pen and Cindy Needham Stencils followed by rulerwork and/or fill.  I love plain grids and have used them on a few of my quilts before but it always amazes me how they change when you add fill.  Some before and afters shots for you:

Square grid plain

Square grid with matchstick fill

Diamond grid plain

Diamond grid with ribbon candy fill

Triangle grid plain

Triangle grid with cathedral window/orange peel fill

What a difference right?!

Then we move onto Feathers.  For those who have been following me a while, either here or on instagram, you will know that I don't quilt feathers that much on my quilts, but I have to say I do love actually quilting them!  I had a great time filling in the petals on my last sample:

I love the challenge of filling uneven spaces and used a variety of feather types and techniques.  This has me thinking that maybe I should do a wholecloth quilt with feathers - what do you think?!  Some microquilting in a couple of petal really shows the lovely 'poof' of using double batting, in this case Warm and Natural and wool.

This year has not seen many finishes, so I am really rather proud of starting and finishing these three samples in just over a week.  I do work well under pressure and due to making these at the last minute everything was still really fresh in my head for the workshop - you see there is a method to madness!

British Quilt & Stitch Village :: A Review

Today I have a post published on the UKQU website.  I am reviewing the recent British Quilt and Stitch Village in Uttoxeter, click here if you weren't able to go and you would like to know more about it .... and of course to see lots of lovely quilts!

I had three quilts entered into the show and was really happy to come 3rd with Where To Next? in the traditional category.  It's not really a traditional quilt but it didn't fit the other categories either!

And some close ups of the quilting, just because ....

I do love quilting words - one day I would like to quilt a whole quilt with words, telling the story of the quilt perhaps ....

I still look at this quilt and wonder how I ever made it - that's what a deadline will help you achieve!!

Modern Plus Sign Quilts Book Hop :: Day 3

Welcome to my stop on what is sure to be a fabulous Book Hop, organised by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs and Paige of Quilted Blooms, to celebrate the launch of their new book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts.

When I was invited to be take part in this event I was delighted because both of these ladies have inspired me since starting my quilting journey.  It was wonderful that both of them had quilts included in the Best of QuiltCon 2017 tour that visited the Festival of Quilts last year so I got to see Warp and Weft and Cursive is a Fading Art in real life.

There are 16 patterns in the book and we had to pick three we would be happy to make for the Book Hop.  Which one to choose?  Eventually I would like to make them all, time and finances allowing, but in the end I plumped for Plus Surround designed by Paige.  We were allowed to make changes, resize or just use part of design for our project but I decided to make it true to the design.

Photo Credit Paige Alexander, Quilted Blooms

Initially I played with colour choices as per Paige's layout but decided in the end I wanted more colour in my quilt.  I have long coveted the Sun Prints collection by Alison Glass and finally bought some last Stepember.  With a couple of extra FQs thrown in and Kona Snow as the background I had the fabric chosen.

The pattern is really well written and easy to follow.  I couldn't use Paige's instruction for the block construction because I was not making multiple blocks of the same colour, however it still came together really nicely and quickly and was a great return to sewing after having the flu earlier in the year.

Then of course there was the question of how to quilt it ....... hmmmm that had me pondering for quite a while, in fact if I am honest there were still design decisions going on just yesterday!  As you will see from the photo above it's not quite finished, what's a little trimming and binding between friends, because it literally is hot off the frame.

Pebbles and paisley feature frequently, in differing scales to fill the boxes I quilted around the plusses ....

I used lots of new tools and techniques on this quilt ....

I seriously underestimated how long it would take to quilt something like this ....

I think I am just a little bit in love with this, and also rather proud of myself having never quilted a design like this before ....

I think there is another post, an actual finish post if you will, required to talk about the quilting and techniques but for today I am just savouring this moment!  I will also need to enlist the help of a quilt holder upper so that I can see what this looks like hanging - I think the texture and created shadows will be wonderful.

To see a couple of different versions of this quilt head on over to see:

Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal 

Jen @ A Dream and a Stitch

Also up today, with their versions of Cheryl's Kaleidoscope Plus quilt. are:

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl

Sandra @ mmm! quilts 

Karen @ Run Sew Fun 

Be sure to stop be either Cheryl or Paige's blog to see the full scedule and for a chance to win prizes!!

If you are inspired by what you see on the Book Hop then you can get signed copies of the book from Cheryl's Etsy Store or Paige's Etsy Store.  It is also for sale over at Amazon.