Tag Archives: patchwork

Get your curves on

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Last year for my birthday, we went to New York and the highlight was participating in Lotta Jansdotter printing class. This year, there was no need to go anywhere for a great start to my birthday weekend. I had taken advantage of a great opportunity, and signed up for Sherri Lynn Wood’s class “Get your Curves on” that was held @ Spoonflower’s Greenhouse (which is local to me).

SherriLynnWood

I was excited this morning, and out the door by 8am on a Saturday (unheard of in our house!!). Grabbed my Starbucks and I was rearing to go. I had never sewn curves, so I couldn’t wait to try something new.

The morning part of the class focused on making “blocks” or curved pieces. The whole idea of the curves class is really just “go with the flow”. I had originally chosen my color palette to be mustard and blues…that soon changed with this very organic process. There was no measuring, no rulers, no planning…improv. in every way. Here were my “blocks”.
Curved Pieces

After lunch, it was all about constructing your curved pieces, transforming them one at a time. You really did not know how one affected the next so you could not plan…”Go with the flow”. Anxieties were running high but in the end the whole process was very liberating. This is my quilt at the end of the day.
GetYourCurvesOn

 

I plan to appliqué the top piece on and I may add some bias pieces to the edges before stitching to a background fabric. I am super pleased with how this is turning out.

You can check out more of Sherri Lynn Wood’s class @ Dainty Time. She will also be teaching at Quiltcon 2015.

Stop by tomorrow (which is my birthday), as I will be having a fabric giveaway for my birthday.

The End: Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

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It’s finished!! My butterfly quilt. Can you believe it, I actually finished a quilt in one month…I mean it is actually quilted and bound. A couple of first’s with this quilt:

  • My first time Free-Motion Quilting a quilt
  • My first time quilting on my new Janome machine
  • First time machine binding a quilt

I loved how it turned out. I was so nervous last night, as I changed the quilting design from a meander (stippling) to a loopy design. I quickly practiced, since this was going to be my first Free-Motion Quilted quilt. I decided I could do it. Here is the big unveiling: Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

I backed the quilt with Les Amis Ripples in Aqua Flannel purchased at Hawthorne Threads. I love the binding with the small grey lines (fabric: Just for fun, tiny stripes, from Marisa and Creative Thursday which can be found at Rock Paper Scissors NJ), from a distance it looks like a light grey solid. I have machine bound smaller items like pot holders and coffee cup sleeves but never a quilt. Why not give it a try. It turned out well.

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies_BackBinding

Lastly, like I mentioned above, I free-motion quilted loops. I think it turned out pretty well. I am happy that I changed from meander to loops. For some reason meander designs always reminds me of either coral or alien fingers :-). I loved the denseness of the quilting as it leaves lots of texture. I loved using my Aurifil Light grey thread – it quilts so nicely.

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies_LoopyQuiltingSo, one last photo of the two big butterflies as I think they are fantastic and a highlight for me.
Kaleidoscope of Butterflies_OverChair

Details

Name: Kaleidoscope of Butterflies
Dimensions: ~ 30″ x 50″ (Crib-sized quilt)
Design: Overall quilt is original design; Butterfly paper piecing patterns are by Juliet @ Tartankiwi
Quilted: FMQ Loopy Design in Aurifil 2600 wt. 50
Fabric for Front: Includes fabrics from Amy Butler, Frances Newcombe, Kaffe Fassett, Carolyn Friedlander, Alison Glass, Tula Pink, Deena Rutter,  Rashida Coleman-Hale, Lotta Jansdotter
Backing: Les Amis Ripples in Aqua Flannel, Patty Sloniger
Binding: Just for fun, tiny stripes, from Marisa and Creative Thursday

Other details can be found in these two posts:

Linking up with ALOYF (see button on the right) as this was my May goal…and I made it (for once :-D…big smile) and Sew Cute Tuesday (see button on right also).

 

 

 

Butterflies in my stomach

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I have butterflies in my stomach….I am loving where the “Kaleidoscope of Butterflies” quilt has gone. Is it not totally satisfying when something in your head actually turns out how you image!!

Well, the quilt top is complete.

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies
Kaliedoscope_Butterflies_Top

Can I just say, I got to use some of my favorite lines in here too, which makes me so happy. For the butterflies there is a little of:

  • Safari Moon (Frances Newcombe),
  • Alchemy (Amy Butler),
  • Tsuru (Rashida Coleman)
  • Tiled Flowers (Kaffe Fassett),
  • Comma (Zen Chic),
  • Briar Rose (Heather Ross),
  • Notting Hill (Joel Dewberry)

For the scrappy low-volume background I have included:

  • Architextures, Botanics (Carolyn Friedlander)
  • Sun Print Text, Sun Print Corsage Clover Sunshine, (Alison Glass),
  • Les Amis (Patty Sloniger),
  • Mormor (Lotta Jansdotter),
  • Bluebird Park (Kate and Birdie),
  • Bark and Birch (Eloise Renouf)

The patterns for the butterflies are by Juliet @ Tartan Kiwi. Her patterns are so easy to follow, they are definitely a favorite of mine. You can find the two patterns on Craftsy, here are the links:

I think each of the butterflies deserve a close up.

Large 10″ Butterfly
10in_Butterfly

Medium 8″ Butterfly8in_Butterfly

Small 5″ Butterflies5in_butterflies

 

The scrappy low-volume background was, definitely, what was in my head but I started to have doubts in the process of laying it out. I love that I posted on IG and instantaneously got feedback…love this community…and I kept moving along.

Background_Planning_creams  Background_Planning_teal

The other question I was going back and forward with was if the cream/pink background (left) was to subtle (wishy-washy). I played around with adding a low-volume teal in the mix (right)….as you can see that is what I stayed with. I think it adds a depth and balance to the top.

Now onto basting, quilting and binding.

Don’t forget to go over and vote for the Bloggers quilt festival. There are some fantastic entries. Here were my two entries; A Fine Day and Hothouse Orchids.

I will be catching up on replying to comments today, I promise!! I am linking up with Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday.