Stripes! Who loves them?

Stripes are everywhere. I have a love hate relationship with our friend the stripe. I would say I hated stripes until my mid thirties. I just didn't like them anywhere and especially not on fabric. You wouldn't catch my wearing stripes. Nearly 10 years down the track I love stripes everywhere I see them and yes especially on fabric. You would be surprised how many stripe shirts I have in my wardrobe now.(7)
So what happened I hear you ask? I discovered patchwork and quilting and before I knew it I was putting stripes in to my projects and asking myself why don't I like stripes they are not boring and ugly. They add interest to a quilt especially when you used it for the binding.   Not long in to my quilting journey we make a Trip around the world quilt as a class project I picked a stripe for the border fabric and I haven't looked back. I found a piece of that stripe fabric I used in that Trip of the World quilt. It is a very interesting stripe. This piece will end up in my lozenge scrap quilt. It is the last piece left.

 They can be very striking and no they don't make everything look short and fat. Oh that is when I wear them the wrong way. My favourite way to use a stripe fabric is as the binding. So if I see a stripe in a fabric range I am interested in I automatically buy some for the binding at least. But I have been thinking what else can I use a stripe for? Borders maybe I did it once! Last year I participated in the Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along and I used a layer cake that had a number of stripe in (A civil war reproduction range 1862 Battle Hymn) and the effects they created in the blocks when we cut them up was a real eye opener and I found myself playing with them arrange them into their own little patterns.Just 4 of the blocks that had stripes in them.

 So the plan is to play with some more stripes and see what surprises happen. Plus you know my love for batik fabrics,  in the shop I have 6 stunning batik stripes in stock currently.

Here is 4 featured in this picture.

Here is one I used in my disappearing hourglass quilt.  Stay tuned in for a progress report in the near future including a new quilt using stripes currently in the design pipeline.

What is your favourite use for a stripe?

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Layer Cake Sampler Quilt #7

After getting my Layer Cake Sampler quilt back from Valerie after she quilted it, I was ready for the binding to go on. Now that should be easy right, especially since I had the fabric picked out for it. Well it was not that easy. I was going to use the same fabric as the border but as I laid the fabric next to the border I realised with the sweeping curve in the fabric it would not look even around the edge. So out with the other options from the left over fabrics and the only one I was happy with was the fabric I used for the sashing but there wasn't enough.  I stopped in at A Quilter's Odyssey hoping Kate still had some.  It was all gone. Just my luck! I picked a different fabric which just happened to be from the same range the sashing fabric came from. So I brought what I needed thinking the problem was sorted. Boy was I wrong. When I put this fabric against the border fabric I didn't like it, it was the wrong blue. Grrrrr!

 So after all this fussing I finally went back to my first choice, the left over sashing fabric and after remeasuring the fabric I could get the right amount of strips I needed if I cut the strips 2 1/4 inches instead of 2 1/2 inches. So that is what I did and now I am happy because I got to use the fabric I wanted and I have another completed quilt.

Now I had 2 squares left over from the quilt. So I thought with all the extra block layouts Amanda 's blog offered I would make a matching cushion with them. I wish I had thought of that while I was doing the blocks because I ended up with 2 brown squares, oh well. This is how I made the cushion. I made the block up and measured the completed block (16 1/2 inch) 

and then cut 2 x 16 1/2 x 11" rectangles from the brown floral. Then I folded and pressed a scant 1/4" along one 16 1/2 inch side on each rectangle, then fold and press again. This gives you a neat finished edge with no raw edges. Sew it in place. Then laid the block on the table right side up 

and laid the 2 rectangles on top right sides facing down with the overlap of fabric in the middle of your cushion.

 Pin it well 

and sew around the outside of the cushion with a 1/4" seam.

 Finally you turn the cushion right side out and insert a cushion insert and you have finished a quick easy matching cushion. 

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along # 6

We are at the stage of assembling our sampler top together. I spent some time on it last week so I only needed to finish joining the rows together. This is where I got to last week.

It was a big job to join the rows together, the picture doesn't do it justice. To take this photo I had to stand on a ladder to get the whole quilt in.  It is took me all afternoon to join the rows together and add the borders.

The top is now finished you can only just see the borders as the floor is nearly the same colour as the border. Now comes the hard part quilting it as I haven't quilted a quilt this size before, not sure how I'm going to quilt it.

To have a look at other Layer Cake Sampler Quilts follow this link.

https://materialgirlquilts.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/layer-cake-sampler-qal-final-week-quilt-top-link-up-and-giveaway/

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Sewing Time # 3

It is always good when you spend time doing what you enjoy and it is a bonus when you complete projects. There are no completed projects this week but I have managed to complete plenty of blocks and assemble blocks into rows toward finishing 2 quilt tops. Let me show you what I achieved. First we have the Aurifil Block of the Month for May from my scrap box.

Then we have Globetrotting and Wishes blocks for May.

While all this is going on I continue to slip in my lozenge blocks from the Leader and Ender Challenge on Quiltville I am surprise how quickly they build up. Here is some of this batch laid out to give you some idea on what is going on.

Next on my list to share is the rows assembled of my Layer Cake Sampler Quilt. The blocks are all joined into rows with the sashing so I just need to finish the sashing rows so I can join the rows together. This is going to be a large quilt by the time the borders go on. I will have to decide how I am going to quilt it soon.

Finally my Inklingo hexagon project I am hand stitching. It can be done by machine but I just love hand piecing. I am just joining the rows together now so we are nearly finished with the top.

Have a look at what others have been working on this week at

http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/lets-bee-social-20.html

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along # 5

We have got to the exciting part of piecing our tops for the Layer Cake Sampler, all our block should be completed and we should be focusing on our sashing, cornerstones and borders. I am happy to say I am there after completing the last 2 blocks during the week. It was really the only sewing I managed with the Salisbury Stitchers Exhibition filling my time. So here is the last 4 blocks to complete all 20 blocks.

                   

With the last 4 blocks completed it was time to lay out all the blocks and I was surprised at the size this quilt will be at the end. Though Amanda did give us the final size I really didn't go and measure out those measurement. It will be a stunner when it is finished.

All my blocks laid out in no order at this stage. Hopefully I can get stuck in to the sashing and corner stones on the weekend.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Sewing Time #2

Another day at the sewing machine ,  I may get caught up on all the BOM  I am involved in and work on some new projects. Aurifil was first on my list, searching through my scrap box for the BOM I found some Blueberry Crumbcake fabrics to complete my April's  block. April's block is the Bear's Paw block (bottom right)

Then I had to work on a birthday present a cat quilt, nothing fancy but when you need a good present but short on time a panel with a couple borders makes a nice thoughtful present rather than going to the shops and buying something that most likely won't last. That is little Saffy testing out the quilt.

Layer Cake Sampler Quilt have a couple more blocks completed I think there is only 2 more block to go before we start the assembly of the top. Block 17 & 18.

Finally I have my Triangle Quilt top completed, a few problems on the way but by the time I got to the last 4 rows I had it all under control I just had to stop trying to piece more than 1 row at a time as I was messing up my colour placements and ending up with 2 rows that the lead triangle was pointing the same way. So I focused on 1 row at a time and no more problems. It did give me a chance to do more lozenge blocks for our Leaders & Enders Challenge.

Now I just have to quilt it  I am looking at a triangle quilting design but I need to do some drawing first to see if it will work.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along # 4

As I was away trading at the Laura Folk Fair I had four blocks to complete to catch up in the Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along. As the HST blocks are all made I only had to arrange the blocks and sew them together. Still they took me awhile to complete as I got distracted part way through the second block but they are done. Another job crossed off the list but I am thinking I might have to make a quilt with just HST in it. to celebrate them. They do such a good job in a supporting role in many blocks. So why not make them the star. Stay tuned for that quilt.

 Block 13

 Block 14

 Block 15

Block 16

I can't wait to put all these blocks together, we are getting close to completing all of our blocks and soon we will be assembling the quilt. 

Until next time

Keep stitching 

Cynthia

Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along # 3

Wow.  This quilt is coming along quickly. I can't believe we are at blocks 11 & 12 already. This is the Layer Cake Sampler Quilt I am working on and I can say I am up to date with this one. All 12 blocks are completed and I am enjoying playing around with the directional prints in the layer cake. They are adding more interest to the blocks. With the way we are piecing and cutting these blocks I get 4 half square triangles with the directional print going one way  and the other four blocks the directional print runs the other way.  You can see this at work in the following block.

Block 7

Block 8

 Block 9

The first 6 blocks I completed I followed Amanda's first choice she had recommended and I thought I would follow that option for the whole quilt. When I got to blocks 7, 8 & 9 one of the other options she offered in each block took my fancy and I couldn't resist changing my path.

Block 10

 Block 11

Block 12.

Block 9 is my favourite block out of these 6 blocks. I may have to make a whole quilt using block 9.

Follow this link to see what others are up to with this quilt along.

http://materialgirlquilts.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/layer-cake-sampler-qal-week-6-blocks-11-12-and-giveaway/

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along # 2

This sampler quilt along by Amanda from Material Girl Quilts started on the 21st February and 2 blocks are released each week. Getting the first 2 blocks under my belt I was eager to get stuck into the other blocks that had been released. Here are the other blocks I have done, I didn't quite catch up 2 more to go. At this stage I don't think I will get there before this week blocks are released. Block 3 is my favourite at the moment.

                                                                   Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Block 6.

 Oh no! Not again. Last seam of the afternoon I stitched it together wrong. What is wrong with me? Beside being slightly crazy.

That is better.  All fixed. This is what it is suppose to look like.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along #1

This sampler quilt along by Amanda from Material Girl Quilts started on the 21st February and 2 blocks are released each week. The difference between this quilt along and the others is it features layer cakes (10 inch squares) in its construction. I made the first 2 blocks a couple weeks ago and was pleased with my efforts and I like the size of these large blocks. I am using 1862 Battle Hymn and I cut some background fabric from my stash into 10 inch squares for the solid layer cake as I didn't have one.

                                                           Block 1

                                                       Block 2

I look forward to sewing the next lot of blocks when I have some more sewing time.
                                                       Until next time
                                                        Keep Stitching
                                                         Cynthia