Progress

The blocks are from a long ago transatlantic
Laurel Burch/Kona Black 37NL block swap.

 I've finished the Laurel Burch "Crossed" top using a setting I'd seen in a blog post. With just 12 blocks you end up with a 72" square quilt with not too much piecing work. Mine will be 74" square as I added a 1" strip to the bottom of each of the "arms" to create a space for the binding to "float".

The hardest part was cutting the four 25.5x37.5" pieces. I needed lots of space and lots of rulers. 

20.5 + 8.5 + 3.5 + 5 = 37.5

I am taking this to Maggie to be quilted with a bright variegated thread to relieve the darkness and my Sarong top likewise.

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Boys' Nonsense

 Boys' Nonsense is the name of this block. More than a decade ago I took part in a transatlantic swap involving Kona Black and Laurel Burch fabrics. At the time I made extra blocks which I have now unearthed to make charity quilts for young people. "Boys' Nonsense" was one of the blocks I made for the swap and I am now making 7 more to use as setting squares for other varied blocks received in the swap. It's a treat to return to traditional rectangles, squares and triangles after lots of machine quilting, curves and improv. 

This setting arrangement seemed like a cunning plan but having laid the 20 blocks out I'm not happy. I've tried narrow black sashing - just more of the same effect. Red was too dominant. Next up is a spotty black and a long treasured check fabric to try out. The check looks promising.

Having seen a modern sampler blocks setting online I am arranging another 12 blocks like this plus background. It means the quilt will measure 72" square, quite big. 

Out & About

 Quay Quilters

Mary I. was talking about binding with our beginners especially in mind but it was very thorough with something for everyone. This is Mary's quilt with a curving binding edge and lots of embellishment. A triumph! And another with special ric on the edge which she made for lucky me. 

With ricrac

Her Australiana quilt

U3A Open Day

This is the work from this year's Monday patchwork class taught by Amanda.

At Home

I have been making Morsbags for the Food bank. Front and reverse coordinated from high end decor fabric samples, 50/50 cotton/viscose. I used up all of them for 7 bags in all.

Oast Quilters

We had a wonderful talk by Anne Kelly seen below and Show and Tell by members too.

Good use of HSTs

Anne at the microphone.

A super quilt we hope will be in our coming Showcase

More HSTs: Aldington Quilters and others met to join lots together to make charity quilts.

Belinda's jelly roll race quilted after attending Carolyn Forster's Big Stitch workshop in January.

Coming shortly (fingers crossed)

 In the offing is my Kasbah Quilt. I have used the left overs on the back.

Back of Kasbah quilt

I sandwiched my Giant Nested Circles with Stash Table wadding because it (the  wadding) was white. I had quilted along the lines of the blocks before admitting my mistake.The wadding was at least 4oz weight and the whole thing impossibly heavy and bulky. I started weary unpicking but found I could just pull except at the intersections - by then I was past caring but no harm was done to the top in the process. The wadding has been put in the cupboard probably to use to make a cushion pad or two and it's back to the drawing board. I have a slightly crazy plan for the quilting but am quite gung ho about the whole thing now.

Offending wadding

Front and back slightly sticky after the
glue basting

The tablecloth quilt is shown before I sandwiched it. Now I'm about to add binding.

"Tablecloth" quilt" top

Meanwhile too I have ditch quilted the main seams of Appley Dappley and am now adding perle thread hand quilting to the blocks and sashing. I find this evening work in front of the TV very soothing and enjoyable.

I have been assigned a clutch of MorsBags to make for the local food bank so that's my first machine job once the binding has been attached to Appley Dappley.

Thick and Fast

 

Log Cabin quilt on a "log cabin"

I have lots of quilts nearing the finishing post and am now progressing with quilting and binding as well as sending a couple off to Maggie for longarming..

I have three finishes to show plus more in the offing. The Westminster fabric jelly roll ones are from 2016 Houston workshops with Peggy Martin (Jelly Roll Jive, her name; mine "Jazz") and Marti Michell (FQ Log Cabin).

Jelly Roll Jazz 45.5x61.5"

FQ Log Cabin Close Up 46x58.5"

The back

Twist and Turn was one passed to me to finish long ago - I thought it was separate blocks wrapped round a tube for me to unroll and join but I was pleased to discover the whole inner top. I just added a border before finishing. It will go to the Hospice or sell in aid of charity.

Twist & Turn 42x54"

And the back of Twist & Turn: