Bonnie Bonanza

We are all up to date, even Trish who has had to catch up after doing wedding sewing. so there were lots on blocks on show on Friday. Trish's are  blue, Fran's grey/blue/black and Mavis's pink.

Inner City Epp

Epp

Clamshells, unpopular technique

Two from Fran

Inner city

Interlaced star

Blue clamshells

EPP

Letha's Fan, a hard one

Wreath

Pineapple

House block

Stained glass

Honey Bee

Carnival Ride

Square in Square

The square in a square shape is the latest I have prepped for the U3A, this time introducing foundation piecing to the new patchworkers.
And two more pictures from Sisters:

Still Sisters

This was made by Maren Johnston of California, a detail, I think?

A general view

Using solids

Peakys and spikes

QST's

I have been working on more shapes,isosceles triangle units otherwise known as Peaky and Spike and quarter square triangle hourglass units, the latter very trying. Out and about I hae seen all 10 Warhol Marilyns at the Messmer Gallery in Reigel and various bands including the accordion club at a local wine festival in Merdingen and visited the family home and museum of Bertholdi, creator of the Statue of Liberty.

Former brewery where the Warhol show was held

Folksy band at the wine festival

The accordionists

Sisters Modern

I could zoom the label on this one by Debra Blake called
Split Complementary and started in a class with Pat Pease & Wendy Hill..
quilted by Lou Ann Smith

Label not clear on this marvellous piece.

This one is by Lou ann Smith quilter of the first one posted. It has Aboringine in the title
presumably because of the fabrics. I love it!1

HST's: the four patch version

Simplest classic layout

The four by four 4-patch version of a 12" HST block lends itself to lots of  arrangements. This time the squares are cut 4" and after sewing trimmed to 3.5" unfinished to finish 3". If you didn't want to trim you would cut squares with 7/8"  added to the finished size.
Value (light and shade) plays a major role in the appearance of these blocks. I made up a set of scrappy 3" + seams HST's and set them out in different ways all making use of negative/positive effects. Secondary patterns will form when blocks are set side by side either in the same light/dark arrangements or reversed. These endless possibilities added to endless fabric choices are what makes patchwork fun and so so fascinating.

"Lozenge" layout which will form secondary pattern when
set side by side.

"On point" squares

A star

A star with "envelope" corners

Variegated flying geese

Diagonals which can be turned this way and that.

Half Square Triangles are back

Two years on it's back to some basic blocks and patchwork shapes in the U3A class along with some complex patterns for the more experienced. At home I have completed a four patch block of 3" HST's which I haven't photographed. I have prepared samples for 4" HST's which would make a ninepatch block.

1. Take two 5" squares

2. Draw a line corner to corner in pencil. Here I used biro so it
would show up in the photograph.

3. Sew 1/4" on both sides of the drawn line. I used dark thread
for demonstration purposes only.

4. Cut along the drawn line with scissors or rotary cutter.

5. Press toward the darker fabric.

6. Trim to 4.5" maintaining the central diagonal seam.

A possible but odd arrangement

Simple but effective arrangement of 4" units to form a 12.5"  size square (12"
finished) block. 

Holiday sewing set up

Sewing space

Sewing shop

Here is picture of my holiday sewing set up with bathroom next door and the ironing board set up in adjacent bedroom. I am getting something done everyday though I won't post about the last two days' efforts till the item is finished. I thought at first I had only the needle in my machine. What if it broke - then I found two more in my machine case. Just be on the safe side I popped into a sewing shop to get another packet.
And from Sisters a selection of quilts from the display of the work of the wonderful in every way Freddie Moran:

by Freddie Moran

Houses by Freddie Moran

Quilts all in a row by Freddie Moran

Detail of very effective raw edge applique

Freddie all in white