Progress

 I am making progress with Mirrored Mountains see previous post for source. Can you see the accidental mistake?

Now all the blocks are done and joining them will be my first job on retreat starting tomorrow.

Meanwhile on the bed is quite a technical sampler on account of the feathered star centre. The fabrics are nice too but I don't really like it. I don't think I like the harsh contast between blue and white. However I did enjoy making it and the different blocks alongside Bonnie Quilters. It does have a price tag on it from the last Arts & Crafts Show and I will have a second selling attempt at Quay and the 2025 Arts & Crafts in November.

In the sewing room I am prepping samples for an Oast Corner all based on cutting strips from sewn units and rearranging them starting with Mirrored Mountains and now "Navaho" piecing taken from an article by Dawn Pavitt in an an old Quilters' Newsletter

(June 96)

60 degree triangle unit

Cut up strips, not yet sewn

And this is how Mirrored Mountain blocks were sewn, here with Bonnie Sullivan's extra of a snowballed centre.

Two mirror imaged HSTs

The left hand one cut up

Lefthand one rearranged

Right hand one cut up and rearranged

Completed

Snowballing corners

Corners pressed one back, one down

Sewn half block unit: two make the block.

My Sewing

 My Woolies quilt has come back from Maggie - I am delighted with how the quilting pattern looks and the density.

and by what it looks like on the back.

The back

I still have lots of Woolies and am now making a Mirrored Mountains quilt demonstrated by Misty using Bonnie Sullivan's pattern on the Missouri Star site. The addition of the centre "snowballs" really makes the design.

Woolies flannel and lovely black.grey textured cloth - I had yards from a previous project.

This is the project, a long in the making sampler from Bonnie Quilter sessions. I hesitated about the sashing (plenty left for the Mirrored Mountains background) and then about the border but now I am pleased and will sandwich and hand quilt it.

Modernish sampler: the border squares float.

Bonnie Quilters are making a table runner led by Sue. It was quite straightforward to piece especially as I decided  to omit the border I'd chosen - it just didn't "go". The trimmed Woolies backing piece enclosed by Maggie was just the right size for the back. Now I have some restful hand binding to do.

It was straightforward but I still
made a mistke, too late to correct.

Now shorter

Finally I couldn't resist the Olive You line by Brigitte Heiland of ZenChic and bought a fat quarter bundle. I made up a Cosmo quilt "kit" to take on the upcoming retreat and then cut out the pieces for  her Fragmental pattern.

Even More Paper and Olive You by Zen Chic

Block 1

So many projects so little time!

Group activities

 Queen Beez are working on our Hosanna or Palm Leaf Quilt - very appropriate for this time of year leading up to Easter.

Blocks

Here we are

This last week we added sashing strips and made rows. At our next get together at the end of May we'll join the rows and the top will be done. 

Lovely crochet by Maggie

On which subject it was very nice to see a quilt I made on Mary's sofa; I am so flattered as she makes lovely things.

Likewise it was great  to visit friend Jenny and see two of my quilts in use - I missed taking a picture of the third one on Steve's sofa.

Daniel's quilt

As ever Quay Quilters are sharing techniques and showing what we have made.

Margaret's

Roz's

Folded patchwork

Africana

 I have been collecting African wax prints for some years and have decided now is the time to use them and then get rid of the scraps. I think Quilts for Care Leavers want them.

I cut squares in half and joined two different halves with a diagonal strip then stitched them centre out QAYG onto a width of wadding and backing. 

I added more quilting to the large triangles then I joined these quilted striped blocks with with sashing. Easy, quick and effective. The size is suitable for Q4CL but the quilt will have a turn on my sales table first.

Africana Rows 48.5x72"

I was very taken with Zen Chic's video of making the Cosmo Quilt and bought the pattern I also bought bought fat quarter sets of Olive You and Yet more Paper collections with a view to a copy cat version and also of Fragmental, subject of a recent Zen Chic quiltalong.

First though a tryout with remainingAfrican wax prints, What a simple pattern but how effective and, because of the large pieces, how relatively speedy. The quilting posed a problem but in the end I went for simple and I am pleased. I thought of lots more lines but thought that might be too linear. I did outline a walking foot width along either side of the zigzags though to give it more structure. 

Africana Cosmo 63x70.5"

I cut leftovers into 4.5" squares and the Cosmo "waste" HSTs into 4.5" HSTs. These leader enders (aka Bonnie hunter) were sewn into pairs and then four patches now joined for a third quilt.

Detail

Africana Squared top 52x60"

Coming to Fruition

Letterboxes on the bed.

 My letterbox quilt is done bar the label. It's soft and cosy thanks to the brushed cottons and all over hand quilting. It's on the bed keeping us warm these cold days.

The Woolies quilt top is complete and wadding and backing ready to go. I'm psyching myself up to tack it and quilt it, probably in a mix of hand and machine quilting. I have ideas on two and probably three more Woolies quilts, more single bed size. I rushed the border (should have marked the measurements) so it's a bit wobbly.

Later I chickened out and decided to have Maggie long arm it for me.

At the last retreat I made 100 plus "exploding triangles" blocks from 6.5"" units, many swaps. These are more square in a square as I only did one round  finishing at 7.5", 8" with seams. Anyway I laid them out a row at a time and have sewn 11 rows of 10 blocks. Carefully stored I will take them to the next retreat in May and join the rows, quite tedious sewing, with chat and company around. The jury is out on how much I like these blocks.

Taking a break

 Having been involved with larger projects I took a break making quick child quilts, one to use up a colourful pictorial half yard and two for a friend to choose from for her four year old grandchild. I gave her the choice from all three and as the family is keen on sailing that was the choice.

This was inspired by the novelty half yard and a picture in Quiltmaker gave me the idea to freely cut strips of  lozenge shapes. I made the top and then quilted it.  Having done the other two in quilt as you go rows that's what would have been easier here.

Detail of feature fabric

Detail of sailing theme quilt

Picture play rows

Detail

All at Sea quilt

Get Together

We had our first get together of the New Year at Chartham Hatch, just four of us though Judi popped in. And there were four mug bags on the counter.  

And we were to take our Christmas presents to Quay. I was very lucky. 

And by request I got this from my son.

And I took a suitcase of books to give away. I can't fit any more on my shelves and I am decluttering. More to come.

Likewise I am going through files of photos.