Next Big 1800s Block

I have made some progress today on the next large block for the 1800s quilt - I need to 

make four of the block that I post d yesterday. So today I thought I would show you the

fabric that I chose for the next lozenge shape and then the lozenge so you got an idea 

n how this clever block is made using a striped fabric.

The striped 1800s reproduction fabric.

The lozenge piece ready to add to the design.It is one piece of fussy cut fabric.

Check out yesterday's post where it fits in the block.

1800s First Large Blcok

Sorry that you haven't heard much from me over the last fortnight.

It was Calico Christmas - a local Quilt Show last weekend which has kept me a bit busy. 

We had the shop there and had a great time over the three days.

As you can see we had a bit of a Christmas theme this year mixed in with 

our favourite taupe fabrics.

But I have finished off all the small blocks for the up-coming 1800s Block of the Month and I have got one of the large blocks made.

I just love the effect of the striped fabric in the lozenge shape around this little star block. 

It makes it look more complex than it actually is.

I am off on a few weeks holiday next week. We are going to Vietnam and I hope to 

post some photos as we go.

1800s Block Progress

Sorry I haven't posted for a while - I have been busy hand quilting my Japanese Block quilt 

and my Amish quilt so there has been nothing new to show you. 

But in between I have made a few more 1880s blocks, so here they are.

I need to make four of each of these and then the little ones will be done.

It is Calico Christmas Quilt Show this weekend so I won't get much if any sewing done. 

But I do look forward to catching up with lots of you there. It is at Albany Rugby Stadium 

on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Cute Little 1800s Blocks

This is the next set of four 1800s blocks - aren't they so cute. A little too red as 

it turns out but they are scattered across the quilt they will be fine.

I already have two ladies booked in to start this Block of the Month early in the new year so

I need to get going. I have made 40 out of the total of 64 small blocks needed. 

Then there are nine larger blocks and a border - all appliqued or English Paper Pieced!! 

But I am loving doing this project. I am getting one set made in an evening if it has been prepared, so you do race through them quite quickly. It is a great project for a sense of achievement re progress.

It will be a great one for people to start over summer as you will be working on small pieces 

while I will probably be still quilting it - oooh that could be hot work at times.

Next I have to work on a cushion challenge from the Modern Quilt Guild. We all have a piece of the same fabric that has to be used in the cushion and it is a bit of a challenge and a bit of change of direction for me.  But that is all good.

Back to the 1800s

Now that the Japanese Quilt Block Quilt top is done and I have started quilting it, I have returned to some hand applique on the 1800s quilt. 

Maybe if I go in closer you can see the quilting!!!

 I am quilting with black King Tut thread outlining the applique blocks at this stage.

Now for the new 1800s block.

These were supposed to be English Paper Pieced. I did the first one this way and 

then decided to try Freezer Paper Applique and I must say that I prefer the Freezer Paper.

I guess I am just  a Freezer Paper junky!

Off to stitch a few more blocks as the Welsh play the Australians in the Rugby World Cup, 

so I have more to show you tomorrow.

Japanese Block Quilt

  My Japanese Quilt Block top is finished. It has been so much fun choosing blocks from 

Susan Briscoe's book "125 Japanese Quilt Blocks". All the applique blocks and the 

repeated pieced block came from the book.

I have used old kimono fabrics  It all started with a roll of kimono fabric that I picked 

up in the Flea Market in Japan several years ago. This roll had never been made into a 

kimono but had been around for a while. This is how you buy fabric for a new kimono -

 in a 13" - 15" wide roll of about 13 metres. All through the project I wondered if I was 

going to have enough and look plenty left over - thank goodness.

But the other fabrics were all from scrap bags or smaller pieces that I had been 

given or collected over the years. And they too kept running out - what a fun challenge this 

quilt has been. I do think that sometimes having to make decisions like this when fabrics 

run out often makes the quilt more interesting - if a little stressful at times.

 

This is the fabric that I started with for making the blocks and if you look closely you can 

see that it didn't make enough blocks.

So this was added to surround the central block and a few random pieces were 

added to the border units..

Then of course that ran out too. So this was added to make the border units. 

Oh what fun, but I am really happy with how it turned out. It has been so good to get into 

these fabrics that I have been putting away for years to make something special and now

I think I have done it.

Now it is on the pin basting and quilting - I think the quilting will be a combination of machine 

and hand. Machine quilting in the ditch of the blocks and them hand quilting were it really shows. 

I am hoping it is going to be easy to hand quilt, but I suspect it may not be the best - it is a pretty tight weave, which made it great to machine piece with and hand applique onto it was fine, but hand quilting - we will see.

Next Pin Cushion

Last night was Pin Cushion Club and this is what we made.

It involved fusible applique with lots of different embroidery stitches. 

And of course some more taupe fabric.