Garden Snails quilt

Last year I participated in a number of quilt alongs, but my favourite was the snail-paced slow along hosted by Angie of Gnome Angel. During the quilt along we made and shared a single snail block on Sunday (a.k.a. snail day) each week using the Garden Snails pattern by Pen and Paper patterns. I used a layer cake of Grand Canal by Kate Spain to make my snails and had a great time taking pictures of the blocks in various garden settings.

 At the end of November I finally got around to sewing my snails together into a quilt top. I modified the layout of the pattern a little (e.g. by staggering the snails) to make it wide enough to fit our double bed. For the quilting I used a simple stipple because I thought that it resembled snail trails.

The quilt was an instant hit with my snail-loving 5 year old.

These guys didn't seem to mind it either.

It's now a frequent feature on our bed, where it sets the perfect scene for Sunday morning sleep-ins (if only our babies would get the message).

I'm linking up with the 2017 finish-a-long quarter 4 linky party as this quilt was number 8 on my list of proposed finishes for Q4.

Kat

Spirit Animal Geode quilt

Today I'm sharing a quilt that I finished last year: a Geode quilt that I made with a FQ bundle of Tula Pink's Spirit Animal and a few prints from one of her older lines.

You might recall that I previously made a Geode quilt earlier last year and be wondering why I would make the same quilt again. The simple reason is that I love this pattern. The block design is perfect for fussy cutting feature prints and it uses the perfect amount of fabric from a fat quarter (enough that you get a good feel for the print, while still leaving good sized scraps to play with later).

For this version I used a single background fabric, a pale sand-coloured star print from the Cloud 9 We Are All Stars collection. I thought it worked really well with the stars in the background of some of the Spirit Animal prints.

I quilted it in an all-over sharp stipple - my current go-to FMQ design. I love the texture that it gives the quilt, and how quick and easy it is to stitch.

I was hoping to get a more glamorous finished quilt shot but it turns out that 'quilts in the wild' shots are a lot more logistically challenging with three young children.

I'm linking up with the 2017 Finish-a-long Q4 linky party as this quilt was on my list of proposed finishes for Q4 (number 26).

Kat

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2017 Finish-a-long - quarter 4 proposed finishes

Today I'm linking up my list of WIPs that I hope to work on during quarter 4 of the 2017 finish-a-long. Many of these I have shared in detail before (they're rolled over from previous lists) so today I thought I would focus more on sharing some ideas for hiding storing your works in progress. Sorry in advance for the cruddy photos - they were taken late in the day and it was a bit dark).

My choice of storage for a WIP is largely determined by the size of the finished block and how much progress I have made. I tend to store piles of blocks ready to be assembled into tops in scrapbook containers stored in a cupboard. These are great because the fit blocks up to 12.5" square and have a decent depth to them. Pastry containers are also good for slightly smaller blocks (but I forgot to take a pic of my stack of those).

I also have a number of WIPs stashed in clear containers within drawers. I like these particular containers because they have clear lids, which make it easy to see at a glance what is inside. I tend to use the smaller ones for storing projects where I have cut all of the pieces but haven't sewn the blocks.

For smaller projects I like to use document wallets - they are cheap, see-through and great for storing printed instructions together with fabric/blocks. Here are a few from my collection.

For projects with a lot of small pieces I like to use serving trays. I have a small stack on them under my sewing bench

Another place where WIPs tend to accumulate is on the cutting mat. At the moment I have three projects on the go. I find little baskets helpful for storing fabric pieces - it's easy to stack them up and pop them off to the side when I need to cut something else.

Finally, I have a lot of WIPs stored in large containers, using a combination of document wallets and baggies. For example, a big tub of Christmas projects I started (but didn't finish) last Christmas.

I've listed the details of the numbered WIPs below. Hopefully I've be able to knock off a few this quarter and free up a bit of storage space for other things (like more fabric) :)

Kat

1. Ripples blocks from this year's bee.

2. Bonnie and Camille log cabin blocks from a block swap

3. Sampler blocks from the quilt block cook book sew along

4. Milky way sampler blocks

5. Bee-sewcial sampler blocks

6. Ombre gems blocks

7. Homeward bound blocks

8. Garden snails blocks

9. Fracis firefly blocks

10. Strips for a improv tumbler block quilt

11. Strips for a simple patchwork bay boy quilt

12. Scrappy trip around the world blocks

13. Swoon blocks

14. Cut pieces for a Hazel hedgehog mini

15. Cut pieces for a spell it with fabric numbers mini

16. Strips for a DS crazy coins cushion

17. 3.5" squares for a DS quilt

18. Basted, but not quilted, charity baby quilt

19. Another basted, but not quilted, baby charity quilt

20. A half-pieced baby charity quilt

21. Baby quattro quilt

22. Moxie mini quilt/playmat

23. Wild goose chase quilt

24. Glisten quilt

25. Strips and squares for a pineapple block quilt

26. Background pieces for a Geode quilt

27. In progress baby bedding

28. Hand-pieced hexi panel for stocking

29. Pieces for a Flurry quilt

30. Christmas economy blocks

31. Selvage strips so a selvage tree mini

32. Pieces for a patchwork forest mini

33. Jacobs ladder quilt.

34. Quilted stockings for my family.

Zip Up Tray Pouch

I've got one last finish from my list of proposed Q3 finishes to share - a Zip Up Tray Pouch that I literally finished last night (there's no motivation quite like an impending deadline!).

I bought a copy of Aneela Hoey's Zip Up Tray Pouch a while ago after seeing one in use at a sit and sew day. I thought that it would be useful for containing all the hand-sewing supplies that are covering my bedside table.

It's far from perfect, but finished is better (and more usable) than perfect and I am happy to have it done. I'ts already been put to use holding my bits and pieces for my in-progress EPP Party blocks.

I'm also linking up with Elm Street Quilts 2017 Bag It sew along - I hope that this is the first of many bags I'll sew this quarter.

Kat

A quilt for Stella

My last quilty finish from my list of proposed finishes for this quarter is a quilt that I made for my friend's daughter, Stella.

The quilt was made from a set of precut triangles (called Turnovers) from the Color Me Happy range by V & Co for Moda. I love the lucious colours in this collection and thought they would make a nice quilt for a little girl.

As always, I was short on time so I chose a simple hourglass design. I sewed the Turnover triangles together in pairs (one low volume and one high volume print) to form HSTs and then used the HST to form hourglass blocks. The blocks trimmed down to 9" square unfinished.

I used 40 of the triangles in the pack to make 20 hour glass blocks and arranged them in a 4 x 5 layout, alternating the placement of the low-volume prints. This gave me a top that was 34.5" x 43" unfinished so I was able to back it with a single one yard cut from the same collection.

I was pretty chuffed at how efficiently I was able use the fabric I had (only 2 triangles unused). For the binding I used a quarter yard cut (cut into four 2.25" strips) so there was also very little wastage there. 

Harriet kindly agreed to test out the quilt before we gifted it to Stella. She even wore a coordinating jump suit :)

Kat

A quilt for Harriet

Today I'm sharing a second little bassinet quilt made using spare blocks. I had intended to make a larger scrappy trip around the world quilt in these colours but after four blocks I decided that I wasn't in love with it. Instead I chose to make a version with 8 prints in each blocks and use up some of my hoarded jelly roll strips.

Rather than abandon the test blocks I decided to turn them into a little bassinet quilt for Harriet. She seems pretty pleased with it :)

As you can see, she's almost outgrown it. Luckily I have a nice big pile of WIPs and test blocks ready to turn into more baby quilts.

Linking up with the 2017 finish-a-long as this was one of my quarter 3 proposed finishes.

Kat

A quilt for Gregory

Just a quick post to share a bassinet quilt I made for my little man, Gregory. With two little babies my sewing time is very limited so I've been turning old WIPs and leftover blocks into tiny baby quilts. This one was made using some hourglass blocks I made a few years ago (expert quilt holding by big brother Rupert).

I kept the quilting simple with a back and fourth line in the background squares only. Although it feels like I only just finished it, he's already outgrowing it.

Linking up with the 2017 finish-a-long as this was one of the projects I aimed to finish this quarter.

Kat

Aussie Mini Barn Quilt Swap Extras

I'm linking up again with the 2017 finish a-long and sharing some swap extras that were on my quarter 3 list of proposed finishes.

When making mini quilts for swaps I often start with the extras (little gifts that are included with the mini quilt) because they are often fun to make and there is less pressure than when making the actual mini quilt.  For the Aussie Mini Barn Quilt Swap my partner made it really easy for me to decide what to make her. In her submission she indicated that she loves caramello koalas and collecting mug rugs to brighten up her desk at work. Naturally, I made her a set of mug rugs with little pockets to hold the caramello koalas.

Another handmade item I included was a swoon block pin, made using a Dandelyne mini hoop and some cross-stitch supplies.

One of the swap requirements was to "prettily package your parcel" so I went a bit OTT with the wrapping, making a handmade box for the mug rugs (I used some woodgrain paper in line with the barn quilt theme) and added a pretty handmade tag.

My partner loved her extras and I enjoyed making them for her. And that is why I love participating in swaps, despite having my hands full with two small babies. In fact, I may or may not have just signed up for another one :P

Kat 

Aussie Mini Barn Quilt Swap

 I've just realised that I haven't yet shared the mini quilt that I made for my Aussie Mini Barn Quilt Swap partner. I was assigned Andrea (@thehummingcat on instagram), who suggested that she'd love a mini quilt in grey, red and navy. I used prints from the Bonnie and Camille Daysail collection to create a simple star block mini quilt.

I ended up dragging my family to the Collingwood Children's farm so that I could get a picture of the mini in a barn (I think taking photos of quilts can be just as much fun as making them).

My little man was happy too - a trip to the farm usually involves watching cows getting milked, cuddling guinea pigs and eating icecream. In an rare sequence of events, I also managed to make a PL spread about the day.

I'm linking up with the quarter 3 finish-a-long post as this mini quilt was on my list of proposed finishes for this quarter. Stay tuned for the details of the extras I made for this swap.

Kat

2017 Finish-a-long - Quarter 3 proposed finishes

Today I'm linking up my list of proposed finishes for quarter 3 of the 2017 Finish-a-long. Quarter 2 was quite productive, with several quilt finishes and a couple of babies :)

I'm hoping that quarter three will be just as productive so I'm listing lots of projects (more than I can realistically hope to achieve but I like to keep my options open). Most have just been rolled over from quarter 2, but some have been added in the mean time.

Small projects

I thought I'd start with a couple of small (non-quilt) projects I have on the go.

1. Bonnie and Camille raspberry kisses pillow - I'm making a pillow for my red rocking chair using a variety of Bonnie and Camille prints. So far I have made the pillow top but need to finish turning it into a pillow cover.
2. Les Fleurs pillow - I made six 6" blocks for the quilt-non sampler earlier this year from prints from the Les Fleurs collection. I'm planning to make three more 6" blocks and turn it into a pillow.
3. Fat eighth storage trays - I've been hunting for the right size tray to store my rainbow fat eighths for a while with no luck so I've decided to make my own using Nicole's (from Lilyella's Stitchery) sturdy fabric basket tutorial. I've finalised the design and have made a prototype. I'm hoping to make a whole series of these (one for each colour).
4. Zip up fabric tray - I've been doing quite a bit of handsewing in bed so thought I'd make myself a zip up tray pouch to keep my supplies tidy by my bedside. I've purchased the pattern, pulled the fabric and cut the interfacing but need to start sewing.


Swap projects

I signed up for a Bonnie and Camille mini barn quilt swap so there are a few projects I need to finish up this quarter.

1. The main mini quilt - I've got the quilt top partially assembled.
2. Mug rugs - I'm making my partner a set of mug rugs based on a few of the Thimble Blossoms mini patterns. I've cut all the pieces I need to make some mini blocks.
3. Basket - I'm planning to make a sturdy fabric basket to hold the mug rugs and have cut a bunch of 2.5" squares for the outer panels.
4. Cross stitch - I'm making a cross stitch swoon block mini hoop as an extra. I've got my materials and have drafted the pattern but need to get stitching.

Baby quilts

My two little babies have already outgrown the tiny quilts I made for their bassinets so one of the tasks on the top of my to-do list is to finish making their larger quilts.

1. I've turned a couple of test blocks for a scrappy trip around the world quilt into a mini quilt for my little girl. It's basted but needs to be quilted and bound.
2. I'm also making a quilt for my little boy using some leftover hourglass blocks from a quilt I made a few years ago.

3. Frances Firefly mini 1 - While I was pregnant I started making the twins a set of Frances Firefly quilts for when they move into their cots. I've selected the precut strips for the baby girl's quilt and have pieced the first block (through can't find it to photograph).
2. Frances Firefly mini 2 - I've also selected the precut strips for my baby boy's quilt but haven't started sewing yet.


Quilts for Rupert

Since the babies will be getting new quilts, I'm also hoping to finish a few quilts that I have on the go for Mr. 4.

1. Economy block truck quilt - this one has been a WIP for a long time (since Nana bought the blue dump truck print home from Germany a few years ago).
2. Disney quilt - Rupert has been collecting some prints from his favourite Disney movies and I've promised to turn them into a quilt for him. I'm planning a simple brick design to show off the large scale prints.
3. Rocket quilt - the little man is currently obsessed with space and the Solar System so I'm planning to make him a slightly larger version of this quilt.
4. Numbers wall hanging - last year I made him a Spell it with Fabric alphabet quilt for his birthday. I've been meaning to use to leftover strips to make him a coordinating wall-hanging with the number blocks.


Other little quilts

I'd also love to finish a few other little quilts I have on the go.

1. Hazel baby quilt - I'm planning to make a Hazel Hedgehog quilt using prints from the Eastham collection by Denyse Schmidt. I've cut a lot of the pieces but have been waiting for a time when I am not so sleep deprived before I start the complex piecing.
2. Colour me Happy hourglass quilt - One of my friends recently had a little girl so I am making her a quilt; using some precut triangles to make a simple hourglass quilt. I've assembled the hourglass blocks but need to make a date with my rotating mat to get them all trimmed.
3. Moxie quilt - I started this project many years ago and would love to get it finished. I've cut all the pieces and sewn some of the wedges but need to sort out some background fabric before I can continue.
4. Starflower quilt - I made an extra large version of the star flower block for the Honey Pot Bee in January and have plans to turn it into a children's quilt or a play mat for my little ones.

Current quilt-along projects

I have a weakness for quilt-alongs and tend to join in more than I can possibly keep up with. These are a couple of current quilt alongs that I am hoping to wrap up this quarter. For each of these I have made several blocks and am hoping to be able to keep up.
1. EPP party
2. Snail day sew along
3. Sewcial Bee Sampler
4. Scrappy trip around the world sew along

Past quilt-along projects

These are projects from previous quilt alongs where I fell off the wagon before the finish line. Most are from earlier this year but the Glisten-a-long WIP goes back to 2015!
1. Ombre gems quilt
2. Swoon quilt
3. Glisten quilt
4. Quilt block cook book sampler quilt

Denyse Schmidt projects

I have been hoarding my Denyse Schmidt prints for a long time and finally got around to chopping them up recently. Usually if I am cutting up yardage for a project, I also cut up yardage for other projects at the same time. So I now have several WIPs featuring DS prints :)

1. Icecream soda quilt - I'm planning to do quite a bit of hand sewing over the next few months so I've been preparing pieces to make an icecream soda quilt. I've stitched a few blossoms and have the pieces for another 20 or so blossoms basted and ready to go.
2. Scrappy DS quilt - I'm in love with Erica Jackman's scrappy DS quilt and I'm planning to make one the same. I've cut over 350 3.5" squares from almost 200 different prints ready to put together.
3. Star kisses project - I've also cut the pieces to make several star kisses blocks, which I hope to turn into a pillow or baby quilt.
4. Crazy rails quilt/pillow - All my cutting generated a bunch of strips that I plan to turn into a DS version of Crazy Mom Quilt's crazy rails quilt. I'm not sure if it will be a quilt or a pillow


Other quilts for me

These are all the other quilt WIPs I'd love to finish for myself  this quarter : )

1. Freckles quilt - One of my goals for this year is to master curved piecing. I've started making the Tula Pink Freckles quilt but still have a long way to go.
2. Bonnie and Camille log cabin quilt - This is a recurring item on my proposed finishes lists that I never get around to finishing. I've got a lovely pile of log cabin blocks from a swap ready to turn into a quilt.
3. Paradiso Wild Goose Chase quilt - A quilt I started early last year that I hope to finish soon.
4. Selvage quilt - The selvage quilt I finished last year is my all-time favourite quilt and I've already started on another one, this time using a spiderweb block pattern.

I'm embarrassed to say that this is not even a complete listing of all of my WIPs. Hopefully one day I will learn to finish a project before starting 5 more :)

Kat

Dawn Quilt

Earlier this year I put my hand up to test a new pattern for Sam of For the Love of Fabric. For this quilt I delved into my stash of Elizabeth Olwen prints. I used quarter yard cuts but fat quarters could be used also.

I just love how the big blocks allow the beautiful larger scale prints to be shown off.

I donated my finished quilt to Keepsafe quilts, a charity that provides dontated quilts to women and children who have escaped violent intimate partners. I hope that it brings comfort to women and children starting a new chapter in their lives.

If you'd like to make this quilt, you can read more about it and purchase the Dawn quilt pattern on Sam's website.

I'm linking up with the quarter 2 linky party for the 2017 Finish-a-long as this was one of my proposed finishes for this quarter

Kat