Wendy's Quilts and More
It's Easter Friday and I'm in Auckland again. My previous visit was for work, so it doesn't really count right?
This time I'm really hoping to see the new Kaffe Fassett range in real life. It looks beautiful online, but I want to see it with my own eyes. The new colourways for Cactus Flower look incredible.
I usually only buy fabrics when I have a plan in mind, but I might just have to make an exception this time.
Unfortunately I left my hand luggage bag in Auckland when I was there two weeks ago. I remembered to take my handbag with my phone, car keys and wallet, but I forgot my bigger bag with my Smoyg, Pandemic Sampler, hand piecing, magnifying glasses and my work video camera! There was no time to drive back and get it, but I knew I'd be returning in two weeks so I could get it then.
The only upside of that episode was that it forced me to start knitting my Rebel Rebel cardigan, because I don't need magnifying glasses to knit.
The Rebel Rebel pattern is designed by a New Zealand woman under the name Truly Myrtle. The patterns are written in the modern style of knitting where it's done on a circular needle and you start knitting from the top down. I had to google "provisional cast on", but I found a video that I liked and I got started.
I'm using wool that I purchased from a local hand dyer called Yarn Therapy. Jo makes lots of gorgeous colours, and it took forever to make my final decision.
Here are some socks that my mum knitting from a ball of the same (or similar) wool. I can't exactly remember which shade I bought for her.
Now it's time for the Peacock Party. What have you been up to this week? Feel free to share a recent blog post below.
My hand pieced Raindrops quilt is coming along nicely. I've been experimenting with other fabric combinations because I don't want all of the blocks to be the feature fabric.
I'm not sure if all of these rosettes will make it into the final quilt, but I need to see all the options before I start joining the blocks.
The plainer blocks are good because they give our eyes a resting place. However, I can see that the dark green in the centre rosette might be too dark.
Last week someone asked me how I calculate how much fabric to buy for a quilt like this. There are few factors that come into that decision:
- how big do I want the quilt to be?
- how many rosettes will I need to make it the desired size?
- how many pieces can I fussy cut from each motif in the fabric?
- how many motif repeats are there per metre or yard?
Originally I only had about 1 metre of this fabric. I bought it in Sydney two years ago, not knowing what I would do with it, but it looked exciting and full of possibilities.
When I decided to use it for Raindrops are Falling on My Head, I went in search of more, and was lucky to find two more metres online. However, now that I'm adding plainer blocks to this quilt, I don't know if I'll need the full 3 metres. I guess I could use it in a border, or even on the back if I end up with leftovers.
My quilt is finished and I've called it "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", after a favourite song by Tears for Fears. Click here for a trip down memory lane - or to hear something new.
The colours and stars in this quilt remind me of flags; the Union Jack from the UK, the Star-Spangled banner from the USA, and our own New Zealand Ensign.
The USA and NZ both held elections last year, and the UK left the European Union, so "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" seems appropriate at this time.
I machine quilted this quilt with both red and white Aurifil. I didn't want white stitching showing on the red stars, and I didn't want red stitching showing on the centre blocks. So I used both colours and I quilted alternating cross hatch patterns.
I've made a lot of progress on my Smoyg embroidery this year, and the end is now in sight.
The top half:
There's just two and a half blocks to finish now. The big black ones (which get a bit boring), and the diamond one just below half way - which shouldn't take long at all.
I love the multicoloured blocks, but the black and white blocks look very effective too. I love it all - especially when viewed from a distance.
I've really enjoyed working on this sampler, and I'll be sad when it's finished. But I have Yvette Stanton's book and I could make something else with all the left over threads.
So that's what I've been up to this week.
Now it's time for the Peacock Party. What have you been up to this week? Feel free to link up a recent blog post below.
Firstly - You may have heard about some strong earthquakes off New Zealand, and associated tsunami risks. Fortunately I didn't even feel the earthquakes, and I don't live in the risk area for the possible tsunamis. Many people have spent the morning on high ground, but the risk of tsunami has now passed thankfully. I don't think any buildings have been damaged.
Back to quilting.
I've made a small start on Raindrops are Falling on my Head from Millefiori Quilts Book 4 by Willyne Hammerstein.
I bought this beautiful Art Gallery fabric from Material Obsession in Sydney back in June 2019 - almost two years ago. I've been waiting for the right project to come along, and now it has.
When I start a new quilt I just cut a few pieces of the feature fabric to see what I think. When I'm happy with how it's developing, I cut a few more.
I squeeze as many pieces out of my fabric as possible. My template is hollow because I'm going to hand piece this quilt.
I plan to incorporate some of these fabrics above into the quilt too.
So, I'm continuing my plan of making a number of quilts from Millefiori Quilts Book 4. Hand piecing really has become my preferred method of quilting. I enjoy it even more than machine piecing.
Now it's time for the Peacock Party. Feel free to link up a recent blog post below.
Apologies to all the Dutch quilters out there.
"Bont en Blauw" does not mean "Black and Blue", but rather multicoloured, which sounds so much nicer. Google translate put me wrong on that one! But a number of you messaged me to let me know, so thank you.
As my quilt is only going to be three colours (red, white and blue), I'm going to have to think of another name anyway.
Some of you asked for more details about this sweet quilt. I'm hand piecing it using the method shown in my hand piecing videos here. But, there are also English Paper Piecing papers available from www.paperpieces.com
I always buy hollow templates now, because I can draw the cutting line AND the stitching line for hand piecing. I've always used 1/4" seam allowance for hand piecing and EPP. I find that that's enough, and I think 3/8" would leave too much bulk on the back when the pieces are small.
Photos from Millefiori Quilts 4 for Bont en Blauw:
I love how Willyne Hammerstein designs interesting borders for her quilts. Many of us finish the centre of a quilt, and then we think it needs a border, so we find a complementary fabric and put long strips around the edges to finish it off. Easy. But, Willyne has created the illusion of a border by continuing the piecing but changing the colour placement. Clever!!
That's my plan too, even though my rows aren't all sewn together yet.
In other exciting news - all three of my entries into the Great New Zealand Quilt Show at Rotorua were accepted!!
And, I finished my Lime challenge ahead of schedule, so I've started a second Lime mini quilt. The Lime quilts will be unveiled at the Rotorua show too.
I'm going to Rotorua for the show. It's a good excuse for another little holiday, and a good way to meet up with other quilters from around NZ. Will I see you there?
Now it's time for the Peacock Party. What have you been up to this week? Feel free to link up a recent blog post below.
