TooGoodToBeThrough

Patchwork Puzzle

My long-time, faithful doggy sitter, who just celebrated a milestone birthday, often tells me how much she enjoys whichever quilting project I have strewn across my sewing room.  So she was thrilled when I told her I wanted to make her a throw-size quilt for her birthday.  The question was:  which pattern?  We decided I would gather up my pattern books and magazines, and she would thumb through them and mark her favorites with a little Post-it.  I would then choose one of the patterns without telling her which one so it would be a surprise. 

The pattern I chose -- one of more than a dozen that she tagged -- is called Patchwork Puzzle from the book Batiks and Beyond by Laurie Shifrin.  I happen to love the colors used in the sample quilt, and I know they'll work beautifully in my friend's home, so I decided to copy the look.  It's something I rarely do, but I have to admit it made fabric shopping a breeze! 

Here are two finished blocks -- the photograph makes the fabrics look quite a bit brighter than they actually are.  The fabric's all cut, most of the four-patches are sewn, and it looks like I'll have this one ready for quilting in no time! 

Me,
Jane

Charmed, I'm Sure

Charmed Whirligigs is back from the quilter already, and I finished the binding last night.  I love this pattern!  So simple, and the effect is playful and lighthearted.  I think it would work with any combination of colorful fabrics, but I especially love the look of it in Moda's Cherish Nature.  With the Gulf disaster weighing on my heart and mind so much lately, "Cherish Nature" has become my new mantra. 

Keeping with the nature theme, I chose Buzzing Around for the quilting pattern.  The quilter had suggested a turquoise-to-brown variegated thread, but I didn't want anything to compete with the fabrics and chose a pale sage green. 

This quilt is a wedding gift, but seeing how well the greens in the fabric match the vintage lamp on the sideboard in my sewing room makes me think I might have to make another one for me.

I haven't been a fan of precuts -- jellyrolls, honey buns, layer cakes, etc. -- until now.  Their 'dander' is downright annoying, but nothing a quick once-over with the brush attachment of the vacuum can't tame.  One of my favorite parts of using charm packs for this particular pattern is there were no leftovers, except a little of the Kona solid, a bit of the border fabrics and, of course, trimmings from the backing. 

I think this quilt has a picnic blanket feel, so I'm planning to make a set of cloth napkins in one of the lighter fabrics from this line and gift wrap the quilt and napkins in a colorful woven tote.

Me,
Jane

What the...?

Oh, I know I'm not the first quilter who has mis-sewn border or binding strips together.  But four pieces in a row?  This is not good. 

Despite my obvious lack of attention to detail this morning, I managed to finish Charmed Whirligigs today and deliver it to the quilter this afternoon.  I hadn't worked with charm packs before and enjoyed using them for this simple quilt pattern.  

I love a mitered corner, even though it didn't have a lot of impact with this subtle chocolate brown print. 

A quick pressing before heading to the quilters, and I was out the door.

I didn't have anyone or occasion in mind when I started the quilt in early April, but when I received an invitation to the wedding of a childhood friend's daughter, and saw that the color of their stationery was almost a perfect match for the bitter green in the fabric, I decided it would be their wedding gift.   

I sure hope they enjoy it!

Me,
Jane