A Girly DNP Quilt....

For the uninitiated that's a 'Girly Disappearing Nine Patch' quilt.  It's a very effective yet simple block, colour choices can make a huge difference to the over all look. I've had this pink flowery spirally fabric for a long while, it was waiting for this nice black to come along.

Well actually, I didn't intend to make this quilt it wasn't on my 'to do' list. A lot of what I'm doing at the moment isn't on my list, must be procrastinating, putting off doing something else that's a bit more intense...

This quilt measures 63x73, I used Hobbs 80/20 batting/wadding and a white Metro thread. The panto I chose is Trellis Hearts by Patricia Ritter, I used the digitised version on my Quilt Path system. I bound the quilt with matching black fabric and added a little machine embroidery in black thread for added interest in the border.

Disappearing Nine Patch Tutorial

Tutorial for my version of a  'Disappearing Nine Patch' quilt using alternating coloured blocks....
The Quilt can be seen here A Girly Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt

This tutorial is a work in progress.....thanks for your patience......

Cut 4 inch strips from width of fabric (WoF)

Strip set 1......Sew with a 1/4 inch seam to make strip sets....  press seams away from the centre strip

Strip set 2. press seams towards centre strip......

Strip set 3. Press seams toward centre strip.  The strip sets should now measure 10 1/2 inches by WoF

Cut strip sets into 4 inch sections and layout as 2 x 'nine patch' blocks as shown with black running through the diagonal on one block and pink running through the diagonal on the second block.
Block 1 needs two sections from Strip set 1 and one section from Strip set 2
Block 2 needs two sections from Strip set 1 and one section from strip set 3

Sew your blocks together with a 1/4 inch seam and press the the seams away from the centre on both blocks

Block 1 and Block 2

Using a rotary cutter and ruler cut vertically on the solid red line through the centre of both of these blocks.  Depending on your own seam allowance the 1 3/4 inch mark should fall on the seam line.

Cut horizontally through the centre of both blocks by placing the 1 3/4 inch line on the seam line

From the left block take the top left piece and turn 180 degrees and place back in the same space within the same block. Now take the bottom right piece of the same block, turn 180 degrees and put back in the same space within the same block.  Repeat this same procedure in block 2.

Flip the rows over right sides together and sew a 1/4 inch seam

Open and press the seams in opposite directions so that the seams nest together for the final seam

You will have two 10 inch blocks like this.

I set my quilt 6 x 5 blocks (30 blocks), 15 of block 1 and 15 of block 2 set alternately with additional borders.

A few 'flimsies'....

Just when you really have enough to do something entices you?  A sew along, 'Delightful Stars' Quilt-a-long, an Aiming for Accuracy Quilt hosted by Michelle at Quilting Gallery here is a direct link to the project Delightful Stars, This is a star sampler class, there is a small fee for Michelle's teaching expertise.

I chose to use a black background fabric along with a black and white polka dot and these hand dyed fabrics from Images of Egypt. Unfortunately my supply of hand dyes was getting a little low but I managed to replenish them at the Edinburgh quilt show last month.....

Lovely aren't they????

Section G and Block 2

Block 14

I got a little carried away playing with my fabrics and the pattern placement so had to make a decision now before I went any further......These are the block I chose to keep for this project ......

This one is a practice for the paper piecing lesson next week...I'm calling this one 'purple Easter crocus'....

I also got all of my blocks pieced and put together for my Arizona Cactus, auditioning a break border fabric here, I went with the darker one....

It's now a 'flimsy' and in the queue for quilting along with this tag-a-long quilt that I quickly put together from spares/playtime from 'delightful stars' and a quick 'hidden flowers' trip type quilt.  It will be a little while yet till these get to the front of the quilting queue.

Clearing the Decks.....

I'm busy, never a dull moment. I'm trying to finish up a couple of tops and clear the decks a bit so that I can start on a 'I have to do it right now project'! I like to have my surfaces cleared up a bit to start on new projects it kind of clears the mind....
That in it's self is always a bit funny...this is when you get enticed to start new projects that you were definitely not planning...I will confess that one next time too. I am being good though and finishing up some stuff but will show those next time...

This is a fabulous quilt from a very lovely Lady, Maria, red, black and white (French General) fabrics, with a red fleece backing...very cuddly. As Maria was a little indisposed 'we' chose Trellis Hearts panto, with red thread, it turned out really nice.

Next, we have a lovely stars quilt in tans, rusts and blues in lovely traditional fabrics. My customer chose Surf by Anne Bright, we used Metro thread in Khaki Sand....a very versatile coloured thread it mixes so well with many fabrics. I believe this panto is going to be a firm favourite.

And so I have already started a big wholecloth, here is a sneak peak....

I spent today doing very micro, micro fill.....at least 8 hours worth ......now my hands hurt!

Tripping.....

My Customer Annette is the owner of my local quilt shop, Borderland Fabrics in Jedburgh, Annette pieced this beautiful quilt to give as a wedding gift later this year. I love the subtle colour variations in the fabrics, they are very restful and reminiscent of vintage quilts and coverlets. Annette chose the panto Surf by Anne Bright, quilted with my Quilt Path system.  Surf adds lovely movement to the geometric structure of the design which is of course a variation of the Trip Around the World....it's an Eleanor Burns pattern where the pieces are off set so there are no points to match. I'm sure this will be a treasured gift.

Just a note, I want to add that I show my customer quilts on a bed that isn't used, it's only to display my customer quilts....

Of course a trip around the world would be wonderful but when I was young we didn't have such luxuries. We thought ourselves lucky to have a trip to the seaside once a year on the 'club trip'. This is a quilt made by  me, it's a scrappy trip around the world pieced as blocks, my scrap bin was filling up fast but guess what, there are still even more scraps left for another quilt. Because of the scrappy and economic nature of the piecing I'm calling this one my 'club trip' quilt. This is 48 blocks and is a very generous twin/single or even a queen/double bed size. Again I used the Surf panto by Anne Bright with a cream Metro thread.