Meet me at the Manor

Quiltmaker magazine has introduced a four part series quilt called Meet Me at the Manor.  I love houses, and samplers, and so I had to give a try to making this quilt from scraps.

I have collected quite a few pieces of what are to me "brights" - as compared to my usual 1800s repros I'm drawn to.  Most of these were precuts of charm squares and eighths from Connecting Threads, some pulled from my stash, many of them already having been used as experiments in other quilts.

For this quilt I took a leap and did not do any sketching or colouring on EQ!  I just went for it - which is really not in my comfort zone...I usually need to have a really good plan of what I'm putting where, especially as I don't have a large design board to arrange pieces.

The first part of this series required quite of a bit of sewing...nine houses, and some fusible applique - here's what I finished with and I'm really very happy with this beginning.  These blocks will be randomly spaced out throughout the top, with smaller pieced blocks and sashings filling out the centre.  I don't think I'll be doing the sawtooth star border that shows in the pattern (I've got enough stars going on with other projects!).  There are lots of options flitting around in imagination that will make up the last border, or more!

Something from something else!

I had an idea to give a quilt to my Aunt...thinking of what was Select Six put together some time ago.  After taking it out of the drawer, I thought I would make it a bit narrower, so I played on EQ and took apart the top a bit, and re-designed it.  Its looking okay, but I don't like the last brown border (unfortunately it doesn't show much on this picture)...so that will eventually come off and be replaced with something a little brighter, maybe a colourful small open design on cream.

Still wanting to give a quilt to my Aunt, I started thinking about the "just kisses" applique blocks I had made so far.  Back to EQ, and after lots of playing, I came up with something I think will be wonderful for Pauline. This quilt is 68" square, all fabrics from the Golden Afternoon collection from Connecting Threads. 

One more top is on its way, from blocks that I had made but didn't like. I made the mini churn dashes that formed the inner part of a block in a pattern called Odds and Ends from American Patchwork and Quilting. After completing a few blocks with those churn dashes, I was just not happy with the look. EQ to the rescue, again, and I came up with this idea, followed by a picture of the blocks made so far. This will eventually be a quilt for a niece, I think.

Show and Tell

August was busy in the sewing room - I thought I'd finally catch up on the blog with some pictures of recent projects finished and on their way -

First is a quilt I made for my niece's first year in university residence.  Its a variation of a quilt called CrossRoads in American Patchwork and Quilting, August 08.  I revised the pattern a bit to accommodate charm squares.  I used to packs of  Rural Jardin charm squares, less the light ones, plus some odd bits from my stash.  Finished size is 62 x 77.


I quilted Starlight Starbright for  my daughter's graduation present

I finished a top to give to my Aunt, then decided another WIP might be more suitable for her, and its almost ready for quilting.  I've re-designed another UFO that may be a quilt for a niece.  I've been working on blocks from the Farmer's Wife book,  and with a goal of 10 blocks a month, I'm up to 40 blocks. 

I've also been very much enjoying the ease of applique from b.o.m. kits!  Its an easy way out, I know, but absolutely no stress over colour choices, which seems to be my nemises for applique.  I'm working on Baltimore & Bali, and a folk version (kansas troubles fabrics) of My Whimsical Garden. ). I'm also keeping up with Honouring Emma. 

More pictures tomorrow,

Penny