Welcome to Saturday Quilting Bring & Share π Bring along your projects and join in the generous sharing that goes on in our Worldwide Quilting Community. Use the links below to find inspiration from patchwork-quilters near and far. Be a part of the quilty goodness by leaving an encouraging comment for any of the bloggers you visit π
Wow! I am having a real treat of a weekend! I’m writing from my hotel room (get me!), taking a short break from all the patchwork-quilting goings on in the very large and bright conference room.
The first of the early morning risers arrive in the sewing room on Day 2 of the Sewcial Retreat
Yes! It’s the Purple Stitches Sewcial Retreat – a first for me! We have time to sew our own projects as well as being ably taught by Carolyn Forster who has been taking us through the history of utility quilts and the many ways of using string scraps to create patchwork blocks.
Carolyn Forster in full flow!
Carolyn Forster with one of the string quilts she has designed and pieced.
As well as all the fun of learning new techniques and being in the company of a lovely group of patchwork quilters, I’ve been getting acquainted with my new travel companion, a Janome 5060QDC.
We are getting along well. It’s a mid-price range machine with a whole lot of useful features including a full set of patchwork-quilting feet as standard.
My first project this weekend has involved playing with a Creative Grids ‘Pineapple Trim Tool’ Ruler.
I’ve had a partially used Moda Scrap Bag in my stash for years and decided to combine the strips of varying widths and lengths with strips cut from a text print to make at least two blocks. I actually managed to get three blocks from the fabric. Making the first Pineapple Block I paid close attention to a step-by-step video tutorial by Shabby Fabrics (I found this video more helpful than the official one available on the Creative Grids website). Having successfully completed one block I managed to make the next two with a little bit of head scratching but no need to refer to the tutorial π
I’ll share more of my Retreat projects, including some Spider Web & Star Blocks, in the next day or two. Now it’s time for me to head back to the sewing room π
Here are links to some of the blog posts that caught my attention this week. I hope you find plenty of interest.
I often piece quilt backings as a way of using the leftover fabrics from the quilt top and eating a little way into my stash (especially odd pieces of extra wide backing left from previous projects). Krista has taken making pieced backings to a whole other level! Her tutorial is full of helpful tips and inspiring ideas for colourful, intricate quilt backings.
Over on Amy Smart’s blog there’s a great tutorial giving the method Holly Lesue uses to avoid having to piece a quilt row by long row. There’s a downloadable explanation of Holly’s Chain Pieced Patchwork Quilt Tutorial. I’m a big fan of piecing a quilt top in sections but I’ve yet to incorporate chain piecing the blocks into my process.
Gretchen has created a little tutorial to remind herself how to self-bind a quilt – most especially how to create neat mitred corners.
Ever heard that lots of types of batting have a ‘right’ side and a ‘wrong side’? Find out how knowing the difference could; improve your experience of quilt stitching; reduce bearding; and even increase the durability of a quilt by reading Suzy’s blog post, ‘Is There a Right Side to Quilt Batting?’
Allison explains how she organised the ombre fabrics from a jelly roll to create a beautiful rainbow version of her quilt pattern ‘Tangled‘. The interlocking design and subtle colour changes make for a very attractive quilt.
Melony has a wonderful story to share of her part in the making of a very special collaborative quilt. Do you remember the NASA astronaut, Karen Nyberg, making a patchwork star block whilst living and working in the International Space Station? Can you believe that was way back in 2013? She challenged quilters to create star blocks for a quilt which was duly made. Click over to Melony’s blog post to see the block she made as preparations begin to celebrate the star quilt’s 10th anniversary.
Katy shares her method for making scrappy ‘Granny Square’ blocks. Her piecing is always so precise even when working with small fabric shapes.
Back to School is a charming row-by-row pattern featuring School House Blocks, ‘paper chain’ children and open books. Designed by Nicola Dodds you can see photos of a finished quilt and read more about the pattern in her recent blog post.
Linking with Alycia for Finished or Not Friday.
Happy Stitching!
Allison
I am glad that you were able to attend a retreat! So much fun! I also prefer to piece quilts in sections as opposed to row by row. I don’t know why…I think it is just easier for me to handle. At any rate, the results are the same. π
Yes! Going on sewing retreat was a very special experience. Although I feel a bit tired now I do also feel refreshed and full of inspiration.
I don’t know why it took me so long to figure out how to piece a quilt top in sections – maybe because I was taught that way? I so much prefer doing it by section rather than long-row-by-long-row π