Wednesday, May 18, 2016

x's and +'s

Did you wonder where I went?  This time,  nowhere, a grinch took over my blog and wouldn't let me add any pictures, and I'm not interesting enough to create a blog post with no pictures.  But things are working just fine again, what a relief.

I've been a fan of the X's and +'s quilt pattern for a while.  The pattern's not new, it's just taken me this long to decide on my plan of attack.  If you check out Pinterest, there are hundreds of versions of this pattern, all wonderful.

Here's a great scrappy version by Peggy at Stitchin with Peg.




I would love to make a quilt exactly like this one,  or one with different size blocks, those are great too, but it's still really hard for me to do totally scrappy, I'm still struggling with controlled scrappy.

There are several versions of this pattern available, Zen Chic designed one and here's a link to a tutorial created by Bad Skirt.  I'm going with Pat Bravo's pattern.



It's available on Craftsy.

My main inspiration for this quilt came from Cindy Lammon at Hyacinth Quilt Designs, who used Pat's pattern to make this version.


I didn't notice until Cindy pointed it out,  the pattern uses the same fabric in the center plus blocks going diagonally one direction, and the same fabric for the square corners going diagonally the other direction.  So while this is a very scrappy quilt, it has enough sameness going on to appeal to my sense of order.

I decided to go with an assortment of Art Gallery fabric that I had collected over the last few years.  Not just one family by one designer, or even several families by one designer, instead several designers and several families.




It took me two afternoons in my sewing room to put together this assortment of 42 different pieces of fabric.  I'm spoiled by fat quarter bundles, where I customize it to my liking by adding and subtracting a few prints.  But it was a good challenge, something I need to do more often.


And here's my inspiration block.  I was worried about the plus points matching up with the square corners, but I used my Prairie Sky Quilting Folded Corner Clipper ruler to piece the beige corners on the print blocks, and everything lined up perfectly, no fudging required.

Here are my 6 blocks with a white center.



And 6 blocks with a pink center.


Now I have to stop, I'm heading out of town on vacation.  I usually leave town with an empty design wall, finishing my current project before I leave town, but I think it will be nice to have this project on my design wall to welcome me home.

And on the topic of my vacation, I've created an Instagram account to post pictures of my trip to Italy.  It's mainly for family and there will be over-gramming, particularly of food, but feel free to follow along at thelma_italiano, friends are also welcome.  I'll post any quilty/crafty related pics on my regular instagram account, thelmacupcake.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Now I just need a Chimney


I finished piecing this top this week.  This is Christmas quilt number two of four, four Christmas  quilts for gifts being my goal for 2016.  I'm now looking for my next Christmas pattern but don't intend to start it for at least a couple of months.  I am open to suggestions for a pattern for Christmas quilt number 3. 



This is Lifetime Quilt Number 177
It finished at 74" x 81"
It has approximately 252 pieces.
The fabric is an assortment of Christmas lines by Kate Spain for Moda.
The pattern is By the Chimney by Lella Boutique.

I enjoyed every minute I spent working on this quilt.  I took this picture on a gloomy rainy day,  it looks so much more festive in person.

And while we're on the subject of holiday projects and gifts, have you seen this free pattern being offered by the Fat Quarter Shop?




I intend to make several, and think you should too!   Click here for details.