Cathedral quilt in the making

Cathedral quilt in the making
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

Now that I'm done my Scrappy Christmas Hedgerow blocks, I can get back to work on this.

-k

Scrappy Hedgerow Christmas Quilt

I had so much fun making my blocks for the Scrappy Hedgerow Christmas Block Swap, that I made a few (ahem) extra for me to make a second quilt.

This week, I took advantage of having an extra day off and finished the candy cane blocks. Then, as you know, one thing lead to another and I started - and finished - sashing the blocks too.



This is one of my favourite blocks:



It brings back memories of playing with Barbies and colouring in "Gibson Girls" colouring books on family trips to Florida. I so love this quilt top and can't wait to get on with the next steps! Now the *only* thing I need to do is the backing, quilting and binding.

I certainly don't want to hurry winter along, but I am going to enjoy cuddling under this quilt come Christmas time.

- k

Scrappy Hedgerow Christmas Blocks Redo

I wasn't thrilled with the blocks I made and then I came across some fantastic inspiration! Michael Miller's "Holiday Hostess". I made three of each for the block exchange and then, yes, a few more for me. I cannot wait to see how this quilt comes together!

More photos to come!

- k

Scrappy Hedgerow Christmas Blocks

I'm not sure if I like the blocks or not.

Christmas Fabric

It's a start!

Most of my Christmas fabric stash is at my mom's but I had itchy fingers today and paid a trip to one of my local quilting stores to supplement the small stash I had at home...

I'll be honest -- I'm going back and forth on whether I like the fabrics. I love a scrappy look, but this is the first time I've ever done a Christmas block so I feel a little unsure about mixing fabrics from various lines and different Christmas patterns. Maybe I'm too conservative for my own good.

So, I'm going to do a little experiment and see how all the reds and greens work with the candy cane focal fabric. I'm visiting my mom this week, so if I hate the look, I know I have a lot more Christmas fabric I can add to new blocks.

Wish me luck!

Hurrah!

It's official! I'm participating in modernjax's Scrappy Christmas Block swap! I'm delighted. We're using this pattern from Elizabeth at Oh, Fransson! I've been itching to try it and now this is the perfect excuse (as if one ever needs an excuse to quilt!).

This is my first block swap and now the pressure is on. Must create something beautiful that my recipients will like.

I have some Christmas fabric in my stash, but oh darn... I'll just have to go buy some more. Rats. ;-)

Summer Delight!

The photos are poor quality but the quilt is finished! This is the disappearing nine-patch lapsize quilt made from white and Moda "Sanctuary" charm squares.

I'm calling it "Summer Delight" and giving it to my favorite aunt and uncle. It just so happens their twenty-eighth anniversary is next week, but I also made this as part of my 101 mission (101 things in a 1001 days).

Inspired by Amanda Jean's work over at Crazy Mom Quilts, I pieced the back using a plain white muslin and more Sanctuary charm squares. I think I like the back better than the front! The fabric is so soft and cuddly. I loved working with the muslin so much (and the low price doesn't hurt either), that it's become my new favorite. In fact, I love it so much, I used the muslin for the front of my other disappearing nine-patch.

I quilted using "in the ditch" and just went around all the squares. Even though I took a free-motion quilt class a couple of months ago, I'm too chicken to try stippling on a big quilt. Guess it's time for me to get over it - but I'll probably start off with a baby quilt as my experiment and not something bigger until I'm proficient.

The quilt is labelled and ready to be delivered. I haven't washed it yet, though, and I'm debating whether I should before I give it to my aunt and uncle.

I love the crinkly look of a washed quilt, but is that the protocol? To wash the quilt before you gift it?

What do you do?

-k

Sweet Peek!

I finished my Moda "Sweet" disappearing nine-patch top! I cannot wait to baste and quilt this baby, then snuggle under it some lazy afternoon. I love the look of a scrappy quilt with lots of white. The photo is from my i-Phone, so definitely not the best quality picture, but you get the idea.

Work has been crazy busy, but I finished the Sanctuary disappearing nine-patch for my aunt and will post photos of it too. I'm really happy with how it turned out, especially the pieced backing. I'm hoping to have time this weekend to at least baste this quilt. And, if I'm really ambitious and energetic, I'll finish the top on my double wedding ring (I only have the borders to sew), and baste it too.

Hope you're having a good week!