Cross Stitch

Look what I've dug out from the loft - I thought I had got a lot further - and I realised I started it over 12 years ago!!!!!!!! when I started it I didn't even need glasses.

 

scrappy squares

I have already prepared the paper templates and the cut the white strips that are the common theme. The white is only an inch wide - meaning a 1/2 inch strip when sewn. The final strippy squares are 8 inches. I sew a couple of squares when I just fancy a bit of sewing ... but nothing too difficult - I have 8 so far, not including this pillow I made earlier

 

Magical

 

top assembled

The top is square with additional 8 inch borders - covers the top of a double bed. Not sure how whether to have a plain solid black back or have a few colour blocks --and now how to quilt.......?

 

so far

In progress - the fabric is chosen and i think this is the order - flowing from red to violet and back - laid on a black sheet for effect -

 

I think I will stick with the black idea

I didn't realize how many fabrics I had in my stash... there are 52 separate fabrics here ....and I could have substitutes (over and over!!)

New Plan

Back from my hols

 

I have decided to make another rainbow circle colourwheel quilt - but expanding my repetoire and intend to use a black background and black quilting thread!! how daring - for me!

top 3/4 finished

Strips sewn - they are laid on a navy backing which I will use as the edge pieces.

 

i am liking the contrast of navy sashing and bright blues - i think the navy thread for quilting will darken these down and pull the whole thing together


 

pieces cut (mostly)

Fabric cut - there's enough for 6 strips - about 5 and 3/4 inches wide. variable lengths from 2 to 4 and 1/2 inches. I love not having a pattern - but how hard is it to get the strips random - and looking random... there will be some rearranging no doubt - but i feel like it will be flowing as the tones are all complimentary (even if in the photo they may appear not to be)


 

back to business

.



The plan is to have a blue quilt ....with dark blue sashing .... and even quilt in blue thread. I am feeling my way with colour and texture ( the anniversary quilt gave me some confidence!)

The back will be navy panels with splashes of colour. this is the first strip/coin quilt I have tried - so wish me luck...

Anniversary quilt

hurrayyy to the finished front..



and the back....

I used dark red with a black threads running through it for the binding and it seems to bring the quilting and fabrics together. It's funny how the back has really come to life with the quilting and i really like it.

quilting styles

I quilted the maroon border with circles - (Well loops anyway)
and was pleased with the results - it makes the quilt a bit more 'bendy' - a totally different texture to when I meander

 

I am definitely branching out because I also quilted with meandering -- 2 styles on the same quilt - what's going on?...

 

I even used 2 slightly differnt colours of thread to quilt , a purpley red and a browny red

 

and throughout the quilt I have hidden quilted hearts - near the middle on this photo ...if you look really closely..

 <

...now just the binding to choose..mm?

NOoooooooo..........

 

as you can see --- that's what you get when you work when you're tired and work in bad light! i never realised the back was looping and bunching ....until it was too late.....

the good news .... a couple of hours of patient unpicking has cleared all the bits of thread and the fabric isnt marked. so it's ready to go again ...but i'm not. ;-(

quilt back

i decided on a simple block pattern - with some of the front patterns. the colours really do complement the front - i definitely wont be quilting in cream thread.....but what colour for all??

 

quilt top together

quilt top assembled.....

 

maybe a plain maroon border.....but i have no idea what to do for the backing or what colour thread to use for the quiliting

textured quilt

this is a departure in colours - much darker than my usual palette. i settled on the graduated colour rather than a total random look

 

this was the alternative scrappy pattern

 

I used the sample fabric books that I found back in March.

strippy pillow

I have discovered strip quilting!!!!!

 

i love it!!!!!!!!

i even ventured out to new quilt stitches - i really like the cirlces ....but they take an AGE ..I think i will reserve this for smaller projects because you need to be able to manoeuvre the quilt freely to get nice circles so i may not be able to on a full size quilt?

 

back to meandering on one side - after the circles i actually enjoyed it and kept the paths close together.

 

and the full side view..(i think that's my shadow on the photo as there are no dark areas)
 

i am thinking of planning a Quilt now as i learnt so much doing this small project. we shall see.

quilts

And finally - the rising and setting sun quilts together

front


and back...

  

Setting Sun nearly finished

I have all finished except for my favourite part of hand sewing the binding (no really i do love that part!)

 

The matching Rising Sun quilt has a differnt back - I used off centre squares for the quilt blocks here, set randomly in 2 rows. I'm not sure which I prefer but they make a lovely pair of quilts.

how strange

 
i have no idea what they are -but they are sort of pretty....even for bugs...