Class kaleidoscope quilts - update

While away at a quilting retreat this weekend I was lucky enough to view two kaleidoscope quilt tops just completed by Cheryl.
Aren't they stunning?

 

This fabric is called Tuki Tuki from the NZ Nutex Kiwiana range.  In fact I have had a dress made out of it.

  To view the original fabric - check out my post 20th August 2012 - Kaleidoscope class - Cherry Pie.

 

So much spin......

Japanese Meshwork cushion

I am making a series of cushions for our lounge and will be experimenting with Japanese Meshwork techniques.  In the latest Japanese Meshwork book there is an example of using the "stack and whack" idea with meshwork. Yes this can be scary stuff given the time and cost it takes just to weave one meshwork block.

Im pleased with the final outcome.  Now to plan cushion number two.
Happy meshing.

Joining pieces of batting

After a while we collect remnants of batting from all our quilts.  I join larger pieces together and use them in other quilts.  But what about the smaller pieces?  For years I joined pieces of batting using  herringbone stitch by hand which is slow and tedious.  If I tried using my zigzag stitch on my machine I would often create waves from stretching the batting.  Recently I purchased a quilters ditch foot for my Janome (S foot).  This foot has a center guide where you can butt both pieces of fabric against it thus making this task very simple with the result of a flat join.  RULE - make sure your edges of each piece of batting you are stitching together are cut straight.

I increase my zigzag width to 6.5mm and stitch length to 2.  Do a test piece to make sure your stitches are not to far apart (causing batting to stretch) or to close (causing batting to pucker).

I don't recommend using lots of little pieces of batting for large bed quilts - however great for those smaller projects (i.e. wall hangings).

Batting butted each side of the foot guide.

 

 



Small pieces of batting zigzagged together using the ditch foot.  There is no loft in the joins - they lay flat.

Notice the right side of this piece of joined batting.  It wavers as it was not cut straight before the join.  It wont lay flat and may cause issues when you commence quilting.

Do make sure you are joining similar weight and loft pieces of batting .

 happy quilting

Baby Quilt

I love this Michael Miller fabric and so does my daughter who asked me to make a baby quilt for her girlfriend who is having a boy in July.  So check this out.

Sometimes is fun to do a small project after larger ones. Next I will make a couple of couple of simple neonatal quilts - our local club will be donating a pile of 17" x 21" quilts to the neonatal unit at our local Hospital.
What about these robots?  Robotek by mint blossom for Northcott. Might have to include these.

Happy quilting

Stash Buster

Is your fabric stash to full?   Here's an idea:

My husband's younger sister will be turning 49 this month and her husband 50 so they are holding a combined "99" year birthday party.  This quilt is our gift to them.  99 blocks for each year totally made from my stash including the backing.   This is an example of using batiks and other quilting fabrics successfully together.  My rule was to ensure that the 5" (cut) center of each block was darker that its surrounding 2" (cut) border.

Happy quilting

Current projects

This is mask sample two - I'm still experimenting using lace to make masks.  In this sample and the one in my previous post, I have used Powertex to harden my mask into shape.  This mask is made of  pink silk (shown) and unfortunately I'm not happy with the mask's final out come.  Powertex - although is transparent did change the silk's colour and appearance.  I have another plan so watch this space.

 

My dinning room which has been recently renovated and we built a window seat.  This room is a "quilt free zone".  So instead of having a quilt available to cuddle under while sitting here, I have knitted a blanket with a patchwork appearance.  Each block is knitted and I have crotchet them together.  Yarn used is Patons Jet - 10 ply.   Just a bit of fun.  Now to search for my next knitting project.

 

Happy creating

Kaleidoscope quilts

Yesterday I attended Capital Quilters monthly club meeting - one of the local quilting clubs I belong to.  Two kaleidoscope quilts were shown that I would like to share with you.

 

My photo doesn't do this quilt justice because of the window behind.  This quilt has been made by Robyn, who attended my class earlier this year.  The original fabric is made up of Christmas ball decorations so keeping in the Christmas theme she has made something really different.



 

Another member of the Kwilting Katz has had an "0" birthday this month.  There are twelve of us in this group and we chose a fabric from Jason Yenter's Camelot range.  If you are intending to make a Kaleidoscope quilt - do look at his fabric range as they really create the "wow" factor.

 

 I have given my kaleidoscope quilts away so I made this quilt top (lap size) a little while ago as a class sample and have just completed it.  It had a "Dr Suess" feel about it (treeish) - so I have included one of Lorax's quotes. 
" Its not about what it is, its about what it can become"


 So what am I making at the moment.  I have currently three quilts at various stages of construction.  My final (so I have told my friends) kaleidoscope quilt using hexigons, my jelly roll quilt which I haven't touched for a long time and a kaleidoscope quilt made from border fabric, cut into squares & then quartered.  Finding time is my big issue as there are Christmas presents to be made as well as shop samples.  New Zealand quilting symposium is in July next year so I need to get my skates on if I intend to submit anything.

Next year I will be holding technique classes for those new to quilting so I need to design and make these samples as well.

Time is so precious.  Happy quilting :)