A Fish Circus

Just added a new pattern to my Craftsy site, suquilt. It's just a top now, but will one day be quilted.

I don't remember why I thought of it, maybe from looking at my husband's scuba pictures, although no real fish would look like mine. I've been into the mustard yellows and teals lately so they got used. (Scraps from a previous project plus some others.) 
I used some sashiko thread to create the freehand flow around the fishes. Embroidery thread could also be used.

Round Robin

Round Robin 126cm X 180cm

 

Strips for this Round Robin Quilt were made by Michiko Sasaki (rows 1 & 3), Akiko Haga (row 5) and Keiko Suzuki (row 4). I made the basket row (2), put it together in a strippy format and hand quilted it.

Round Robins are a great way to remember old friends. I've done four round robins now and only one has been in the traditional 'borders around a square' design. I always say that I'm doing my last one, but I've just started ANOTHER one with a group of quilters I knew when we all lived in Singapore. This one is with 12" crazy quilt blocks.

I'll work on posting the other round robins I've done, maybe inspire your group to do their own.

Close up of the back, showing the hand quilting

Close up of the basket row, sideways!

 

Block tips

Open Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 6 to page 40 and 81 to see the instructions and pattern for the Swirling Plovers block.
  

Now, an alternate piecing method (that's faster, fewer pieces).

 

 For one 12" finished block, cut (18" long strips)

Background:    2 X 1 3/4" for #1 & 10                   
                        4 X 1 3/8" for #9 & 11
                        6 X 1 1/8" for the rest
Dark:  (also 18" long strips)
                       1 X 1 1/4" for #8
                       9 X  7/8" for rest

Sew: (with 1/4" seams):       4 X 1 3/8" + 4 X 7/8" (for # 9 & 11)
                                            5 X 1 1/8" + 5 X 7/8" (for rest)
                                            1 X 1 1/8" + 1 X 1 1/4" (for #8)

Sewn strips

Press: Seams to darker strips (not background)
Use strips to make the log cabin. Place the dark strips where indicated on your foundation paper. Don't skip the step of marking where these darker strips go, you'll get confused while sewing!

Revised Pattern with Eleven Pieces

 

 

 

Sew on Drawn Lines

 

Trim Quarter block to 6 1/2"

  Notes:

The blocks won't each turn out the exact same as you don't need to worry about placing the strips exactly, just as long as they cover the seam lines. Just treat the pieced strip as one piece of fabric. 
Complete the block as instructed in the magazine. For multiple blocks, cut and sew more strips!

Winner!

I've contacted the winner from my blog contest last week. Kris won the copy of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 6. You can see her work on her blog, emeraldwoods.blogspot.com .

The magazine is scheduled to be available in shops today (13th). Ask if you don't find it.

In the next day or so I will post another bit about my block, some tips to make it faster to finish.

Another version in primary colors

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Tour Stop

Business first, if you didn’t come from Quiltmaker’s blog, please visit them at

quiltmaker.com/quiltypleasures. You’ll find a lot of good information/inspiration and links to other quilting bloggers (with even more inspiration).

 

Second, I’m running a little contest for a free copy of the newest, Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol. 6 which will be out in a few days. The publisher will mail a copy to my winner. My contest is super simple, just leave a comment at the end of this blog (whatever you want to say, ‘hey it’s raining’ will do). I’ll put the names of the commenters in a hat and draw one (promise I’ll close my eyes). I’ll ask the winner for her/his address when I notify.

Now on to the real information:

The block I did for Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol. 6 is a log cabin variation. My inspiration came from a Japanese sashiko design that uses the cute little plover birds and swirls. I arranged four log cabin blocks to look swirly and appliqued simple plover shapes. A little easy embroidery finishes the block off. My log cabins were constructed with pre-pieced logs, so it’s not as complicated as it looks.

The Block in the Book

I did a few more blocks in other colors and used other applique designs. Of course the more I did the more I thought of to do. If you make any, please send me a picture!

Halloween Version, 12"

Fall Version, 12"

Christmas Version, 8"

Spring Version, 12"

Close up, Spring Version

That’s it for now. Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the give-away contest!

Laptop Bag

Off to Houston I go....

I finally made a bag for my laptop. I used some scraps (a Waverly print) leftover from a chair recovering project. I had everything I needed for the project at home already (I have too much stuff.) There is a little pocket inside to hold business cards. I used fusible midweight interfacing and fusible Pellon batting inside the layers. Seems stiff enough and padded enough.

Used an old button on top of the velcro

I didn't use a pattern, just figured it out as I went and made it to fit my rather large laptop. Of course there are lots of patterns available to make your own.

Blog Tour Coming up

Please check back with me on November 8th for a special post which will include among other things a contest to give away a copy of the upcoming publication of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. I'll have a block included!