Rozel quilt

Here are some more details about my project in Make Modern issue 65.  If you're not already a subscriber, you can subscribe here (affiliate link) 

The project uses one layer cake almost completely with just backing, wadding an binding to add.

My 97 year old father accompanied us for a trip to a local beach to take the photographs. He didn't really understand why we were taking photos, but he helped move stones to anchor the quilt as it was very windy and had a hat with a friend of mine who had just finished her morning swim. He enjoyed the trip out but unfortunately passed before I was able to show him the article and project.

Make Modern issue 65

 

Today Make Modern Issue 65 is published, and I have this joyous Ruby Star Society strawberry quilt included as a project. More information about my quilt on Monday. If you're not already a subscriber you can subscribe here (affiliate link)

We'll start at the beginning, given that seems the most logical way to progress. How about this beautiful cover quilt? Shifting Symmetry, designed by Vasudha Govindan features a simple colour scheme and a single block. HSTs and HRTs are all that’s required to make this stunning quilt – proof that sometimes a finished design is much greater than the sum of its parts.​ ​ ​

That's just our cover quilt! Here's a little collage we put together to show you all of the beautiful projects we have just waiting for you in the pages of Issue 65! Quilts Galore!

This issue we meet Makers, Sue Bone and Jennifer Marks, make beautiful and bold quilts, and motivate you to draw inspiration from art into your next quilting project.

Plus ... just by reading this issue, you have a chance to win a fantastic prize! Check out the competition on page 12 and enter for your chance to win for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Indelible by Anna Maria Textiles + a $100 Fat Quarter Shop gift card! The competition is open to readers worldwide and the lucky winner will be announced in Make Modern Issue 66. 

Ruby Star anniversary quilt

My version of the Ruby Star Society anniversary quilt is complete with 100 blocks and a secret X in the middle to represent ten years. I had intended to stitch ten blocks a month to complete it by the end of 2025 but a got carried away.

I ordered a Ruby Star sateen wide backing from Sew Hot in a recent sale. It is such a smooth feel. I used a fast feather pantograph to quilt an allover pattern and bound it in a Ruby Star blue speckled fabric.

Friday Finish - Moda blockheads 6

Last Wednesday block 6 of Moda Blockheads 6 was released but the block isn't speaking to me, so I caught up with block 5 this weekend. This block is from Chelsi Stratton, and I chose my scrap bag of reds to use for this block. 

The red and white fabric lifts the whole block. I now have eight blocks complete and I'm ready for block 7.

 

Monday Make - second Aspen dress

 

Last week pretty much nothing was achieved due to two days in London for appointment and the passing of my father on the Saturday before Father's Day. Despite being 97, it was a shock to all and it is very quiet without him ringing many times a day.

Thank goodness for a prepped project compete with matching zip, instructions and thread. This is just the dress that I need now that the weather has got much warmer, I love this dress, but it is better suited for a fabric that is virtually double sided such as a linen, as there is no facing inside the bodice so the reverse of the fabric can be seen.

I even had a matching label picked out which i put in the skirt seam just above the pocket.

I have a pair of shorts already cut out, ready to be pieced together, but first I need to finish my Ruby Star anniversary quilt.

Friday Finish - embroidered jacket

 

I had a vague plan for this collection of embroidery patterns which was either to make a tote using the individual smaller designs or embroider this design on a jacket. I was shocked when I loaded this design onto my embroidery machine - 78,000 stitches, 27 colour changes and 207 minutes of stitching! As a beginner machine embroiderer my machine is set to its slowest speed though.

I hooped up some sticky washaway stabiliser and cut away the topping. I marked the cross hairs on the jacket which I hoped would iron out! No bulldog clips to hold the sleeves and front of the jacket so I improvised with two Sew Quirky slap bands.

It took almost half of the time to get to a stage where progress could be seen, and once the teal detail on the flowers had been added, it really came to life. There were lots of jump stitches to remove, iron on stabiliser trimmed away and the washaway stabiliser washed away. I decided to do a quick 30 minute wash to remove any of the remaining washaway. I even remembered to add a label to the back yoke.

I also lined the middle panel of the jacket to cover the stitching and found a white Kona that I had screen printed with a feather design. I am very pleased with how this came out and it's a perfect summer jacket.

WIP Wednesday - A Quilty Little Christmas

 

Another of my larger Guild UFO challenge pieces that I started working on whilst waiting for a jacket to embroider for this month's UFO. There are four smaller mini quilts which I plan to combine with blocks from other projects to make another ladder quilt. 

I started with the 4" gingerbread blocks as there was very little preparation. Just two background fabrics, pink fabric for the door on one house and the felt from the embellishment kit.

I then completed the blocks for a Quity Little Christmas apart from two fill in blocks. I will need to add quite a few other blocks to make a ladder quilt so I will make extra blocks from other projects and fill in blocks one a layout is chosen.

I have just two more bocks to embroider for the third mini quilt. I have made good progress and will now focus on my Guild UFO challenge piece for June before returning to this project.