Layout for new RSC quilt

 I’ve had a busy week sewing, finishing one quilt, machine quilting another and then gathered together the RSC String blocks I have been making over the past couple of years.

I had a good number of String blocks in various colours but the majority were blue, green, pink and yellow so I decided to make a quilt from those four colours.

Here it is set out on my “design “ floor.

I make them using telephone directory pages as foundations so my next task is to remove all the papers from the blocks. An easy job to do whilst I watch TV.

Another evening I sewed on the binding to my Penguin Parade quilt. I am happy with the result.

It finished at 36” x 40”. Some close ups:

I basted and machine quilted this quilt - Field Day from the book Seamingly Scraps.

I sewed in all the ends from the quilted lines of machine stitching using a Self-threading needle. I recently heard these mentioned on a Youtube video. What an amazing invention! So easy to use- I wish I had heard of them years ago!

And now I can trim and bind it.

Joining up with Angela’s SoScrappy blog.

Another finished flimsy

 I did a lot of sewing this week but also a lot of unpicking due to not reading the pattern carefully.

A couple of years ago I saw  a lovely quilt on Sylvia’s Treadlestitches blog. It was from a book called Seamingly Scraps. I thought the pattern would be a great way to use some of my larger pieces of novelty fabrics and managed to get a cheap second hand copy online. I used a piece of little dinosaur fabric which has a lovely blue background and is a great focus print. On one level the pattern is very clear, how the multi coloured 2.5” scraps fit together to make the diagonal “pathway” which weaves through the quilt top. I had a super time chain piecing them but when I came to lay out the blocks I found that the little four patches didn’t work because the majority of my squares were cut from directional fabrics.I couldn’t abide all those elephants, cats etc going sideways or standing on their heads so practically took all the finished blocks to pieces and started again, matching each block to the pattern! What a waste of time and energy!

 Anyway, it’s now a top and this afternoon I basted it so next week I can machine quilt it. Not sure how I will do that yet.

Not good lighting because it was getting dark.

A close up showing the dinosaur fabric and the “pathways”.

I also machine quilted the Penguin Parade quilt and have started to echo quilt the stars on it.

Late this afternoon I decided to investigate my RSC String quilt blocks and see what I could make from them. I’ve laid them out and almost managed to make a quilt which should measure 40” square. Just need to make 4 more pink String Blocks. Another job next week when I hope to get this RSC project on the way to being finished. 

In the end, a productive week.

Joining in with Angela’s SoScrappy RSC blog.

Penguin Parade and a fnish

 I’ve been working on my Penguin Parade top this week and this is as far as I have got:

It measures 31.5” wide and 36” long. I’m going to add a narrow yellow border to each side and then another turquoise polka dot strip all around. That will finish at a reasonable size for a Project Linus quilt.

I now only have small leftovers of batting in my stash so I will have to buy some new batting this week so I can baste it.

I also finished the star Maternity Unit quilt:

And used a piece of fabric I have had in my stash for several years:

My sister Pat bought me a couple of metres of this many years ago when we went to the huge Festival of Quilts together in Birmingham. Happy memories for me, Pat loved picking this out for me and I have enjoyed remembering the happy times we had together studying the quilts.

Linking up with Angela’s SoScrappy blog. I think my Penguin Parade top qualifies as the Wonky Stars are part of my RSC blocks stash.