Quilt Project

I was really missing sewing the other week and wanted to start a project, but I really don't need any new clothes and I didn't feel like making something that would just hang in the wardrobe, however, fun it was to make it.

However, what I do need is a new quilt for my bed so I am making a sampler quilt.   In theory, this means every square is different, which they will be, and uses a different technique, which probably won't be the case.  I am most likely going to use foundation piecing for several blocks as I like it, and its relatively easy to get the block accurate.  But there will be some challenges and new techniques otherwise it wouldn't be as much fun.   

I am going to try the "quilt as you go" method for the first time and am very excited about this. It will be nice to quilt things when they are small and not have to fight a huge quilt under the machine (or spend three years quilting it by hand).  There will be a mix of hand and machine quilting and possibly even some quilted motifs done on my embroidery machine too.

I do have a plan, I know how many blocks I need to make (25)....  There is a list of possible blocks I might do... but its open to alteration. 

The quilt will be pink, black and white. to go with the bedroom colour scheme, but will feature a lot of darker colours and prints in the hope that this will prove more "muddy paw proof" than my previous quilts (one of which was once mainly white).   

So, I have the second block ready to show off.  the first one isn't finished yet as its hand pieced.

This is the Pineapple block taken from Lynne Edwards' New Sampler Quilt Book.  There will be a few blocks from this book.   Its foundation pieced, which means there is a tear away foundation onto which the design is drawn, and each section is numbered.  Each fabric is sewn on in numerical sequence, trimmed and pressed, before the next one is sewn to it.  Very easy to get it accurate, but it can be a little wasteful of fabric on some designs.  This one was quite economical.  I used some black print jelly roll strips (left from the relatively recent red/black and white sofa blanket) and cut the pink into similar strips, leaving only the centre square and the outer triangles to be cut from the third (back ground) fabric.  Really rather pleased with how dramatic this one is.  It fits the vibe I had planned and seems a good start to the project.