Yes, I know it's November, and like the butcher who backed into the sausage machine, I've got a little behind in my work. The main reason is because, well, in between my day job I've been making quilts like this one.
You may recall, Di B, Sue M and I signed up, back in July, for a 6 month Mini Quilt Club through Fabric Garden. Each month the lovely Sue Miller sends us a different Jaybird Quilts (designed by Julie Herman) mini quilt pattern, and we get together at Quilt Central (also known as Di B's place) for a hilarious time stitching our individual quilts for that month.
I've shared The first of these, Radio Way, in a previous post. It was a quilt I really loved making. In fact we all did. This one, not so much. For me it was just a little 'busy' and I really found it hard to choose my fabrics because I couldn't get my head around where each one would end up.
This was my selection, all pulled from my fabric stash. As usual, I cut my pieces prior to our stitching day to save time, and to keep myself on track I labelled them all with masking tape.
These progress pics show my quilt (left), Sue's (top right) and Di B's (bottom right).
I'm sorry to say I still wasn't completely smitten with my Come What May mini quilt when the top was finished. So I decided to mentally divide it into squares and machine quilt petals inside each on these spaces.
This way I began to see a secondary pattern emerge, rather than just the pieced pattern which still looks way too random.
Don't get me wrong, I love Julie's quilt designs. It's just how my brain works (or doesn't 😜) with this one.
Come what may, I was determined to make this mini quilt work for me and I'm very happy to say it does.
That's what this Mini Quilt Club is all about for me. Sometimes I'm instantly smitten with that month's pattern, and sometimes it takes a little longer for the love to grow.
Either way, it's exciting to be challenged with new techniques, patterns and colour combinations every month, stretchng myself and moving out of my comfort zone. That's what it's all about.
it is a very bright quilt isn't it. Sometimes I like patterns that I get and sometimes I need to change a little something in them. It is nice that you have a good group of friends to quilt with .
ReplyDeleteGood for you to push on and finish this quilt that was hard for you figure in your head. It is a darling quilt.
ReplyDeleteHow big is this mini quilt? Mini in my mind can be anything smaller than 90 X 72 inches.
Well, I love it - so vibrant and cheerful!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty and colourful
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, I've always been attracted to woven designs. I love the quilting too, the squares were perfect for it.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful mini quilt. I really like the way the woven effect of the pattern, it's tricky to see how it's all pieced together. The quilting pattern is inspired!!
ReplyDeleteAlthough those aren't the colors I normally choose to use in my quilts, I really like your quilt! The fabrics are bright and happy! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt looks fabulous and I love the way you made it yours.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun quilt! Looks gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm smitten with this one too, though I completely understand your reluctance to embrace these colors together. They're intense, but you've made it work, and I like it too. Your quilting is stunning! I'm amazed at how quickly you seemed to have picked up FMQing, and wondering why it took you so long to start doing it! You're a natural. Thanks for the giggle... "a little behind in your work." Ha, ha.
ReplyDeleteI really like it although I can see why it was hard to envisage where each fabric would end up!
ReplyDeleteAnd I've finished my marathon reading of your blog from March to now, interrupted by holidaying at the beach with daily visits with the grandsons, plus a week of being 'home and away' (out a part of every day) and gardening with WM in between things. He returns to work tomorrow so life should settle into some sort of normal routine, at least for a few weeks till Christmas arrives!
I can see what your dilemma was while planning it out. It would have been the same for me, but it came out adorably!! I like it better than the one on the cover of the pattern!! And by the way, I love the piece in your header. It brings a smile to my face every time I log on to your site!
ReplyDeleteDi I love the quilting on this one - it really makes the quilt. blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteHi, Di!!!! I feel just awful that your Pay It Forward package has been here for a whole week and I never knew that until last night. I really am so tickled with the pennant mini and the necklace. Are those felted wool balls? Did you make them??? If so, I can't imagine how you get them so round! And I don't know why I'm so excited over TimTams from Australia, but they sure caught my fancy. :D What happened is that the afternoon before I left town early in the morning, my night-shift working 23-yr-old signed for your package as she was heading out for work. She didn't see me for 4 days, and didn't remember to text me after work that she'd put a package for me in the room off the front door that we rarely use. I wish I'd known, because I imagine you've been wondering what was going on! I want you to know that the mini quilt is just the perfect first touch for an empty wall that's been bothering me. I posted about it this morning: http://whatahootquilts.blogspot.com/2014/11/boms-away-monday-ruffled-roses-its.html
ReplyDeleteSure hope everything is going alright for you. This mini here that you've posted about is nice and cheery. That's a quilting motif I've been wanting to try out - yours looks great. :)