I apologise for the lack of cooking and recipe posts recently. I have made some new dishes, a wonderful beef casserole a few days ago but the photos – not so good…
Anyway, some of you know that I am a crafty Chica (of the creative rather than sly kind) when I’m not cooking or renovating. My latest project is a patchwork quilt, which almost follows a pattern and is being made by hand. Time for a big thank you to a new blogging pal, Kate over at talltalesfromchiconia, who has an amazing blog full of beautiful projects and a lot of quilts! She has been giving me, a humble novice quilter, some really great tips – thanks Kate!
So, just to give some “technical” details for anyone interested, the pattern is based on one called Garden Walk from the book Jelly Roll Dreams compiled by Pam and Nicky Lintott. I used a Moda Jelly Roll (I think the colour was called Holly Wishes which turned out to be quite Christmassy!) plus extra fabric.
The blocks are now completed but I want to make the quilt wider to properly cover our King Size bed, so will be adding a contrast of sashes vertically between the rows of four blocks.
The next step is to assemble the quilt block and then make the quilt “sandwich” and start hand quilting…
Chica Andaluza 
You’re very welcome! Let me know if there’s anything I can do by way of tutorials or even just advice… Love your Moda fabrics – there’s so much you can do with a jelly roll, and it saves hours and hours of cutting.
It was a treat to myself as they’re quite expensive but bizarrely using them gave me the confidence to realise that I can use the rotary cutter, board and ruler quite well and am now starting to build up a stash of fabrics in England (while thinking wistfully of the enormous stash I have in Spain which will have to travel with us next time)! Thank you for the help and inspiration 🙂
It’s no trouble. I’ve been sewing all my life, and some things I just don’t even need to think about. So actually, it’s big fun breaking a job down into stages that are easy to follow.
Beautiful! I have never quilted – is that the right term? I do however knit and crochet, well not for the longest while either!
Your quilt is gorgeous and I hope you share a picture when it is finished.
Have a wonderful day.
🙂 Mandy xo
Quilted is indeed the right term! I am looking forward to the moment it’s finished and I’ll be excited to show you the photo J
Such a good looking quilt…our new cat would have that in shreds in no time:)
I think if one of my dogs could get her paws into it she’d rip it to bits with her teeth!
Methinks this is going to be a beautiful quilt and I hope we’ll see it finished – have been on Kate’s site before and I believe you are very lucky if she will mentor you! [No cats in the house, are there 😉 ? ] I have knitted professionally at one stage in my life for over five years but have no expertise in this art at all . . .
I’m looking forward to seeing the final quilt when it’s done. Kate has been brilliant, offering some fantastic advice. Knitting professionally? I’m intrigued!
[big smile] Well, if one is silly enough not to take an erstwhile longterm husband to the ‘cleaners’ upon divorce, one may get the short straw as far as finances go! To help: older daughter’s MIL who had over 200 ‘home knitters’ for her fabulous Australiana collection for tourists!! So one knitted endless koalas and kangaroos and emus and gum leaves . . . would you believe at 50 dollars a garment – each taking 10-12 days !!!!! Sometimes there are no options even with quite a few uni degrees in hand 🙂 !! Actually look back and know I enjoyed the time!!!!
What an experience – same happened to me but I taught cookery classes for a pittance L I look back now and smile though!
It’s looking fabulous Tanya! I’m so impressed that you’re going to hand quilt it too, once it’s all pieced together!
Well…I haven’t started the and quilting yet…I may decide it was a crazy idea!
Excellent – that looks fantastic 🙂
Thanks Mad!
What a beautiful quilt! You are one amazing chica!
Blush, blush!
You are very crafty Tonya 🙂 I love this and so envy your talent and patience!!
I only have patience for things I love!
Wow you’re a genius. That’s so cool. Thanks for showing us your craft.
Thanks Amanda – you’re very kind!
Wonderful! Except for a small wall hanging when I was very young and had a lot of time on my hands, I’ve never quilted. But I love the ones I own that others made.
It’s lovely to think of all the love and work that went into every stitch!
Don’t apologize and well done on tacking such a project 🙂
Ah, thanks Tandy!
OOOOO! Scrumptious you clever little Chica! I am in awe and bowing to your creative genius :). What a lubbly jubbly quilt 🙂
The Devil Makes Work for Idle Hands as my granny used to say….and I’d much rather work for myself than that old devil!
Wow! You have made so much progress – it’s looking great. 🙂
Thank you – I made a huge crochet one last year for a pal, it was time to try something different!
SO creative! This is something I could never do but have such great admiration for those who can sew so well…especially quilting and embroidery. What a gorgeous quilt this is shaping up to be. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Thank you for your kind words Betsy – have been enjoying working on it today and the quilt top is ever so nearly finished – onto the quilting next!
It looks very effective, Tanya. Some of the fabrics are really pretty. 🙂
It was something called a Jelly Roll – which is 40 strips of pre-cut fabric which are supposed to work well with each other. I like some more than others but it’s given me the confidence to know I can go it alone next time J
You have certainly been a busy lady…your quilt will be lovely when finished. Now what in the world do you do in your spare time? 😀
Thank you Karen! In my spare time I think up new projects to keep me busy 😉
Your too funny. 😀
Tanya, it’s stunning! I’ve never been able to patchwork – all those little pieces of fabric going together in a set pattern – I can’t fold a road map back up, let alone do something like that! 🙂
Celia – come to think of it, I’m a bit rubbish with road maps too so maybe I’m just a bit of an oddball 😉
I’ll wait…. thanks
Not only is that absolutely stunning, but I’m in awe of how speedily you’ve sewn that together. I’m hanging my head in shame that I’m still only halfway through my hexie quilt.
I’ve completely finished the quilt top but I added sashes and wider borders than the pattern called for (I wanted it to drape over the sides of our king sized bed) but I did those bits with the machine as it wasn’t such a challenge! Today I bought the batting, backing and a quilting hoop and got chatting to some lovely ladies in the shop who gave me lots of handy hints. How did you transfer your quilting pattern onto your quilt top? I remember it being very beautiful!
I traced it on with pencil and tracing paper if it was a complex shape. Or used a paper template to draw round for simpler ones. Do email me if you need more help. Im no expert but happy to share what bit i to know. X
Ooh thank you – I am starting with straight lines but my stitches look sooooo big which is stressing me out but I can’t seem to make them any smaller L And my finger already hurts!
I thought that about my stitches but honestly they will look fine when its done. A thimble is your very best friend. And taking your time. 😉 slow is the only way. X
Wise words – I am having moments of wanting to give up …but “no”…I’ve got this far!
nooooooo!!!! Don’t give up. It will be so worth it!
I got going last night and almost finished one block…hurrah!
😀
Very creative activities, I want to try it too. looks cool, although a little difficult but it should be attempted. I want to see the end result
Hope you give it a go one day!
wow,……
so unique
good job
your craft is very beautifull.. i think it really nice..