Churn Dash Border {Midnight at the Oasis}

So sorry about the delayed post again, I've been distracted by other projects over the last few weeks and haven't worked on my MATO quilt for ages.

I did make one tonight, so I could share how I'm approaching these (insanely) teeny tiny blocks. I'm pressing all my seams open in these - I find my piecing is far more accurate if I press open, and since these are so small I think every little bit of accuracy will count over the whole border.

For the HSTs, I'm starting with 2" squares, marking the diagonal and sewing 1/4" away from both sides. Once pressed (open) I'm trimming down to 1.5".

For the little rectangles on the sides, top and bottom, I'm strip piecing and then cutting my rectangles to size.

I'm hoping to make lots of these over the next couple of weeks and try to catch up a bit - I haven't really done much more applique than I had in my last QAL post, I really think that will become a summer project :o)

I hope you're all having fun making this quilt. I am absolutely loving seeing how different each version is!

xx Jess

Down Under Doll Quilt Swap

I have been uncharacteristically quiet on the blog lately - mostly because I've been working on a 80" square quilt for a magazine, so haven't been able to share my progress (although I have been sharing a fair few peeks over on Instagram). It's completely finished as of last night though, so I'll be back here waffling about my quilty projects again until the next one ;o)

A couple of months ago, I signed up for the Down Under Doll Quilt Swap - a mini quilt swap for those of us based in Australia and New Zealand. I have been working on this in little spurts over the last month or so, but the last day to send is the first of December, so I pulled my finger out and finished it up today.

This is an idea I've wanted to try for a while, so it was a lot of fun to put together. I was a bit concerned about how well my points would match up as I didn't starch my fabric before cutting all the triangles, but I'm pleasantly surprised. A couple are a wee bit off, but mostly it came out really well.

After working for so long on a large quilt, it has been a really nice change to work on something small (my arms are especially grateful!) This little quilt is about 18" square.

I kept the quilting fairly simple, since there are so many seams in the quilt top (each of those strips in the triangles are 1" finished). Even so, I really like the texture the minimal FMQ has added. It has helped highlight the subtle pattern created by the light grey partial hexagons - although I did mess up some of the piecing at the bottom. Hopefully it's not too noticable!

I'll be posting this one tomorrow, so hopefully my partner likes it. I have actually started another version of this on a larger scale and will be taking photos and write up a tutorial for how I put it together, so stay tuned for that in the next few weeks :o)

xx Jess

Adventures in hand piecing

Each month since May, I've been getting a squishy parcel of fabric for the Bring Me Flowers BOM (run by Amitie Textiles), but until fairly recently they've been sitting untouched. When I joined up for the BOM (which is designed with hand piecing in mind) I decided I'd really like to hand piece this quilt. Only problem was I was really dubious about my ability to actually piece anything by hand.

Long story short, I decided to just give it a go and hope for the best. I never really understood the attraction, or how people like Alison could be bothered spending so much time hand piecing something when machine piecing is so much faster. But at the same time, it was something I really wanted to try (because, you know, I'm a huge fan of learning new skills when it comes to quilting). I am SO glad I tried it, because I am absolutely addicted. I love the slow pace, the portability and the satisfaction I get from making something with my hands as opposed to my machine. I still really love machine piecing too, but I can see how hand piecing will become a handy skill especially with y-seams and the like.

I've finished the first month blocks, and am working on month two.

I think the other thing I love about these blocks is Jen Kingwell's amazing fabric choices. It is really fun to be using fabrics chosen by someone else, and seeing how they work together. I'm learning a lot through this process as well :o)

xx Jess

Rainbow and low volume bundle

About a month ago, I put together an order for a bundle of fabric from one of my sponsors, Sew Me A Song. I was deliberately restocking some of my favorite low volume fabrics before my diet begins next year, and added in some more colourful prints, a lot of which I have used up in recent projects. Becca's shop really is my one-stop-shop when it comes to low volume - she stocks the most amazing range of texty and quirky low volume prints I've come across.

So this bundle of gorgeous landed on my doorstep on Friday (via Canada - quite the adventurous parcel!). And (squeee!!) Becca has cut a couple of extra bundles and listed them in her shop.  

So if you need a whole lot of texty goodness (plus a stack of other really useful prints) head over and take a look ;o)

xx Jess

Flower Applique Border (Midnight at the Oasis QAL)

 Apologies that this post is a bit late - I've been really sick the last few days. This week I'll be talking about the second border - the flower applique border. I am way behind in this QAL at the moment - needle turn applique is a really slow process, but I am completely addicted. I'm enjoying the applique part of this quilt way more than I thought I would. This is my progress so far.

There are a few elements involved in the second border (technically the fourth I guess, but I haven't been counting the skinny borders). 

1. Bias Tape

The pattern recommends using a 3/8" bias tape maker, but since I don't have one I thought I'd share how I'm making my bias tape. First of all, make a 45 degree cut across your fabric. I've found a 5" wide strip makes the right length strips (or slightly long strips) to applique on to the background. I've used a couple of charm squares for some of my strips, and will use the left over triangles to make some of the leaf shapes to applique. 

Then cut 3/4" strips of fabric.

The next step involves folding both sides into the centre of the strip to make single fold bias tape. To make this easier, you can run a Hera marker along the wrong side of the fabric to make a crease. I have found by placing my ruler at about 3/8" from the edge, the creases are in the right position.

Once you have creased the fabric, press both sides into the centre of the strip. If you don't have a Hera marker, you can fold the strip in half and press, and then fold each edge in to meet the centre crease. Either way, you will end up with strips like this:

Next you'll want to pin your bias tape onto the background for your flower applique border. I have slightly overlapped the ends of the bias strips, but you could just butt them up against each other.

To sew these down, I worked along one entire edge, using the same stitch technique as in needle turn applique, and then worked my way back up the other edge. The it's just a matter of choosing fabrics to make the flowers, covering the joins in the bias strips in the process of stitching them on.

I haven't made my baskets yet - but looking at the pattern instructions I don't have much to add. The only change I'm making there is to make my half-square triangles using my normal method (with two squares right sides together, marking the diagonal and stitching 1/4" away from the diagonal on both sides). The HSTs in the baskets will be 1" finished.

We would love it if you would like to link up your progress so far!

Giant Chevron Pattern Release

I'm so excited to be able to tell you my Giant Chevron pattern is now available to purchase in my Craftsy shop and my Etsy shop! This quilt was published back in July in Quilters Companion as a lap sized quilt, but thanks to my wonderful group of testers I ended up writing in two size variations in addition to the original size. Each of these wonderful ladies is offering two copies of the pattern as a giveaway, so be sure to click through to their blogs for your chance to win a copy :o)

This pattern is incredibly beginner friendly, as it's made using half-square triangles and squares. It's also pre-cut friendly - the baby size can be made using charm squares, and the lap and twin sizes can be made using a layer cake. I'd love to show you the versions my testers made, as it shows just how easy it is to make this pattern your own.

Kirsten (of Gemini Stitches) has actually made two versions of this quilt already - and has plans to make another for her son using Parson Gray fabric. This is the baby version, made using a charm pack of Farm Fresh. This is such an adorable baby quilt.

And Kirsten's second version. Aqua and orange goodness!

Lucy made an absolutely gorgeous rainbow version with low volume background (be still my beating heart!!) for a friend of hers.

Nat truly made this her own, and pieced some of the chevron stripes, using a very vintage palette. Pop over to her blog to check out lots more photos.

Jen made hers using solids, and has done a phenomenal quilting job. This one makes me want to make a second version and go to town on the quilting!!

And finally, Di made this beautiful version. I adore her colour choices.

Each of my awesome testers will be writing up a blog post with lots more photos I'm sure, so it would definitely be worth clicking through and checking them out :o) Thanks again to all of you, it is such an amazing thing to see my design brought to life by each of you - I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of testers xx 

xx Jess

The great bee catch up

Over the last month I've been making a lot of bee blocks - I was so behind I had to make blocks from May for one of my bees (feel free to slap my hand here.) As of today though, I am completely caught up!

This is my September block for Stash Bee (using the Weathervane tutorial at Don't Call Me Betsy).

And September for Jules in Ausmod. Jules asked for two 16" blocks, made up of 16", 8" and 4" square in square blocks.

October's Stash Bee block is this pink and brown pinwheel.

And Jenn (aka Penny Poppleton) sent us some Constellations to make these beauties. I drafted paper foundations and paper pieced these (too many scary bias edges).

So I just have my November blocks to go. Stash Bee finishes up at the end of November, and we have a break until January in Ausmod so I will actually have December free!

If you are interested in joining Stash Bee next year, Danny is running signups at the moment. She has written some awesome posts covering everything you might want to know - head over to the Stash Bee blog to find out more :o)

xx Jess