Catching up on my latest quilt projects

So, as update on a the earlier post about my latest beachy quilt, I now can show you the final pictures. The quilt finally got done - I finished the edges with a wide light blue bias strip around the edges and rounded corners and used a binding sewing foot to keep all the layers of fabric and laying flat while stitching.

Perhaps it's not the right colors for the cold winter months we are experiencing in Johannesburg right now, but I absolutely love the blue and beige colors as it reminds me of the beautiful blue sky on a typical winter's day and of the different blue colors of the ocean. The colors and the style is so soothing.. I think I'm totally sold on the hexagon shape and could definitely make another hexagon quilt in the future. Mmmm, maybe it's time to check my scrappy stash again..... 

So now the next scrappy quilt project I'm planning is for my daughter in various left-over blue and pink fabrics. I just love the idea of little Russian dolls (in various sizes) in the centre of each block and I am about half way with the final number of blocks, so here is a little pic to give you an idea of the overall look. 

And in order to create the pattern with the pink and blue fabric strips, the colors are strategically placed. The right and bottom strips are shades of blue and the left and top fabrics strips are in different shades of pink. 

After these are done, I will add another layer of pink and blue strips around to get to the final block size. 

Below is an example of 4 log cabin blocks, that placed together, make this visual pattern. 

Beachy Hexagon Quilt

On my to do list of sewing projects, I always have a quilt in varying stages of completion waiting to be worked on. My latest project is such a quilt.

I have a huge scrappy stash in big bags and when it looks like its about to burst, I take a little peek inside to see if I have enough off cuts of fabric to start a quilt. Well the bag with blue fabric off cuts were nearing such a stage and so the scratch and dig began.

This quilt is based on the Sexy Hexy Love Quilt design from Amy Butler design and the pattern is downloadable from this weblink. Thank you Amy Butler!



http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/free_patterns.php

The hexagon pattern instantly caught my eye. I was intrigued with the shapes and pieces to make up the large circle like hexagons and thought it will look very striking once it's spread out over a bed.


The quilts I've done in the past were made up of blocks, strips and triangles and are pretty straightforward in the sense that you just cut out a bazillion blocks and/or strips and figure out the correct placement of the rows before the arduous task of stitching it all together.


By doing this design I hoped on cutting down on sewing-time as the pieces are much bigger and still has a final striking image that catches the eye.


The colour palette is beachy, with all the shades of blue (from the above mentioned scrap fabric stash) and to balance, I added neutrals of grey and beige.

I was inspired by memories of going to the beach and thinking of the different shades of blue in the water and sky and colour of the sand and sea shells.


          


OK, so here we are. At this point I had chosen the fabrics, cut them out from the pattern pieces and had stitched the hexagon halves together.

Placement of halves

Now to do the placement and make sure all the dark colours don't end up all bunched together in one side of the quilt and that the patterns are evenly spaced out.

There are solids, polka dot's, tiny flowers and even stripe prints in this mish-mash and it's exactly how I wanted it to be. The many shades of blues will tie all the blocks nicely together for the overall look.

Final placement and numbering of rows

I will load up final images of the completed quilt top sheet so that you can see the overall look as its ready for the final stage of assembly. 

Lay it out over a layer of batting (middle) and a layer of soft cotton fabric as the underside of the quilt.