I didn’t know I liked making quilts, but, it seems like I’ve been hit by the bug!
Before this year, I had made a lot of quilt piles. Little sets of fabric that must-never-be-separated because I wanted them to be made into something. I collected these for years until a few months ago I had had enough. Enough piles, enough scraps… I could never see myself finishing all of my piles and that was discouraging.
Around Christmas, I decided to make a scrap quilt and posted a few photos on Instagram as I worked – followed a few weeks ago by the sewn quilt top. I love it, despite a few things (I’ll not mention) that are driving me crazy! Now all I need to do is sew the quilt back and (I think) do some very simple in the ditch or straight line quilting. It’s a queen size, and despite my machine having a large throat space, I’m still nervous to try any free motion quilting on something this large.
That quilt got me started… the bug took on a life of its own and, in January, I decided to join 3 quilt samplers. It helped that my sponsor Sew Sisters asked me to design a block for their Canadian Sampler – Block of the Month. As part of the deal, I get to take part in the sampler and receive all of the block patterns. I had no idea it would be so addicting! (By the way, this round of registrations for the Canadian Sampler closes in just a few days at the end of February!)
I finally figured out why… Turns out I love the “mystery” behind following lots of little instructions to get the final block, but not making tons of the same block over and over again – the only kind of quilting I knew before now.
(Oh, and I also love 12″ blocks, because they are BIG and you don’t need a lot of them to make something!)
Here are the details for each sampler:
- Sew Sisters Quilt Shop (Canadian!) – The Canadian Sampler – 2 blocks sent monthly (paid subscription, paper pattern)
- I’ll be making all 20 blocks, and am excited to show you my block when it’s released.
- Sew Fresh Quilts (Canadian!) – Have a Jolly Little Christmas– bi-weekly block on Saturdays
- I am making most of these, but not all of them, in a blue and gray palette. Hopefully something different and fun for a Christmas Quilt!
- Maureen Cracknell and Sharon Holland – Sewcial Bee Sampler – weekly block on Wednesdays
- I will make all of these, but I’m not adding the framing pieces until I find the perfect fabric for it. Something pink and yellow I think!
I’m hoping to post monthly photos and explanations where necessary all year. So you can keep me accountable, and feel free to bug me if I forget *please do!* You can follow me along in “real-time” on Instagram too if you’d like.
Maybe some of you want to join me? I’ve linked all of the Samplers and blocks so you can find the tutorials. If you’re sewing along let me know, I’d love to see what your versions look like.
2017 Samplers – Update No. 1
Fabric Pull
January: Pacific Stars by Daphne Greig, Patchworks Studio
January: Keep’n Warm by Sandy Whitelaw, Upstairs Hobby Room
Fabric Pull
Block 1: Christmas Stockings
Block 2: Winter Mittens
Block 3: Christmas Bow
Fabric Pull (Mostly a Fat Quarter bundle I made for my sponsor, Fabric Spark.)
Block 1: Patience Corners
Block 2: A Dandy
Hi: I was reading my Facebook posts tonight, and happened upon your photograph of fabric piled high, it gave me a little chuckle. I too have a pile on my cutting table, in fact I have two piles, one 16″ high and one 7″ high. However mine are not for a quilt but for totes. I make totes for a charity called Hope Totes. The totes are filled with personal care items for women in need, usually living in shelters. In most cases these women arrive at the shelters with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing. I began sewing totes in late November of 2015 and to date I have made 1822. My goal is 3000 which I hope to finish this year. In 2016, almost 500 totes were given out to women across Canada from Halifax to B.C., including 87 to a local shelter here in Stratford were I live.
Good luck with your samplers, please post a picture of them when they are done. It was lovely to know I am not the only quilter with fabrics piled high on my cutting table
Oh wow, Donna that is amazing! I cannot believe you’ve made 1822! You are super inspiring. I checked out their website, but I’m not sure how I could donate some sewn totes – do you have information on that? I’d love to know what is involved, since I’m in the Toronto area as well 🙂 Thanks!
Love your scrappy quilt. I’m doing the Jolly little Christmas quilt and the Sewcial Bee Sampler too. (Plus two more, ouch!) I do like the BOM aspect though. Seems like I can be successful if I’m looking at only one block. I also like samplers…………if there is a block you aren’t particularly fond of, you only have to make one. LOL.
Ha! LOL – you’re right Sam! I’d love to see what you are making – are you on social so I can sneak a peek?
Git er done!!!! You’ll do great, it’ll be tricky wrestling with it for sure.
I’ll send you the link to the ‘table extension’ I made.
I used a piece of foam board, and then just books stacked up to hold it. Ohhh and some tape. Worked pretty good, better then nothing!!!!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJKyFemD97f/?taken-by=thatssewvenice&hl=en
This looks great! It would work well for sure. Thanks for the link! 🙂
Nicely done on the quilting. I’ll give you a hint on the quilting of the beautiful scrappy quilt you’ve made. After you’ve pinned it, I say pin not spray basting since pinning works better on a quilt that size…. start sewing it from the centre outwards to the edge. Then back to the centre and out towards the other edge, and so on. It makes it easier to reduce any extra waves.
Thank you Darlene! Great hint!I will have to do that for sure, since it’s HUGE!