Thank you, to everyone who has sent me lovely comments and emails and everyone who are now following me, and reading me, I am thrilled to little mint balls. You have made me very happy!
I haven't had much chance to sew this last week, so I decided to rectify that and layer my City Lights quilt. The only thing is I wanted to make a scrappy panel for the back and before that I had to make the binding.
This is what is left in the kit for the scrappy binding, there was sure to be extra for the panel. Wrong, by the time I stitched it all together leaving a few inches extra there was only 3, 2.5 inch squares left, and I couldn't use them, just in case my calculations were off. So, what was left?
That is all, the selvedge scraps of various widths, not enough to make a panel, sad. But, I read about lots of quilters who use selvedges, could I do that? I love improv quilts, I have a books on modern quilting and a Craftsy class, but you know what, I decided just to give it a try. As they say God loves a trier, and my Dad always said "Our Kathleen is very trying". And the Oakshott fabrics are so beautiful.......... So I just started stitching strips together.
Then I started cutting it up and adding bits, but I forgot to take pics as I was in doing mode not thinking mode. I ended up with this......
So I kept on stitching random bits together.......
I wasn't sure where to go from here, this is harder than it looks.........
This is what I ended up with. I didn't mean to stitch a triangle but that's what I got, AND I really enjoyed myself. It looks better than in the pics, I plan to add a border (surprise) and put it on an angle, and make a cushion to feature the lovely fabric. Of course, I could always cut it up and stitch it together some more, yes?
This is all I had left. I may even try to salvage some of them for the cushion, What do you think?
And I forgot about the City Lights quilt. The binding is made though, and I will use my solids collection for a feature panel for the back, but that will be next week.
Just to let you know, due to the positive response I have had to the 'add a button' post from yesterday I am intending to do more basic tips for new bloggers, so do come back if you are interested. If there is any subject you would like me to cover, let me know. I can't promise anything, but if I don't know I will try to find out, and we can learn together.
AND, Thank you to everyone who has told me about the New Bloggers Bog Hop, I have now signed up. Are you all trying to tell me something????????
AND, Thank you to everyone who has told me about the New Bloggers Bog Hop, I have now signed up. Are you all trying to tell me something????????
Linking up with
Fiona at Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me
Cath at Bits 'n Bobs Design Board Monday
Love Laugh Quilt Monday Making
Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
Em's Scrapbag, Moving it Forward
Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts, Sew Cute Tuesday
Fiona at Celtic Thistle Stitches New to Me
Cath at Bits 'n Bobs Design Board Monday
Love Laugh Quilt Monday Making
Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
Em's Scrapbag, Moving it Forward
Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts, Sew Cute Tuesday
Smiling happily and doing a little dance,
Kate
Turning your left over bits into an improv blocks was a great idea! Can't wait to see your finished project!
ReplyDeleteImprov isn't as easy as it looks Kate is it! The temptation to impose some semblance of regularity and order is very difficult to ignore :)
ReplyDeleteYes, well done, Kate - God does indeed love a trier and this is a fabby block.
ReplyDeleteThere is no better way to learn than to do. Your family was right, and keep on doing what you're doing because it's successful! I love your improvy triangles, and it's terribly hard to deny Oakschott is a fabulous fabric. Together, they're a knockout. And as for the New Bloggers Hop, you'll feel very much at home, and find some life long peeps.
ReplyDeleteAlways love playing with scraps! Very fun!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest although I often use scraps, I don't usually play with them. It was Saturday afternoon, I couldn't do what I wanted to do, and so I just..........played. I should do it more often, not because I got stunning results, which I didn't, but because I learnt something I didn't expect to learn and I enjoyed myself in the process.
DeleteYou came up as a no reply blogger Sharon, thank you very much for reading and commenting, as a new blogger it means such a lot to receive feedback.
Wow! Your triangle is wonderful. And, as a pillow top it will be great and show off the fabric. Honestly thought, I'm afraid I would have swept most of your bits into the trash bin! Sure glad you didn't.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Kate and I bet you will keep making for scrappy blocks!
ReplyDelete'Kathleen is very trying'... that made me smile.
ReplyDeleteThe tone in your writing is so warm and genuine. I enjoy reading your posts.
The pillow made from your scraps is an excellent idea.
Have you seen Victoria Findlay-Wolfe's book, "15 Minutes of Play"? She is an avid user of scraps and improv. You might enjoy it. Maybe your local library has it? Mine did not tho, they don't carry many current quilting books. :-(
Mmmm...Love all those solid scraps!!
ReplyDeleteI love those shot cottons, too. Love your big triangle (I am partial to them) and I think you could get one more little triangle for your cushion from the tiny scraps!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to use every scrap I can Sue. I'll post a pic as soon as it's finished, probably a couple of weeks as I have something I HAVE to finish. I couldn't reply to you direct as you came up as a no reply blogger.
DeleteSmiles
Kate
Oh god I love Oakshott and I'm trying not be really really jealous, cos I can't afford it! I love the way your triangle turned out and look forward to seeing a cushion soon :)
ReplyDeleteI so agree that improv is not easier! Nor quicker. But it is its own kind of pleasure. claire aka knitnkwilt.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteYou certainly had fun with the selvedges and fun is what it should be, right? I've been collecting selvedges for ages, but have never done anything with them. Your City Lights is beautiful, and I agree that Oakshott is brilliant, in both senses of the word.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, inspirational too. I must 'play' a bit more with fabric too😀 well done x
ReplyDeletefabulous Kate! such beautiful fabrics deserve to be showcased. Thank you for linking up to Bits 'n Bobs Design Board Monday and sharing your work.
ReplyDeleteLovely way to use up your scraps (and I agree, every last snippet of Oakshott needs to be used). Working in a more improv way can take a while to get used to, but it can be a lot of fun - though of course it brings its own challenges. Thanks for linking up with AHIQ.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful cushion this will be - a triangle in a square. I agree with you and Sue; you can surely get one more triangle from the scraps of the scraps. :-) Thanks for linking with AHIQ.
ReplyDeletePopping over from New to Me - hi! LOL @ "Our Kathleen is very trying" -that sounds like something my dad would have said about me (and probably did, hehe) :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard about those Oakshott fabrics but haven't seen them in person. I love scraps and selvages - I collect and admire them, and sometimes I even actually use them :D Your scrap piecing will make a beautiful pillow :)
Your improve piece turned out great! Good job! Thanks for linking up
ReplyDeleteI love your last line "smiling happily and doing a little dance". Isn't it fun when we find a little time to just play? I'm so happy you had a good time and your playtime produced a lovely piece to turn into a pillow. Keep on playing, and thanks so much for linking to Main Crush Monday!
ReplyDelete