A White Elephant Quilt Swap

My most recent project has taken me more time to complete than I initially anticipated. I’ve been participating in the White Elephant Quilt Swap 2019 hosted by Janelle from @tinyquiltswaps

It’s a genius swap project though up by Janelle where you make a mini-quilt (note here I said “mini”) that you want to make and everyone votes at the end for their favourites, and that helps to determine who gets each quilt.

I decided that this was my opportunity to finally make the 'Lady in Red' pattern byNessie505, and I already had purchased the fabric and knew I wanted to make her in some purple-blue Tula fabrics. I shrunk the pattern to 75% of its original size so that my finished pattern would be 18” x 36”. I could have gone 12”x 24” but decided against it as one of the fabrics I had chosen was The Hypnotizer from Tula Pink’s 2015 “Chipper” collection and I felt the scale of the print deserved to be a bit bigger, so my quilt ended up being a bit bigger than a “mini”.

It was pointed out after I started that it would be a great swap to use some existing orphan blocks up, something I have plenty of as you probably know from reading my other posts, but by this time I had already started my new quilt, posted photos and was committed.

So why did it take me so long? Well, first I may have been a bit over-ambitious with my quilting. I really stretched my skills with this one, while the end result was definitely worth the effort, I did have a finished quilt that wasn’t quite square and needed fixing.

I am also sewing-time poor at the moment, as since moving my 2-year-old has decided that his day-sleep is optional and therefore I don’t get the same amount of time to spend designing and creating until he starts kindy next year. I also have several other secret projects happening in the background and a long list of custom-order pattern designs to create as well. Plus I’m gearing up for the Spring Fling Sew Along next year. Nevertheless, I did get my quilt finished before the deadline and also added a zipper at the back to make it a pillow cover for whoever ends up getting her (that’s still a secret that hasn’t been decided).

I'm sure whoever receives her will love her, and I am super excited to vote for my favourites (there are some awesome quilts and you can see them here on Instagram) and find out which one I will be receiving!

I really enjoyed making 'Lady in Red' and highly recommend it for anyone who knows how to foundation piece. The pattern is available from ByNessie505’s Etsy store.

Happy piecing!

RJ

Sit Dog, Sit! New Paper Pieced Quilt Block Pattern!

Several months ago I did a very small Quilt Along featuring some new Farm Animals I had created. While most of these patterns were released at the time of the Quilt Along, one pattern was not. That pattern was called 'Sit Dog, Sit!'

'Sit Dog, Sit!' is a 12" quilt block pattern using foundation paper piecing. The release of the PDF pattern was delayed, as I was developing a print version of the pattern and it was one of the featured pre-release patterns in the Jump On In Box in October 2019. The Jump On In Box is a quarterly subscription box full of fabrics, patterns and other quilty goodness from Sew-Inn Colac in Australia, and totally worth checking out (I'm a subscriber myself). In fact, the background fabric I used when making my own version of this pattern was Serenity - Daydream from the Pinkerville Range by Tula Pink and was one of the fabrics which came in the first-ever Jump On in Box! I then used some pretty pink fabric from my stash and an 18" zip to finish my block into a pretty cushion cover!

There were some pretty cute versions of Sit Dog, Sit made during the Quilt-Along by my testers and I really couldn't pick a favourite:

I love the flowers that Truus Tante used for the background. Truus plans to make a full quilt of farm animals using all the animals from the quilt along!

Donna said she was thinking of her own dog when she was making her version and used fabrics and colours to reflect this. 

Marie's puppy quilt block was very cute in the green hues she chose!

Julia had been making a rainbow of farm animals for her quilt, and so she made her version of Sit Dog, Sit! using a variety of beautiful Orange fabrics. 

I'd love to know which version is your favourite - Let me know in the comments!

Sit Dog, Sit! is available as an instant PDF download in my Etsy Store now, or as a print pattern available select quilt stores.

Happy Piecing!
RJ

Have you heard about the Purple People?

Hello again!

Recently I designed a fun new quilt called 'Purple People' and I haven't yet had a chance to write about it.  Essentially Purple People is a series of twelve foundation paper pieced faces, which all differ in expression and have subtly different features.

Each quilt block measures 6" wide by 8" tall and the finished quilt centre should measure 22" across and 37" down after sashing has been added. 

When I designed them, I envisaged the faces would be purple for my own quilt. However, since the release of the first blocks, I have seen the blocks made in all different colours, including, one participant who decided to make hers as a Rainbow! 

If you want to join in the fun an make your own Purple People Quilt - I'm releasing one quilt block each month until July next year through my email newsletters. 

'Moustache Matt' made using Aboriginal Dot by Kaffe Fassett

The first two blocks, Kissy Karen, and Moustache Matt, have already been released and have now been made available to purchase in my Pattern Store for a small cost and if you would like to get the remaining blocks for free, make sure you sign up to my mailing list! 

Alternatively, the full Purple People Quilt Pattern including all twelve foundation paper pieced quilt blocks, sashing, and quilting suggestions will be made available for purchase sometime in the last half of 2020.

Happy Quilting!

RJ

Packing, Moving and Sewing.

It's been a while since I posted. There is a very good reason for it. 

I'm moving house - actually we are moving cities. As of next week, I will be living in part of the artistic (and coincidentally also political) capital of New Zealand, Wellington! 

However, in the meantime, it has meant a lot of sorting, donating, cleaning and generally having a clear-out of the horrendous amount of rubbish that we seem to have accumulated or kept from our last move. Seriously - how many spare pillows do we actually need? Because I had about 16 spares in the cupboard and more on the spare bed! Unfortunately, all of this has not left me a lot of time for quilting or sewing. 

However, I have managed to finish up one of the items on my list for The Work in Progress Project. 

Remember I wanted to finish my Up in the Air Quilt filled with Aeroplanes, Rockets, Helicopters, and Hot Air Balloons but was very unenthused about it. I had chosen a baby blue background colour which I thought was going to look like the sky when it all came together. Turned out by the end of six quilt blocks I really disliked the colour.

I think it was just too over-powering on its own and needed more colour to break it up. So I decided to put a colourful border around each one and make six mini-quilts to donate to Tauranga Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit. This is something I have done before, but never six at once!

Thanks to the ladies at Papamoa Patchers for being my lovely quilt-holders!

I know it probably seems a bit crazy, that as I'm trying to reduce the number of unfinished quilts I have by actually finishing them, I would decide to make six quilts instead of one. But it did give me the passion back that I needed in order to finish these blocks and make something that I know will be cherished by six little people. As I started putting the borders around each one, I realised that I could have quite easily put all six blocks into one quilt with the rainbow borders, making a lovely aircraft themed rainbow quilt. However I was also pretty determined to finish what I had started and because we are moving I now had a deadline!

Each of the blocks has a pretty backing, but my favourite is definitely the backing I used for the Red Hot Air Balloon Quilt. The heart fabric is by Riley Blake, and is something that I found while cleaning out my stash. The hot air balloons are a fabric that I had printed at Spoonflower using my logo (it's not for sale, but here are some designs that are) It turned out so cute. I also ended up using a lovely Satin binding which will I hope will be nice and soft and silky on those precious baby fingers that will be curling around the edges. 

I'm pretty pleased with all of these awesome colourful mini-quilts and hope they brighten up the Special Care Baby Unit! All of these quilt block patterns can be found in my Etsy shop either individually or as a set of quilt blocks.

It's another project finished, but I still have plenty left. Plus, unfortunately, when I was cleaning out my fabric stash I found another two unfinished projects that I started years ago. One is a completed flimsy (quilt top - yet to be quilted), and the other was an EPP project I started moons ago and clearly did not get unpacked from last time we moved. I have put them both in a box marked "The Work in Progress Project" and will add them to my list. One thing is now very clear - given my propensity to start further projects on a whim (I want to make everything!) and the fact that I keep finding forgotten projects, it is a safe bet that I will not be finishing all of my WIPs any time soon, but that doesn't mean I won't keep trying! 

Now my sewing machine, overlocker, and all my tools are sorted and packed into boxes. So that means no sewing for the next couple of weeks and not finishing any more projects for now. Although I'm sure it will be unpacked and set up in a new room as soon as possible when we reach our new home.

Until next time, Happy Quilting!

RJ

Free Foundation Paper Pieced Patterns

Thanks for stopping by my website! This page contains patterns that I have designed and are available for you to download for free. I will continue to add patterns every so often, so make sure you check back regularly!

Many of these patterns were available first to my email subscribers - make sure you sign up to get a FREE Foundation Paper Pieced Pattern every month!

Click Here to Sign up to my email newsletter!

If you are a beginner to Foundation Paper Piecing, you might also like to download

  this handy beginners guide. 

Snowball Flower Pattern 

This was a free paper pieced pattern in my June 2019 email newsletter. It was designed for a quilted cushion I made for a quilt swap. You can see it here.

Click Here to Download the FREE PDF Snowball Flower Pattern

Jack-O-Lantern Pattern 

The Foundation Paper Pieced Jack-O-Lantern pattern was developed in 2018 and was offered for sale in my Etsy Store for a short time, but was also offered to my email subscribers for free in September 2018 as a Halloween bonus pattern. It has recently been updated and comes in two sizes, 9" and 12".

Click Here to Download the Free Jack O Lantern Halloween Quilt Block Pattern

Thank you so much for visiting my webpage and I hope you enjoy using these free patterns! Keep checking back as now and then I will add more.

Happy Piecing!
RJ

Making something just for the fun of it.

I've been a bit naughty and I don't feel guilty about it either. 

I made something from my quilty bucket list - 'Distractions' by Blossom Heart Quilts! Its a foundation paper pieced pattern that is available in Issue 16 of Make Modern Magazine.

You might be wondering why I have no guilt about starting a new project?
Well to start with, I also finished it! 

The other thing is to be completely honest I needed a break. I’ve done pretty well so far finishing off some of my in-progress quilts, but I was feeling recently that my sewing was more “work” than “fun”. I needed to make something fun that wasn’t scheduled and is just for me. Something to re-inspire me and help me stop avoiding the sewing machine. This was a great small project to do that with, plus still get it finished in one day.

The other reason is that it is a great pattern for using up some of my ever-growing fabric stash! In fact, I didn’t buy a single thing to make this. Everything came from my stash including the wadding/batting and the cushion insert!

This helped me to realise two things
1. I have some cool stuff in my stash.
Check out the cool black and white fabric I used for my border and backing for example. It's been at the bottom of a box for a really long time and how perfect is it for this project!

2. I need to have a clear out, as some of the fabrics I have there, I will probably never use.

When I say the entire thing was made from my stash I mean it, I got to use some of the scraps from my overflowing scrap box, the black came from a skirt I tried to make years ago (and it was a disaster) which has been waiting around for me to fix (that was never going to happen).

This pattern was fantastic for using up my scraps and I got to dig around in my stash for the border and backing fabric. The example in Issue 16 of Make Modern Magazine used an off-white background with a grey border, but I decided to use black and the funky black and white flower print for my border for this one, which I think makes it really quite striking.

Worth noting: During September 2019 if you make ANY pattern from ANY issue of Make Modern Magazine and tag #highfivemakemodern on Instagram you could win some pretty awesome prizes like fabric bundles, patterns, books and magazine subscriptions. So if you have any patterns on your bucket list - now's probably a good time to make it!

I'm going to keep this cushion just for me. I really like it and it also serves as a reminder not to put too much pressure on myself, which is something I have been doing lately.

Hope you are having some great quilty adventures of your own!

Happy piecing!
RJ

The Work in Progress Project: Another finish!

So I’m pleased to say I have finished two quilts this week!

I have finally finished my Spring Fling Lap Quilt (previously referred to as Grandmothers Garden Lap Quilt) and I have written all of my articles for Online Quilt Magazine! This quilt has turned out so pretty, and I’m definitely going to make another. In fact, I’m planning a sew-along for March next year. You can sign up to join me here, there are going to be some awesome prizes, including quilt patterns from Cedar Makerie, Premium subscriptions to Online Quilt Magazine and more!

I did a quick poll on Instagram to see which flower from this pattern was the most popular and it turns out that it’s pretty even across the board. Lots of people commented that they loved all of them, and the colours are very pretty.

I’m a firm believer that every quilt has something to teach you. With this quilt, I think the lesson was that a little bit of advance planning pays off. I don't think this quilt would have been quite so pretty had I not decided on using the fabrics I did right from the start.
The other thing I did with this quilt was to try a new binding technique. It worked quite well, but I think I need to try it a couple more times before I make a firm judgment on whether I like it better than my old technique.

Projects currently in progress: 6
Up in the Air Quilt
Farm Animal Quilt
Orphan Iris Block
Purple People Quilt
Lorikeet Mug Rug
Tommy Turtle/ Bale of Turtles

Conquering my fear of applique... it's time to try a new technique.

It turns out the Kiwi quilt I was asked to design and make was not as difficult as I thought and it has turned out so cool. Many of my regular readers will know that I have usually stuck to foundation paper piecing. My reasons for this were not simply due to the fact that I like foundation paper piecing, but also that I was terrified of applique. It seemed like it would be a very difficult thing to do. That probably sounds funny to many quilters, who feel quite the opposite. 

So when I was asked by a local quilt shop to design something for a print pattern that would use New Zealand themed Kiwiana fabric by Nutex Fabrics, I knew it would be a learning curve for me. 

Being a Cruise ship port, we often get an influx of tourists over summer. The plan was to sell my pattern along with a fabric-kit to tourists. Therefore the design needed to be appliqué as then it is possible to hand-sew the quilt while people are on their cruise (what a great way to spend those sea-days, am I right?)  

The first thing I did was buy the fabric. I probably did this backward - I bought the fabric first and then went home to try and think of the inspiration for a design. Eventually, I came up with the design and printed off my templates. I even went so far as to cut them out and put them on the bed in my sewing room. 

The next thing I did was procrastinate - for several months. 

Why? FEAR. I was so scared of messing it up and ruining those beautiful fabrics. I was also scared of moving out of my comfort zone and trying something new. But I couldn't put it off forever, as I had told the owner of the quilt shop that I would try and come up with something before cruise ship season starts in mid-September, and you all know how I am about deadlines!

I used the raw edge technique of applique and once I actually started I learned several things:
1. Heat n Bond is incredible stuff. This was so much easier than the previous stuff I tried using for applique. Plus I found a cool way to use it to print my own quilt labels (I'll write another post about that later).  Last time I used fusible web I managed to adhere it to my ironing board and ruin the ironing board. Lucky for me, a new cover for the ironing board was only a few dollars from KMart and as yet hubby hasn't noticed my faux pas. You can buy the same HeatnBond sheets I use here.

2. My sewing is not as bad as I thought. I have said previously that one of the reasons I stick to foundation paper piecing is due to the fact that my sewing capabilities are somewhat lacking. Turns out all that practice has given me more confidence than I knew I had. Plus, when it came to quilting this one, I tried to stretch my skills a bit and I think it paid off.

3. Applique can be just as wasteful of fabric, if not more so than foundation paper piecing! Yep - Turns out when I looked at the amount of waste I created after cutting out my shapes and there was actually more wasted fabric than I would have had foundation paper piecing. I guess this is because you are cutting out shapes and there is less opportunity to use your scraps in the same project like there is in foundation piecing because the motifs are cut as one or two pieces. However, I still kept some of those scraps in my scrap box for future projects, so it's not like I threw them out. 

Although I think this pattern is really cool, it's pretty specific to the New Zealand quilting market. Because of this, I think this pattern will only be released as a print pattern and probably only sold to quilt shops at this stage (unless of course, Nutex wants to distribute it for me). However, I could be convinced otherwise if enough people want it as a PDF. 

I did have a lot of fun with this quilt and I learned a lot. I think I have conquered my fear of applique and would definitely do it again for another quilt. What advice do I have for you? Regardless of which technique it is that YOU fear, I would like to encourage you to give it a try. It's a great learning opportunity and you might find you are good at it. You might also mess it up, but you won't know that until you try it!

Happy Piecing!
RJ

A Quilty Bucket List and an addiction to making quilts.

What’s on your quilting bucket list?
One of the issues I’m finding while I’m trying to reduce the number of WIPs I have is that there are so many other quilts I want to make and there is constant temptation to start another project. I’m guilty of trawling through Instagram, drooling over all the pretty quilts other people have made, wishing I had time to make them all myself. At some point, I have to set a limit. So I’ve created my Quilty bucket list and thought I would share some of the projects on it with you:

I really want to make a smaller version of Lady in Red by my friend Nessie 505. This pattern is so original and there is no other quite like it. In fact, I have my fabrics picked out already and I think this quilt will look awesome in some Tula Pink fabrics.

Next on my bucket list is Distractions by Blossom Heart Quilts. This pattern is in Issue 16 of Make Modern Magazine and I think it would be great for using up some of the scraps in my stash. Plus this is a cushion size so a nice small project which I might be able to do in a day or two.

It’s not glamorous but here’s a picture of my scrap pile and, yep, that’s a nappy box I’m keeping them in (I’m a great recycler). 

I have a plan to use some of these with another scrap busting pattern that I want to try is Girls Best Friend by Gray Barn Designs from Issue 29 of Make Modern Magazine. 

Plus I really want to make some Candy Cats by Unicorn Harts! They are so cute and I think it would make such a cute quilt for a baby.

Of course, then I dream up my own designs, as well as the several others I have spinning around in my head that I would love to make for family and friends. I guess this is how you know you are addicted to quilting - because this is what I think about all of the time!

I know I will eventually get to make all of these quilts and many of the others that are on my bucket list probably more, plus this list will probably change and grow over time. But when I look through those Instagram photos drooling and read all the comments, I notice that I’m not the only one with a Quilty bucket list. So, I’m curious - what’s on your list? 

Happy Piecing!
RJ

The Work in Progress Project: I've run into a problem....

Previously I mentioned that I have been struggling to avoid starting new projects. I had one slip-up and started a parrot mug-rug, but apart from that, I have managed to curb my natural instinct to start a thousand more quilts without finishing the ones I have already started. 

But now, I have run into a problem: I need to start another quilt - actually, another two quilts.

Kiwi Quilt

The first is a custom quilt that I have been asked to make featuring New Zealand Fabrics. This is a hard one. While I really don’t want to start another project, when you get asked to design and make something specific it's hard not to. What’s really different for me is that this pattern is an appliqué pattern - so it’s also going to be a little bit about me conquering my fear of appliqué. I’ve designed something which is very New Zealand specific. This is what I’m planning:

The good thing about this quilt, however, is that it is only a small quilt. It is only 12" x 18" plus a 2" border. The pattern is being designed for tourists and visitors from the cruise ships here in Tauranga, so it needs to be small and able to be sewn by hand (hence the applique).

Purple People

The second is my new Purple People quilt.
Purple People is a fun quilt featuring twelve funny faces in 6”x8” quilt blocks. I’m releasing one block every month starting at the end of August. 

My email subscribers will get the blocks for free before they are released for sale. (Hint, hint: Now might be a good time to sign up if you don’t already get my monthly email).
The problem with this is I do actually need to test each block myself and I can’t do this without starting to make the quilt.

So that’s my dilemma. I’ve made such good progress on finishing some of my quilts and I'm quite disappointed that I now need to start more when I still have 4 other quilts to finish. 

Do I try to finish two for every quilt I start, will that work? Or is it a slippery slope back to a room full of unfinished quilts?

Stay tuned for the next episode to find out how I’m going...

RJ

The Work in Progress Project Chapter Seven: It's looking pretty Rosy from here.

Well, it's been quite a while, hasn't it? Yes, I have been slack. I've also been working - on my WIPs.
I have finally finished all twelve of my blocks for my flower quilt which has been renamed "Spring Fling"

It's almost been a full year since I started this quilt, purely due to my own procrastination, but I knew I had to get it done so that I could finish my series of articles for Online Quilt Magazine!

Some of the blocks in it are quite complex - but they are totally worth the time and effort. For example, this Rose block which was rather complex, but almost looks 3-Dimensional when it's finished. Several people have commented that this block is their favourite.

Personally, I think my favourite was the Pansy - This was the last one I put together, and I threw out  my first version, as it wasn't as pretty as these ones. I ended up buying some more Moda Grunge Fabric in Brown Dot for the center, which when I look at the blocks now was definitely the right decision.

Tonight I'll be working on sashing and basting and hopefully, I will have the quilt finished by the start of next week.

Work in Progress Count: 5 / 11 completed. I've almost halved the number of projects I had half-finished!

Happy Sewing,

RJ

The Work in Progress Project: Chapter Six: Shaping Up!

Here I am with another update and another proud finish for The Work in Progress Project!

I'm really happy to say that I have finished my second version of the Shape-O Quilt ! It turned out really well and I'm really proud of it. Personally, I think this is one of the best quilts I have made, as I pushed myself a bit and tried something different for the quilting. Plus I had a clear plan of my fabric choices before I started, which I think paid dividends in the finished quilt.

Shape-O Toy Quilt Complete!

For this version, I used a collection of fabric called Bounce by Allison Harris for Windham Fabrics for the top and binding. I love this collection of fabric and I think it suited this quilt so well. Plus that Aqua Bouncing Balls border (which I made slightly wider than the original pattern), just makes the whole thing 'pop'.

I dug into my stash and found some funky purple and green stripey fabric for the backing and used 100% cotton batting from Spotlight. It was quilted using plain white Gutermann Thread, using a square to start and working my way out in lines following the square shape - sort of like a square spiral.

I didn't want the quilting to be perfect, so I didn't use any rulers and the spacing between each line is a bit uneven, but that was actually the way I planned it - and I LOVE it!

I think this quilt would make an awesome play-mat or gift for a new baby and because I'm so proud of it and can't bear to part with it, I'm planning to stash it away for my next niece or nephew (whenever that happens).

I'm slowly finishing the WIP's I have going on. I think I will try to concentrate on my Grandmother's Garden Lap Quilt next - but don't hold your breath, as you know, I'm easily distracted!

Happy piecing!

RJ