Drunken Harlequin

...is the new name I have given  the formerly known 'Summertime' quilt after several people pointed out that the pattern looked a bit like a harlequin pattern. But because it is a slightly wonky harlequin I am going to call it drunken harlequin !

So here it is and what a joy it was to make, although rather a lot of work. This quilt is 60" x 60" in size and has a staggering 400 HSTs which mean a lot cutting, pressing of open seams and squaring of blocks. It kept me busy on several early mornings before work and late nights too but it was well worth it.

For the back I used a well horded print from my stash from the 'Pretty Bird' collection by Pillow and Maxfield for Michael Miller. I have used this print for a quilt backing before in the red colour way which really added vavavoom to this quilt. The blue colourway worked perfectly with this quilt and I made up the remaining space with Kona in Peapot (one of the new colours) and Michael Miller couture in Malibu.

I quilted as per usual with Gueterman Sulky in 1082 along the HST stitch lines to make the pattern also visible through the quilting lines on the quilt back.

The binding was a difficult choice and I was for a while convinced it would be orange or red but then went with oval elements in  mustard/green to compliment to back and the front rather than to contrast.

I love the little splashes of patterned fabric I added in a few rows. I think it adds a bit of interest and lets the eye rest for a while on this rather lively quilt.

Drunken Harlequin is listed in my shop and and now I am of to the next quilting adventure. Stay tuned.

Summertime - progress -

It's not quite Summertime anymore and we are moving with great strides towards autumn. I started this quilt back in July and had every intention of finishing it quickly but then the craft fair lodged itself firmly in between and this gorgeous colorful work in progress had to be halted.

Last weekend then I took it out and I spend some quality time with it, finished piecing it on Saturday and started quilting on Sunday until a nasty cold got hold of me. Hot lemon with ginger is the order of the day since.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed quilting again, I almost felt deprived of it, which of course is ridiculous but shows me really how much I love quilting and prefer it over making other crafty things.

I played around with the HSTs until I ended up with this pattern that sort of looks like wonky diamonds. I love the strict graphical nature of the pattern but have no idea if it actually has a name. Does anybody know this pattern, does it have a name or did I accidentally create something new ?

Summertime

Now we finally have some Summer I decided to play with summary colours and pulled out this lovely fabric bundle I featured in this stash note. I am most likely also inspired by the colours of the Olympics (no I don't mean the rings but all the great and colourful sports gear the athletes are wearing).

Any of you watching the Olympics ? I already went to the Beach Volley Ball at Horseguards Parade just outside Downing Street which was so much fun. I bet you the PM will have much interrupted sleep over the next weeks. 


This is the Quiltcon colour selection of the cotton couture collection from Michael Miller. I had a look at it the other day and then a feel and then thought that I needed to do something with this luxurious little pack.

So I started cutting and cutting and some more of the same....

 

.... and then sewing and soon had this wonderful colour bunch of HSTs that are glamoring to be made into something outrageously stunning ! (no pressure there....)