THREE ACROSS QUILT BLOCK

Three across quilt block

The three across quilt block is unusual looking.  It uses four colours and I can definitely see this in a quilt.  You'd have to rotate the blocks so that the yellow squares weren't next to each other and then you'd get the dark blue squares forming some sort of a zigzag.  I've made it as a 14" block using 2.1/2" and 4.1/2" squares mostly.

Layout for three across quilt block

This is the basic layout and it's best to sew it together as large top and bottom rows with a single middle row.

On Saturday I went to the Quilt Guild Area Day over at Stourport which was really interesting.  In the morning we were asked to help making Japanese folded quilt blocks - it just reminded me of why I don't like making them!  The highlight was a talk by Jan Hassard in the afternoon.  She really is so talented.  Some of her quilt patterns looked relatively simple but it was the colour placement that made them extraordinary quilts.  Sorry - I forgot to take my camera so I can't show you any photos of the quilts that were on display.

Manipulated fabric flower

Last week I attended a Jennie Rayment workshop which was so interesting.  I made this flower which is a long way from being complete and has a veritable mountain in the middle where it should be flat, but I learned so much!  I've abandoned that one for the moment and I'm in the middle of making another one using batiks which I'm really pleased with (and it has a flat middle!).  I'm hoping to have enough of it done to show you more later in the week.

This morning I received a surprise package from Marelize containing some bobbin washers.  I had commented to her that I could only find washers for industrial, not domestic, sewing machines so she sent me some all the way from South Africa.  Thanks, Marelize - you're a star!

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Hope to see you again soon.
Rose

Mosaic Tile Quilt Block

Mosaic tile quilt block

This quilt block was called Mosaic by Nancy Cabot and the Ladies Art Company, but I rather like the alternative name of Zigzag Tile Quilt Block.  It's dead easy and only needs sixteen half square triangle units to make.  I've used several different black patterned fabrics, but of course you could use eight different fabrics with one background fabric if you chose.

Mosaic quilt block layout

The only point to watch is which way you place the half square triangles, but other than that it's just a case of laying them out and sewing them together.






On Saturday I went to the National Quilt Championships taking place at the Sandown Park Race Course.  I so wish that I could bring you some photos, but there were signs everywhere saying that photos could only be used with the written permission of Grosvenor, which of course I don't have.  There were displays of quilts by Liz Jones who lives not far from Ludlow amongst several others - I spent a thoroughly enjoyable few hours there and then went to see my daughter who lives in London so it was a great day overall.

Octagon quilt

I made an octagon quilt for last week's project on the website.  It could be used as a table topper or a picnic quilt and many quilters have come up with different ideas for uses - usually involving dogs or children!

Thanks for visiting my blog.
Hope to see you again soon.
Rose

Applique Flowers In Vase

I always feel that it's a good idea to build up a good selection of quilt block patterns to choose from when you're planning your next quilt.  Some of them can be patterns for the quilt blocks in the main body of the quilt and some of them can be ideas for quilt borders or cornerstones.

I think this applique flower quilt block would fit into either of those categories.  I first designed it as a quilt cornerstone but I can see it working just as well as one block in a floral quilt.

I began with a 6.1/2" square of background fabric and drew a couple of flowers on it with fabric marker.  This was just to help me get the size right so that the flowers would fit in the middle of the block.  Then I drew two flowers the same size on some pink fabric squares which were backed with fusible interfacing.

After I had cut the flowers out I laid them in place on the background fabric and sewed all round the edge with a zigzag stitch.  This was easier than I had expected - as long as you take it slowly it's quite easy to follow the curves of the petals.  You can see the back of the quilt block on the right.

For the flower stems I changed the thread colour but continued with the zigzag stitch.  I had used a fairly small stitch width for edging the petals, but I increased the stitch width for the stems and sewed the length of each stem twice:  starting at the bottom and sewing up to the flower and back down again.

So with the flower complete I just wanted to add a vase.  This is what sets this flower applique quilt block apart from other applique quilt blocks and I think it's a really neat idea.  I cut a tumbler shape from some see through organza fabric and placed it over the lower part of the flower stems.  Then I changed the thread (again!) to a colour that would match the background fabric and zigzagged round the sides of the vase to hold it in place.  I think next time I'll use a slightly darker organza for the vase to make it stand out better, but I'm really pleased with the overall effect.

Thanks for visiting my blog.
Hope to see you again soon.
Rose