The Splendid Sampler - week 5

Wow 10% of the quilt is made already! This sampler quiltalong is whizzing by....

Block 9 was designed by Jane Davidson and is called Local Quilt Shop. I personalised my taupe version 

And my Tula version is a Tula quilt shop of course! Which reminds me I need to embroider that 

Block 10 is called Iowa and was designed by Sherri McConnell, a nice quick and easy one to do

And here are each set so far 

Block 7 still isn't sitting well with me in either version so I might replace it with the bonus block 

Joanna 

The Splendid Sampler - week 4

It was bound to happen. The chances of liking all 100 blocks was not high. I've reckoned on not liking 10% of them. 

And so we came to block 7, Snug as a Bug. I knew there was going to be some embroidery in the quilt and wasn't that averse to it. But.....

Well this is the original block

It's just way to cutesy for me. 

I had a think about what I could do that would vaguely stay true to the block and came up with this for my taupe quilt. 

While making it I remembered why I'm a quilter not an embroiderer. 

I tweaked the design a little for the Tula quilt and may redo the taupe block at a later date. 

Back to the normality of piecing for block 8, Friends Around the Square

I fussy cut the outer triangles so I could cut across the stripe in the Tula block 

Amazingly I am still up to date although I will fall behind in a few weeks when I am away from my machine 

Joanna 

The Splendid Sampler - week 1

I'm becoming a bit of a sucker for sampler quilts with 100 or so blocks. First there was Dear Jane, although admittedly I haven't got very far with this one. 

Then there was Sylvia's Bridal Sampler which I'm making in pink, purple and peach batiks. I've done around 35 blocks on this quilt which is a bit of a family affair as my mum, sister and son are all making versions too. 

Next it was Tula Pink's City Sampler which I'm making with bright solids and a stripe from Robert Kaufman in each block. Again I've made around 35 blocks for this quilt. 

These three long term projects are very long term as I'm making them at my own pace. 

And then the other month, along came The Splendid Sampler. This is a mystery sampler quilt. I don't know what the blocks or the finished quilt looks like but I do know there are 100 blocks altogether designed by 80 odd different quilters using a variety of techniques. It is an online quiltalong with a Facebook group. I debated with myself (very briefly) about whether to sign up for it, but hey it was free so there was nothing to lose!

The first block was released on Valentine's Day and of course it was a heart block! Hearts Aflutter was designed by Pat Sloan, one of the ladies who has organised this quiltalong. At the moment I'm making the blocks in two colourways. My first choice fabrics were taupes I've been collecting 

But when it came to appliquéing the heart, I didn't have the right colour thread. So I made a second version in Tula Pink fabrics 

Block 2 was released during the week (they are released on Sunday and Thursday each week)

Wings was designed by Jane Davidson,  the second organiser of the quilt. 

My taupes version

And my Tula version

The more I look at this Tula version, the more I love it!

Week 2 starts tomorrow with block 3. I can't wait!

Joanna 

Taupes and Me...

I'm not quite sure why but I seem to have a fixation with making long term quilts or quiltalongs in taupes.

I don't have many taupe fabrics in my stash nor do I sell them in my quilt shop. And yet something draws me to them when a big project is on the horizon. Maybe it's because I love Japanese taupe quilts when I see them at quilt shows and kid myself into thinking my quilt will look just as wonderful?

I've signed up for two quiltalongs this year. Not quite sure why as I don't have much free sewing time. And of course I'm contemplating making them in taupes!

The first project is the block a day quilt by Gourmet Quilter. I treated myself to this pattern. I also looked upon it as future class potential. The original is made in batiks 

And yes it's made up of 365 different blocks which are released weekly during 2016. 

For my quilt I imagined a cute Japanese taupe version reminiscent of all those perfectly made in minute detail quilts I've seen. These are my backgrounds.

I knew I would struggle to keep up but thought I would do a bit better then this....

I've got frustrated with it as my fusible web is playing up. But hey it's not a race is it?!

I've also signed up for the free Splendid Sampler which starts in a couple of weeks and is 2 blocks a week, 100 in total.

I know, I thought, I'll do it in taupes! This is my fabric pull. We need approx. 30 to 35 fat quarters

While searching for these fabrics, I found my Tula Pink City Sampler blocks which seem to be made using the same fabric pull

To be honest I had no idea I'd done that many blocks! I've since abandoned these colours for my City Sampler for a bright solids and stripe version. And also looking at these blocks, I think I'll want to do something brighter for my Splendid Sampler too.

The taupe quilt I've made the most progress with is the Chinese Heirloom quilt designed by Lynne Edwards which I featured in P&Q a couple of years ago. I really need to get on with this one 

I've even started a Dear Jane quilt in taupes, kind of

And then I found this appliqué block which is an Esther Aliu BOM

Do I need help with this addiction?!

Joanna