Jen's Quilts

I read way too many online copies of quilting magazines through my library, and at one point became interested in quilt pattern testing.  So earlier this year I answered a call-out for pattern testers by Jittery Wings Quilt Co to test the Revolve Quilt Pattern . I ended up making the 'throw' size (64" x 76"), and was inspired by the pattern to use some colours I wouldn't normally.  I enjoyed making the quilt, though it was a considerable amount of work, especially as I needed to complete it by a deadline, as I needed to provide feedback and advice on the pattern instructions.   The quilt is made up of just one type of 12" block, but countless half square triangles which required ironing and trimming to size. It was fun to see it all come together, and see the secondary patterns in the quilt appear once the big blocks were joined together.  For the purposes of the testing, I only basted the rows together, as I had a vague idea that I wanted to offset the geom...

I am not sure how it happened, but at some point while googling quilts I stumbled across the 'one block wonder', a kaleidoscope quilt made out of a single fabric.  I decided to give it a go at some point, and eventually spotted some clearance fabric at the usual place.  I think I ended up purchasing whatever was left on the bolt.  It wasn't the usual fabric I would buy if I had a specific quilt in mind, but it was colourful and had a big print, and I thought it would be suitable for an experiment.  Below is a picture of part of the fabric.  After referencing some handy instructions on how to cut fabric for a one block wonder [if I find them again I'll put them here], I figured out the pattern repeated approximately every 12", and I could get one set of 6 repeats out of the fabric.  The rest could be used for the back or something.  So I proceeded to cut the fabric into 12" strips, put them on top of each other, and then spent forever trying to line up ...

In late 2019 I stumbled across the Bernina Blog, and a quilt-a-long by Irene from Sugaridoo .  I very much enjoyed doing a much more 'modern' style of quilt than I usually do, and watching Irene's videos. Irene kept us busy each month with a new row , and by November last year I finally had all the rows done.  The quilt was massive - about 70" by 90", but happily Irene showed two methods for putting the quilt together - as one big quilt top to quilt as per usual, or doing it in three pieces, and joining the thirds together after quilting.  With a recent interest in quilt-as-you-go and similar techniques, not to mention limited throat space in my Bernina 1130, I decided to give the quilting in sections method a go. The quilt was so big I barely had room to pin it all together.  Of course, I could have basted the quilt in sections, but the wideback I was using was just the right size, so pinned everything together, then cut the wadding and backing apart. For quilt...

My boss's boss, who became my boss, and then my colleague - I've had a couple of temporary and permanent promotions over the years, while he has been happy to stick with his job - is about to retire. He's talked about retiring 'in a couple of years' pretty much the entire time I have worked with him.  But now it is finally time.  I've known since last year that it the date was going to be sometime in 2021, so I started planning a quilt for him as a retirement gift. I think I decided on a pattern and colours in August 2020 - I have texts from my grandma asking if I had started yet, with my reply being 'not quite...'.  But I eventually settled on a Double Irish Chain pattern by Leah Day .   It was in a scrappy style, and I found I had some blues left over from the Aves quilt that I liked, and I found a couple more at the usual fabric place.  I also headed out to my local quilt shop for some white Kona. This was mostly strip pieced, so it went together pret...

I thought I would post some pictures of the quilts I actually finished in 2020.  Most of my time was spent on the Sugaridoo QAL quilt top, which was a lot of fun. Autumn  colours This is a small quilt made with a charm pack and a heap of half square triangles. I tried a few new techniques when quilting - the batting is pieced, the quilting is a combo of walking foot and ruler work, and the binding has faux piping. Flannel jelly roll triangles I made a flannel baby quilt a few years ago, but only used half the squares at the time.  After getting my hands on some quilting rulers, I thought I would put the quilt top together and try some ruler work techniques as demonstrated by Angela Walters.  I also decided to try out some Marti Michell techniques for quilting in sections - the centre was quilted as one piece, and the borders were added and quilted after. Plans for 2021 This year I plan to finish the Sugaridoo QAL.  All of the rows are done and I just bought two ...