Revisiting Raw Edge Applique

I started off not caring what it looked like - It was only a Quick Sample.

The Idea was to see how "My Istanbul" (that I made back in 2016) would fair being washed. 
Better to ruin a Sample than an Award Winning Quilt!

But, before long my Father's words rang in my ears "If a job is worth doing - It is worth doing well" -So it has taken a little longer than I initially planned.

I found left over pieces of the Applique in my Scrap Stash and decided to make something 'Useful' in the process.

A design emerged and I was on my way - revisiting the past. 

It was amazing how I went from 'Not Caring' to "Where did that stray stitch come from?' so easily.

Eventually the Last Stitch was done and with the help of photographs, Border fabrics were found.

Now, I am in the process of (fighting with my machine while) trying to learn FMQing - a skill that eludes me! 

The Original Quilt was professionally quilted.

Once that is done, I can then throw this project in the washing machine and see what happens!

So along came a Mystery

A bit of background to the story.

Way back in September, when Lockdown 4 was a thing... I decided I needed a distraction from all things COVID and Wedding and Babies.

And what should land in my inbox but "Jemima's Quilt Mystery".  I like Mysteries - they take me out of my comfort zone and challenge me to do new things.

I have pondered about and dabbled with EPP/Hexies for a bit over the years and never settled on something "Serious".   

So here I go, dive in and commit to "Not quite your Grandmother's Flower Garden" project.

First hurdle that I stumbled at was that None of my fabrics met the brief! 

I could not find any fabric that looked good together in 'Colour' and also met the Light, Med-Light, Med-Dark, Dark values when looked at in Grey scale.

I even refolded and colour sorted the ENTIRE fabric stash.

 
DH helping with some extra shelves in the cupboards to "Make look Good". 

It all looks lovely but no joy on the brief.

I sent out an SOS to an online Quilt shop for help and unfortunately the fabric still hasn't turned up. 

So when lockdown ended I went shopping at a (B&M) Quilt Shop where we spent 2 hours choosing the right Value fabrics.

Here I am, 

Starting 5 Clues behind 

and questioning my sanity once again.

Playing with Colour - Swapping Fabrics

I think I need to have some stern words with the person that coined the phrase "Quick Quilt".   Around this place - Nothing is simple and Nothing is Quick!

And so I come to an update on my "Distraction Project". 

Fabric Changes:

The fabric I chose for my Accent pieces was nice. Patterned shades of Yellow which when placed, lined up perfectly to show - Large Cabbage Roses! 

Not really the look I was after, and I knew there was nothing better in my stash.

Enter DH who had coincidentally, decided he wanted an outing - 

"Where is that Nursery - The one with the Cafe?"  - Huh, What? OK. 

So, I pointed Bessie "East" and kept driving until we found a Nursery/Cafe that we had not been to before.  And, at the bottom of the Garden was a wee Cottage that was Filled with - - - Fabric! (Yay!)

All boxes ticked in the one venue - Has to be some kind of record!

With the new accent chosen I settled down to .... 

"Um Mum..... Your Background doesn't work - It should be Black - sorry........."

Problem was, once I saw it I couldn't un-see it.  He was right the colours just didn't 'Pop' against the Ice Blue background.

Another trip to GJ's (my closest Fabric Fix Shop) - more Background Fabric and some pieces to replace the NQR colours in the Jelly Roll. 

The Original background fabric goes into the "Strip Scrap Drawer" and the thoughts for a second Quilt start. 

NOW maybe, I can start to actually work on this Project.

I have my fabric colours all sorted and cut and I am NOT changing anything else!

All my strips have been numbered and I have even made myself a MAP - so I don't get lost with my colour changes.

The video instructions suggest sewing these strips one at a time.

Which means that there is a lot of 2.5" seams.  And a LOT of thread tails...

I actually measured them - 8 cm of thread by 6 seams per strip = 48 cm of wasted thread each row.

And now for the Face Palm moment.

I had never got the point of "Leaders and Enders" because I always thought you sewed off the end and started again each time instead of Strip-piecing them...

Duh!

No more wasted thread and I now have an enormous pile of 'little patches' that may one day grow up to be a big quilt.

And the "Northern Lights" Quilt?

Just passed the half-way mark and wondering now if I could Quilt it myself QAYG style.

All I need is to find my Quilting Foot...

and THAT is another story, for another day!



Linking with cleverchameleon.com.au

Wild Goose Chase - - -

Today I am on a "Wild Goose Chase" - The sort that takes you out of the house and onto the road, which ends up using all the precious sewing time you had ...

I went into my stash and discovered that the fabric that I had used for the last border on my Heart's Desire Quilt was no more than a large scrap.

So I will not be able to get those binding pieces cut out until I can locate some more of this beautiful fabric.....

Yes, it's the same fabric!

The problem with "Letting my fingers do the walking" as they used to say (ringing around) is the COLOUR!  In the sunlight it looks bright blue but take it into the shade and it is quite green. So it is impossible to describe it over the phone!



Well, I can say for sure that if I can't find it here, before my trip away - you can bet that a piece of it will be in my bag!