Friday 23 January 2015

Spring chicks and a hyacinth inspired quilt


Hello and thanks for dropping in to see what I have been making this week. So far I have finished the hen and chicks baby quilt and here it is, a crib size measuring 93 x 80 cm and 36 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches. Just right to tuck around a new baby in the buggy or car, or to use as a play mat. Some of my customers hang this size quilt on the wall too. 


Hen and Chicks quilt by Green Star Quilts
Just to finish last weeks tutorial, I have quilted around the shapes very close to the edges and then free motion quilted with a wandering stitch over the white areas of the quilt.

And just a few ta dah moments.....


detail from Hens and Chicks quilt by Green Star Quilts
I love the egg yolk yellow of the chicks against the blues of the other squares... 

backing fabric for Hens and Chicks quilt by Green Star Quilts
The backing fabric is a turquoise blue with white polka dots. I use a lot of spotty fabrics as I like the retro look they give....


 Hens and Chicks quilt by Green Star Quilts
and it gave me a chance to look in our box of vintage Britton's farmyard animals to find the right livestock for the last photo...I do so love this bit, finding the right thing to add to the photo....

Hen and Chicks quilt with Britton's farmyard livestock
Does it make you think of Easter somehow? Hummmm chocolate eggs, now there's a welcome thought! 

Also this week my indoor hyacinths are in full flower. I would love to tell you that I am super organised, planted the bulbs before Christmas, kept them cool in the basement and brought them out when they started to flower.... I would love to, but being super unorganised ( and honest), I missed that bit out completely, went to the market, bought two pots, planted them into a bowl with extra compost and hid the plant labels! 

But the colour of hyacinth blue is so special and I have so many scraps in the sewing room, so I have started a hyacinth blues and greens quilt which will be a wall hanging for my kitchen. 

Here is the block... The white stars remind me of snowdrops with pointed petals...

Hyacinth quilt block by Green Star Quilts
This is the quilt so far... can you see that I have broken some random squares into smaller ones to add interest...


I'm not sure how big it will be in the end but I have enjoyed using 3 inch squares of my favourite scraps and the pile is getting smaller amazingly. It is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle on the back to get all those seams to butt up together without gaps... well there are a few I have found...

Hyacinth quilt top
Here are some of the fabrics used:

Hyacinth blues and greens in 3 inch squares
I wish I could say that no hyacinths have been harmed in the taking of this last photo, but yes, the right hand one did fall off and the stem broke, the other two flopped over in sympathy and look a bit sad.... oh well, off to the market again to buy the next two pots...

Hyacinth flowers and quilt top
It is freezing here in Lincoln today, no snow, but foggy and so very cold and I can't wait for the real spring to come. I will show you the (hopefully) finished quilt next week and also tell you about the monster king sized one which I am making over the next month. 

Happy sewing to you all this week,
Kind regards,
Sue









14 comments:

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

What a cute little quilt! and your stars - the colors are just lovely

Sue @ Quilting the Green Star said...

Thank you Alycia, I can't wait to finish the top and see how it looks when complete.

Maja said...

Oh, that blue and green top really look fantastic!

Mari said...

Love the scrap quilt you've started, and the hens and chicks are darling. I would definitely hang that on the wall! And your mention of hyacinths has me longing for spring even more. . .Lovely start and finish!

colleen said...

This is just full of the joys of spring. I'm very partial to chickens - and hyacinths come to that. It won't be long until spring, so I'm going to make the most of the here-and-now-sit-in-the-warm-by-the-fire winter while I can.

Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts said...

The chickens are darling. I love that egg yolk yellow too.

Loving your scrappy project as well. What a great way to whittle down the scrap pile.

Sue @ Quilting the Green Star said...

Well the pile still seems to same size which is very very strange!
Sue

Sue @ Quilting the Green Star said...

We have snowdrops in the garden now but it is still freezing cold here, so good to stay warm!

Sue @ Quilting the Green Star said...

Thank you Maja, I'm still not sure how to quilt it, maybe straight lines missing out the stars....

Sue @ Quilting the Green Star said...

I enjoyed making this top so much I have started another using all my farmyard scraps, I'll show you soon....

Judy @ Sew Some Sunshine said...

Love, love, love your hens and chicks - so cute!

Dona said...

Your quilts are beautiful but those little chicks are so very sweet. Thanks for the tutorial.

Sue @ Quilting the Green Star said...

Thank you Judy, I have also made this pattern in a red colour way too. You can see it on my website.

Sue @ Quilting the Green Star said...

I'm glad you managed to follow the tutorial, I haven't written very many so it is great if it all makes sense!