Friday 18 September 2015

Scrap fabric Feedom Blocks

This week I have been making Freedom Blocks from a favourite book by Sharon V. Rotz called Log Cabin Quilts with Attitude. Having just has another birthday last week, I feel I am definitely a lady with Attitude these days! As I get older I find myself less inclined to stand for any nonsense, on a daily basis! Husband says I have changed.... another of her books is called Serge and Merge so maybe he would be surprised again if I read that too....

Here is my first Freedom Block:

Freedom Block by Green Star Quilts
Really it is a version of log cabin with wonky logs. As I made more blocks it sometimes turned into wonky courthouse steps, but that doesn't seem to matter or show in the end...I sorted my scraps into colours, using one colour for each block. Here are more on a white fabric background.

 4 Freedom Blocks by Green Star Quilts

It got really quite addictive and I even did a teaching session for ladies at my quilt group. Sharon calls them Freedom Blocks because they look carefree and fun and there aren't many rules or log cabin police around.

 6 Freedom Blocks by Green Star Quilts

I have also tried them on a pale grey polka dot fabric which I love. 

 4 Freedom Blocks on grey polka dot fabric by Green Star Quilts
What do you think?  White or grey? Here are more blocks....

 4 Freedom Blocks on grey polka dot fabric by Green Star Quilts
I am going to carry on making more blocks this week and will show you how it's going next week. Hmmm I really like the grey but the white is crisp. Lots of chances for modern quilting with this design too.....

Hope you all have a lovely weekend quilting and some sunshine too,

Kind regards,
Sue



Friday 11 September 2015

Scraps and Squares Quilt


It started on a wet Sunday afternoon last winter. I tripped on a basket of scraps on the floor of the sewing room and thought 'I must do something with that now' and settled down to a happy afternoon, back against the radiator, basket emptying gradually as I sorted scraps in to piles by size. It then dawned on me that I have kept tiny scraps of much loved fabrics. There were bits with little ladybirds, bigger bits with sheep and here and there half a tractor.... So I started to cut them into 3 " squares and make tiny bits into quarters sewn together to make another 3" square. On the design wall I made groups of squares, keeping the colours balanced but not worrying about the odd legs and heads which appeared as the squares were sewn together.




It all got a bit addictive, I kept nipping in to add a few more squares when waiting for kettles to boil or washing to spin and the quilt top began to grow.... and grow..... and I added four stars at the corners.... Here is the finished small single bed size quilt:


Scrap Squares Quilt by Green Star Quilts
There are heads without bodies, legs without feet and wheels without cars. There are tiny ponies, half sheep, sunflowers, bugs and bears. It is really a bit of a riot and I am very pleased with it!


Scrap Squares Quilt by Green Star Quilts
I took lots of photos on a rather gloomy day.....


Scrap Squares Quilt by Green Star Quilts

This the backing fabric with a folk art birds design...

Scrap Squares Quilt by Green Star Quilts
I made husband admire it, I took it round to show the neighbours , I hung it over the door for a photoshoot, I am so proud of it....
Scrap Squares Quilt by Green Star Quilts
It is quilted with double lines a quarter inch from each seam, a lot of stitches but such a lovely grid effect and a lovely drape to the quilt too...

Scrap Squares Quilt by Green Star Quilts
The stars are quilted with big swirls....

Scrap Squares by Quilt Green Star Quilts
Then down the garden to my rail made specially for throwing quilts over...

Scrap Squares byQuilt Green Star Quilts
If you think you have seen enough then look for the stag and the bear....

Scrap Squares Quilt by  Green Star Quilts

And the gnomes loved it too!

Gnomes and quilt by Green Star Quilts
This is a quilt for our very gorgeous and  rather new boy who is growing so fast and has the best smile I could wish for. I really, really enjoyed making this quilt and can't wait to plan another one. I've got another basket of scraps with a seaside and sailing theme but I haven't fallen over it yet so it may have to wait for another rainy afternoon!

Have you got a favourite scrap pattern for using up the fabric you just can't throw away? I am working on wonky log cabins at the moment and will show you those soon,

Happy quilting this weekend,
Kind regards,
Sue