Time in my sewing room skipped right past Halloween to Christmas. I have never pieced a quilt top this quickly before. On Friday morning I cut into my Northwoods Botanicals ayer cake. By Saturday evening I had the center of my quilt all pieced. Today I stitched up the pieced border and had to stop for lack of just the right fabric for an inner border. Here's the quilt so far as it looks on the design wall. I need a creamy/gold fabric for that inner border. I had planned a red outer border after the pieced border but looking at it at this stage I think I'll leave well enough alone and stop at the pieced border.It didn't come out quite as I had pictured in my mind, as the lights were just a bit darker and more varied than I thought once they were all cut up and jumbled together. However, overnight Friday I threw out the mental picture and was more than happy to keep working on my Christmas quilt on and off between chores on Saturday.
I can't believe how quickly this came together, and I can't believe how little fussing I had to do to match up my seams. Why is it that in some projects the seams just seem to line up all on their own, while in others, where in theory they should also line up beautifully, they just won't no matter how much pinning and seam ripping and starting over I do? I'll just savour the victory in this case. :)
Looking at the picture I see places I wish I had oriented the four-patches differently to put less emphasis on the lights, but then I look at the actual quilt and I don't notice them. Isn't it interesting how scale really makes a difference in what you see?
Speaking of scale, Ann Hermes can rest assured that I won't be stealing customers for mini quilt items. I made these five little ornaments for myself and while I'm pleased with them I'm not in a rush to mass-produce any! Talk about fiddly little pieces! The two smaller ornaments are 2 1/4 inch square. The larger ones are 3 inches square.
Now that I've gotten these two Christmas projects taken care of, I guess I should backtrack to Halloween. Sometime before trick-or-treat I need to make Pippi Longstocking's braids stick out straight...
I almost forgot - the quilt design is Scrappy Prairie Queen by Sandra L. Hatch. I made the blocks smaller but the idea is hers.
I almost forgot - the quilt design is Scrappy Prairie Queen by Sandra L. Hatch. I made the blocks smaller but the idea is hers.
The Christmas quilt and ornaments look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful quilt top! I love the colours -- and the ornaments are lovely, too. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteSandy
What a spectacular Christmas quilt that will be! The tiny ornaments are darling too! Makes me want to try those! (But I won't have time for this Christmas! *sigh*)---"Love"
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is lovely! And the little ornaments are darling. I don't think I would want to make all those HSTs for such a small ornament, but might try the 3" ones.
ReplyDeleteThat Christmas quilt came out really pretty;) I understand your point about some quilts just effortlessly coming together, while other's seem to frustrate from the beginning. I think that's why some wind up in the UFO pile.
ReplyDeleteYour ornaments are cute;) Small projects are fun;)
Pippi's braids.....you got me on that one;)
Happy Quilting!!
The Christmas quilt is beautiful! Is this one you'll be keeping? The ornaments are cute, too, but I don't think you'll catch me making anything that small any time soon. As for Pippi's braids - how about using an unbent wire coat hanger, braided in with the hair, for shape?
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas quilt is wonderful, I really like it! It is perfect without the extra border and I love the scrappy border you have. Now you can trace around cookie cutters in the corner squares and stitch Christmas shapes. I have used that idea a few times and it is a fun little addition. I love the little ornaments, they are really cute! I could make a bunch for my tree, maybe!
ReplyDeleteI just ran across this posting. Must have missed it. Very cute, but I am worried because your ornaments are so nice :)
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