Hello again. Whew - last week was one of "those" weeks. I'm teaching at back to back retreats for American Quilting, but then I went and got sick last week, which just wiped me out. We've had a bug going slowly through my family and I kept hoping I'd avoided it. But, nope. I'm happy to report though, that I am now feeling much better. Just totally behind on everything. Except Masterpiece Theater (Victoria) because I did spend way more time than normal, lying on the couch watching TV.
So here's a little bit of what I've been working on behind the scenes. In one of the retreat classes we're working on my Double Crossed pattern. I think my favorite part of taking or teaching classes is seeing the wide variety of fabrics and color choices for the same pattern. It's so fun and inspiring!
Here's a version that Caren was making for a new grandbaby. I love the nautical prints, but I also love how using the low-contrast neutrals gives the design a more subtle feel. (Fabric found here.) There were so many great variations in my class - including an all solids version, which I've never seen done with this pattern - so I'm hoping they'll send me finished pictures!
I've been making mine using a new collection due out from Penny Rose Fabrics called Lily. It has such a sweet, vintage feel to it. I paired it with the solid Riley Blake solid Mint to enhance the vintage-y ness. It will be heading to stores later this month.
Here's another project I've been working on - this sweet little pieced hexagons baby quilt. This is for a class all about Y-seams that I'm teaching as well. I'm trying to take the mystery and frustration out of Y-seams - and this is coming from the queen of short-cuts. There aren't really any short-cuts with Y-seams, they're just not as scary as they've been made out to be. 😉 I'll have more to share about them in upcoming months.
The fabric choices for this quilt are based off the Fresh Dew collection from Dear Stella. I love the little bunnies in this Garden Adventures print. (Fresh Dew fabrics are available here, here, and here.)
And now I'm headed back this week to teach again. And this time I'm going to get to stay an extra day and just sew. With this kind of scenery. Sounds so good right now.
CherylB
Glad you're feeling better missed you and your posts this week !
Karen
UCK! The dreaded going-through-the-family bug! At least you had Victoria to keep you company--Love it! (And it was even better since Victoria was once a companion of Dr. Who 🙂 Just one gripe--now that you've shown us the new Dear Stella, I have to have some 😉
Amy Smart
#sorrynotsorry 😉
Rosemaryflower
Well Amy, I hope it was the head/sinus thing and not something worse.
I babysat little Sarah my grand Greenboogers daughter two weeks ago, and then last week I got it. Very very stubborn
and yes, nothing got done. It was that head ache and the fever that made me feel so disgusting. I finally went to the doctor after 6 days and got the army of antibiotic intervention.
I am glad you are back. The virus going around here is stubborn, so I have been continuing to keep hydrated and take these pills that used to make me feel barfy, but I guess I have gotten used to them haha
This fabric is delightful. Just looking at it makes me happy.
I adore the quilt, love the tulips.
And the horsies, and the snow and the mountains. Kidnap me! ♥️
Amy Smart
Ugh. Those bugs are the worst! They just wipe you out. I hope you're starting to feel on the mend!
gsyanne63
Your quilts are lovely the hexes are beautiful I love to do them by hand, but by machine sounds really good will check that out xxx
Julie Ann
Do you consider this to be a pattern for a beginner?
Amy
It's not super difficult. I wouldn't make it for my first quilt pattern, but if you've made a quilt or two and feel confident, you should be fine. You are sewing with bias edges ( fabric cut on the diagonal) so just be careful not to stretch the fabric. If it's your first quilt, I would try something with straight lines like patchwork squares, just to get comfortable with the 1/4" seam allowance, etc.