Showing posts with label All the diagonals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All the diagonals. Show all posts

Monday, April 27, 2020

A Finish & A Giveaway

One lucky reader (commenter) will get a free pattern - All the Diagonals, from Mell Meyer.
Just leave a comment, completing this sentence.  After the Covid induced coma is over, I will...

And now, let the eye candy begin.  You heard about Quarantina earlier and saw her glimpses on Instagram.  Here she is - my Covid Child (thus named by Rebecca of Cheeky Cognoscenti).

Paul is promoted to Model

You know when you cannot decide between cake and pie?
When you want both chocolate and strawberry.
When you don't want to choose between the ocean and the mountains...hold that thought.

Speckled FQ Bundle

Cool Ones

Warm Ones
The fabric of choice is Speckled by Ruby Star Society.
The cool blues and soothing greens were an obvious choice, based on Mell's pattern.

The first four blocks

21 out of 42 

But I wanted other half of the spectrum too. Why choose, when you can have both?
I made the remaining blocks in warm colors - pinks, orange, peach and yellow.

Almost Blocks

The choice of white background with cool blocks was easy. After mulling a bit, I decided on a black
background with warm blocks.

Design Wall

The exact layout - which blocks go where - took longer.  And the sashing was a bit of an issue due to the split white and black backgrounds.

Matching Seams

Trying to match seams

Matching seams (kinda sorta) took forever. I matched the border colors with the split layout. Flimsy was finished two days before the deadline.

Deadline Met
My toes :-)

Time to quilt :-O

Backing Fabric
Most fabric is 44" wide, except the wide backing that is 104" wide. Ikea used to carry 100% cotton fabric that was about 54" wide which was perfect for backing lap/throw size quilts. Used to. Not any more. Bummer.

Recently I discovered quilting cotton that is 63" wide. BINGO!!! The above backing fabric is from fabric.com (no affiliation). Look for STOF.

The quilting was straight-ish lines using my walking foot. The binding decision was the last but not the least.

I had matched the border to the split layout and wanted to extend that design to the binding.

Should binding continue the split?

Me: I am thinking that the binding should match the borders.
Paul: How so?
Me: White binding in the top and left and black binding in the bottom and right.
Paul: Can you do that?
Me: It can be done. Whether I can match it exactly may take a few attempts.
Paul: Why not do the opposite?
Me: Like white with black and black with white?
Paul: Yes. Contrast binding.

I hadn't thought of it. Now I was battling with two difficult ideas.
In the end I chose an easy way out - striped black and white binding.

Striped Binding

I am not fond of paper-piecing. But I do recommend this pattern. It is very detailed (including coloring pages), well written and the size recommendations are generous. Even when I made a mistake, the generous size ensured that it worked.

Incorrect orientation of the corner triangle - still within the paper limits


Quarantina was delivered on April 18, 2020.  She has excellent complexion and measures 53" by 61.5" .  The baby is doing fine. The mother is neglecting her to take care of other babies.
NEXT!!!

Hello Quarantina :-)
Quarantina wanted to play in the sun. I agreed. A few more pictures.


Quilting Detail

Split White and Black

Love the Backing

Picnic with Quarantina

Isn't she lovely?

Labelled - Mine :-)

And one last look


I will be linking with all my favorite linky parties.  See full list on the sidebar.

Don't forget to comment if you wish to win a free pattern.

Here is my response (to the comment question)...
After the Covid induced coma is over I will spend an entire day in the spa getting spoiled. Manicure, Pedicure, Massage, Facial, Microdermabrasion... whatever that is. Sure, you can microdermawhatever my big behind.

Your turn...

Update on May 8, 2020 - The random number generator chose #24. The winner is KiwiKid.


The giveaway is closed.


Sunday, April 12, 2020

Our daughter Quarantina!!!

Paul: What is the matter babe?
Me: Cramps
Paul: Oh no!!!
Me: What?
Paul: I was going to name our daughter Quarantina.

New Pattern by Mell Meyer

Ten minutes later, when I stopped laughing, I had to ask...

Me: What if it were a boy?
Paul: I hadn't thought about it.
Me: How does Quarantino sound?
Paul: Nah, doesn't have the same ring to it.

Still laughing...


I was one of the pattern testers for Mell Meyer's new pattern - All the Diagonals.
The pattern is released today.  Her blogpost shows all the pattern testers' finished tops  plus a code for 25% off. A few ambitious testers completed their quilts. Not me. Not yet.

Backing for Quarantina


In honor of the superb conversation (with Paul) and the fact that this paper-pieced (not my favorite technique) quilt was made during the quarantine (a difficult time), I have decided that she will be named Quarantina.


Binding


As soon as Quarantina is quilted, bound and photographed, I will share all the process pictures from fabric selection to the final finish and a pattern giveaway too.


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Rainbow Scrap Challenge's April colors are light and bright blue.

The Blues - Medium and Bright


I purposely stayed away from light blues, because light blue would be a poor contrast with the white background.  Using medium and bright blues instead.


Here are my blocks.

April Blocks


Ombre & Floral

Swirls and Robots

Octopuses that Shimmer

Juice Boxes


Do check out other RSC blocks on Angela's linky party.  I will be sharing with all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.


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Of course I made a mask or two. (It would be unpatriotic not to)
Paul, the model

Of course I am wearing a mask. (It is suicidal not to)

Masked

I am wearing a mask also to hide my now fully-grown bushy mustache.

Me: Paul, can I use your beard trimmer for my facial hair?
Paul: Babe, you need a lawn mower.

Guess I will keep the mask on.

But don't mask your feelings from me - reveal them in your comments. I am dying to connect with you, even if it is online.  Big Hugs from a safe distance.