Irish Trip Around The World

Waaaay back in 2020 in a time of lockdowns and only being allowed to go around your own neighbourhood, I made a carer's call to an elderly friend who lives walking distance away.  She handed me a batik jelly roll.  That jelly roll sat for quite some time while I decided what to do with it.  Hot pink, bright yellow, med grey and dark greys certainly had my brain ticking over.

Fast forward to April 2021, and I was going through my bookcase, I remembered that I had been given this book from Lorraine few years earlier and thought "what if....?"

I settled on the pattern Quick and Easy Irish Trip from the book, as my first foray into combining strip piecing for quite a structured setting.

For the background, I found the perfect piece from my stash.  Then it was a case of sorting the jelly roll colours and labelling the strips into their correct positions.

Once sorted, it was a case of making strip-sets and then sewing those strip-sets in order to make the pattern.   It was actually quite easy once I got my brain into gear and understood the process and placement.  I completed the quilt top at a quilt group sewing day.

For the quilting, I cross-hatched the central panel in with YLI 'Sand' lightly variegated cotton thread and for the border I used Signature dark grey thread, following the circles in the fabric pattern.

Once quilted and bound, it was photo time!  I think the reason I was drawn the border/backing fabric was the fact that it looks like the colours of the ironbark eucalyptus trees, like you can see in the background of the photo on the right below.

In the final quilt photo below, I really like how the colours pop in the dappled late afternoon shade.

This is a finish from June 2025, where the winter weather gave me plenty of time to quilt and do other sewing things indoors.

Finished size:  43.5in x 64.5in  (111cm x 164cm), which is perfect for donating to a local quilt group for the community-in-need quilts.

** Book used:  Trip to Ireland by Elizabeth Hamby Carlson; an absolutely fabulous book about combining Irish Chain and Trip Around The World patchwork patterns.

Chandelier Table Runner

 A very small and simple finish this week.  Another one that has been sitting in the binding pile for about 18months or more.  A table runner made from blocks leftover from this quilt that I made in 2020.  The second in my set of 3 Chandelier Beads projects. 

Detail of quilting and the binding.

I quilted the runner on my domestic sewing machine with a simple interlocking hearts/leaves design, using rayon machine embroidery thread.  I love how it gives texture over the top of the simple design and subtle colours of the runner.

Because the fabrics I used are so subtle, I chose a piece of multi-coloured blue/green/purple batik for the binding to give it a bit of a lift.

Backing folded onto the front with the lovely binding contrast.

I took this runner to a sewing with friends day recently so that I could finish the binding.  Sitting next to me was Marg, an 80+yr old with a huge heart.  She said to me many times how much she loves this runner.  Marg and I share our birthday day and each year on Retreat with our group, she and I go off and have a little 'cheers' to each other and share a red wine, which we both love.  So, with memories of great conversations, drinks and solving world problems,  I will gift this runner to her when I next see her.

This is my second photo of the whole runner because I realised for the full shot of the whole runner that I took when it was on the floor, it looked really bleergh!!  I retook the whole shot photo on my sewing table - soooo much better!

Although, I still managed to get my shadow on part of the photo - duh!  I'll need to work on that ;)

Interesting colours - the grey is not a true grey and seems to have tones of purple in it.  I really like the subtlety of the colour and feel that it will blend into any decor.   

Finished size is 37cm x 98cm   (14.5in x 38.5in)

21 and Houses!

This is 3 of 3 for the 21st birthday quilts.  Oh, so much fun!  What's not to love about houses that look like Melbourne's bathing boxes on the foreshore?  

Starting with a free pattern that was generously provided by Moda Fabrics when the pandemic started and we all had to be "locked down" in 2020, I found the most perfect use for what was a recently indulgent purchase of a 300 piece x 5in squares batik pack.  

I thought with the 5in pack that I would have had enough fabric to make all the huts, but it wasn't to be and so into my stash I went, which thankfully gave me enough to complete all of the houses with no repeats.

So much glorious colour!  After laying out the colours and deciding what to pair with which one, the cutting began.  And there was lots and lots of cutting.

First up, I made all of the beach hut fronts.   Contrasting doors so that you will know where to enter.

Then I made all of the rooves, some with chimneys so that you know the fire will be burning during the colder months.

After all of the chain piecing and lots of sewing, suddenly the houses seemed to come together as entire units.  Each and every one is so gorgeous!

Then they needed to laid out.  It took quite a while to lay them out and get a colour balance that I was happy with.  Yes, there was input from the rest of the family during this process.  

This is a very happy quilt.  I kept on thinking of family, fun times and being outdoors while making the houses, so hopefully those thoughts have been infused into the quilt.

For the backing, I put together 2 large pieces from stash, which as you can see from the bottom corner, was not quite enough - oh oops!  I had intended to put the label on that odd corner piece, but as you can see in the photo, I inadvertently put the label on the top of the quilt... oh dear.  I didn't realise until after I had gifted the quilt and was looking at the photos that I had done that.  L said it didn't bother him, so that's okay.   Phew!

For the quilting, I quilted in the ditch along all of the long seams and then I used a tumbling hearts pattern from 'quilting made easy' for rows of houses, to symbolize heart and home.  In the border, I made a proper frame with a cable design, like the twist on a rope to echo the beach hut theme.

I used a light pale blue/white variegated cotton thread from  'wonderfil' on the top and the back.

Ta da.... here is the finished quilt.  In the bright sunlight, the houses are positively glowing, just like a sunny day at the ocean when the sun is reflecting onto beach huts.

L is very compassionate about others.  He is very empathetic to those who are struggling and has found a career supporting those who are less fortunate and are struggling.  Here is what I wrote on his quilt label: 

Village of Houses.  Your world is all about community, family and everyone mixing in together.   These little fun beach huts represent the awesomeness of diversity when you allow the doors to be opened up to new ideas and adventures.  We wish you so much love, happiness and joy as you make your path through life. 

To be able to make and gift quilts to boys who have grown up with my own boys into wonderful young men is truly humbling.  

Finished Quilt Size:  69in x 79.5in
Gifted in Feb 2023

Pattern can be found here.

21 and Black & White #2

Another black and white quilt.  Another 21st.  This is the first of 2 quilts for twins who turned 21 a few weeks ago.  A great use of stash with left over pieces from several quilts in the colours and two pieces of good quality left over wide backs - ie:  the black and white fabrics.

I spent a whole day cutting out and carefully labelling the pieces for the each of the blocks.  While it looks simple, the placement of the black, white and colours did get a bit confusing at times. 

I took this quilt away on retreat last year to get the bulk of the sewing done and, with some help from my un-picker when I mixed things up,  I successfully completed the quilt top at the retreat.  I added a small narrow border of the black around the quilt top, just to keep the many seams at the edge of the quilt secure and to provide a small break between the piecing and the striped binding.

Yes, it does seem to play tricks on the eyes a little bit with all of the movement across the quilt top.  I really liked making this quilt top, even if the placement of the black and white through the centre with the merging of the blocks got confusing up close.

So bright in the sunlight!  These photos were snapped in the morning on the day of the twins 21st and the wind was picking up.

I used a woven Kaffe Fasset stripe for the binding because it had the perfect colours.  The backing has a large panel of the binding stripe fabric and all the little left over pieces, plus some extras were used to make a pieced panel.

Domestic machine quilting with a swirl and a row of tumbling hearts/leaves.  I used a Raiman variegated thread for the front of the quilt and a Superior Threads gold for the back.  Love, love this look, especially the gold on the back.

And, finally, here is the completed top in all of its sunlit glory.  

Because this particular M is studying to be an Environmental Engineer and is passionate about the world around him, this is what I wrote on his quilt label....

A conundrum, what to do with the environment?  This quilt represents the finding a way between the black and white of modern materialism and the protecting of nature where the greenery will always find a place to emerge.  Knowing that you will work hard to find your way, we wish you so much love, happiness and joy as you make your path through life. 

A few days after the 21st, the twins Dad called me up to say thank you.  He said the whole family was 'blown away' by the boys quilt gifts and that M almost cried when he read the label.

I've also had a phone call from their Mum expressing both her and their gratitude.

This family is very special to us.  We used to live in the same street and have remained firm friends for two decades now, despite our many house moves over the years.  The quilt for twin #2 is next week's post. ;) 

Gifted in February 2023.
Finished quilt size:  66in x 84in (158cm x 203cm).  

The pattern can be found here.

 

21 and Black & White #1

Black and White is so much fun!  This quilt has so many snippets of fabrics from other quilts that I've made over the years, plus a few extra bits thrown in from one of my friends.  There's been quite a bit of conversation among a couple of online and in person groups that I belong to about black and white with a splash of colour quilts lately, that I thought I'd share this one, which holds a special place in my heart.

I always had a particular friend of my son in mind when making this quilt top, but wasn't sure when I would give it to him, then we were invited to his 21st birthday, and voila! there was the impetus to get this one finished.  

We first met M and his mum when T and I were both in the new "Mothers Group" when M was 4 months old and my son was 3 months old, so a lot of love and memories have been stitched into this quilt.

The blocks are wonderfully simple and so effective when making them, each one giving it's own "wow" factor.  When I took the photos, it was a very dull weather day, with little sun and the colours in the blocks just 'popped' with their own vibrancy.

As I was making the quilt top, I came to realise that it didn't really matter if the black and white merged slightly into grey, there was still contrast between the blocks, with the lime/avocado green binding pulling it all together.

The back is black piece of wide-back fabric with a tone-on-tone print.  I quilted this quilt with a variegated Raiman rayon thread on the front and a Madiera avocado/lime thread on the back, which looked so funky.  Unfortunately I did not get a close up of the quilting on the back.

Wrapped and ready for gifting with the label reading:  

Dear M....., may this quilt join for celebrations, commiserations and all the moments that life will throw at you.  Each time you use this quilt, our thoughts will be with you, gently guiding and supporting.

 

Finishing at 56in x 72in, it's a perfect size for a couch quilt. 

And... one last bragging moment - when M and his partner left the 21st venue, this quilt was the only gift he took home with him, leaving his mum to pack up and collect the rest of the gifts.  An act that truly melted my heart and resulted in having a happy tears hug with T.

Completed and gifted Oct 2022.

Pattern used can be found here

Succumbing to Serendipity

During this peculiar time when we are to be "self isolating" and practising "social distancing", some great quilt shops/companies are putting out fun things we can do while stuck at home.  What good quilter doesn't mind getting a fun pattern, which uses up stash scraps and makes something fun?

Moda Fabrics and Miss Rosie's Quilt Co have provided the pattern Village free online for Quilters  worldwide while there is a global pandemic going on.

This pattern makes good use of 5in squares, perfect for all of those batiks I have stashed away! 

The bundle of yummy batik 5in squares comes from an impulse buy in April 2019 at the Australiasian Quilt Convention.  They simply leapt into my hands as soon as my eyes saw them.  With 171 pieces in the pack, I then had to cut another 130 pieces out of others in my stash.  I had no idea that I had 130 bits of fabric which co-ordinate together!

The background is a Moda Bella Solid, which makes the house fabrics really pop.

Seems like I can start immediately!!  I think it's serendipity.  I've been looking at house quilt patterns for ages and this one seems to have fallen in my lap!

And..... here's the first part... the roof tops..... all cut, ready to chain piece.

Here they are, all ready to meet the walls....

Then came the cutting for the walls.... look at all of that glorious colour!

To be closely followed by assembled house fronts

The roofs met the walls...

Now they are turning into a "proper" village....

oohhh - love, love, love.