The Next Canvas

After making Leanne/shecanquilt's Canvas pattern baby-sized last year, I knew I'd have to do that again sometime. It really is sweet and quick yet packs a modern punch.

I repeated the use of both solids and prints in the center blocks this time, though in a different arrangement. Something about the mix just adds a bit of fun. Also repeated are the borders in Modern Solids in grey by In the Beginning. There's something about this particular solid that I like. Back in the day when they were selling fabric, I'd purchased some at Pink Chalk Fabrics, who described them this way: "These fabrics are yarn dyed, woven fabrics with one color in the warp and another color in the filling. The warp and weft threads are generally a tonal variation of the same color creating an iridescent look. The color changes as the cloth moves in the light. The base cloth has a silky smooth hand and beautiful drape." The movement that 'iridescence' gives to the finished quilt is really something.

I dug in my stash for a backing and came up with teal Michael Miller ta dots. To bring it up to size, I fussy-cut a Cotton + Steel border print from Melody Miller's Mustang collection. Dare I say, I thought it worked out beautifully.

For quilting, I used my machine's serpentine stitch, which appears to be my 'go-to' stitch for baby quilts. Kinda playful, fun to stitch, and for reasons not totally understandable, it always goes so fast. One wrong turn at the machine and I found myself quilting a grid rather that the one-direction I had planned, but oh well! Rather than take it out, I went with it, and honestly, I kinda like it! I quilted using Aurifil 50wt #2600 (Dove), a good match for the border while leaving a subtle effect on the aqua and teal.

To finish, binding is of the same grey solid, just to keep the focus on the center spots of color. Measuring 36" square, a good wash and dry gave this little quilt a cozy softness and crinkle, just perfect for baby.

This quilt is on my 2015 Q1 FAL list!

Canvas, Baby

When I needed to make a quick but sweet baby girl quilt last weekend, I jumped from one idea to another. And then it came to me. What would really be fun would be another Canvas quilt. A pattern by Leanne/shecanquilt, I'd made it twice before, as a wall quilt, and as a pincushion. Making it for a baby quilt sounded perfect.

I had made the other 2 Canvas projects in solids and linen. For this one, I alternated cotton solids with prints in the center. The borders are the most delightful Modern Solids in grey by In the Beginning. To quote Pink Chalk Fabrics, "These fabrics are yarn dyed, woven fabrics with one color in the warp and another color in the filling. The warp and weft threads are generally a tonal variation of the same color creating an iridescent look. The color changes as the cloth moves in the light. The base cloth has a silky smooth hand and beautiful drape." Oh yeah! It brought that pink to life.

For the backing I found a bright mod dot - Finlandia by Free Spirit. I actually received several yards of this in the Stashtacular flickr swap several years ago, and have hung onto it for who knew what. I thought it was perfect for this little quilt, and I still have enough left for another small backing, which makes me oddly happy.

Since "quick" was kind of a key factor with this one, I turned to my trusty serpentine stitch for quilting, choosing Aurifil 50wt #4670 (Silver Fox - love that!). It made me smile to sew with and added a subtle something special to the pinks and grey both. Binding, though not very evident in the photos, is the Sherbet Pips square dot, providing an understated little accent to finish things off.

Destined for a baby, I chose to wash Canvas, Baby, which also offered me the perfect chance to see the crinkle. Win again.

Colour Study in Teal and Gold

Last weekend as I was mulling over what direction to take with the Canvas pattern I had offered to test out for my friend Leanne/she can quilt, I came across this Design Seeds photo, and I knew I'd found the palette for my colour study.

a door hues by Design Seeds

Something about it drew me right in, and within 10 minutes, I had stacks of solids on my cutting board and was making some decisions. I chose a variety of teals and golds, with some Kaufman Essex Linen in natural for the background.

Leanne's pattern has many (13!) size options, and I went with the 24"x24" mini quilt. After a quick and satisfying sew, I had the top done and was ready to baste and quilt! For the backing, 2 pieces of Joel Dewberry's Notting Hill coordinated beautifully, turned at an angle for a bit of fun.

For quilting, I pulled out several Aurifil 50wt spools, and one 28wt. The colors, #2000 (light sand), #2130 (medium butter), #2140 (mustard), #2975 (brass), #4662 (spotted, variegated), and #5006 (light turquoise 28wt), were a colour study in and of themselves. And yeah, I used up that light turquoise before you could get a good look at it!

I quilted good and dense. Sewing with a 3.5 stitch length, I went over 2 stitches at the end of each row before heading back the other way. I randomly changed out threads - whenever it struck my fancy.

For the binding I tried a little something new, and though I love it, my photos of the finished quilt didn't really show it well. So you'll have to trust me on this one, and I'll try it again another time. Basically, I cut a piece of linen about 3"x8" and 'quilted' it cross-wise. After a quick press, I trimmed it to my binding width of 2 1/4". Then I just inserted it into my main binding strip and proceeded as normal.

In the photo below, the little quilted binding section is directly to the left of the darkest teal in the lower left corner.  Unfortunately, you can't really see the colored threads of quilting well in this shot either. This was taken during morning light, so I need to try again to show off the accents better.

Anyway, this was a really fun project, and it was great to try a new palette. Leanne's pattern gives some nice suggestions on choosing fabrics, and is comprehensive in its cutting instructions. Colored diagrams are available for the piecing, which is always a plus as far as I'm concerned. And as a bonus of sorts, Leanne also includes links for finishing techniques, tips if you'd like to make a non-square quilt, and even the actual fabric colors used in her own colour study projects. So yeah, I'm impressed, and highly recommend this pattern! I totally plan on making it again in another size.

***This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for participating!*** Leanne has generously offered to give away one copy of her Canvas pattern, which will be available for purchase very soon. Just leave a comment on this post, and I'll choose a random winner on Sunday night. Meanwhile, watch the #canvasquilt tag on Instagram as other pattern testers show off their projects. Then start thinking what colors you want to try.

Linking up with Finish it up Friday and Fabric Tuesday!

W.i.P. Wednesday

The last time I popped in for W.i.P. Wednesday, I was heading on retreat, and had more than a reasonable number of projects on my to do list. Three of those projects are now happily posted in the 2014 Quilts tab above - yay for that! Currently, here's what else I've got going . . .

Postage Stamp quilt - I did manage to finish cutting over 1200-2 1/2" squares, basically cutting up my stash.

I'm using the tutorial by Louise/I'm Feelin' Crafty, and adhering my squares to featherweight interfacing before sewing the blocks together. The top block shown below has its seams all sewn; the others have the squares pressed to the interfacing and are ready to be sewn. I was gung ho on getting on these the other night, and then managed to distract myself on other projects. oops.


Cross-Stitch Blocks - Here's another scrap project - cross-stitch blocks using the tutorial by Alyssa/Pile O'Fabric. I'm using Kona Ash charm squares as my base. I've got at least 50 x-pieces cut out, but for the pattern I have in mind, I'll need over 100 total, so I've got a ways to go. Haven't touched this one in weeks. I'd really like to finish the scrappy Postage Stamp quilt and then move on to this one.


I'm calling this one a w.i.p. even though I am still expecting a few blocks from my Mid-Century Modern Bee. These are Rolling Diamonds blocks from the tutorial by knottygnome crafts. I'm really liking these blocks!

I'm pattern-testing for Leanne/shecanquilt - her soon-to-be released "Canvas" based on her Colour Study quilts. I've really enjoyed this process, and am putting the finishing touches on my sample, so will be showing that off soon!


So that's what's actually in the works! And of course there's plenty more project ideas rolling around in my head . . . So it goes!

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.