Mad Dash

So I did a little more pattern-testing last week, this time for Michelle/Factotum of Arts [ml_wilkie]. The pattern is for Mad Dash, a subtle geometric quilt (see #maddashquilt). With four size variations available, I opted for the 20" pillow. Though I loved how Michelle used a mix of low-volume prints for her original Mad Dash quilt, I chose just one - a favorite I've had stashed for a while - Make Drafts Paper by AGF Studio. For the 'dashes' I used an Interweave Chambray in Pepper.

The piecing went really quick, and for quilting, I did an uneven grid in two directions.



I backed the pillow with more of the chambray, and I kinda love that deep contrast.

And one little side note .... my backing fabric wasn't quite wide enough, so I pieced it! Rather than let it seem a mistake of sorts, I top-stitched on both sides of the seam, making it appear as a design detail. It made me happy at least. 

So it shouldn't be long before Michelle releases her latest pattern. I went pretty simple with my choices this time, but the pattern has lots of flexability. Peek here at what jskarritt is doing with hers!

Quarter Round

It was my pleasure to pattern-test for Krista/poppyprint last week, especially since her Quarter Round quilt had caught my eye late last year! The pattern Krista is finalizing will include directions for both the four-block mini, as well as for her larger Round Peg, Square Hole.

Very precise cutting of fabric pieces and an accurate 1/4" seam are the keys to success. That said, the blocks went together easily and fairly quickly. It helped me to lay out all the pieces for one block at a time and then just sew, pressing per Krista's instructions. She's even included a coloring page for those that want to get really creative with the logs in each block.

I match-stick quilted my mini in the gray portions only, in an attempt to accentuate the colored solids. I love the look, though maybe should have given it a press before running out for photos. But I was so excited to find this awesome water tower on our retreat property that I didn't even notice till I got home. Worth it, I'd say!

So watch for Krista's pattern release soon! This is a fun one, and isn't that optical illusion something?!

See Instagram hashtags #quarterroundquilt and #roundpegsquareholequilt for more examples of Krista's design. Linking up with Fabric Tuesday.

Motley

When Nicole/mama love quilts emailed me a few days ago and told me her new pattern was ready for testing, I totally did not expect to hop right on it, with QuiltCon less than a week away. But with a couple of free hours Saturday night, I thought, "I'll just get started." And before I knew it, I had the top done!

The pattern is The Motley Wheel, which finishes as a 20" color wheel mini quilt. I had never made a color wheel, which is probably one reason I was so excited about it. There was paper-piecing involved, but the easiest kind, and Nicole gives good direction about color placement. Once the quadrants were pieced and trimmed, I even found the corners a breeze to sew on, due to their size. So if you're skittish at all about curves, feel confident trying these.

One of the options given in the pattern is the choice of an improvisationally pieced low-volume background, or a background using just one fabric, which is what I did. Since Nicole's original color wheel had the scrappier background, I thought I might as well test with the other option, plus I had a print I really wanted to use - Gramercy's NY Circuit Ashen by Leah Duncan for Art Gallery. Something about it told me it would be awesome here.

I really debated on the quilting, and I think there are a lot of patterns that would be fun to try on this mini, but I finally decided on a spiral for the 'rainbow,' using Auriful 50wt #2843 (palm leaf), which definitely shows, but isn't stark. Plus I used it on my City Sampler quilt, and it worked beautifully there.

For the background, I used Auriful 50wt #2021 (natural white) to create a starburst type of effect, quite similar to what I'd done on my Riley Blake Meets Mango early last year. I couldn't decide what to do on the center circle, so I left it alone for now, finishing the mini off with more of the Gramercy, letting the color wheel really stand out.

 

Quite simply, this mini was a joy to make. I highly recommend Nicole's pattern - look for it to be available for sale shortly. Meanwhile, check out #themotleywheel on instagram to see several versions of the pattern already in process. I can't wait to see more!

Two in One

When Svetlana/s.o.t.a.k handmade put out a call for testers for her first pattern, I couldn't resist but volunteer. Here's my Two in One pouch!

Svetlana wrote an easy-to-follow, fat-quarter friendly pattern for a pouch unlike anything I'd made before. Isn't it fun? Even the zips went in super easy. Wouldn't you know I didn't get a good photo of my favorite detail - the bottom, just 1/2" wide finished, was a perfect venue for a fussy-cut accent piece. You can barely see in the bottom-left photo above that the bottom is the same as the inside fabric, with a cute, straight line of gold x's. When it came time to do the last little step - stitch along the bottom of the pouch, I chose to stitch on either side of that strip. The pouch still folds closed really nicely, so my tweak didn't seem to change that.

After swapping away my first pouch at the SMQG retreat last weekend, I wanted to make another, this time quilting the exterior. I used matching thread, which you can't see very well, but it has a nice feel and is a nice variation.

Another detail I treated differently was the zips. Totally because I didn't have pairs of zippers in the same colors, I opted for 2 coordinating ones, a feature I actually really like.

Do go check out Svetlana's reveal post from yesterday. Her testers made a really sweet collection of pouches, personalized in a variety of clever ways. Oh, and the pouches I made were 'large' ones, measuring 4.5” x 8.25” x 1"', but there is also a small version included in the pattern as well, 3.5” x 5.5” x 1”. The pattern is available on etsy. My guess is you'll enjoy making these as much as I have.

Testing . . . 1, 2, 3 . . . Testing

Last year during the For the Love of Solids Swap, Michelle of City House Studio made the most darling book bag for her partner. So when she asked for volunteers to pattern test the book bag for her a few weeks ago, I was more than willing.

The "Read" Book Bag calls for a little paper-piecing, but mostly basic sewing. For the 'books', I chose some favorite fabrics, along with a few that signified special meaning for my family - a 'sewing' book (scissors), a foreign language book, and a 'cookbook'. The background was done in KONA Ash, and the 'bookshelf' fabric is Quilter's Linen in Stone.

Paper piecing was just required for the "read" letters - 4 small blocks, so it went pretty quick, and was fun to do scrappy. I used many of the fabrics I'd used on the book side, plus added what I needed of other coordinating fabrics so no two were repeated.

Since my books and letters weren't as bold as they could have been, I decided to go a little brighter for the lining and inner pocket.

The book bag was really an enjoyable project, and I'm glad I was able to help Michelle out by testing her pattern and giving some feedback.

What a fun and useful little project! Thanks Michelle!