Gravity is catching up with me

Or rather, I'm catching up with the Gravity quilt. In all other aspects I think gravity is winning...gulp.

I've powered my way through the two Eclipe blocks, which come in blue and yellow/ochre colour ways. Here's the yellow one.

Although there are two partial seams in each block, the blocks come together fairly quickly and easily provided that you leave a big enough "gap" for finishing off the seam. I think Julie from Jaybird Quilts recommends leaving a 1/2" gap; I confess I left at least 1" if not more.

I've found that the big risk with partial seams is that the two parts of the seam don't match up and lay flat. Maybe this problem is exaccerbated by the larger gap I leave but I'd rather have too much wiggle room rather than too little.

When I come to complete the seam at the end, if I sew from the edge of the pieces back in towards the partial seam (i.e. I'm heading back towards the point where I left off the seam when I first sewed it) I risk not meeting the end of my partial seam exactly and creating a buckle in the fabric. I've found that starting the partial seam from the middle and sewing out to the edge works better for me but you lot probably do that, right?! I'm so slow.

Voyage comes in blue and orange colour ways, of which I've only completed the blue so far. 

No partial seams in this one, just lots of points to match! As usual I'm using a long basting stitch to sew the seam and check that my points match perfectly. If they don't, I pull the basting stitches out, adjust, rebaste and then check again. Once everything matches up perfectly, I sew the seam again using a 2.0 stitch length and then pull out the superfluous basting stitch.

Once I've finished the orange version of Voyage, I still have to cut and piece the monochrome setting triangles which finish off the quilt and piece the top. And then there's the bonus cushion...

So much to do, so little time!

Finally, my usual October plea to any quilters from Vermont who may be able to recommend quilt shops for me to visit in October. No one had been able to recommend any so far so I'm wondering if maybe there aren't any? I'm conscious that Vermont is a relatively small state and maybe everyone crosses state lines to shop? Ah well, more time for the Ben and Jerry's factory tour!

Avoiding basting excuse #1 - the cosmos ate my shoes

Most of the long weekend was spent finishing off the secret project top and then piecing the back. This was my first foray into pattern matching a seam and don't get me started on how complicated it was. But more of that later.

Of course once the top and back were pieced, the next step was basting. I hate basting, particularly when his Highness isn't around. Scrambling around on my hands and knees on the hard conservatory floor isn't my idea of fun. So enter basting-avoidance project #1 - Gravity quilt.

I'm slightly more than half way through this project so there's more to do although not a huge amount more. 

The next block to tackle is Cosmic, a six point star with triangles and diamonds on the ends. It comes in two jewel colour schemes - ruby red and emerald green.

There's quite a few points to match here but, using Carol Doak's technique of using a large basting stitch first, adjusting as necessary and then sewing using a smaller stitch length it came together rather quickly. 

The six colours are more distinct then they seem in the picture but I must confess that I can't tell the difference between a couple of the shades. That's a terrible thing for a woman to confess and may disqualify me from being able to use it as an excuse for buying more shoes in the future. Maybe. 

And now we return to our usual programming

After yesterday's disasters, a much better sewing day today.

I finally managed to catch up with the GenX Quilter's Moccasin block of the month by finishing off block 6, a Dresden plate.

The only issue with this block was the (for me anyway) bespoke size of the blades. I have the EZ Quilting Dresden blade ruler which measures blades from 2" upwards in 1/2" increments. The size and angle of each size blade ensures that a certain number of blades makes a full Dresden circle.

However the Moccasin block required blades which were 4" high but the side angles of which corresponded with the 3" template on my ruler. A bit confusing! So I cut my fabric 4" wide, started to cut the blades using the 3" mark on the template until I ran out of ruler at 3" and then manually extended the cuts down to the end of the blade. I guess thus is how the block designers managed to get 20 blades to fit in a 9.5" block. It works!

Ironically, the Ultraviolet blocks of the Gravity quilt from Jaybird Quilts ended up being simpler block of the day, despite having partial seams! This block comes in two colour ways, purple and yellow.

Despite having one partial seam, the blocks came together very quickly. I used Carol Doak's technique of basting matching points with a quick 4" basting stitch first before sewing the seam normally to ensure that the points matched up beautifully. The basting stitch is quick as I only baste the points and pulls out easily once the seam is sewn.

One odd thing about the purple block though- three of the fabrics displayed a weird polarized effect when photographed. The other fabrics seem fine.

I'm sure there's a simple technical explanation for this (Julie at Jaybird says she's had it happen to her with photographs before) but it certainly made the block seem even more out of this world!

The epic saga continues

Today I finished off Celestial from the Gravity quilt by Jaybird Quilts.

Happily the neon pinkness (I call this colour "acid Barbie") of fabric A was toned down by the other salmon and skin pinks. Not my favourite colour but it'll look great in the finished quilt.

I also started the Moccasin quilt designed by GenX Quilter's. I umm'd and ah'd about starting yet another BOM but the beautiful southern colours and modern design called to me! The only problem now is that I have some catching up to do!

First up were the two First Lady blocks.

Then came the curved windmill. 

Oh dear. I think I must have mistrimmed my drunkards path blocks as I missed all the matching points the first time around. You gotta admire my consistency. Time for a bit of unsewing...

 Much better! Ok, so I still missed one point but I'm not redoing it again! 

Gravity quilt - celestial

I've just realized that a number of my projects for this year are connected to outer space including Starlight, Starbright by Carol Doak and Garvity by Jaybird Quilts. Go figure.

The epic week of quilting continues with the next block in my Garvity quilt - celestial. This comes in two colour ways - green and pink. Here's the green one. 

You can see fabric A of the pink colour way in the background. The photo doesn't do it justice; it's neon pink!

This block is a lot more simple than some of the earlier one, particularly the now infamous Orbit. I still have nightmares about that block. 

There's only a few points to match here and, because the seams are going in the same direction, it's pretty straightforward. Tomorrow I'll get cracking on with the pink colour way.

I also finalized the design of my secret quilt (and it's awesome!) but I can't let you see it until it's gifted. Is that even a verb "to gift"? I think I'm making words up now. Time for bed. 

Roll up, roll up: see the amazing unironed block!

I've been a bit hampered in my piecing by a lack of an iron in my sewing room (see previous posts for the debacle!). Yes, I had my laundry iron but I confess I'm not brave enough to dice with death or at least second degree burns.

Instead I've managed to piece the red constellation block using alternative pressing means. 

Firstly here's the block. 

 Look at those beautiful points. 

They're almost perfect. Almost. And not an iron in sight.

Instead I used my old faithful wallpaper seam roller to press the seams open. 

Admittedly it's got a curved edge so it's difficult to get a perfectly flat seam but as, Angela Walters says "close enough is good enough". Too right Angela. 

Gravity: intergalactic

Next up in the Gravity quilt is block 4: intergalactic.

Happily this block is much easier to put together than the nightmarish Orbit. 

It comes in two colourways - green and purple. I only had time to make the green block so purple will have to wait.

Like most strip set pattern, the main challenge is keeping your centre seam in the strip set straight. Because the lower feed dogs pull the fabric through very slightly more than the top fabric, long strip sets have a tendency to bow (or as I like to think of it, "smile"). Luckily these sets are only 10" long so there's minimal chance of getting a significant in a strip set that short. 

Nip the ends of your diamond block and it neatly fits with the triangle corner. 

The only problem I have now is that I've got the Babylon Zoo song "Spaceman" going round in my head. Argh, earworm!

Going into Orbit

Having trundled my way through the first four blocks in Gravity, I thought I'd tackle the next block - Orbit. It comes in pink and blue options.

For those of you not making the quilt, Orbit is basically four hexagons joined together with triangles on opposite corners. I like a bit like this.

Sewing the triangles onto the hexagons is fairly straight forwards, but forming the rows and then joining the  rows together? Oh. Good. Grief.

The seams are pressed open so you can't nest them but, in any event, the opposing edges are at 60 degree angles so you couldn't nest them anyway. The edges overlap so you can't match points. Madness.

I must have seen that first seam 10 times. And unpicked it 9 times. Eventually my mantra became "baste, check, unpick, repeat".

Eventually I got there and without throwing it out of the window. But I don't have the energy to do the blue block right now.

At least I  know why it's called Orbit - I almost sent me into one.

Gravity...and all things going south

I've chosen to fill my current project gap with Jaybird Quilt's Gravity pattern. This quilt works well as a BOM but, for once, I've bought the whole thing in one go so can piece it whenever I like.

This weekend I put together the first four blocks - constellation and horizon. The pattern has six distinct blocks, each one pieced in two different colourways.

The first block (in green and orange) was horizon.

Yes, those oranges really are that bright! 

The second block (in yellow and purple) was constellation.

The kit comes with three layer cakes and all the fabrics for the first four blocks are in the first layer cake, in colour order. It is very easy to mix the colours up though - some are very similar in tone and shade. I followed Jaybird's suggestion and taped a little snip of each fabric into the book so that, once the pieces were cut, I could ensure I was sewing the right fabric together. 

So far Gravity is coming together nicely. Which is particularly surprising since I have to press my seams open (boo hiss). I love nesting seams; pin matching? Not so much. 

For once I love Gravity; we normally don't get on...

The sound of silence: not finishing anything up Friday

It's been a bad migraine week (I've contemplated voluntarily donating my brain to medical science whilst still alive) but, amidst it all I had a rather strange revelation - I don't have anything on my cutting mat. I have nothing to bring to the show-and-tell that is "Finish it up Friday".

Well, TBH that's not quite true - I have all those UFOs I recently mentioned but, with His Highness away, I don't have anyone to assist me with basting.

I have my block of the month projects but I'm up to date (smug level: high).

I have the Lets Talk About William commission but I'm waiting for the clients to confirm they're happy with the mock up.

I'm halfway through my Carol Doak paper foundation pieced stars so I could get on with more of those. But what else shall I do too - I can't just have one project going on.

Should I start the Jaybird Quilts Gravity?

Or maybe Elizabeth Hartman's Aviatrix Medallion? 

Decisions, decisions.

Sunday Stash #2

Right, first off this week is my Gravity kit by Jay Bird Quilts from Fat Quarter Shop. All my packages turned up this week including the little orphan package which seemed to get stuck in Austin, TX.

I love getting kits from FQS because (a) they do kits I struggle to find in the UK and (b) they package them in these really cute plastic zippy wallets which keeps everything together nicely!

Secondly I have a FQ bundle of Jennifer Sampou's Studio Stash 2.

I always love Jennifer's collections - they're so useable (for both genders, adults and kids) and blend beautifully with other collections. 

I stupidly missed out on Shimmer but am still trying to track it down!

Finally I have a FQ bundle of Recollections by Katarina Roccella.

The collection is split into two colour ways - Deep Winterwoven (an autumnal palate) and Mist Moderknittie (which is very spring-y).

Linking up with Molli Sparkles's Sunday Stash. Enjoy your weekend!

The vacuum - life without Gravity

A while ago I ordered Jaybird Quilts Gravity quilt kit from Fat Quarter Shop. 

For some reason none of the quilt shops in the UK seem to be offering it so, FQS to the rescue!

At the very end of February I received an email confirming that my kit had been dispatched and giving me three (!) different USPS tracking numbers.

Now, if you haven't already figured it out, I'm a bit odd. I love following my parcels via the wonder of the Internet; to me it's a little like traveling from the comfort of my armchair. So, for the past few days I have been tracking my three parcel across the Pond.

Despite the fact that all three parcels were collected from Buda, TX at the same time, at the time of writing this, two parcels have made it as far as London and one still seems to be stuck in Austin, TX!
Poor thing, it's like a little unwanted triplet. I want you, come home!  Good grief, I'm talking to post now...