Multicolored Squirrel

       So I was in my sewing studio minding my own business putting fabric scraps away when I came across this strip set of Kaffe fabric strips sent to me by Quiltdiva Julie in a plastic box with Kaffe scraps. All else faded. I opened it up and pinned it on the design wall. Squirrel! I pressed it and cut it into 2 1/2" strips and put it back on the wall. I arranged the strips a few times. Ah, the colors washed over me and smiled.
     Once I figure out the layout, I auditioned fabrics for above and below. I got to thinking that the top was like a sky and the bottom like grass for the band to float. I chose a blue with mottled values and a number of greens. Once I drew all the strips on graph paper and and numbered them all with tape, I cut the top and bottom pieces according to the sizes I figured out on the graph paper.

     Now, I have all the strips stacked and ready to sew the long edges. What a squirrel!

More fun, this time with Kaffe fabric

    Well, I am so fortunate to be gifted a whole raft of Kaffe fabric squares and pieces- enough to make a comfort quilt from the wonderful Quiltdiva Julie! I oohed and ahhed opening the squishy and I thought of a pattern I bought from Material Girlfriends called Wallah. It calls for cutting up a layer cake into 5" squares. I don't like to do that as that 10" layer cake is always precious to me so I try to use it for bigger cuts. Well, the squares from Julie were 6" so the quilt would be a better size for a comfort quilt than with 5" ones. 

    Made a sample set and yes, I am going to keep going. The pattern is fairly easy except the trimming of the block is tricky. I ruined a couple because it is not even across the two blocks. I had to read and re-read the diagram which could have been bigger and had a star or note to highlight the unusual trimming.

Sample with 4 blocks

Cache of gifted fabric!

Cool Kaffe HST asymmetrical

     A while back I got suckered into buying some Kaffe charm packs (MSQC got me again). I made HSTs with Kona Ash Gray. All trimmed with the Bloc Loc ruler. Played around on the wall until I found an asymmetrical design that appealed to me. I had another urgent request for a comfort quilt for a woman whose cancer came back aggressively after a short remission. Her whole family is having a crisis of a time. So, I thought this waiting in the wings quilt would make a good choice. I thought of one friend who always drafts things out, so I used graph paper to get an idea of where I was going because working to work on long diagonals, I needed to know where I was when rolling the quilt. All the Kaffe prints got the same curved ruler treatment. 
    I did use a lot of ruler work and to be honest, I don't like holding those circle and oval templates down. It gives me neck fatigue and sore shoulders. I need to find something to be grippier on the bottoms or forgo rulers. I was very happy with the quilting. The first photo is before washing and the others are after. I always wash my quilts after quilting before giving them away. They get packed in a nice tote bag with a book and card and pocket quilt. This package went out Sunday.

Unwashed

Washed, more texture

Back after washing

The diagram plan

Border decision made

     After sewing all the Kaffe HSTs into a web, I ironed all the seams, making sure each row went opposite, and then sewed the rows. As hard as I tried, I am still off in some corners. I trimmed, pressed, matched and am still off. I guess I still have a lot of improvement to make sewing.
     I decided on a 1 1/2" dark purple (Frond Plaster of Paris) inner border and the Kaffe fabric that had none left to spare, 2/12" finished border. I guess when I quilt it, I will like it more. I wish it had more pop.

Webbed

Rows sewn

Borders

Those Kaffe HSTs

     After a nice trimming job using the Bloc Loc on the HSTs from the Kaffe charm packs, I decided I wanted a diamond layout, but asymmetrical. I tried a number of combinations and settled on one that sparkled most to me. Then, I numbered the columns with painters tape and clipped each column, Wanda style, ready to sew in a web method. I have not decided on the borders yet. I did pull some fabric to try, but will wait until it is sewn together.

Final choice

New stuff going on

     I like to start new things among finishes and problems. I bought 2 Kaffe charm packs on sale at MSQC and cut Kona Ash squares to make HSTs. I will put them on the design wall and come up with a design then.

Matched up squares, and ones already sewn, needing the iron, below- one pile trimmed, the other sewn but need trimming

A few on the wall

     I also bought this panel when I was visiting another city because I loved the colors. Now I have to think what will go with it. It is the Fantasia line by Timeless Treasures and there is some fabric, though scarce, to complement it that I could scare up and buy I suppose.