Another Fat Quarter Quilt in the Making

I have another fat quarter quilt in the making.

I had purchased these fabrics awhile ago and had recently unearthed them from the project to be stash. ( not much different from the UFO stash, but different in that none of the fabrics were cut yet)

So in this sunny Saturday morning decided to cut these fabrics and move them from a wannabe quilt into the UFO stash.

The fabrics were purchased from Amelia's Garden, a shop in New York State.  

This yellow will be the background fabric.

"Happy Go Lucky" by Bonnie and Camille for Moda is the focus fabric.

Yellow and green for the Fence Rail.

Yellow and this orange print for the four patches.

Yellow and this orange print for the half square triangle blocks.

Yellow and mint green for the nine patches, both positive and negative nine patches.

And finally, yellow and red for the double nine patches.  Yes the red is strong, but the double nine patches make a strong statement in the quilt.

The red may also show up as the binding and maybe an inner border.  I will have to see how that looks later when the blocks are finished.

All looking good on a Saturday morning.

Cut, labeled and ready to piece.

What's on the schedule for your Saturday?

Louise, having fun with fat quarters on a Saturday on the island

More Snow and a Stay at Home to Sew Day!

Yep, more snow.

What was originally advertised to be 1 to 3 inches, is now being advertised to be 5 to 7 inches (oops! They just changed it to 5 to 8 inches) just south of here and looks like we, already at noon, have about 5 inches. It is supposed to continue snowing until this evening.

Hmm, 5 or six hours from now at about 1/4 to 1/2 inch per hour equals....

One to three more inches???

Gotta love that modern math of the weather forecasting world!

But inside it is toasty and warm and a great day for sewing!

I am finishing the rows of this previously webbed Fat Quarter Quilt.  I am loving the orange, green and teal look of this quilt top.

Love the inspirational border print also.

I have had this print in my stash for awhile.  I think I originally bought it to be a backing but I could never bring myself to use it that way.  Now I am happy I waited.  With the new basics line available at the shop, I finally found the fat quarters needed to make another Fat Quarter Quilt.

Lookin' good and I hope to finish the top this afternoon.  Let's see how I do?

Happy snow day on March 5th!

Fun with Fat Quarters

Over the years I have made numerous quilts of the type that I call my Fat Quarter Quilts.  The quilt pattern is based on one found in M'Liss Rae Hawley's 1999 book called Fat Quarter Quilts.  In it are several patterns but one, Mystery Quilt, has always resonated with me.

What appeals has always been the fact that you can use anywhere from 5 or more fat quarters with one 2 yard minimum focus fabric and 1 yard minimum background fabric.  It can be one background fabric or more.  The focus fabric can be a floral print, a batik, a border print, a directional print as long as it is a fabric that serves to stimulate your creative fabric choice juices in terms of choosing fat quarters.

In making the units of this quilt, you work with the fabric you have to make 5 inch blocks.  They are triple rail, four patch, nine patch, half square triangles and a double four patch. Any fabric will do for each element, but I usually choose a strong color for the double four patch.  I like the way it can produce a strong visual line in the finished top.

  

The above example uses multiple background fabrics rather than one piece of yardage.

Your cutting skills can be challenged to make accurate cuts that measure 5 3/8 inches, 2 3/4 inches, 2 inches, and 1 5/8 inches.

You need to sew an accurate 1/4 inch seam.

And you need to design out of your comfort zone.

I have a quilty friend who absolutely cringes when she sees these quilt tops.  They are too random for her and play havoc with her sense of balance and symmetry.  She can make the various elements, but she needs to put the quilt into one that is more traditional and not so random.

These quilts are still a challenge for me. I find immense satisfaction in producing a quilt top that uses what I have in my fabric stash and allows me to produce a quilt that can be pleasing to the eye but uses a different approach to design.

Fun with Fat Quarters or Designing out of Your Comfort Zone is a fun and different way to approach your stash and make a quilt that is uniquely yours.