Wedding Quilt - A Work in Progress

First, a great big thank you for considering my request for testers. I know it's an odd time of year to test, but I'm thrilled to say that I have three wonderful volunteers and we are ready to go! Here is a photo that I was really hoping to share with you in my last post, but couldn't find it for some reason. I adore the Bright Remix fabric set up in the hourglass block. 

I thought I'd share with you the process for designing the other side of this wedding quilt:

I wanted the other side to use the same red, but pair it with grey.

First layout. Large 10.5" equilateral triangles. Five rows of triangles, seven full triangles in each row. Very graphic, but not symmetrical. Hmm...

 Maybe add more red shades of red? Liking that light red star...

More light grey? No.

 Different order? No.

More random? Hmm...

Order and random?

 Make the star completely light grey and use the dark grey for the random bits? Better, but not quite.

 Remove the dark grey? Yes, I think so.

And this is where we are, putting on the borders. I realized that I was putting one border on backwards  last night and it was late so I called it a night. Here's where it stands -- unpicking the border today and resewing.

It's been a while since I linked up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network, but it's the Needle and Thread Network's 100th WIP Wednesday so I couldn't resist. Thanks Monika for hosting such a great linky!

What are you working on this week?

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

Original Falling For Stripes

As I mentioned the other day, I'm writing a pattern for Falling for Stripes.

I'm using Ann Kelle's Bright Remix Stripe for Robert Kaufman. I love this fabric. I used it for the binding for What the FMQAYGQAL? and I've been hoarding collecting the rest for this project.

The main directions in the pattern are for the 6 fabric layout of the original Falling For Stripes quilt.

There will also be a couple of alternate options, one of which is a solid colour background. There's also the option of not using stripes in the pieced blocks so it has more of an hourglass block look to it.

Here's the top of the first test, using just white for the background:

Whadya think?

The quilt will be 55" by 67"-- a good throw size.

Interested in testing this pattern out for me? I'm looking for 3-4 people who could make this quilt in the next six (6) weeks.

Just so you know what you are getting into, the fabric requirements for the quilt are:

Fabric A (Stripe) – 2 ¼ yards (includes ½ yard for binding)** This calculation is based on using all the fabric as it is cut, without trying to have the stripes meet in the blocks. If you think you’d like to match your stripes, you'd best double this amount.

Fabric B (Light Orange) - ¼ yard long

Fabric C (Dark Orange) - ½ yard

Fabric D (Pink) - ½ yard

Fabric E (Burgundy) - 1/2 yard

Fabric F (Purple) – 1 yard

Backing – 3 1/3 yards

Batting – 3 1/3 yards

Here's how the testing will work:

• You let me know you are interested in testing the pattern in the comments below or by emailing me at quiltmatters(at)gmail(dot)com. If you are a no reply blogger, please leave your email address so I can get back to you. 
• I'll send you a PDF of the pattern, which you'll download to use to make the quilt.
• You make the quilt in the next six weeks and send me some feedback and photos of what you make.
• I'll send you two copies of the final pattern -- one for you to keep and one for you to give away on your blog or to whomever you wish -- and share your photos on my blog. And you'll have my undying gratitude! 

Thanks for considering this!

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

Q2 FA{I}L So On To Q3

I actually did complete my Q2 goals for the 2013 Finish-A-Long (FAL) with Leanne @ She Can Quilt, but I forgot to link up. D'oh! Okay, I know it's not really a fail, but that letter play does amuse me. ;)

On my Q2 list were:

1) Su{Brrr}nova: Completed!

Front

2) Seeing The Forest: Completed!

Front

Back

Q3 Goals:

1) Flags for Lac Mégantic: Most of you are probably aware of the horrendous train crash that happened in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday, July 6th in Lac Mégantic, Québec. The devastation to this small town is pretty shocking -- 35 people are confirmed dead and fifteen are still unaccounted for, but presumed dead and the centre of town is levelled. It's heartbreaking!

Courtepointe Claire in Montreal is organizing a banner drive similar to that of To Boston With Love. I plan on making some flags to send down. If you'd like to as well, you can find more information on the Courtepointe Claire site.

2) Wedding Quilt: I still need to finish the other side, quilt and bind this gift for a very special couple.

3) Falling for Stripes Remake and Pattern: Yes, that's right. I'm pretty much done the pattern for this quilt so I'm going to make it again to test it out. I'll also be looking for a couple more testers. I'll post more information in the next week or so about what testing this pattern would entail, in case some of you might be interested. :)

4) Scrap{Bee} Quilt: Aiming to finish the two remaining blocks for the top and then assemble it all.

5) Scrappy Trip Along: Now that the curtains are done for son #1's room, I'm thinking that it's time to finish up the Scrappy Trip that will go on his bed.

So here's hoping I finish these projects AND here's hoping that I remember to link up at the end of the quarter. ;) What are you hoping to finish this quarter?

Hope you are having a fabulous Monday! 

TGIFF! - Curtains Up for TGIFF!

Welcome to TGIFF!, where every finish deserves a celebration!

One project that I haven't shared until now, but has been a true monkey on my back, is these curtains for my son's room. I started them back in December. I pieced the front back in December, but got stuck on adding the lining and hemming them. Curtains are not my strong suit. I've made them before and I curse them each time. I wish I could just hang quilts as curtains. Hmmm...

But the son wanted dark grey, purple and burgundy (yes, he's apparently 8 going on 25) and I couldn't find anything ready made. This project did nothing to endear me more towards making curtains in the future, but the son gave them a "They rock" so we're good to go. :D

I also finished this Simply Solids bee block for Chelsea at Pins and Bobbins. She asked for a spiderweb block, using this tutorial. I hadn't made one of these before so I was looking forward to it. Fun! I can see more of these in my future. :) Can't say that I'm loving this block, but they are bright fun colours as was requested.

Also completed is one side of a reversible wedding gift. I'm a little nervous because this quilt is for a cousin-in-law who is from a quilting family. Her grandmother was a 16-or-20-or-something-amazing-like-that-stitch-per-inch kind of hand quilter. We're talking Heirloom with a capital H here. This grand dame is no longer with us, which is probably the only reason I'd dare make a quilt for her granddaughter. My quilt will be a good throw size, meant for cuddling while reading, watching television, etc. The other side will be very large equilateral triangles in reds and greys and the quilting will be red matchstick quilting.

An InLinkz Link-up

Have a fabulous weekend!