Friday 19 June 2015

Colour, beautiful colour!

Ever since I started quilting I have been collecting fabric from one of my favourite designers - Anna Maria Horner. The way her different fabrics go together to create a beautiful bright array of overwhelming colour always grabs me, and makes me feel so so happy!

My long term aim is to use the fabric I have collected to make a quilt for myself, but I couldn't resist the AMH mini-quilt swap on Instagram, and thought it was a good way to have a taste of what sewing with this fabric will be like!

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My swap partner seemed to like a mixture of bright fabrics with low volume, and I felt like I was up for a challenge and trying something new. After flicking through my quilting books I was grabbed by 'The Night Garden' quilt by Sarah Fielke in her book 'Quilting from Little Things'. This quilt involves sewing 'notorious' Y-seams and also uses a 'Step-Down' technique for piecing, both of which I hadn't tried before.

I have to say that without this brilliant Y-seams tutorial from Fresh Lemons Quilts, and Sarah Fielke's Craftsy class which walks you through the 'Step-Down' piecing technique, I would have struggled. But after studying both of these, this mini quilt came together nicely, and I really enjoyed the Step-Down piecing especially.

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I decided to hand quilt the mini using Perle 8 cotton, and went with a Cotton and Steel sparkly binding.

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For the back I used a lovely Loulouthi print, and I love the texture that the hand quilting brings to this.

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 I hope my swap partner loves this mini quilt as much as I do! 

Linking up with Finish it Up Friday and Sew the Library.

Weekend Doings

18 comments:

  1. I wish I was your parter ... I really love this mini! I've never heard of the Step down technique ... must google it :)

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  2. That's lovely, I have plans for partial seams in a future project too, they're so effective.

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  3. It's totally lovely Deb, you've done such a great job and I'm sure your partner is going to be smitten. You've inspired me to get stuck into some scary y seams and I won't be fearful of the step down should I ever need it!

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  4. How wonderful conquering Y Seams and step down piecing all at once. The mini is fantastic, and I am really liking the touch of hand quilting. Lovely finish!

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  5. I've watched the step down vid a few times but not yet tried it - this turned out beautifully!

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  6. I saw your quilt on Instagram, it's fantastic. Lucky partner!

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  7. Hi! This is most beautiful! I love the pattern which I can't remember seeing before! Your Fabrics with low volumes are perfect for this! Fun the see the backing fabric that I have too. x Teje

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  8. I think your swap partner will love this mini to bits!! I love that you are so good at pushing yourself with new techniques.

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  9. You are an inspiration Deb- trying new techniques all the time! And from this old duck, I have no idea what the 'step down' technique is? Off to Google it.... This mini is just delightful! I hope you partner appreciates all the efforts that went into it, including using your precious AMH stash!

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  10. It looks beautiful Deborah, I especially like the way you added some ghost flowers with your hand quilting.

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  11. Gorgeous and you can just tell you've mastered the techniques and it is beautifully sewn. And the quilting is impeccable! I'm sure your partner will love it :)

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  12. What a gorgeous swap mini Deborah, I have watched Sarah Fielke's class several times but not actually tried the technique. Your quilt would definitely inspire me to have a go :)

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  13. This quilt is so beautiful, Deborah. The hand quilting really makes the project special.

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  14. What a lovely finish! The colors look so modern and the hand quilting is lovely! You are so brave in trying new things. I have to be better about that. It takes me such a long time of reading everything under the sun before I start a new technique! Its so inspiring the way you just jump into it! Thank you for sharing! ~ Aloha

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  15. Absolutely gorgeous finish Deborah! I tend to shy away from Y seam. I've done a few but always try to stay away from them. Your did a superb job they look amazing. And they hand-quilting makes it even more special. I'm sure you partner will love it.
    Thank you for linking up to Sew the Library.

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  16. YOUR SWAP PARTNER IS ON CLOUD 9 AND IS DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY! I am the lucky swap partner and I love this miniquilt! I have Sarah Fielke's book and I've done the step down mini and I really enjoyed it. I haven't yet tried this Night Garden pattern, but I plan to! I am so unbelievably touched that someone so far away would take so much time and care to make me such a beautiful item to admire every day. I can't say enough thank you's! I can't wait to read through your blog!

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  17. How great that you were not put off by new techniques and instead decided to jump in and learn new things.
    Do I also spy a bit of clever fussy cutting?
    I love this, especially how you have reversed the light and dark of the original.

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  18. Neat mini and good for you that you are trying out new techniques! You are doing well girl!

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