Time to Quilt - Quilting Designs

Have you finished your Time to Quilt quilt top?  I sewed my final seams yesterday. I decided not to add a wide border to my quilt. I like the blocks framed with the dark navy narrow sashing.

The next thing on the agenda is the quilting.  Is this a step that stops you from completing our projects? I try to think about the quilting as I make my projects. I probably will not make any final decisions until the top is completed but this 'thinking' time (and perhaps a few sketches) make that part of completion less onerous.

You'll also need to prepare the backing for your quilt.  

Northcott has a way for you to WIN the backing!  To qualify, create a quilt top with at least 12 of your blocks by Monday, May 11 and post a picture on Northcott's Facebook Page. The winner will receive enough backing for their top.

Create your quilt top with a minimum of 12 blocks by Monday 11th May, and one lucky winner will be chosen to win enough backing fabric to suit the size of their quilt!

Here is my process to try out designs before I do any quilting:

I take a picture of the completed top (the picture above).

I print the picture - in colour is a good idea if you can.

Then I place tracing paper over that page and try out some design ideas.

Here are some ideas I am considering for my quilt:

I love the idea of Baptist Fan. I don't have a computerized longarm so I would have to use rulers to stitch this design. I think something 'curvy' would be a nice accent to all the straight lines in the blocks.

What about you? Have you been thinking about how to quilt your quilt? Share your ideas in the comments.

Hope you have had a lot of fun with Time to Quilt!

Time to Quilt - Block 23

Today is the 23rd block - only 1 more for tomorrow. Have you been keeping up? Have you learned some new tips for piecing? Has your accuracy improved?  I always tell my Free Motion Quilting students that they need to practice to improve their skill. The same advice holds true for piecing. The more we do, the better we get.

Today's block builds on skills we have learned in several other blocks:

• Half Square Triangles - yours have the diagonal seam corner to corner, right?

• Connector Corners - the small triangles match the 'base' block exactly?

Here is the layout for my blocks. I sewed with the 'connector corner' square on top for the center row (like I did for Block 22). And when sewing the rows together I did the same thing.

The arrows show how I pressed both blocks.

And now for some quilts.  I found this quilt a bit 'tilty'...It's an optical illusion due to visual weight of the blocks. Do you see it too?

Perhaps some table runners would work better with these blocks.

This one still seems a bit 'off' but it isn't as pronounced with fewer rows of blocks.

This 'on point' arrangement works much better.

Tomorrow we will be making our LAST BLOCKS. Have you been trying some arrangements for yours?  I have my blocks on my design wall and I spend some time each day taking pictures and re-arranging. Aren't phones wonderful!  It's a great way to audition arrangements.

Patti will be almost finished her blocks too - all 3 sizes! I wonder if she has been arranging too.

See you tomorrow - and it will be Friday, so be sure to share your blocks on the Northcott Facebook page. More swag to win!

See you tomorrow.

Time to Quilt - Block 10

Here is Block 10.  You can get the pattern for today's blocks on the Banyan Batiks Facebook Page.

I chose another colourway of the main layered monstera print for this block. The coordinating fabric is Ketan, one of the 'essentials' from Banyan Batiks.  This collection comes in 80 colours!

Here is a quilt design for today's block. Because the blocks have low contrast I decided to liven it up a bit with the yellow and white checkerboard blocks.

Here is another option.

How would you use this block in a quilt?

I am interested to see the 3 versions that Patti is making. Check her blogpost here.

Come back tomorrow for Block 11. And check out the other Banyan Batiks blocks here: Banyan Batiks Facebook, and FIGO blocks here:.

FIGO Instagram #timetoquiltfigo

Post 2 blocks you have made from this week on Northcott Facebook by the end of today and
you could win a great fabric prize from Northcott and Banyan Batiks!

Time to Quilt - Block 5

Happy Easter!

Block 5 is now available on the Banyan Batiks Facebook Page

Here are my blocks today:

I love these 'star blocks'.  A pattern in designed in 2001 uses similar star blocks.

Here is my original pattern (Friendly Four-Patch).

By adding 4-patch blocks for the corners of one set of star blocks
I can make a similar quilt .

Here is another quilt idea. I used Lustre from the Banyan Batiks Essentials for the alternate blocks and arranged the blocks diagonally.

I've been enjoying sitting outside on our back deck in the evenings. 
We have had clear skies lately so I see the stars clearly..  

Here is a sky filled with stars over some simple homes.

I hope you are enjoying making your blocks. I enjoy showing you a few quilt ideas too.

Be sure to check out my friend Patti's blocks (yes...3 sizes!) on her blog too. 

She had a few 'challenges' with these blocks but as a true professional(!) she overcame them and the blocks are wonderful.