Skip to main content

The Summer Sampler [the first four]

The Summer Sampler: I am addicted to both quilt-alongs and sampler quilts, so this project ticked all the boxes for me. Twenty blocks over twenty weeks. Requirements: 20 fat quarters. In honour of #sewmystash2016 I pulled out a hoarded fat quarter bundle of Dreamin' Vintage by Jeni Baker for Art Gallery Fabrics made up of 20 fat quarters. A beautifully summery range of fabric for a summery quilt. Perfect for the girls of the house! And yes - at the back there in the photo is enough fabric to back the quilt too!



I was very excited on the day the first block was released, and made up my first block. And I didn't love it. I was really disappointed about it.



The second block was released a week later. I'd thought about it a bit and decided that the off-white Art Gallery Pure Element I had was going to make an appearance: perhaps a bit of  solid in there would help the prints in the range shine. I liked it better. But still didn't love it.


Final roll of the dice. I did some research online and found the list of coordinating solids from Jeni's website. I found a UK shop with seven in stock and ordered them. When they arrived, I made the third block. This was more like it! But didn't I make a hash of those curves. I'm perfectly capable, but really....


So I went back and remade block 1 and I am so much happier with it. Instead of a scrappy centre, I fussy cut one of the larger motifs from the range and calmed it down with two of the solids.



And then I proceeded to block 4.



I'm going to leave block 2 until the end and then see if that needs to be remade too. But for now I'm so pleased I finally like where this quilt is going. I've hoarded this fabric for two years waiting for just the right project. I'm looking forward to getting the next block instructions tomorrow!
Labels:

Comments

Lin said…
I think you have made the right decision there Jennie with those coordinating solids - great blocks. xx
13 June 2016 at 07:47
Archie The Wonder Dog said…
I think block four is my favourite, but they're all lovely!
13 June 2016 at 19:53
Anthea said…
Hi Jennie
Great job on the blocks, amazing how sometimes it takes a few attempts to love something, then it clicks... very nice solids & range you're using.
x
16 June 2016 at 15:00
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

365 Quilt Challenge 2016 [A finish]

I can't believe I've just typed that heading! When I made the block for January 1st 2016 I could not have imagined the journey this quilt would have taken me on. So make yourselves comfortable and grab a cup of tea, because this blog post may get lengthy! I'd seen the 365 Quilt Challenge on Facebook. I think every quilter on Facebook must have been aware of it. Loads of my friends had signed up and it kept popping up as a "Page you might like" thing. In the end, in November 2015, I joined the group, had a poke round. Decided it wasn't for me. One of the things that really put me off were the fabric requirements: you needed x amount of dark dark fabric, x amount of medium dark fabric, x amount of dark medium, medium, light medium, light, background.... I just couldn't get my head round those requirements. I'd looked at the mock ups on the wesbite and couldn't bring myself to pick a colour. I put it to the back of my mind. But I had obvious...
6 comments
Read more

Tula Nova [A Finish]

I can't believe it's been nearly two years since an epic day out in Huddersfield with the amazing Tula Pink. That day at Simply Solids was pretty close to the best day ever: a morning lecture by Tula where we got to see some of her quilts - and the amazing quilting by Angela Walters - and then an afternoon workshop with her starting work on the Tula Nova pattern. The centre that I made that day became a cushion, but I redid my centre and kept going with a rainbow or stars around it to create my final Tula Nova. All of the print fabrics are Tula All Stars with Pompoms and Stripes. The solids are all Kona. This was my first real time working with Tula Pink fabrics. I'd long been a fan of her patterns, but not her fabric. After this day I was a convert. We won't discuss how much Tula fabric I now have, nor how many of my current WIPs are Tula WIPs! But this was the start. The medallion is all hand pieced using English Paper Piecing. I learned about fussy cutting to...
4 comments
Read more

All the Little Finishes

 I've had a few recent finishes - mostly smaller pieces and mostly not on my list to finish this year (because I've only just started them!) - lots and lots of pouches! Here's a round up... Three pouches I made for the kids for our holiday - all are the Seamingly Sane Pouch pattern, but I used the pattern add-on to adjust the sizes and customised with some straps and in one case, a pocket. These three pouches are made for our work Yubikeys when we travel to protect them - it's a slightly adjusted Aneela Hooey pattern - the peas are an inside joke! I knew I had pea fabric for a reason! A couple more Seamingly Sane pouches - the smaller one was a birthday present for my Dad, and the floral one was for me to protect my diary when I travel. Seven pouches made entirely from my scraps to hold EPP pieces pre sewing! This is the Peekapouch pattern by Sweet Cinnamon Roses. This is the Not So Little Zippy Pouch by Fabric and Flowers. The pattern is a bit of a challenge, but this ...
3 comments
Read more

Labels

Show more