Bucket List of Sewing (related) Projects continued - Lone Star Quilt and Cathedral Windows

It has been a long while since I last wrote about my bucket list of sewing related projects. So I thought, why not return to it for a change.

A Cathedral Window Quilt

Have I mentioned that I am impatient? No? Be it known then that I - Puppilalla - am IMPATIENT. That is somewhat unlucky in a quilter. =)

Therefore, I fear, while I do swoon over the pictures of beautiful cathedral window quilts, I will probably never be able to make - as in complete - one myself. I like the texture that is created by the layering of fabrics and enjoy the little fussy cuts of the myriads of fabrics, yet the sheer number of cathedral windows that would need preparing to complete a bed sized quilt is just daunting.

Still if I ever made one, the baby probably would look something like this. If anybody feels inclined to make a bed sized 'Cathedral Window' quilt for me, get in touch, so I know where to send the stack of fabrics I have in mind.  =)

Project rating: Keep wishing  =)

A Lone Star Quilt

aka 'Star of the East', 'Mathematical Star', 'Star of Bethlehem', 'Rising Star' or 'Blazing Star'

For a long time, I was not even sure if I liked the ‘Lone Star’ or not. I was constantly going back and forth between ‘Nay’ and Yeah’. I have since decided that I do like it and even want to make my own version but that I would have to be very sure about my fabric choices as they absolutely make or break the project.

I have stared a ‘Lone Star’ board on Pinterest for inspiration in terms of positioning, size, fabric choices etc. and am happy to sit on it for a while longer until some sort of plan forms. Not to mention that I will have to further develop my sewing skills to be able to realize this quilt design. So viewing tutorials and classes in parallel also goes on the To-do list.

I have however taken steps to realize the quilt at some point by purchasing an actual pattern during the 'May is for Makers' initiative. 

Project rating: long term and cautiously realistic

I guess I should take 'join a Quilting Bee' off the list and add 'learn FMQ'. Also 'quilt-as-you-go' techniques would be definitely useful. Aww, there are so many things that I would like to try. Well one quilt at a time - right?

Green Diamonds Lap Quilt - Diamonds are forever

This is a lap quilt I made for a male friend of mine in 2014. I had previously spoken with him about colour preferences and already knew he would not want loud prints, flowers, bright colours, stripes etc. but looked for something fairly neutral.

Naturally, loving bright jewelled tones and candy colours, I had nothing of such a reduced nature in my stash, so I went to the fabric store of my choice to peruse their selection. At first, I was a bit at loss to decide what might work.

Finally, I settled on the beige and sage green solids and paired those with a very soft chequered cotton flannel and a stronger cotton weave with aubergine and green threads causing the fabric to scintillate  like beetle wings. Very nice.

I had decided on a diamond pattern fairly early on in the planning process and only had to decide how I wanted to place the colours. As this was the first time that I worked with diamond shapes, there were problems to overcome (darn, does this flannel have to stretch so much…) and a lot to learn in the process. Here you can see that on several occasions despite my best efforts and meticulous prior pinning the points did not always match up.

The next time round, I work with triangles or diamond shapes I would definitely baste the rows prior to sewing them together properly. 

I can hear you think, you know… “What? Do you mean to say that you did not baste beforehand? Shocking!” 

Well you have to remember that I am entirely self-taught and had no sewing family members or friends to help me out. Therefore, it only along the way, by looking at Craftsy classes, reading blogs and tutorials and actually sewing that I pick up the tricks of the trade. Don’t worry I will get there eventually.

For the backing I framed the soft flannel with the beige solid. I quilted in the ditch and followed that with parallel shadow lines, which created a pretty pattern on the back. The front however, due to part of the quilting lines disappearing in the ditch, kept looking uninspired and boring. That is the only misgiving I have about this particular quilt of mine. I still find it is looks off somehow because it lacks texture. I also still alternate between liking and disliking the quilt’s colour scheme. =)

Another item on my bucket list ought to be ‘learn to free motion quilt on your little domestic sewing machine’. Up to now I have mainly quilted my projects in straight lines and when I was quilting the layers of this quilt together, I got to a point, where I felt adding more lines would get too much and subtract from the overall impression of the quilt-to-be. With hindsight I would certainly disagree with myself but what is done is done.

The quilt was bound in the same flannel and made a birthday present last year. All in all it turned out - not spectacular - but OK. I am satisfied with the outcome and had a good learning experience. The recipient likes and uses it and that is the most important bit anyway.

I think I am nearly done showing you my past quilting projects. Apart from the odd bit here and there, like a soft toy meant for the Toy Society or the up-cycled peg bag from a former linen table runner, we should be able to look at present and future projects from now on.