Carolyn Forster's Quilting-On-The-Go

You must go over here and see what these great ladies say about my favourite type of quilting!

I just love this utility quilting which goes under  so many names including Metodist wave, Baptist fan and Elbow quilting. My beginners all learn to hand quilt this way, as it is easy to mark and easy to quilt as you are always working on the bias which has the most ‘give’ and therefore it’s easier to make the stitches. And you always work in one direction so no twisting and turning to get the quiltin the right place. Please give it a go.

I have even used it on the border with Big stitch quilting here:

And I saw this lovely example on this great quilt for auction on ebay the other day:

Whatever  quilt you use this on it will look great, believe me! If anyone wants more information on how to go about it, let me know, incase I am brave enough to do a tutorial!?

I have been brave enough to comment on some great blogs. I know, that sounds ridiculous! But I only wanted to comment if I felt I was actually contibruting to the dialogue, and also sometimes the actual process of the commenting has defeated me, it has taken soooo long, that I wondered if it was worth it! But three blogs seem to have caught  my attention lately, and I have commented, and these lovely ladies even took the time to reply! I was really flattered that they take the time….. so if you have not been there yet, take a peek at the ladies lovely blogs:

Amy, Kathie and Amandajean. Have fun!

Here is another book that I find full of lovely old quilts to inspire me:

And in the book, this quilt caught my attention:

All it actually says about this quilt is : Childs Quilt 1850.

So not a lot about size, so I made up my own! I think that this is another of those blocks that is so very under rated, but makes beautiful quilts and shows off great fabric, just like Amys Economy Blocks. This is the Hourglass block.

And this is the subsequent quilt! Enjoy!

Lots of the quilts that I sew find their origins in books of old quilts. So I have a lot of books!

One such book is Plain and Fancy by Anita Schorsch that my friend Jennifer gave me many years ago.

In this book there are some lovely old quilts from the Pennsylvanian Germans, and this one took my fancy:

This quilt is called Nine-patch, which it is I suppose , but the 9-patches are actually Sage Bud blocks sewn from calico and the background of the block is in a print. I really like this reversal of the fabrics, so there is more calico than print in the quilt. A great way to make our favourite fabrics go further!

I have started my version, but I am not in a rush!

I was over here  (just love the Amish quilt!) this morning and was ‘tickled’ myself at the terminology that is used today. They were talking about a ‘tickle file’, which seems to be an organizational tool on the computer and how you could create such a file or box(not on the computer, just in your workspace!) to keep things that inspire you in some way. I have had an ‘Art and Inspiration’ file on my computer (which ‘runs’ alongside my filing tray in a cupboard for real stuff that inspires me)  ever sice I had the computer. It is not a very catchy title, and will probably not catch on in the world of computer jargon! But here is a taster of what is in mine:

I find the sparseness in Vanesssa’s work very appealing.

This shop in Lewes High Street is always just lovely, very calm.

This quilt (Structures 25, I think) by Lisa Call, I love, but then I have not disliked anything the lady has sewn. She has so much energy and vision, sometimes I am not sure if I need to sew more, or just give up now!

What I also find interesting is that a lot of what I find inspiring, does not obviously end up in my quilts. And the sparse quality that I find so attractive, does not end up in my sewing room!

Leading on from my last post, I thought you might like  to see an Amish style quilt that I made. I think it leads on as I thought the wasing line looked a bit Amish!?

Anyway, this is still one of my favorite quilts and I made it about 10years ago.

Have a look here for some more inspiring Amish quilts.

I am often asked about pre-washing fabrics.

And I have to say 99% of the time I wash the fabric when it comes home in with the regular laundry. It is the 1% of the time when I am too keen that I don’t wash it and then I will have a colour run problem!

I also like the look of the fabrics hanging on the line!

A while back I showed you a picture of a Ruby Mckim flower pot block I was sewing….. and this is what happened to it !

I needed to finish off some projects and this one seemed a good candidate what with the sunshine and spending time in the garden and all! As you will see the top is finished, but it is not quilted yet…. although I have cut the backing so that they can now be stored companionably together.

And even though I have deadlines to meet on other writing and stitching things (many irons in the fire I fear), this Quilt Along over at the Old Red Barn Co. seemed a good idea. I got the idea from Amandajean at CrazyMomQuilts as (to quote) ‘It will use up some stash’! 

Well it has, but not so as you would notice!