A Few Works in Progress

I have quite a few works in progress at the moment. I'm a bit of a butterfly, happily flitting from one to another. Sometime you just don't feel like working on the thing you really should be working on, so it's nice to have a lot of choices.

This week I went back to my Farmer's Wife quilt. I started it about a year ago, but didn't get very far.

At the time I chose some Liberty fabrics, but I didn't get very far. 

I wasn't comfortable with the palette, and I couldn't see it being a quilt that would go with any of my rooms. It would end up as a car or garden quilt, so I decided to start over.

This time round I'm using a Moda layer cake - 30s Playtime Chloe's Closet, plus any scraps from my stash that happen to go well. I'm also using plenty of solids , as I think too many prints was part of the problem last time. I've chosen a spring green, navy, red and snow for the solids. Others may be added as needed.

Two other changes I'm making - I'm pressing all my seams open. Some of these blocks have a lot of tiny pieces, so I'm going for consistency and pressing all the seams the same way.

I'm also working consistently through the block numbers. No skipping ones that I don't fancy that day allowed!!

So here we have:

Block #1 Attic Windows

Block #2 Autumn Tints

Block #3 Basket

 The handle of the basket is hand appliquéd on afterwards. I love sitting quietly in the evening doing a little hand sewing. I must do more of it!! The strip was cut on the bias, folded under and then curved into position. It was a pretty tight curve and it didn't look as though it was going to co-operate. Then I remembered a tip that was stored somewhere in the dark recess of my mind - spritz it with water! I did, and it just sort of fell into place. I pressed it firmly until it was dry, and hey presto! the basket has a handle.

Block #4 Basket Weave

4 blocks down, 107 to go !!

I've also been working on my Economy Block quilt.

Adding a side border...

And another...

And a third

It's a finished quilt top now. 60" x 64"and I love it far, far more than I ever thought I would.

It will be stored away for a while, as I'm going to put myself through a sort of marathon free motion quilting practice on some scrap blocks. And when I think I'm good and ready, it will get quilted. This was going to be a charity quilt, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to part with it!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced