Not Quite Civil War Quilt

At the beginning of 2011, Barbara Brackman started a blog where she shared block designs and the history of the blocks from the American Civil War era.  This was a great opportunity to practice piecing and make blocks I hadn't made before.  Civil War fabrics are something I don't have in my stash so, in July 2011, I started making the blocks using only pink fabrics from my stash, so I called it "Not Quite Civil War" because of my fabric choices.

Finished making the blocks around June 2012 and in May 2014 sewed them into a quilt top.  I bought fabric for the sashing, backing and binding.  Karen quilted the quilt in a pretty flower and heart design for me two weeks ago and the binding was stitched down last week.

 

 

I think there are two more tops being quilted then I'm up-to-date.  I have plenty of new quilts cut out ready to sew up.

Sewing Patterns

We've just had a long weekend in Australia and it started off very well when I had dinner with Barbara - haven't seen her for so long and we had a lot to catch up on.

A little while ago I saw a link on Facebook that Fiona had liked to You Can Make This - a very dangerous link for me to follow.  I bought only two patterns but could have bought plenty more.  Spent a night cutting out last week and made them up on Saturday.  Both patterns are very cute and very easy to follow.

First up was a very cute, vintage-styled romper.

And next was a swaddling blanket made in very light voile - perfect for a summer baby.

The blanket is so quick to make, I made a few more for presents using fabrics in the stash.

Yesterday afternoon it was time to get on with "Best Friends Forever".

 

The quilt top is now together and the binding has been sewn on.  I've cut the edges straight as I think that will suit the purpose of the quilt better.

Lunchtime stitching today and hopefully will finish stitching down the binding tonight while watching the tennis.

 

Karen brought my "Not Quite Civil War" quilt back last Tuesday and the binding has been sewn on but not stitched down yet.

I love the hearts and flowers quilting design - it doesn't overpower the piecing in the blocks.

This and That

Not a lot of sewing/stitching over the last couple of days but there was a great deal of house painting last week, most of which is now finished thanks so much to my wonderful sister-in-law and brother.  The house is looking fantastic.  A few touch-ups here and there, a couple of new verandah rails and the house will be looking so good - shame about the windows but replacing them is on the "one day" list.

Two more quilts have been cut out and a sample block of each made:  "Cheerio" and "Niner" both Camille Roskelley designs using a mixture of Bonnie and Camille fabrics.

Early last week I came across "Girls' Day Out" in my sewing room - this quilt was started in February 2008, the quilt top sewn together at a retreat in March 2010 and the last border flowers were vliesofixed on in January 2011.  The quilt top hadn't been touched since.  Two nights' worth of stitching and now the top is ready for quilting then all the beautiful buttons and beads can be sewn on.

I've been collecting some orange fabrics over a couple of months to make an orange "Swoon" quilt and the last package arrived yesterday - think I finally have enough to start cutting it out.  4 Fig Tree fabrics were added to the pile after this photo was taken.  This quilt will be a gift for someone special.

A few rows have been added to Best Friends Forever - I'm on a deadline for this now, so it will be what I sew this week if I have some spare time in amongst socialising.

I have 3 more quilt tops to give to Karen tonight at stitching and then all bar two of my quilt tops will be quilted.  One of these quilt tops was finished in 2011 so it's about time to have it quilted.

Backing for "Basket Case" and "A Year in my Life"

A couple of weeks ago at stitching I cut out another "Goodnight Irene" quilt, this time using 2 Bali Pops jelly rolls in pink, dark red, charcoal and black batiks with a black background.

I hope it looks as good finished as it does in my imagination as this is another gift quilt.

Stitching tonight so I will be collecting "Not Quite Civil War".

Quilting

Karen is quilting two of my UFO's.  She sent me a photo of Not Quite Civil War, a sampler quilt  - it's looking fantastic.


Looks like I'll be binding again soon :)

Cutting Out

In an effort to use up the stash (well, that's my excuse), I'll be making some quilts from patterns I've had for ages and I've also bought a couple of patterns recently.  One I saw on a blogpost about the Pittsburgh Quilt Market is called "Text Me" - really like this one and decided to use some of my Fig Tree fabrics.

Feature fabrics for 36 blocks

I'm using two different background fabrics - one to make the larger squares and the links between the blocks and the other for the smaller squares within the blocks.  Of course, I ran out of one of these fabrics and was fortunate to find some on-line (considering it is from an old range).   Maybe some more cutting tonight.

Secret stitching is finished and now ready to be added to the present - I've enjoyed this.

Found a photo of my "Not Quite Civil War" quilt top together - this was put together about a month ago.

It's been added to the large pile of tops waiting to be quilted - maybe it's time to sort out the garage and set up the frame.

Took my "Scrappy Trip Around the World" with me to Tasmania to leave with Sarah for quilting.  Will definitely be looking forward to this one coming home.

ANZAC Weekend

We've just had another long weekend to remember ANZAC Day.  I noticed on Instagram etc that lots of people baked ANZAC biscuits, me included.

 

Everyone loves ANZAC biscuits.  Went to a friend's for dinner on Friday night, took along some biscuits and she have me some of her biscuits to bring home.

Spent some of Friday painting and polishing brass.

Still lots happening at the house - exciting stuff, like a new drain that goes all the way to the front of the block.

By the time I get home tonight this old tree should be gone.

Perfect Autumn day today

Will be a relief to know it's not going to topple over in a storm.  There are still plenty of trees on the block.

Some sewing over the weekend.  Finished putting "Pathways and Crossroads" together.  Doesn't take very long when the blocks are so big.

A couple of RicRac's "Work in Progress" bags for presents - this was the pattern that I couldn't find late last month.   I had issues sewing on the binding around the small handle hole - ended up attaching it by hand.

And I brought out one of the bags of blocks I made starting in 2011 - Civil War Sampler (I called it "Not Quite Civil War" because of the colour scheme).

Won't take too long to sew these blocks together.  I have one more bag of blocks - Sylvia's Bridal Sampler - to sew together, then I think I can start something new.  I'm definitely looking forward to having the house back to normal.  Will be a few weeks yet before the repairs are carried out.

Not Quite Civil War Blocks

On Monday evening after work I cut out 5 more Civil War blocks and sewed them up last night.

Yankee Puzzle

Christmas Star

Ohio Star

Port and Starboard

Right Hand of Friendship

I have made 42 of the 53 Civil War blocks and have decided this is enough.  I have left out some of the applique blocks and some blocks requiring templates.  Next step is fix the bottom left-hand point on the last block and to decide how to set the blocks - something simple as there's plenty of variety in the blocks.

On Monday night I also finished off this little cardigan

and it's now in the post to our friend for her new little boy.

Michael's new jumper is also underway and the secret stitching is almost finished.  It was good to spend some time at the machine last night - feels like it's been a while.

Cutting Out

I had some pieces of Hunky Dory fabric that I bought from Bec a while ago and I've been wondering what to make with them.  Saw the Spin Cycle pattern on Cluck Cluck Sew's blog, bought it and thought it would be just right then found some more Hunky Dory fabrics at Bella's Patchwork and I was all set.

Cut out a load of squares and triangles this moring

and made one block.  Think I'm going to really like these blocks when I get around to making some more.

I also dragged out my Not Quite Civil War blocks and made one more.

Hovering Hawks

I now have 37 blocks.  Don't think I'll make all of them - just a few more to fill one more row and that will do.

We went to Sydney yesterday and had lunch with Elizabeth and Matt at Una's in Darlinghurst - so much for the diet.  Great company and food.  Then we visited Michael and Peta and saw all of their wedding photos (1,623 of them!).  Bad news:  the jumper is way too big for Michael.  Good news:  Peta loves it (even though it swims on her) and wouldn't take it off.  So, I have more wool and will start another jumper for Michael.

Blocks

In amongst some secret sewing, a few blocks have been made:

Civil War Quilt - Kentucky Crossroads

On-line group's 6-12" BOM - Shoo Fly

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler - Rosebud

The Whirligig quilt has been on the frame for quite a while and the quilting is now finished.  I still love the Patisserie fabrics.

Binding has been sewn on and I'm waiting for some free time to put on a movie and sew down the binding on Whirlygig and Fig Tree Floral Bouquet.

Long weekend coming up in NSW and it's roster day tomorrow so 4 days off - think I'm ready for a break from the normal routine.  Jenni and I are going to Ikea on Saturday and we will be visiting friends and family on the other days.  I'm hoping to pin baste the Pirate Quilt ready for ditch-stitching in amongst the socialising.