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The Emporia => Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside => Current Projects => Topic started by: LeilaMay on February 22, 2019, 18:16:43 PM

Title: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on February 22, 2019, 18:16:43 PM: Still working in rectangles but getting a bit more adventurous. Going to be making a double bed sized quilt for my daughter in Courthouse Steps pattern.
Photo of fabrics will follow in a day or two.

Hoping to be using the technique Brenda P used for QAYG in strips and then joining the strips.

Off to have a quick panic . . .
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Iminei on February 23, 2019, 08:16:34 AM: Gosh @LeilaMay ... arent you the closet Darksider?

I was blown away by your FIRST quilt ... extra large no less (to cover the extra long hubby)
remind me ... did you QAYG that too?

and now, another full size quilt ... so what are the fabrics???
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on February 23, 2019, 09:49:03 AM: Here we go, in the morning light.
The lovely blue penguins are because she adores penguins, and actually works somewhere where they have penguins :)
The printed cream and red stuff at the edge of the second picture will I think will be a border, I loved it and she didn't have much left.

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Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on February 23, 2019, 09:52:15 AM: Quote from: Iminei on February 23, 2019, 08:16:34 AM
Gosh @LeilaMay ... arent you the closet Darksider?

I was blown away by your FIRST quilt ... extra large no less (to cover the extra long hubby)
remind me ... did you QAYG that too?

and now, another full size quilt ... so what are the fabrics???

The first quilt I just put together whole and stitched in the ditch round all the blocks - they were big, and just straight lines, so it was fine except of course for the actual space you need around your machine - I worked in the middle of the front room as my workroom space would have been a real squeeze!

This one I hope to QAYG in columns and then stitch together; it still won't be very fancy quilting, but a bit more adventurous.
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Stitches on February 23, 2019, 17:40:09 PM: LeilaMay I have done 3 quilts doing them Qayg in columns and found it fairly easy to do
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Sakar on February 23, 2019, 18:36:04 PM: This will be a wonderful quilt!!' 0_0
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on March 04, 2019, 10:02:35 AM: Blimey cutting lots of pieces takes a long time!
:snip:
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Deafoldbat on March 04, 2019, 19:04:18 PM: Quote
cutting lots of pieces takes a long time!

@LeilaMay You don't have to cut them all at once. You can cut a few and sew a few blocks, then cut some more. The only thing to remember with log cabin blocks is to cut the longest strips first or you can end up with lots of little bits that aren't long enough for the outer rings. (This is the voice of experience)
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: rubywishes on May 21, 2019, 11:06:04 AM: Those penguins are very cute. @LeilaMay ...how are you getting on?
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on May 21, 2019, 14:25:53 PM: Some other stuff came up for a while which halted the project, but I am now stitching the strips together again - I'm on the red hearts now :)
I know I COULD start stitching before cutting and other daring things - but I don't - I compete one task before starting the next, just the way I am.

No other projects started, so just some sock knitting going on in front of the tv in the evening
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on May 28, 2019, 18:04:26 PM: Now the blocks are individually assembled :)

I have choices as to in what order they are assembled. I've taken shots of the easiest ways to do, and you're welcome to comment (or not) if you'd like.
(I wish that I'd made it with the very darkest fabric as the very longest strips - but you learn as you go, don't you?)

Views are simply numbered 1 - 5
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on May 28, 2019, 18:04:57 PM: last two . .
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Ploshkin on May 28, 2019, 18:11:08 PM: I like the last two - with the colours it has an 'Aztec' feel.
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Pearl on May 28, 2019, 18:26:32 PM: The first one is my favourite... or the last one.
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Ellabella on May 28, 2019, 18:55:08 PM: Last two for me as well.
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: maliw on May 28, 2019, 19:48:29 PM: Like them all, depends on personal taste as to how you assemble them.
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: BrendaP on May 28, 2019, 21:11:08 PM: I'm with Pearl. First one is my first choice and hte last one is second choice. :loveit:
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Kenora on May 29, 2019, 00:34:56 AM: It's really difficult, isn't it. I'm making a courthouse steps quilts atm and I keep changing my mind about the layout. But for yours, no. 4 is definitely my favourite. <3
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Iminei on May 29, 2019, 06:32:02 AM: 1, 4 or 5 for me ....

There's not such a clumpy feel about the tape measure fabric or the dark strips ... and yes the last two do have an Aztec thaaang going on!

Looking again at them small mode (always a good way to look at an entire quilt ... @Deafoldbat knows something about why .... No 1 for me!
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Deafoldbat on May 29, 2019, 19:35:25 PM: Ah, hours of indecision....

Yes, reducing the scale helps you see the whole thing. It is easy to become fixated on one bit, even if you don't realise it at the time, and helps you check that, especially in a scrappy quilt, you haven't ended up with all the pink (or whatever other colour) bits in one corner. It's also easier to spot a block that's got a mistake in or is the wrong way round.

I made my mother a quilt for her 90th birthday. I pieced it, layered it, hand quilted it, but it was only when I gave it to her and took a photo of it on the bed that I saw the bit that was the wrong way round (too late; it's the humility patch).

A reducing glass (opposite of a magnifying glass), or the cylinder viewer from a door peephole, or even looking through the 'wrong' lens of your glasses shrinks the view and gives you a whole new perspective.

Quote
I wish that I'd made it with the very darkest fabric as the very longest strips - but you learn as you go, don't you?
@LeilaMay Yes you learn as you go. Colour placement is a matter of personal preference, often influenced by how much of a fabric you have. It pays to spend a few minutes with squared paper and crayons and draw different versions. Where you put the light and dark tones can completely change the look, and lead to even more hours of indecision....and purchase of more fabric.
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on May 30, 2019, 09:08:16 AM: Thank you all for your opinions on the variations.We kept thinking of other ways you do it! LOL too much math brain obviously :)
This is what we've decided to go with. We liked it with the stronger black together in some places, but felt it still needed some contrast, so alternate rows. Now to sew . . .
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on May 30, 2019, 17:31:47 PM: So here is the top assembled, and hanging on the line in the garden.
Colours look a bit washed out here the un is shining through, but you get the idea :)

Now to choose backing fabric and binding . . .
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: rubywishes on June 04, 2019, 11:55:58 AM: You're on the "home stretch" now LeilaMay! It's looking terrific.
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on June 06, 2019, 09:28:36 AM: Been a hiatus on this as the space I need to lay it out and baste it has been unavailable (the kitchen floor for a day!). But today chef says I can have the room - so away we go . . .
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on June 16, 2019, 17:56:57 PM: I have finished the machine quilting of the top :toast:

Now I have all the ends to tie off and hide, but it's getting there after a shaky start and some major unpicking
:vintage:
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Iminei on June 16, 2019, 19:53:32 PM: Of course you do know the lasoo method (https://thesewingplace.org.uk/index.php/topic,860.0.html) dont you @LeilaMay
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on June 16, 2019, 20:10:12 PM: I do, but that's not how I tend to do it :)
But thank you
<3
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Iminei on June 17, 2019, 08:21:52 AM: No problem ... then how do you hide your ends???
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on June 17, 2019, 09:11:39 AM: I do bury them in the same way, but just not using that lasoo-type arrangement.
My thread ends don't always end up exactly at the place I want to loose them, and they are also separated by quite a gap as I'm using a large stitch, so I use a large eyed needle, I move each thread ( if necessary) to where I want them to be, tie them, thread them together through the needle and sink them in as you do.

'Simple' is how it goes here always :)
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: LeilaMay on June 19, 2019, 18:30:47 PM: And the quilt is finished today.
I didn't realise when showing the back on the quilt, that you were also getting a delightful shot of my grubby water barrel LOL Please try to ignore that bit :)

The quilt back is dark at my daughters request, and the centre seam reinforced with a strip of fabric from one of the front blocks. The quilting follows some (but not all) of the lines of the blocks.

Thank you all for the advice when I was struggling.
Leila [ You are not allowed to view attachments ] [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Pearl on June 19, 2019, 21:06:17 PM: Beautiful, @LeilaMay . :loveit: :loveit: :loveit:

Didn’t notice your water barrel as I was distracted by your beautiful quilting.
Title: Re: Courthouse steps quilt about to begin
Post by: Iminei on June 20, 2019, 07:11:47 AM: Beeeautiful!

Who knew when you joined TSP that you were a closet Darksider ???
Well I think you are truly out of the closet now!