The Sewing Place

The Emporia => Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside => Topic started by: Ploshkin on April 25, 2017, 12:13:03 PM

Title: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Ploshkin on April 25, 2017, 12:13:03 PM
I finished piecing my log cabin quilt back in February.  I did post a picture on Reddit when it was our temporary home but thought I would put one on here.  I hadn't intended to lose momentum but had to clear my sewing room for my niece to stay over lambing so it got put in the cupboard but it's now out, basted and ready to quilt.

My original thoughts were for darker purples  with yellow stars but then I found the fabric (pictured below) and 'had' to have it for the stars so that changed all the rest apart from the dark one in the middle of the blocks. I can see how one acquires a stash as I now have quite a bit of purple fabric and some nice yellow too.

I'm going to keep the quilting lines simple (diagonals) and I've got a variegated purple thread.
I could be some time.
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Snowgoose on April 25, 2017, 12:46:55 PM
How very pretty  :). I love purple, variegated thread will look beautiful with your quilt.  One day, maybe I will try quilting, a cushion cover perhaps - something simple  8)
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Lantana on April 25, 2017, 22:45:58 PM
Oh that's gorgeous Ploshkin! I love the colours. I hope you enjoy the quiting and wil increase your confidence!

Lanty  :vintage:
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Iminei on April 26, 2017, 07:19:06 AM
Gorgeous!
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Sakar on April 26, 2017, 12:09:14 PM
It's a fantastic idea to show your log cabin quilt here again  :)  It's a wonderful quilt with great colours. I really like the stars between the blocks!!

And Ploshkin? It's quite normal to have more fabric at home than you really need, that's a real quilter  :P There is a nice saying in German: "Possess is better than need!" and especially concerning patchwork and quilting, it's really true  :D
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Lowena on April 26, 2017, 13:03:26 PM
What fantastic work Ploshy, it looks lovely  <3
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Catllar on April 26, 2017, 13:10:46 PM
That's lovely - the stars look great too!
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Lilian on April 26, 2017, 13:19:45 PM
Beautiful Ploskin, love the colours!  :vintage:
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: supergran on April 26, 2017, 20:40:13 PM
It's beautiful Ploshkin and the stars give it a real lift.
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Iminei on April 29, 2017, 10:44:28 AM
There is a nice saying in German: "Possess is better than need!" and especially concerning patchwork and quilting, it's really true 

Or to translate to English...

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush......

Or in Darksideish...

A yard in the stash is better than in T' Emporia

!!!! Free those FQs now !!!

Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Sakar on April 30, 2017, 06:45:25 AM
!!!! Free those FQs now !!!

(http://www.quiltfriend.de/images/smilies/rotflol.gif)
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: shadykittykat on April 30, 2017, 06:58:54 AM
I love it, gorgeous fabrics
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Ploshkin on May 26, 2017, 10:52:22 AM
Yay!  At last it is finished!!
It's taken me ages to hand sew the back of the binding - tendonitis is playing up at the moment so I only managed a little bit every couple of days.
It's come out at 64" x 64".  I quilted it with parallel chevrons on each side.  For the first one on each side I ran the machine along the edge of an 18" ruler then for the rest I actually used (for the first time ever) that quilting guide thing that has been in the accessory box of every machine I have ever used.  There are inevitably some wobbles but I'm not letting them worry me. The variegated thread didn't add anything because there was so little variation in the shade but it was a nice colour.
I said previously that my backing fabric was a little scant.  When I trimmed up after quilting I took just 4 - 5 mm off two opposite sides.  I also realised as I was quilting that perhaps I was pushing my luck doing that narrow green border  - I used 1 1/2" strip for a finished 1" border.  Actually, I got away with it because the whole thing stayed very stable and square.
I had read a tip some time ago that I remembered for once (I think it was on the Moda website) and as far as possible I cut the strips for the logs down the length of the fabric.  The only ones I didn't were the dark outside ones as it wasn't economical to cut them that way.  There was virtually no distortion at all.   
It's been a long time getting there but I'm really pleased with how it has ended up - it's only my 3rd quilting thing and the biggest one I have done so far.
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: b15erk on May 26, 2017, 10:55:41 AM
Plosh, that is beautiful!  Is it for yourself?  I love your colour choices - reminds me of bluebells!

Jessie
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: fajita on May 26, 2017, 10:56:08 AM
It looks lovely, you've done a great Job of it.
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: twopence on May 26, 2017, 11:02:41 AM
That's lovely Plosh.  You must be very pleased. 
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Lowena on May 26, 2017, 11:25:31 AM
Ploshy... that's gorgeous, and such a lot of work  :angel: I  <3 it
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Ellabella on May 26, 2017, 12:29:28 PM
Beautiful work Plosh. I love the quilting, it adds so much to the original design.
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Acorn on May 26, 2017, 12:31:19 PM
Beautiful!   0_0
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Sewingsue on May 26, 2017, 12:41:58 PM
Beautiful and I do like the chevron quilting.
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Lantana on May 26, 2017, 13:22:57 PM
Very well done Plosh .... I  <3 everything about it!!

L  :vintage:
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Iminei on May 26, 2017, 14:04:47 PM
Superb!!!

Love it love it love it!

and 64" sq is quite a size for your 3rd quilt!!!

I had read a tip some time ago that I remembered for once (I think it was on the Moda website) and as far as possible I cut the strips for the logs down the length of the fabric.  The only ones I didn't were the dark outside ones as it wasn't economical to cut them that way. 

Why ???
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Ploshkin on May 26, 2017, 14:18:03 PM
Quote
Why ???

It said that because the lengthwise grain is more stable than the crosswise grain (which I know from dressmaking)  the strips wouldn't stretch or distort when sewn to the blocks.  The blocks did stay very square and I barely did any trimming before joining them.  Even after adding the border and quilting it was all still very square - but of course I don't know if it would have been any different if I had cut WOF strips.
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: rubywishes on May 26, 2017, 14:22:26 PM
Ploshkin that is just a beautiful quilt....stunning and gorgeous...love everything about it!
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: BrendaP on May 26, 2017, 14:50:44 PM
I had read a tip some time ago that I remembered for once (I think it was on the Moda website) and as far as possible I cut the strips for the logs down the length of the fabric.  The only ones I didn't were the dark outside ones as it wasn't economical to cut them that way. 

Why ???

Find a piece of (woven) fabric - a fat quarter would be ideal.  Grab hold of it so that your hands are on the middle of two opposite sides, hold firmly and try to pull your hands apart.  Notice how much 'give' there is.  Now rotate the fabric 90° and repeat the excercise.  I'll guarantee that there is more give in the crossways direction than there is in the lengthways direction.  Rotate the fabric 45° and try again; you are now pulling on the bias and it will have even more give.

The reason the fabric stretches less in the lengthways/warp direction is because when it's being woven the warp threads are held under tension whereas the filler/weft threads are not.

This is the reason why garments and curtains are nearly always cut on the lengthways straight grain.  I have a dress - looks better on than hanging - which being a border fabric I cut it all in the cross direction.  When I put it on and smooth the skirt down I can actually feel it stretching.

With patchwork it doesn't matter which way small squares and triangles go, and you probably have the bits all muddled up and going in all directions, but when it comes to borders you do get more stability if you cut the fabric lengthways.

Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Iminei on May 26, 2017, 18:00:43 PM
Thank you Goddess!
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: supergran on May 26, 2017, 21:00:50 PM
It's beautiful Plosh, one of the nicest log cabins I've ever seen. I love the quilting as well.  <3
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Ploshkin on May 26, 2017, 22:13:04 PM
Thank you all for your comments.  I made it for me as log cabin has always been a favourite.  It will be good to cwtch up under come the autumn.  It's nothing like I had originally planned - it seemed to evolve along the way.  I must get a shift on with the next bit of the mystery quilt now I've finished this one.
Title: Re: Stellar Log Cabin
Post by: Sheilago on May 27, 2017, 14:17:12 PM
Absolutely beautiful, my kind of quilt. Another one to copy, I think!