Cherish EPP to top stage

In June of 2024 I finally finished hand-piecing together the twenty full hexagon blocks and five half hexagon blocks of my English-paper-pieced 'Cherish' quilt (pattern and EPP kidset, with acrylic templates and precut paper shapes, from Jodi at Tales of Cloth in Australia).

I had bought the kitset at the end of 2020, and ordered a fatquarter pack of Lewis and Irene (for Moda) fabrics of their Teatime range as I loved the china blues and whites; I added other blues, yellows and greens from my stash and scrap bins.

Blocks 1-10

Blocks 11-20

Having hand-stitched the 700 pieces together, I felt I should stay traditional and also have a go at hand-quilting it - though will admit to cheating/being efficient by first basting the quilt with the basting stitch on my Bernina Q20 longarm machine, which made it so quick to prepare.

Then I spent many winter evenings with some slow stitching, working my way around the blocks with Wonderfil 'Spagetti' 12wt - 3ply Egyptian cottons.

I watched a few different hand quilting tutorial videos to get some tips and chose not to work with a hoop/frame as I didn't want to have to keep adjusting it all the time.

I've got about two thirds of the blocks completed, but have not picked the project up for the past three or four months; I will get back into it maybe when the nights get darker again with autumn/winter.

Measures 60" x 64"

Cherish EPP quilt progress blocks 11-20

 Some more of the blocks I've created so far in another long-term project: an EPP quilt, 'Cherish', using a pattern, papers and acrylic templates kit that I purchased in late 2020 from Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth in Australia, and started in 2021.

Here are the rest of the twenty full-hexagon blocks I've made so far (see previous post for the first ten blocks), with some close-ups of the cute drawings in the fabrics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

My aim in 2024 is to complete the quilt and piece all the blocks together, and I want to hand quilt it...so this may become a 2025 finish...good things take time!

Cherish EPP quilt progress blocks 1-10

  

While I am on a run with updating my 'scrapbook', I will share the blocks I've created so far in another long-term project: an EPP quilt, 'Cherish', using a pattern, papers and acrylic templates kit that I purchased in late 2020 from Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth in Australia, and started in 2021.

Here are ten of the twenty full-hexagon blocks I've made so far, with some close-ups of the cute drawings in the fabrics:

 

 

I looked for a set of fabrics to inspire me and love the blue and white scheme of  'Teatime' by Lewis and Irene for Moda fabrics - it has cute little drawings of woodland creatures, teapots, cups and cakes, based on the inspiration of blue and white china, so is perfect for fussy-cutting for an EPP quilt.

 

I bought a half-yard bundle from Moda, and supplemented the bundle with other blues and whites from my stash, and introduced some greens and yellows to add interest. It reminds me of a sunny Southland day and being outside for a picnic.

 

I am making the 8" block version, for which there are 20 full hexagons, and I only have the six border half-hexagons to create (one is done so far). The slow-stitching of handwork, and the portability of the pieces, was ideal for me to keep my hands busy while sitting or visiting with my ill mother in the hospital or rest-home during the months before she passed away in 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't been trying to do symmetrical/reflection style fussy-cutting and sewing, but have simply been looking to repeat motifs. Will share the rest of the blocks in the next post.