Colours and Critters (In The Garden)

This is an FPP (foundation paper-pieced) double/queen quilt that I began in 2022 and finally completed in 2024. 

It was a block of the month quiltalong called In the Garden, with patterns by Kirsty Lea @QuietPlay - and I sewed the blocks on my Elna 720 domestic machine. I have done a sample block of FPP before, and have got a pattern for a gorgeous zebra that I intend to create one day, so felt that this project would be a good chance to build my skills with a technique I have not really used.

All of the fabrics were pulled from my stash and scraps bins, with yardage of a white organic cotton from Spotlight, and then I started in 2022 with the lily blocks:

They were super easy, and I'm keen to one day make a quilt just using this block, using up scraps.

Then I began the large blocks; I chose to do the 15" size (the other option was 12" but I felt that they would be too fiddly for me as I am not always the most patient of sewers!)

I love this little bug!

October 2023 - finally all done, ready to assemble and quilt!

Measures at 67" square

I quilted it on my Bernina Q20 longarm frame, free-motion quilting using an allover motif that I had seen as a panto online (but I don't have a panto so practised freeehand drawing it first until I felt ready to do that with the machine).

I used a wide-back gingham for the backing, a practice lily as the label, and a polka dot binding.

This one is definitely staying with me - it gives our bed a lovely, fresh look!

And while it was laying on the floor to dry, Bess decided she had the right to test it out!

In The Garden FPP quilt progress 2023

 Thought I would share the blocks I've created during the past two years (yes, a long-term project) as progress for my foundation-pieced quilt In The Garden (started in January 2022), having joined a BOM quilt-along with Kristy Lea of @quietplay).

We were sent two block patterns a month (plus the occasional free bonus block pattern) - starting with the lilies, which I really enjoyed making (they finish at 8").

For the feature blocks I then worked my way first through the patterns that looked easiest and I left the fiddlier, more tricky patterns until last.

I am doing the 15" block version (the other option was 12" blocks). I have not done a lot of foundation paper piecing, and have got a lovely zebra pattern waiting to be created, so used this QAL as a chance to have a good practice of the technique.

The blocks are all now waiting to be joined together and quilted (which I will do once my longarm has been serviced). I've got a baby-blue gingham backing to use (it makes me think of a picnic blanket or outdoor cafe tablecloths).

All of the coloured fabrics are from my stash; the white solid was purchased as I needed to make sure I had enough yardage of the same colour batch to make the quilt.

The blocks created in 2023:

I love this ladybird!

These were the blocks I made in 2022:

Once I get it all quilted and finished, I will add another post - fingers crossed that will happen in 2024!

In The Garden FPP project

October overview - five big blocks to go!

Sharing some of the blocks I've done so far for Kirsty Lea's (Quiet Play Designs) In The Garden quiltalong - this was started back in January, with two new block patterns released each month.

I chose to create the 15" pattern for the wreath blocks (there was a 12" option too) as I have not done a lot of Foundation Paper Piecing, so didn't want to be handling too many fiddly/tiny pieces.

This is the 'master plan'.

I pulled all the colours from my stash and chose a mixture of solids and prints; the white solid for the background was purchased as I needed quite a few yards and wanted to make sure it would be all the same.

I started off well, managing to get all the lilies done in January, along with the first two blocks, before school started up again. After that I was a bit time-poor (and/or had some other projects that took priority) so have only got back into making the blocks in the last few weeks.

It was only last week that I remembered I had been given a wool pressing mat for my birthday and what a difference it does make to having well-pressed, crisp lines! It is now a permanent fixture on top of the ironing board for sure.

One of the great things about Kirsty Lea's QAL is that each pattern release also included a bonus pattern, so I've also got eight other FPP projects to try out sometime (one of which is a super cute bird).