Slow stitching - EPP progress & some Applique

I always have many EPP  projects on the go, that way I can switch between them usually on a fortnightly basis & never get bored of stitching the same thing. Here are some I'm currently focusing on.....

Back in August 2016 I started making some EPP Glitter blocks having drafted my own templates a little larger than those from Jen Kingwell's book Quilt Lovely

This is another great pattern for mixing up the fabric scraps

Where I'm at so far....

Then in October last year, inspired by some amazing vintage hexagon mosaic quilts, especially those of  Albert Small I decided to design my own mosaic. I started colouring in like mad & came up with this for a starting off point

Then the stitching began....

another round was added...

& another section

This is where I'm at today, the main centre pattern is nearly complete. I'm using 3/4" hexagons for this quilt

Next up we have EPP triangles. I had a quite a few redundant triangles cut for a border of another quilt which just didn't work out as I had planned.

One day I came across Linda Collins' Panama Pyramids FB group, (as you do) & finally found a use for these pieces & just had to join in!

These are so easy & quick to make up

Some more sets prepped & ready to stitch.

This is another great scrap project, I'm sticking to using Kaffe Fassett Collective prints & shot cottons for these

Finally, last week, inspired mainly by my love of blue & white china and images of Kaffe Fassett's collection as well as his fabulous mosaics, this design was born

Fabric mosaics using up even smaller scraps, each piece hand appliqued

Embellishing the ginger jar with some simple back stitch embroidery to give it a bit more dimension

A little contrast hand quilting added

This will be bound with the same darker blue spot fabric to add balance to the piece. I

already have more ideas developing on this theme.....watch this space!

Shirt Stripe Boxes - we have a finish!

Back in 2012 I started making blocks for Kaffe Fassett's Shirt Stripe Boxes quilt from his book Passionate Patchwork, using recycled shirt fabric. You can see the original blog post here

Gradually over the next few years a few more blocks were made here & there as the mood struck until eventually at last in 2014 all the blocks were finally done

Then they just sat there,with the backing fabric squares also cut out all ready waiting to be quilted.  I planned to construct this using the Quilt As You Go method with some plain royal blue sashing

Then last month they were pulled out again, simply quilted with straight lines on my trusty Singer treadle & all assembled into a completed & quilted top

This last weekend the binding was attached & I made the most of a beautiful day in the garden to finish hand stitching the binding down & ta dah......we have a completed quilt, finally!

So pleased to cross another WIP/UFO off the ever increasing list! 

Circle progress

Well...... I have fallen way behind in making may daily circles as too many other projects are distracting me.

I'm still trying to avoid as little waste as possible by using the circle cut outs to make more circle blocks as in the next 2 below

 So to date I have 86 units/blocks or if you count the number of individual circles appliqued 138.............I think I'll stick with the latter number, it certainly sounds better :)

I'm also joining the blocks as I go & here they are all together so far, this isn't the final layout as it looks a bit messy, still needs a bit of tweaking as more blocks are added.

Whilst on the subject of circles, here's my 1st attempt at a Georgetown circle block by EPP. This is going to be the centre of a medallion quilt one day, when I get round to it!

Do go & visit Audrey's 365 circle link up, lots of lovely circles being stitched, grab a cuppa & enjoy all the lovely projects being shared

Hexagon Fun

Although I wasn't going to embark on any new projects this year, I couldn't help being drawn into making some of these Glorious Hexagons based on the patterns from Katja Marek's book , after all, who can resist fussy cutting Kaffe Fassett & EPP?

There are quite a few Facebook groups working on these as weekly/monthly projects, but you need the book for the templates to make the individual blocks:

Glorious Hexagons by Liza Prior Lucy & Kim McClean

Katja Marek's Quilt with Me  - you can join in the quilt along from her website here

Katia Marek's Fussy Cutting/EPP workshop - administered by Lisa Rinn Palmer

January

February

Wanting to do my "own thing" as per usual (I can never follow patterns), I decided to frame my 3" hexagons with shot cottons & tonal prints & drafted a framed diamond to join them all together

A black & white photo of the layout is always good to check tonal balance

March

March

The rows are growing!

April so far, gradually enough made to add another row to the top

Whilst making the above hexagons, I got a little side tracked with the idea of using up some recycled shirt scraps, which led to these below.....

So that's already 2 new projects started this year, there's no hope for me! 

Happy stitching

Playing with circles

Audrey over at Quilty Folk is sewing a circle a day for 365 days, loved this idea for using up some of my Kaffe Fassett scraps

The first 6 days worth of 4.5" blocks

Realizing I would end up with lots of neutral circle cut outs, I thought, what if I add these to the mix too?  (I hate wasting fabric)

So this 4.5" x 8.5" block was born

Then I thought what if I throw in some bigger circles using up bits of made fabric from scraps a la Victoria Findlay Wolfe 15 minutes play time?

No waste here either as I can get a 4.5" background for a smaller circle block from the cutout

A few sewn together..........and here we may have the beginnings of a pattern for a quilt? 

Not sure I'll be able to stick to making just one circle a day from now on though!

December 1st update:

Having started sewing circles on 5th November I'm now up to day 27. I'm counting each background piece of fabric (whether it contains one circle or three) as one day's work, so without further ado, here they are to date:

It's quite a nice process coming in from work each day & dipping into the Kaffe scraps to choose that evening's fabric for my daily circle & quite a relaxing bit of mindless stitching after a stressful day. I couldn't resist fussy cutting some of his bigger prints to throw in here & there as well. 

Linking up to Quilty 365, thank you Audrey for the inspiration :)