Monday 2 December 2013

Progress on my Second Quilt...


Last week I bought my first jelly roll. Not so long ago, I didn't even know what a jelly roll was. Fat quarters were the limit of my knowledge of cut fabric, other than straight yardage. I have yet to enter into the world of charm packs and layer cakes, too, but I'm sure it won't be long.



These blocks will become a Christmas present for a male member of the family. I'm fairly confident he won't see this post, so the surprise won't be spoilt.


Knowing I wanted to make this quilt, I've been adding quilt tutorials and patterns to my Quilting board on Pinterest, and have been looking back through all the quilts added to the Quilting and Patchwork link party, here at Threading My Way.

When it came time to decide on the quilt to make, I just couldn't make up my mind as to which tutorial or pattern to follow. I kept changing my mind re colours, design, style and how to do the quilting.

So, for some crazy reason, I thought I'd make up my own blocks and go from there... an experiment. This was definitely not a well thought out decision, given that there's a deadline, it's to be a present and I've only made one quilt before this one.


I chose to purchase a jelly roll as I thought it would cut down on the cutting out time. It's always harder to find suitable fabrics for a male, but wanting male fabrics in a jelly roll made for a much more limited choice. I ended up choosing Moda's Road 15. 

I more or less kept the same colourway in each block and went with random, scrappy blocks. I love how the individual blocks have turned out!!!


Anyway, this is where I'm at now... 31 scrappy blocks made, so I'll have one block left over. Today I played with combinations.

I totally agree with Mr TMW... the black dominates with all the black lines going in the one direction. That can be fixed easily by rearranging the direction and combination of the blocks. Obviously the quilt is not for Mr TMW, or I wouldn't have asked his opinion.


To simulate sashing, I put the blocks on a black sheet and I think this is what I'll go with... just thin strips of sashing. so the black doesn't take over. I think it's going to need a lighter coloured sashing around the outside, but I have no idea what I'll use yet. And then there's the binding colour to decide on. As I said, this quilt is an experiment.

I really would value your opinions. What are your thoughts on making these blocks into a quilt?

... Pam

10 comments:

  1. It's looking great, Pam. I love those blocks and think they are perfect for this. It'll be a very effective design. YAY for your second quilt. Good luck with the deadline. :)

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  2. What great blocks! I personally prefer them together without the sashing but you may need it to make it bigger. A light border and red binding would be my choice!

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  3. I really like it on the black background. It makes the quilt squares stand out more on their own. You could always try to buy yardage of one of the fabrics used in the jelly roll for the binding to tie it all together.

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  4. oh Pam, it's lovely! I love the blocks, they work so well. Black sashing will be perfect. How about an outer border in white or pale grey, then black binding?

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  5. I think the black really sets off your blocks and frames them well. How about using the black the way you have it and then use a binding that has the light and bright colors to pull them out without overwhelming your design? I like how you angled the jelly strips so they have shape!

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  6. Very nice I like it. A serious quilt. It's good to have an experiment for your creativity ;)

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  7. Looking great! Thats a lot of work! I like the idea of the outer border being in a light gray. I think you are good with any of your colors, I would lean toward a green border still masculine but bright.

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  8. Great fabrics and fab blocks Pam, it is going to be a lovely quilt. I like the black framing the blocks and would go with that for the sashing and border.If you have enough fabric left I would be tempted to go with one of the black patterned fabrics for the binding, it is a guy quilt after all :)

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  9. Love the blocks Pam, they look fantastic! Perhaps a thin white sashing to make the colours pop out and contrast the black in the blocks? Then perhaps a black binding to make a nice strong final border?

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  10. The quilt looks like it's coming along nicely!

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