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Wednesday, July 11, 2018

It Wouldn't Stop Growing!

How often have you started making a small quilt and the next thing you know...it grew into something much bigger than expected?  Because of the way I work, usually with no or little plan, it happens quite often to me.  

  

When I started this quilt I was determined to use the fabrics I picked in the May Blogger Bundle I curated for  Needle & Foot Fine Fabrics.  You can read my post about the bundle and the start of this quilt here:  Blogger Bundle



The bundle is still available in Bernie's Etsy shop, you can find it right here:  May Blogger Bundle

I began paper piecing the 4" kite blocks with the idea that I'd make a simple, small table runner.  It would be the perfect size to showcase the fabric and be a relatively quick project to complete in a timely manner.  

The paper pieced block is by Flying Parrot Quilts and is free when you sign up for her newsletter.  It's one of those blocks that I've wanted to play with for a long time and this was finally the time to do it!



My first batch of blocks gave me a good start, but I soon discovered I needed more.  I would layout my blocks and decide I had to have more in order to distribute the prints around, and even then I couldn't decide on a layout.



Eventually all of the blogger bundle fabric was used and I was left with a feeling that there still wasn't enough.  This was a 'put on your thinking cap' moment for me!  In the end I went through my stash and picked fabrics that would compliment the original fat quarters.  

It still didn't mean I had a layout in mind though!  In time that idea finally came and the rest fell into place.


46" x 61"
I decided to keep the prints together in threes and add a plain square.  The background is Kona Snow which lets each print standout.  It took a while to get just the right layout!  Once all the blocks of four were pieced, I figured it was the best time to tear out the paper. 



After careful thought I choose Kona Black for the inside 1 1/2" border (finished) and a 3" outside border (finished).  With the three blocks that stood out the most, black, it seemed like the best idea.  Plus, I could then use black for the binding.



Believe it or not, I kept the quilting pretty simple!  The center of each block looks so poofy!  I didn't do any quilting in the black border at all.  But I did quilt some groovy diamonds in the outside border.  They look a lot like the kites!



One other detail about the quilting...I decided to use a heavier thread.  I had a spool of Aurifil 30wt in an off-white.  I like to add the color name and number of the thread I use, but this thread was unnamed!  But the number is 6722!



Again with the pieced back!  I didn't have a big piece of anything that would go with this quilt!  So I grabbed my left over Kona Snow, a piece of Kona Bone and lastly Kona Ivory.  And with all my little bits and pieces I made four slabs and gave them the wonky block effect for the finishing touch!



The funny thing is I originally was aiming for a runner, which led me to think I'd instead make a baby quilt.  By the end of it all it grew to a good sized throw quilt!  Welcome to my wacky world!



The May Blogger Bundle was inspired by Spring.  The start of sprouts, flowers and weeds!  By the time I finished it became Summer with oppressive heat and humidity!  Its amazing how just  a couple of months can change so drastically!




LINKING:


29 comments:

  1. Your quilt is lovely. I really like the accent of black. I made the smaller wall hanging version of this pattern and I can understand how you wanted to keep going! It is such an easy pattern !

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    1. I thought the black was the best option! It stands out without being too overbearing. It is a fun and simple pattern, which is why it kept growing I think.

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  2. it looks great I can see having a quilt grow and grow I do that a lot too

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    1. It’s crazy how that happens! It started as a table runner idea, to a baby quilt to this!

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  3. This happens to me ALL. THE. TIME.!!

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  4. Hi Jayne,
    This turned out SO beautiful. I just love the fabrics - I am saving my bundle for now until the 'perfect' project. HAHA! Happy Wednesday! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  5. I really like the groupings of three and the quilted diamonds in the border. It's fun to see where projects take us!

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    1. Having the plain square helped ‘grow’ the quilt! About half way through making the blocks I decided I had to make sure I made them in groups of threes!

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  6. Just lovely and oh so many little blocks! I have to say I love the back too.

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  7. I totally understand your problem ;-) I really like how your quilt turned out tho!

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  8. What a fun quilt to watch grow! Often times quilting projects just speak to us as they unfold. Great quilt!

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  9. These kite blocks are so cute! I love the layout design you chose - it's brilliant!!! This quilt obviously had a mind of its own, but you nailed it my dear!!! Beautiful!!!!

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  10. I love it! The blocks are so cute, I can see them in all kinds of fabrics. Great job and the borders are perfect for the look.

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    1. The block is pretty simple for paper piecing and I think a scrappy quilt would be amazing. I’m wondering what it would look like with the print and solid fabrics reversed. Guess theres another quilt in the works!!

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  11. What a fantastic looking quilt!

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  12. I love the one plain white square offsetting the patterned ones! What a great quilt you ended up with! I also make quilts that way- who knows how they will look or how big they will turn out!

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  13. Leave it to you, Jayne, to start small and grow it larger! It really is a neat quilt and clearly meant to be a throw size:)

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  14. Those spring sprouts just grew and grew in the hot summer sun, didn't they? I love this three plus blank square pattern very, very much! What is it they say about poison ivy? "Leaves of three, let them be," except for you it was, "Leaves of three, a lap quilt will be!" :)

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  15. Beautiful quilt, I love the missing 4th block ;) Great border and binding, too, and the backing, hmmm, so great ;)

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  16. Definitely worth making it bigger - it's lovely! I really like how you used the paper pieced blocks in groups of three, leaving the fourth block plain. It really adds a extra level of interest. Well done!

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  17. Beautiful design and blogger bundle! The colors look great against the white background.

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  18. What a fun quilt! It does look addictive! Thanks for sharing the link to the pattern...another project I must think about!

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  19. Thanks for sharing your wonderful quilt, love the pattern and your color choice!

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  20. I love it Jayne. I also love the back. My quilts don't seem to grown like yours but maybe if I free wheeled it a bit more they would.

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  21. Brilliant use of black on this one. It works so well with the block design and your fabric pick. Nice job!

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  22. I like how you put three blocks together with a solid square. Well done. Keep the creativity flowing.

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  23. This turned out very sweet! I don't think I would have ever thought of this layout but I love it!

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  24. Hi Jayne, I absolutely LOVE your quilt. I would never have thought to add those black fabrics but it really looks great.
    If you want to link up to TGIFF, it's still open - I'm hosting it this week. Here's the link: http://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/2018/07/tgiff-and-batik-lap-quilt-finish.html

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  25. I really like the groupings of three with the plain block. You're right, sometimes a project just has to grow before you can call it finished.

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