Re-D0, Re-Work, Re-Think

Every once in a while I like to revisit one of my designs and see if I can make it better.  I'd like to think that once a pattern is written, it's set in stone.  It's so good and perfect that there isn't anything I could do to make it better!  That's what I get for thinking!

The first rendition of this quilt was six years ago.  It was one of the first patterns I wanted to put to paper, but it didn't quite get there.  I had rough measurements and block placement, but it always fell short of the 'worthy' category.

Here are a few posts featuring my brilliant idea:
Feverishly Finished, Finished and Loved, Pattern Revisited

I guess the reason I keep going back to this one is because it's unfinished business to me.  I know I can make it better, do better.  And so I did...again!

 

One thing I added were sashing pieces.  They not only made the quilt 6" wider, but they staggered the main blocks.



The idea for the new version is not to have any of the Shoo-Fly blocks touching.  Which ended up being a bit more difficult that I thought it would be!  There are five (5) different Shoo-Fly block sizes that combine together to make one large block.  Two sashing strips are added per row for the off set factor.  

12"

I decided it was time to bust out the Alison Glass fabric for this version.  I have it, why not use it?!  

10"

7.5"

3" & 6"

I'm using Kona Silver for the background fabric.  It's a very light gray and frankly...I had a ton on hand!

I did get the top pieced together, but I need to tweak a few things before I can write/design/make the pattern.  

One thing I LOVE about this pattern, besides the blocks, fabric, design...Is how forgiving it is.  Quarter inch seams?  Scant 1/4" seams?  It doesn't matter how careful I am, which 1/4" seam I use or how careful and precise I try to be, my blocks are never perfectly square or the size they are suppose to be.  This pattern isn't going show the so called 'fatal flaw'.  Make your blocks, piece them into the large block and if you have to trim here and there...do it!  I love that...did I say I love that yet?!  

The Shoo-fly block doesn't have points or precision piecing to worry about.  It's still going to look like a Shoo-Fly in the end whether you have to trip 1/8" or 1/4" off!

So, that being said...I'm working on it!

LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING 
LETS BEE SOCIAL ● MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD 

PEACOCK PARTY  ● TGIFF ● WHOOP WHOOP FRIDAY

BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY

Pattern Revisited

It isn't often that I remake a quilt more than a couple times.  I usually can't wait to move on to a new design, something different.  However, since I designed this quilt and have a semi-finished pattern written...I felt the need to make it one more time!

I first made it exactly two years ago.  You can see how fast I am at making actual patterns for my designs!  

41" x 52"

This quilt has never had a name.  It needs a name.  Especially since it keeps coming back! It does remind me of Gum Balls!

The Shoo-Fly block is one of those blocks that with one flip or change, becomes completely different.  Which is pretty great.  A versatile block.

My design consists of 5 different sizes.  (3", 6", 7 1/2", 9 1/2" and12")  The different sizes together are what make this quilt work for me.  It breaks it up, gives the blocks breathing space.

And naturally, I went with color...30 different colors to be exact!  I was able to use a little of a lot scraps, but not nearly enough to make a dent!  And to round it out, Kona Snow is what I used for the background. 

These 3" blocks are a little tricky, a little bit of a pain in the butt...but worth it.  Since making the first quilt in 2013, where I tired to make the HST's perfect without trimming, I have since learned about the Bloc-Loc Ruler and that making HST's bigger and trimming is the way to go for better accuracy. 

This version received a quilted diamond design, which I really like!  

This text print has been lurking in my stash for a while.  It was suppose to be a 108" wide, but when I received it, it was in two pieces!   And, the two pieces didn't even add up to the yardage I ordered!  Maddening, right?  It turned out fine in the end, refund...free fabric!

That led to this...a scrappy back!    

I feel like every time I make this design, I tweak a little here and there.  Or I find I'm off by 1/4" somewhere else.  Now I see why pattern testers are so important!  Shall I say it?  One of these days I'm going to make a pattern!  (1073rd time I've said that!)

LINKING:

Sew Cute Tuesday

Let's Bee Social

WIP Wednesday

Finished and Loved

I have been lucky enough to have some pretty wonderful customers over the years.  I enjoy working with people to get just what they want (even if they don't know what that is).  

Last year I was asked it I could make a quilt for a little girl using one of my designs (I still haven't made it in to a pattern).  This was the finished quilt and happily received.

Pretty Much Caught Up

That little girl has a sister and it was time she got her very own quilt too! We started by finding just the right fabric.  Eventually we arrived at this beautiful bundle from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Thistle Flower Sugar ~ Lecien Fabrics

The plan was to keep it similar to the first one (they share a room), but not the same.  I threw out a few ideas and we settled on a design.  It would have square Shoo-Fly blocks, but also some elongated rectangles.

Something Like This

Once I figured out what size the blocks would be it was time to become a piecing machine!!

There are five different blocks needed for this quilt.  There was plenty of 'pretties' to pick from with the fat quarter bundle. I was well on my way to getting all the blocks pieced and ready for the top assembly.

First was getting the blocks and colors evenly distributed from top to bottom.  Figuring out the correct size of the white  pieces was a little bit of a challenge.  Once I got the math part out of the way it was smooth sailing!

I ended up changing the pattern just a little bit.  Adding a random square print helped bring it all together. 

Finished top!  Like the first quilt, I used Kona White for the background.  It highlights the sweet prints so well!

57" x 80"

For the quilting I went with 2" diagonal lines.  Very similar to the first quilt!

The back is Kona Honeysuckle with a pieced strip of prints.

And of course little sister had to have a coordinating bookmark just like her big sister!  And that my friends is the 'cherry on top'!! 

LINKING:

Sew Cute Tuesday

Fabric Tuesday

Needle & Thread Thursday

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Pretty Much Caught Up

The start of September has been pretty hectic.  My son had a birthday, I had a birthday, I went to a Quilt Show, spent 4 days getting new windows put in the house and lastly and most importantly, I finished 2 beautiful custom orders!

With the above quietly behind me, I am hoping to stay on track for a while!  That means getting back to blogging!

I finally finished this quilt!  Yay!  After a pretty long process of deciding on fabric, we settled on Rapture by Pat Bravo.  If I ever get to writing the pattern for this quilt design, it would look like this.  For this quilt however, I added to the sides making it larger. 

Something like this:

57" x 80"

It will now fit a little bed for a little girl!!  I think this will take her through many cold nights and grow with her.  Not too childish!  

I included a panel across the bright yellow back and quilted the heck out of it!

It feels good to finish quilts.  It feels even better knowing it is going to someone who will have many, many years of warmth and joy from them!

Since the little lady (she is 6) receiving this quilt is an avid reader, her mom asked if I would include a bookmark using some of the fabric from the quilt.  I was delighted!  What better way to put a smile on a little face...while encouraging them to explore the world with a book?!

Double sided whale bookmark.  I created this design with children in mind, but that certainly doesn't mean any 'big kid' wouldn't love it as well!  Bookmarks like the whale are available in my second Etsy shop:  Twiggy & Opal Too!  I also have some cute little snakes!

Linking:

ANYTHING GOES MONDAY'S

Feverishly Finished

Yay!  I get to show a finished quilt!  After reworking the pattern ever so slightly, this quilt is in the bag so to speak!

42 1/2 x 63"

With a renewed sense of excitement for my pattern, I'm anxiously awaiting to get this baby on paper now!

The back looks like gray in the picture.  It is Kona Bluebell and is a very lovely blue-ish purple.  I added a scrappy Shoo-Fly just for the fun of it!

I quilted it in 2" diagonal squares using no less than 20 different thread colors!  Gotta keep with the color theme!  I am very pleased with this one!

I was so excited to get this in the wash.  I threw it in the drier while I ran to the grocery store, only to come back to a still wet quilt!  ARGH!  My drier died!  We fixed it only months ago too. A trip to Lowe's on friday and a new drier on sunday!  (it was 15 years old)

Linking:

ANYTHING GOES MONDAYS

LET'S BEE SOCIAL

         

Pattern Revisted

It's no secret that I make most of my things for my Etsy Shop.  From quilts to bookmarks and everything in between!  I only have so many friends and family! In order to continue with my passion I had to find an outlet.  Etsy fits the bill and thankfully my shops are doing pretty well!

One of my dreams was to take this venture to another level.  Blogging was one part of that plan.  Becoming part of the quilting community has been rewarding and exciting.  And the people I met along the way has exceeded my expectations!!  What an amazingly friendly and talented community!

Another area I would love to wiggle into is quilt patterns.  I have dabbled in this area a bit. My confidence is lacking a bit!  I have written a few patterns.  Trying to put together clear and precise directions/instructions is a lot harder than you think!  

Case in point:

Back in November I made this quilt.  I blogged about it here.

I love the different sizes of the Shoo-Fly blocks and of course, all the colors!  After I finished this one, I made another with prints and was careful to write down all the sizes, shapes, fabric requirements...oh so many!  

These quilts have been listed on Etsy for a good while waiting for a new home.  Like months and months and months!  And them BAM!  It becomes the most popular thing since sliced bread!  This one sold!  Yay!  I was pretty darn happy!

And then guess what?!  Not one, but two custom orders!  Seriously!  After picking myself up off the floor and wiping a stupid grin off my face...I had to get serious!  

The first one is much like the original.  Except a white background.  

The first block.  This is the smallest measuring 3 1/2" square.  I hadn't made any of these blocks since November and was I ever happy that I wrote the details down!  

There are five different sizes from 3 1/2"-12 1/2".  For this quilt it consists of 30 different colors.  

Here are all the blocks done.  It doesn't look like much right now, the best is yet to come!  

After arranging the blocks to my satisfaction, this is how it came out.

Much to my surprise, the instructions I wrote down were almost perfect!  One piece was a whopping 1/8" off!  Not too bad!  One good thing about this design, its pretty forgiving! Sometimes blocks don't end up exactly the size we want them too!

Just waiting on the backing fabric to arrive and I can get to quilting!  

I was excited to revisit this pattern again.  It really is a fun one to make.  I have a renewed interest in attempting to write the pattern.  Fingers crossed!  I may be asking for some pattern testers!  I should be asking for pattern writers, but I will give it another go!

Do you write quilt patterns?  If so, any suggestions or thoughts would be very welcome!

Linking to:

ANYTHING GOES MONDAYS

LET'S BEE SOCIAL

WIP WEDNESDAY

FABRIC FRENZY FRIDAY

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP