City Weekend Swirly Pop (more pinwheel love)

Waaaay back at the beginning of May I started on this quilt using Cluck Cluck Sew's Swirly Pop pattern (yet more gorgeous pinwheels) and my long ago purchased City Weekend charm packs.

Inspired by this quilt by Red Pepper Quilts I wanted to try using a different base colour than my usual white, so I used a light grey, it definitely makes the colours pop. But this has been one of those quilts that I've alternatively loved and hated depending on what stage it's at (funny how that happens!). Luckily now that it's finished, I really love it. It's a bit more complex than my usual, and I do lose interest fast when my pile of blocks doesn't seem to be growing quickly enough but I persevered (not that it's a difficult pattern, it definitely isn't!).

I have to admit that I had a bit of an issue (actually a BIG issue) with the outer border, I initially used one of the pink prints as a more solid border and it just looked really ordinary (husband said it looked good, but I'm pretty sure he was just saying that for an easy life!), I ended up unpicking it (after I'd quilted the quilt, wouldn't recommend doing that if you can help it!), ordering two more charm packs and going with the mixed border like the RPQ's one. It added a couple more months to the project (but what's a couple more when it's taken 6 months right?) SOOOOO much better!!! it really makes the quilt I think.

The finished quilt is approx. 60in x 68in and used 4 charm packs of City Weekend (2 for the quilt and about 1.5 packs for the border), plus a solid light grey (I just used one from the local fabric shop).

While I'm on a roll....

Another finished quilt, I blogged the start of this quilt late last year, it took me a while to finish it, and then even longer to take photos of it.

It's one of my favourite quilts. I love pinwheels. I used a lovely pattern by Thimble Blossoms, ""Wild Thing", inspired by this quilt by Cluck Cluck Sew.

The pinwheels are made with a couple of charm packs, Recess by American Jane (found them on Ebay for a bargain price!). The backing, border and binding are Punctuation by American Jane, mainly because Recess is so far out of print I couldn't find ANY yardage. But the two go together really well. I love the retro primary colours. The quilt's already looking well loved thanks to a few washes.

Hello Betty finished!

This was a really quick and easy quilt to put together, using this 'Easy Bake' pattern from CluckCluckSew (one of my fave quilting blogs).

Made with just one layer cake. I used Hello Betty, a fairly old fabric line that's now out of print, by Chloe's Closet for Moda.

I machine quilted it in straight lines. Well. They were meant to be straight. Note to self: don't rule quilting lines in a fabric pen that says "disappears spontaneously". You've gotta wonder, what's the point of it?? so instead of re-doing the lines with a more appropriate pen, I just thought I'd wing it.

I'm a lazy quilter, what can I say! and it's really not that bad, you hardly notice the wonk, especially now it's been washed a couple of times and has that nice crumpled look.

A finished quilt!!!

Finally, a finished quilt! I can hardly believe it. Luckily I had the deadline of the recipient's first birthday party on Sunday. I'm really happy with it but it's looking a little scrumpled in the photos. I really need to get my act together in that department (I'm allergic to ironing). And it's my first quilt with a label! I used the printable fabric, worked well I think. The fabric is all It's a Hoot by Moma for Moda. Perfect for a little girl I think, without being too traditional.

I'm just finishing the hand stitching on another quilt so hopefully will have pics to post this week.

Pinwheels

Haven't had much sewing time lately, first birthdays and christmas are interfering!

Squeezed in a bit though here and there, and I do love a pinwheel quilt. All those piles have turned into this:

Much quicker and easier than I thought. I can't wait to finish this one, I love the retro prints (Moda Recess) and primary colours. Waiting on arrival of border fabric, binding and backing, hope it arrives in time for some Christmas sewing!!