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).

Claudia's Closet - Ice Cream top

I thought it was high time I made something for Claudia, it's been ages! I've been hoarding Oliver and S patterns for a while, they seem to discontinue them quite frequently, and I do love them, and I hate missing out, so I bought a lot!

I loved the look of this pattern so I gave it a crack on the weekend, it had a two scissor rating (it goes up to four) so I thought I'd be okay with my fairly limited seamstress skills. I did have trouble with one part of it (attaching the back yoke, I just didn't get it, I'm sure it must be the pattern....), anyway I just winged it and it worked out okay. Luckily Claudia likes it:

I used a gorgeous pinwheel fabric from Sarah Jane's Children at Play line (pinwheels! practically my dream fabric!) and some red Moda Bliss for the yoke that I've had stashed for a while.

I'm inspired to try out my other Oliver and S patterns now.

I almost forgot, seeing this is technically an 'outfit post':

top by Cath, skinny jeans by Ralph Lauren, trainers by Nike

A new QUIP - City Weekend Swirly Pop

Seeing as I really only had a couple of quilts on the go (and people tell me that "real" quilters always have numerous quilting projects at various stages of incompleteness) I decided to start one I've been sitting on for a while. I ordered the fabrics (City Weekend for Moda by Oliver and S) and decided on the pattern (Swirly Pop by Cluck Cluck Sew) months ago. Finally started over the easter weekend.

 Still a way to go but loving it so far. I've used a light grey solid instead of white, not such a great photo but it really does make the colours pop.

I was left with all these cute little offcuts, so I sewed them together and viola! A mini zigzag quilt (and it really is mini, only about 10cm x 10cm.

Which then was sewn onto a card for my good friend Sal's birthday:

All in all, a very productive Easter sewing-wise.

Sewing purchases

There's not much I love more than packages in the mailbox, especially when those packages contain sewing goodies!

My two new patterns:

I can't WAIT to make the puppet show shorts for Claudia, the skirt I love too but maybe when she's older.