Posted on by agilejack

Onto My Next Project With Some Gusto

I wanted to take advantage of the spark I’m sensing so decided to dive in last night and start cutting the fabric for my next quilt top. It’s one I’ve been thinking about making for some time. I purchased the fabric for it several months ago and it’s been sitting on my cutting table.

I cut the main fabric first. I’ve seen a good number of quilts on this pattern that have employed a lot of fussy cutting for these main blocks. I’m not a fan of fussy cutting. I don’t like doing it. I don’t like all the waste. And, most of all, I don’t love the look. Too much fussy cutting can feel a bit tortured and forced to me. I much prefer a more organic feel to the cutting of the fabric. So I just cut these square where they fell.

And I love the way they look. There are plenty of full blooms in the blocks, but it feels organic and more natural to me. And I saved hours of time and lots of odd scraps.

Here’s the pattern I’m making.

I’ve seen a good number of these made from Philip Jacobs large floral prints and other Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics. Those large focal blocks are really perfect for Philip’s designs.

I decided to start cutting the rest of the fabrics for these blocks and got everything cut that I could and started making the units that make up the blocks.

So after playing pickleball with some friends from 8-10 this morning, I dug in and started sewing, pressing and cutting. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough of the green fabric so will have to wait to cut the rest. I have some on order that should be here in the next few days.

I made all the units that I could. I need to make more of the units on the bottom of this photo. Twelve more are needed.

I had enough units to make up 8 blocks. The blocks are big… 13.5 inches. So this will go quickly. I got 8 blocks made this afternoon and up on my design wall.

I’m planning on making this 4 x 5 blocks. Even with these large blocks it will be a small quilt top, so I will likely add a double border when I’m done. Here’s what I’m thinking. A thinner border of the purple fabric the same width as the strips in the blocks. Plus a 4 inch border of the focal print.

The addition of the borders will make this a better size in my mind. My friend made one and it’s in my spare bedroom right now since we took it to my long arm quilter when she was here in the fall and I just picked it up recently. It’s 20 blocks and a little small for my taste. It barely covers the top of the double bed in my guest room.

Here’s a bit of a close up of my new project.

We had another really rainy day today. My poor dogs are not happy with all the inactivity this wet weather brings. I hid some dog treats around the living room this evening and let them sniff them out. Then tossed treats around the room as they had to hunt for them. That gave them a bit of mental stimulation that goes am long way when they don’t get any physical activity.

But they are bored.

Luckily, we will have a little bit of “dry” weather tomorrow. This time of year here that means it’s “not currently raining.” It’s still damned wet out there! The park near me has standing water all over the place and the paths are like rivers.

We will likely get some time outside tomorrow. Then a friend of mine is bringing me some home made minestrone soup for dinner! That sounds so good!

80 Replies to “Onto My Next Project With Some Gusto”

  3. Love your color choices. I really missed your blogs this fall. Glad to know you are well, and looking forward to seeing more life and color through your eyes, and your dogs!

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  4. I like these color choices.

    I really missed your writing this fall. So glad to hear you and your pups are well. Looking forward to seeing the world and color through your eyes again!

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    1. I love the more organically cut blocks. A friend of mine pointed out last night that one of them looks like a fuzzy little terrier dog and now I can’t unsee it!

      Anne

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  8. I’m so glad you’ve got your ‘sewjo’ back – you are an inspiration to so many people!

    I’ve seen several of these BQ quilts on the Kaffe Fassett collective facebook page, and to be honest, couldn’t understand why the pattern was so popular!

    But yours is stunning! You have a real gift for putting fabric prints and colours together so the whole is most definitely more than the sum of the parts – achieving a harmony and balance that is sometimes lacking in other’s quilts!

    Have you thought of writing a book on how you do it?

    I’m thinking you would be the absolute perfect pattern tester for a quilt designer – you would undoubtably create wonderful samples! If you fancy trying something new at any point, I have devised a way of making diamond quilts from pre-cuts with no templates or special rulers (and all the side and corner pieces automatically created in the cutting process!) and I’d happily supply the pattern as I know you would create something amazing with it.

    Cheers, and keep on sewing,

    Rachel

    #QuiltsBySnee

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    1. I don’t know that I COULD describe how I go about putting fabrics and colors together. it’s not really theory, more of a reaction I have when I see a combo I like. I do think about combos for some time before striking out. sometimes they don’w work, but usually they do.

      You know, the diamond quilts just don’t do much for me. I really don’t have any desire to make one. they ‘re pretty, but not something I feel compelled to make,

      Anne

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      1. Interesting – I don’t do it by theory either, although I’ve read books about colour, design etc but the info seems to go in one ear and out the other as my mother used to say!

        So keep trusting your instincts, the results are always stunning!

        As for the diamonds, it was just an idea! What is it that attracts to you to particular patterns?

        Cheers,

        Rachel

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  9. Love your fabric selection! Great idea using guinea flower for the L. Your color combo is fabulous as always. Glad you are finding your Sew-jo. Mine is still on hiatus and I have a beast of a PP project to complete. Enjoy the dry weather! We are having lake effect snow this weekend. 🙂

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    1. We are having some really wet weather here but I’m glad it’s not snow. We’ve been lucky to have pretty warm temps. It’s been getting up to nearly 50 every day for months.

      Hope your storm isn’t too bad

      Anne

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  10. So glad to see your posts again 😻! I have some of that beautiful flower fabric and just waiting for a pattern and I love this one! Your colors are great together.
    I have missed seeing Bender and Rico, glad they are still looking great ❤️!

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  12. First, I hope 2025 is the best year EVER for you!

    I agree on fussy cutting. Your solution is best: pick a fabric/pattern pairing where the scale of the fabric and the patches complement one another. This pattern would be less interesting to me in a small print or tone-on-tone. This bold larger-scale print rocks!

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    1. I searched for this pattern on Pinterest a few evenings ago and saw some older ones made from traditional small scale quilting fabrics. I never would have been inspired to make it if that was all I had seen. It really works well with the large and bright prints.

      Anne

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  14. Van gogh and brassica are my 2 all time favorites. You are really hitting it out of the park with your color combo. Just gorgeous. I’ve never really liked that pattern but i guess it just really comes down to companion fabrics. I know you’ve been in a bit of a slump but you’re coming out of it nicely.

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    1. It’s a great pattern when you want make something quick and easy. And it does work well with those huge Philip prints!

      It’s feeling good to be feeling a little spark again.

      Anne

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  20. Love the big unfussy flower choice and the colors! Nice when the mojo returns. I just finished up on my 2024 quilt after 4 mos of up and down motivation. I’m really ready to start my next project after seeing your interpretation of a rather lifeless pattern. Yea color! I wonder if you would tell me about your design wall. How did you make it? Your Frankenbags are what inspired me to start quilting and I am thrilled to be in this episode of my sewing journey. Thanks for your posts. Give the doggies a cookie for me.

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  23. I love your choice of green and purple! Gorgeous combo of prints also. It’s so puzzling to me how a busy little print can be the thing that calms everything down. Let my eyes have a resting place.

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  27. Your projects get more and more stunning!!!! Absolutely love color combinations. the pooch- a sweetie! have a great week and new year, you are off to a great start. 👌

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  28. I love your dogs and your marvellous quilts. (We lost our beloved Luna Dec 19) I belong to the Victoria BC quilt guild just north of you and echo your sentiments about the endless wet weather we are all having.Thank you for your inspiring photos! Very much enjoyed. Connie

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    1. It’s been a terribly wet fall and winter. but at least it’s been relatively warm. I’m guessing spring will be spectacular and maybe early.

      So sorry you lost you beloved Luna. They just don’t live long enough.

      Anne

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  34. I’m loving how this began and continued from there. Great pattern. And I do agree that it needs to be large enough to cover a bed. Can’t wait to see finished. ❤️💚

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    1. I dislike making really big quilts. But a throw has to be big enough to cover your shoulders and feet at the same time, and be wide enough that your butt doesn’t stick out when you roll over!

      Anne

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  36. I have had that BQ pattern on my list for a long time. Seeing your version is making me want to move it up the list. Also loved that photo of the dog nose through the circle toy! So funny! We have a similar photo from years ago with our Blue Heeler mix doing that with a plastic Frisbee. She loved that toy!

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  37. hi, I absolutely love your sunflower new quilt top. I could do with a few sunflowers just now as we’ve had 6” of snow during last night and it’s freezing cold here in UK. I only quilt on my old Bernina, hard work but it doesn’t take that long. Still love your sunflowers. “The Midnight Owl”

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    1. Thanks! I loved that green guinea flower when I first saw it. Didn’t know what I wanted to use it for but it was inevitable to show up in something sooner rather than later.

      Anne

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  41. Your new project is lovely and the fabrics are just perfect together! Another beauty in the works. I shared your Fresh Start quilt tutorial with Scrappygirls fabric site as I showed a finished quilt from Fresh Start quilt January 6 2024. Happy New Year Anne.

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  42. I have two dogs also that get bored when I sew. Check out Mika and Sammy. They are a family business that create safe dog bones for our furry friends. I usually get the beef cheek 6″ or 12″ they last a long time. Also they love the Himalayan Yak Cheese Chews they last forever also. When they get small pop them in the micro wave for about a minute and they expand so they can finish them. It’s a win win for me – they are busy and I can sew. Your new quilt is going to be another stunning creation. We have new pickleball courts here in Lincoln, NE that were finished up late last year. My son plays and I think this is the year I get to that also. At 69 I need the exercise.

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  44. Nice to have you back, Anne! I love those big KFC floral prints. And ditto for the feathers. I am with you on the fussy cutting issue. I made the seed packet quilt and sort of split the difference, cutting the flower squares so that all were slightly off centre in some way. That made it look less rigid, and invited exploration.

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