Simple Quilts: Sasparilla

I enjoy making simple quilts. They can be made with my scraps or purchased just for the project. As it happens I had bought some layer cakes without any idea what I was going to make with them. They have been laying in my stash for awhile.

But while browsing through Pinterest (I just love looking at all the pictures on Pinterest...lots of inspiration) I saw a picture of what looked to be a simple quilt that had been made with a layer cake.

So following the instructions I posted in my last entry, I made this simple quilt with the Sasparilla layer cake that I had.

It is windy today as you can tell by the quilt blowing!

I pieced together some fabric that I have had in my stash for several years. I can't even remember why I purchased it now. But I know that my tastes must have changed and that I would not be using it in a top, so I thought as a backing would work well with this quilt.

As I mentioned in my last blog entry...I wanted to break out of my comfort zone and start using different quilting designs. I have been comfortable with the loopy design and the stippling, but there are so many more machine quilting designs out there and they look good when I see what others are doing.

So, I decided that this would be a good project to practice some other free motion quilt designs on.

I used straight lines, wavy lines, loopy loops, stippling, figure eights, and others.

And I must say that it made me happy to break out of my comfort zone and try something new...Whoop-Whoop!

I even discovered some new designs that I really enjoyed making while trying something new.

I would like to hear what makes you happy! Join me on Whoop-Whoop Friday!

Works in Progress: Briar Rose

This week I have been cutting into some of my layer cakes. I just love to make simple quilts, they come together so quickly...giving me less time to get bored with the pattern and the fabrics.

I am a big fan of Pinterest...so many ideas in one place. I love to look at the pictures of quilts. I get a lot of inspiration from looking at the pictures. And I am always looking for the simple way to make the pattern.
 
I decided to cut into a Briar Rose layer cake that I have  and came up with this simple to make quilt. It will be a great sofa throw after it is quilted, so I may even decide to add some borders and make it larger for a bed...we'll see.

I started by taking my layer cake and cutting each block in half, giving me two 5in x 10 in rectangles. 

I left all the blocks in the order that they were cut. I then removed the top 3 blocks from one side and placed those on the bottom of that pile. Then I took the top piece from each pile and sewed these together.

After I had all of the blocks sewn together, I pressed the seams to one side, and then squared them up.

Then I began alternating the blocks and sewing them together to make rows. I had 7 rows that were 6 blocks wide.

These blocks were from the Sasparilla layer cake.

I alternated the blocks so that I did not have to try and match seams. I chain pieced these blocks together, but I forgot that I needed to alternate the beginning block on each row. So, I had to spend some time with my handy seam ripper.

But after getting the blocks laid out in the order that I wanted and then sewn together, the rows were easy to just match the seam and sewed together using a 1/4 in seam.

 

This top didn't take but a couple of hours to put together. It would have been a little less, if I had not had to take time to use the seam ripper. This makes a great project for a gift when time is limited.

I spent some time this week binding some of the tops that I had made. Now I just need to get them quilted.

I have gotten comfortable machine quilting a few all over designs. I think it is time for me to start trying and conquering some new designs, and maybe even using more than one or two designs on a  quilt.

 

How do you choose the machine quilting patterns that you quilt your quilts with? I would love to hear any comments on how you choose your quilting designs!

 

Joyce