Impulse Purchase - Regent Street Lawns

I've long admired Liberty of London fabrics but resisted using them in my quilting because they are quite expensive.  Last week, a new (to me, anyway) collection from Moda called Regent Street Lawns caught my eye and I poked the necessary computer buttons.  I now own a 22-piece fat quarter collection.

Lawn is slightly thinner and silkier than the usual cotton fabric for quilting.  This particular collection from Moda is very similar in look and feel to Liberty fabrics but comes at the price of regular quilting fabric from the quilt shop.  Shabby Fabrics and Bear County Cottons have some in stock if you want to see more.

I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with it, but am thinking of using navy solid for the background, whatever it turns out to be. 

Quilt Market Inspiration

Just a few weeks ago, those fortunate quilters attending Quilt Market in Houston posted pictures so those of us stuck at home could see what's coming in the quilt world.  I look forward to the blog posts and Instagram photos from the trade show and use them to pick out things I want to check out when the merchandise hits the quilt shops.  I usually have a mental list of five or six fabric lines and a few patterns that have especially sparked my interest. 

This year I became close to obsessed by one particular pattern I saw, Little Butterflies by Laundry Basket Quilts.  I kept going back to pictures of it and, desperate to have the patern, visited the designer's website where the pattern was availabe already.  Both the pattern and a handy companion stencil are now mine!

 

 

As soon as I received the pattern in the mail, I had to make a visit to my LQS (though really, any excuse will do) to look for some suitable fabric.  I'd already combed my stash but did not find anything really suitable.  I like the batiks Edyta used in the original but they won't be out until the spring.

 

At my LQS, I found this Hoffman Bali Pops (like a jelly roll).  The colors are perfect.  I'm planning this project as a wall hanging for my kitchen, which is predominately green, white, and beige; it will be a nice bit of added color.    

The pattern actually calls for a charm pack but I want to make my version a little bigger.  The pattern directions are for fusible applique but I'm going to try needle turn.  This will be my portable project for traveling and the occasional winter evening by the fireplace.  It will not be finished any time soon.  I still need to pull a assortment of background fabrics from my stash. 

Next, I need the perfect pen or pencil for marking.  I am thinking of this Frixion Eraseable Gel Pen.  Have you had any experience with this pen?  Or have another to recommend? 

The First of Some Little Projects - Pillowcases

Before I start my next big quilting project, I'm going to work on some little things.  First up, some pillowcases:

I made a set to match my Double Wedding Ring quilt (currently at the longarm quilter's place).  I use the tube method of construction, then finish with French seams.  Missouri Quilt Co has a video tutorial on YouTube.





These pillow cases are very easy and fast.  You can whip up a few sets in no time!

Modern Herringbone Reveal

I finished piecing the top on Sunday.  It took a few months to turn this:

into this:

The colors are a little brighter than they appear in the photo (I took the picture inside late yesterday afternoon).  This top is pieced from all solid color fabric.  My inspiration for the colors was this photo of the Kona Sunset precut in the book Color Essentials by Amanda Murphy.

 

This quilt definitely has a more modern vibe than my usual look but that was what I was going for.  I just loved the original (Pattern Play in APQ magazine) and thought it would be a good choice for Miss Main Street's bed, in the room she uses when she is home from college.  The top is 81" square so good for a full size bed.  I need backing fabric then it will be ready for quilting.



Mimosa Fabric, from Windham Fabrics

I gave in to temptation and ordered some new fabric.  I saw this fabric online and just loved the retro look in updated colors.  The line is called Mimosa, from Windham Fabrics. 

I ordered fat quarter sets in "blueberry" and "apple."  Both came with some grey prints as well.  The line also comes in grapefruit (yellow to orange) and pomegranate (red).  I plan to use it to make one of the projects on my Pinterest board.  I'm leaning towards Flowering Snowball but haven't decided for sure.

Blocks...Check!

65 herringbone blocks finished, finally!  Next step is to agonize over the layout then sew them together.  This quilt won't have borders.

To refresh your memory (it's been a while since I started this project), I am making a quilt called Pattern Play, from the June 2104 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.  It will look like the quilt below, except I used a different color palette for my version.

I found the directions in the magazine to be exceptionally clear and complete.  The blocks are made out of rectangles, then trimmed down to size.  There is a fair amount of waste but they go together pretty easily.  Importantly, there are very clear trimming instructions for the blocks, with photos.  Trimming was a breeze.  Regulars here have been treated in the past to my rants on vague trimming instructions!  But quite the opposite case this time.

Thank you, APQ!