Fireworks Quilt

Hi Everyone,

Do you remember last week when I said I was working away on a new project, but there really wasn't much to show at the time?  Well, I got it pieced.  I have been wanting to make this quilt for a few years now, ever since I got my copy of Kim Brackett's Scrap-Basket Surprises.  I love her quilts!  They are so much fun to make!

 

In the version in the book, a fireworks batik was used for the border, so I immediately set about looking for navy blue, fireworks fabric.  I found one and ordered it a year or so ago.  Then a few months ago, I stumbled on this Jo Morton fabric and fell in love, so I got it, too.  The original will work for a later project!

Here is a close-up of this wonderful fabric.  You can also see that I mitered the corners.  Even though it meant a few weird bits along the seam line--where the fireworks don't meet up, I thought it would be better than butted borders or even corner stones.  I thought a lot about what to do, and this worked for me. 

 

I think I 'm going to name it "Inferno Fireworks" because I listened to Dan Brown's newest book, Inferno, while working on this.  It was a great, fun book in the "on the run, puzzle-solving, obscure history, with bad guys chasing Robert Langdon" style that Dan Brown does so well.  I highly recommend it.

 

Have a great day!

JoAnne

Scrap Basket Sunday #6

Hi Everyone,

I knew it had been a while since I joined in with Kim and her Scrap Basket Sunday, but I didn't realize it had been nearly a month!  I guess I have been busy with other projects.  I am also trying to spend these 39 days from Memorial Day until the Fourth of July (my favorite time of year!) making only patriotic projects.  I have such a pile of red, white, and blue items that I want to make, that I'm sure there will be plenty to keep me busy!

So today's project features a scrappy, patriotic quilt!  I have long been wanting to make a tumbler/thimble quilt, and so when Carrie came out with her Crumbler and Lil' Crumbler, I ordered them. 

Several versions of this are floating around so it didn't really require a pattern.

I decided to use the Lil' Crumbler ruler and 2.5" strips so I pulled out my strip bin and scraps and began cutting away at the reds and creams.  I wanted variety but still cut as many from a scrap or strip as I could, so I ended up with enough to make at least 3 more of these!  I also started cutting blues, but then I decided that I only wanted to use star fabric, so I only used them.  I must confess, I had to pull out a few fat quarters to get enough of the stars, but otherwise, this is all cut from scraps.

 

This is the Lil' Crumbler template.  It was fun to use! 

 

 

Since I had never made a tumbler quilt before, I wasn't sure how it was going to go together, but it did so like a dream!  I pressed the long, pieced strips in opposite directions and then everything nestled perfectly when they went together.

 

 

 

 

What surprised me a bit was that the Lil' Crumble is longer and skinnier than a typical tumbler shape, so my flag came out longer and skinnier.  I love that, though--perfect for a flag!  This version, cut from 2.5" strips is small--it measures 9.5" x 20.5." My big problem is that I don't want to trim the flag into a rectangle--I think the "wavy-ness" of the tumble shapes contributes to the look of a flag waving in the breeze, so binding this baby may be a challenge!  Do any of you have any hints?

 

Meanwhile, I would love to try using different sizes and the larger template, the Crumbler, to see how different it can look.  Maybe someday....

 

Have a great day!

JoAnne