Sea Glass Under Water - An Improv Quilt

Last year I had the fantastic oppertunity to test out a score for an upcoming book by Sherri Lynn Wood.  Her book, the Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters (available for pre-order) uses scores to guide you through creating a unique amazing quilt.  I have to say that I was so nervous when I began the journey with this quilt.  It was a no ruler, no straight lines kind of quilt.  So outside of my normal quilting work.

To begin with I chose fabrics.  I broke into my much loved batik fabrics.  They have a great texture without a set pattern and I felt that it would enhance the quilt.  After a few fabric pulls I figured out the perfect balance and set to work.

Once I started I became more comfortable and my quilt began to grow and grow.  With each piece I began to love it more and more.

Once I had all my pieces sewn I laid them out and figured out the perfect way to join them together.  

With all the curves, I decided that no straight line belonged in the quilt so each block is joined with a curved seam, too.  (I didn't even square it up before binding it!)

I love the look from the wrong side of the quilt with the seams.  It looks like stained glass.

It was at this point that it made me think of sea glass, so the quilting had to be like ripples of water.  It took days to quilt it with there being just a half inch between each quilted line.  

If you look closely, the ripples come together at points in the quilt and move away, much like the waves in the bay do as they meet from different directions.

For the photos, I went to one of my favorite little spots where I tend to find sea glass on the bay.

The back of the quilt even has some curves in it.  I couldn't help myself.

I know, photo overload.

When I went to take some photos in my backyard Maggie felt she needed to join in, too.

I am also so happy to share that Sea Glass Under Water will be at The Quiltfest of NJ March 5-8 in Somerset, NJ.  (Along with my Garden Maze Quilt).

I can't wait to see the rest of the scores in Sherri Lynn's new book.  I stepped outside my normal quilting lines and really loved the process (once I let go) and the outcome!

Flowering Lone Star and Bursting Lone Stars Pattern Review and Giveaway

The fabulous Melissa at Sew Bittersweet Designs has come out with two new patterns.  The can be used separately as two tops or together as a front and a back.

The first is the Flowering Lone Star.  This pattern is for a single large star.  You use 4 fabrics for the main, middle, part of the star and 6 for the outer border around it.  There are some y seams, but with how large the pieces are I did not find them difficult at all.  I chose to create both these quilts with Christmas fabrics because I needed a good excuse to play with my expanding collection of Christmas material.  Seriously, I have 2 shelves of just Christmas!

When sewing the outer diamonds together, I found a trick I learned a while back of trimming off .25" of the end of one diamond helped me to be able to line them up with the offset easily.  I also found when sewing the diamonds that pinning where the points crossed first then the rest of the seam really improved my accuracy.  Melissa talks about how to make sure your point line up nicely in her pattern, too.  She has included so many photos to make sure you can see each step, which I find very helpful in a great pattern.

This was a great pattern that came together quickly.  I love how I can feature some great larger prints in the middle.  I took my time working on this top and it came together in just a few days, but I am sure I could make it in even less time now. (I am easily distracted when I sew in front of a window overlooking the pool ;)  )

The second pattern that Melissa wrote is actually the back for the one she created.  It is called Bursting Lone Stars.  I love it too much to use it as the back, though.

This pattern shows off 5 stars of 2 different sizes.  What is great that after creating the first quilt, you already have practice with nesting the y seams.  I was able to put this entire quilt together with cutting, sewing, and lots of pressing in just a couple days of sewing here and there.  

As usual, Melissa's instructions are clear and very detailed.  Just don't go mixing up the pages like I did between the two patterns or you will totally confuse yourself, haha.   Melissa takes a lot of time and uses many photos to explain nesting the y seams so don't worry if you do not have experience with it.  I would say that if it is our first try to give the Flowering Lone Star a try (lots of busyness going on if your point aren't exactly perfect ;) )   

Although one can be used for the back of the other, I think I am keeping them as two separate quilts.  I really like how they both turned out so much.  And bonus, I have started my Christmas sewing already! 

I would say that when creating these quilts, don't be afraid of a good dose of Best Press.  I think I had a perfume of Peaches n' Cream for a few days as I worked on these.  It helps to keep the bias parts of the fabric from stretching.  And if you get a little bit of a wavy issue (like I did on one small star), a spritz of 98% water and 2% Best Press and a hot iron can flatten things right out.

I have no idea what I will be backing these with yet, but I have already planned straight line quilting and a scrappy binding for the Flowering Lone Star and I am not quite sure yet for the Bursting Lone Stars. 

Thanks Melissa for writing up two more awesome patterns!   And for giving me the excuse to play with my Christmas fabrics ;) 

Now for the giveaway!  :)

One visitor to my blog will be selected randomly to win one pdf pattern of their choice of either the Flowering Lone Star or the Bursting Lone Stars.  All you have to do to win is to head over to Melissa's blog at Sew Bittersweet Designs and follow her there.  Then come back here and comment that you did.  

And for a bonus entry you can also head over and like Melissa's Facebook page.  Leave a second comment after you like her page.  

I will close the giveaway and select the winner on Friday, August 8 at 10 pm.