My Quilts 2020 - 2021

                                 2020

I was given a bundle of floral charm squares and made this top for Quilts for Others, completed in Dec 2020. I paired 2 charms and stitched them together, making 2 blocks from each pair. A very simple but effective design.

Floral Charm Squares into Triangles

I also completed another top in December. This one was made using a design a QFO member designed for use during a previous exhibition. I received the left over kits to make up.

QFO Strip Quilt

                                2021

In amongst the orphan blocks I have received, the lilac block in the centre of this top inspired the use of the other lilac blocks surrounding it, and the darker blocks on the outside of the top. Another top donated to QFO in February 2021.

QFO Lilac Orphan Blocks

 

Another orphan block top was made for QFO in February as well. This one used a mix of colours and was sashed with a mixture of green strips.

February Orphan Blocks for QFO

Then came this top with a mixture of larger, medium and smaller sized orphan blocks with a dark floral fabric as sashing.

QFO Mixed Sized Orphan Blocks

The applique block in the centre of this next top for QFO inspired the other blocks used to complete the top, and was finished with a brown border.

Brown Bordered Orphan Block Top

The next top to be completed was inspired by the 3 large blocks to which I added many smaller blocks and lots of sashing in green to complement and tie together the various colours in the blocks. This was the last top photographed in February.

Green Sashed Orphan Block Top

In March I completed a top using 12 blocks which were not the same size. To accommodate this difference, I made each block up with sashing on 2 sides to make them all the same size, joined together and then added borders to the top on 2 sides. When I showed this both at QFO and at other quilting meetings, it took people a while to realize the difference in the block and sashing sizes across the quilt.

Dark Grey Uneven Sashing Top

 

In April I completed a top using a pattern lent to me by a friend. The top is simple and easy to make and I made this one using a bundle of turquoise and chocolate fabrics I was given.

Turquoise and Chocolate Top

Another orphan block top was made using some larger blocks and smaller blocks joined together to make larger ones. This one was sashed using a dark purple/blue fabric and orange/brown cornerstones.

April Orphan Block Top

Using the same fabrics as the turquoise and chocolate fabrics as before, I cut fabric to make a Jelly Roll Ripple Quilt (from a free pattern from The Fat Quarter Shop). I altered the pattern slightly to suit myself better. I had made this quilt pattern previously using a turquoise batik jelly roll and a pale turquoise fabric for background, and given the quilt to a friend undergoing treatment for cancer (I forgot to photograph that one prior to giving it away). 

Turquoise and Chocolate Jelly Roll Ripple

I used a black and white orphan block as the basis for the next quilt top, using a red fabric for sashing and a variety of other blocks, together with some black and white fabrics for a border. 

Black, White and Red Orphan Block Top

In June I completed a top using a bundle of Christmas Labels I was given by QFO. I added fabric to make each label the same size and then joined these blocks together with a wide border. It required quite a bit of maths to get the blocks to the same size as they were all different. But the effort was worth it.

QFO Christmas Labels Quilt Top

In July, it was back to working on the orphan blocks. Another top, using a red paisley for the sashing, was completed.

July Orphan Block Top

I also worked on a pinwheel quilt top using a bundle of charm squares I was given. I really enjoy doing something different between working on orphan block tops.

QFO Pinwheel Quilt Top

 

Then another Orphan Block Quilt Top in late July was completed.

2nd Orphan Block Top for July

At the end of this top, I had reduced the number orphan blocks left by quite a bit. That didn't last for long. A long-time member of Canberra Quilters went into care and she donated all her unfinished tops, blocks and fabric to QFO. So in the months ahead, more orphan block tops will appear. After spending many weeks sorting them into sizes, there are enough to make dozens of tops.

Many years ago I made a quilt top for my father with a bundle of fabrics won in a raffle at Canberra Quilters, together with a green background fabric. I discovered the left over pieces in my sewing room and turned them into a four patch with variations and completed the top at the end of July.

Green and Floral Four Patch with Variations

Some years ago, I purchased a kit called Black and Gold Simplicity (I think that was the name) from Bungendore Patchwork (shop since closed). I completed the top in August and took a picture of it, prior to it heading off to be long-arm quilted.

Black and Gold Simplicity

I discovered a queen size top of Double Four Patch Blocks using 2 shades of green and scraps that I made many years ago. I cut the top into two pieces and added borders. I have too many queen size quilts and decided to donate this to QFO.

Double Four Patch Top #1

 

 

Double Four Patch Top #2

I received a black, white and red layer cake and bundle of 5" strips of matching fabrics when renewing my subscription for Australian Patchwork and Quilting many years ago (the magazine is no longer published) and made 2 tops. One my husband decided was for him, the other pictured here I donated to QFO in July.

Black, Red and White QFO Top

Canberra Quilters asked me to organise a Mystery Quilt in 2021. Due to my commitments, time was at a premium and I could not design and test sew one in time. So instead I used one I found online called Scrappy Squares and Bars. It was a free pattern provided by Cindy Carter at http://carterquilter.wordpress.com/. All pages were shared with members complete with the acknowledgement of copyright details with the final part. There were many quilts made using the pattern, and this is the one I made, which was donated to QFO. Cindy is a very generous quilt designer who freely shares some patterns for others to use. I completed the top in time for the reveal at the AGM of Canberra Quilters in March, but didn't photograph it until I donated it in September.

2021 Mystery Quilt

In mid September I completed a child's top for QFO, made from an applique panel which was donated as well a a bundle of half-square triangles and strips of fabric. The top was fun to make and I am very pleased with the result.

QFO Child's Orphan Block Top

Also in September, I finally finished my oldest Unfinished Object (UFO). I commenced the centre of the top in 1994 in Perth from a pattern in Better Homes and Gardens when I first started quilting. It was packed away when we moved to Melbourne. Over the years I have worked on it gradually adding extra borders until at long last it became a complete top and was donated to QFO.

My Oldest UFO

Canberra Quilters has an extensive library and in the book "The Big Book of Lap Quilts", one quilt by Susan Guzman called Treble and Bass took my fancy. I used a bundle of black and gold fabrics and a cream background to create my version of this quilt. I made the top while sewing with a friend each week. It was donated to QFO when completed.

Treble and Bass

My first great niece was born in October 2021, and I enjoyed making this quilt for her. It was professionally quilted by The Quilt Lady in Canberra. The fabric was a panel purchased at Craft Alive earlier in the year and the cats were cut apart and sashing and cornerstones as well as a border were added.

Matilda's Quilt

 

 

 Early in October I completed another orphan block top for QFO.

QFO Orphan Blocks October #1

Another orphan block quilt top with uneven sashing was completed in October. I enjoy the maths challenge of using blocks of differing sizes for these tops.

QFO Orphan Blocks October #2

I discovered the top from Southern Cross Mystery Quilt 5, pieced in 2002, in one of the boxes in the garage whilst looking for something else, and decided to donate it to QFO.

Southern Cross Quilters Mystery #5

I made these 2 charm quilts using 2 bundles of charms I was given (each a different size). They were given to QFO in November.

November Charm Quilt #1

November Charm Quilt #2

Julie, a friend from Canberra Quilters, donated a bundle of blocks to QFO and this is the result.

Julie's Blocks QFO Top

In November, I completed stitching together a group of mixed size orphan blocks and panels. This is the resulting top which went to QFO.

November Orphan Block Top

In 2006, I attended a class at Hobbysew Belconnen led by Cathy Stevenson. We learnt how to make a Kaleidoscope block. The top was completed that same year and finally quilted by The Quilt Lady this year. For my birthday, I gifted quilts to my children and their partners. They each went home with some.

Kaleidoscope Quilt

In 2006 I took part in a block of the month program with Canberra Quilters and instead of blocks, I made a medallion style quilt in purples and black. The result was quilted in 2021 and another of the quilts gifted on my birthday.

Purple and Black Medallion Quilt

In 2009 I took part in the Block of the Month program at Hobbysew, making a quilt designed by Cathy Stevenson. I used black and white fabrics with a touch of gold. Quilted in 2021 by The Quilt Lady. Another quilt gifted, this to my son.

Black, White and Gold Medallion Quilt

 

In 2006 I made a simple top with a bundle of marbled fat quarters and made some small blocks with the leftovers which I used as a border. The top was completed in 2021 and quilted by The Quilt Lady. This one was gifted to my daughter.

Marbled Fat Quarter Quilt

 

In 2011, I completed a turquoise background and jelly roll quilt top which was quilted by The Quilt Lady in 2021. Gifted for my birthday as well.

Turquoise and Jelly Roll Quilt

 

In 1996 Wyndham Patchworkers organised a Mystery Quilt which I led the sewing sessions for. My top was packed away at the end of the year when we moved cities and I dug it out in 2021 and The Quilt Lady did the quilting for me. Another quilt gifted for my birthday.

Wyndham Patchworkers Mystery Quilt