Patchwork cushions – triangle block variations

It seems like AGES ago I started my ‘in my own time’ mission to work my way through all 100 blocks in this book:

But I had a little moment in between commissions and thought I’d pick up and work on the next block in the book …. the ‘Streak O Lightning’ …

patchwork cushions

Triangles, huh? I haven’t done a huge amount of triangles before, so it had an added bonus of being a fun way to expand my repertoire of blocks …. some, I guess, will eventually become quilts, some may not. But I thought that this one would be ideally suited to make up into  patchwork cushions, maybe with a little quilting …

patchwork cushion

I like this pattern …. it really deceives the eye, so that it appears you’re looking at strips in a chevron pattern, not triangles ….

patchwork cushion

and it madeup into a pretty cool cushion, too …. I do love the combination of old denim with the fresh floral vintage cotton …..

So, while I was playing with triangles, I thought I’d go off topic a little and make up another block …. this one isn’t in the book, but I couldn’t resist some Flying Geese ….

patchwork cushion

Even though the dark olive of the recycled jeans picks up on the leaves in that vintage floral, I wasn’t, initially, convinced that is was right – I worried that it was too dark ….

patchwork cushion

….. but the more I did, the more I liked …. on the back I’ve run a strip of the floral across, and those vintage pink buttons really go ‘pow’!

patchwork cushion

and once it was quilted, and all plump and gorgeous with its cushion inside, I really fell for it :-)

I was having so much fun at this point, that I thought ‘why not do another one’? Why not? So I did!

A star, this time …. very classic, and in pretty fresh pinks …. an outbreak of girly that the littlest nestling wholeheartedly approved.

patchwork cushion

I loved the strip across the back in the previous cushion, so I did the same here ….

patchwork cushion

Three buttons to finish this time! I love the green one in the middle ….

patchwork cushion

so I put another little purple one in the middle ….

And then there were three patchwork cushions …. all looking very pretty in the sunshine :-)

patchwork cushion

But I think they would like a home of their own …. they’re sitting pretty in my Etsy shop now (or, of course, I could make one up especially for you, in your choice of colours or using a small selection of your own precious clothes – do get in touch!!)

 

Baby Keepsake Memory Quilt

 

I thought today I’d share a recent commission for a baby keepsake memory quilt ….

It all starts with a pile of of gorgeously soft, bright and tiny baby clothes …. and there is always that ‘deep breath’ moment before I start, when I look and touch and know that these are not just clothes, but memories, incredibly precious memories, that I have been trusted with. It is a moment to accept the responsibility, but also one of great joy.

baby keepsake memory quilt

And so, I begin …. to carefully take everything apart, iron, interface and prepare the squares for piecing ….

baby keepsake memory quilt

Until I have enough piecces for the quilt, and have captured the little embroidered and appliqued details from the clothes …. sometimes it works naturally with my piece size, sometimes I need to double up ….

And so, the next phase …. because I was working with so many different colours and patterns, I wanted to make sure I was happy with the layout …. it’s just not like working to a pattern, or with a limited fabric palette as I would for a more conventional quilt …. so I lay them all out onto a white sheet and pin them in place when I’m happy ….

baby keepsake memory quilt

This quilt was for a little boy, so I liked the idea of the merest suggestion of a union jack design, using the red and dark blue, then slotting in the large pieces and balancing out the colours …. and the patterns …. I will admit I got a bit obsessive about the direction of stripes at this point …. but it’s so worth taking the time to get it right ….

And so to the piecing …. it takes a while to stitch together a cot-bed size quilt when you’re working in 4″ square multiples ….

baby keepsake memory quilt

But patience and perserverance pay off ….

Redshaw Quilt - Quilt top complete (1)

Just a few little details to applique on, and the embroidery of the name and date of birth in the centre, and we’re ready to quilt ….

Backing for this one was a bit of a departure for me …. I usually use either hemp fleece or a  vintage flanellette sheet for backing, but this called for something a bit brighter, bolder and heavier …. so we settled on a beautiful piece of royal blue corduroy … and very simple in-the-ditch quilting …

baby keepsake memory quilt

Very nice …

baby keepsake memory quilt

If I say so myself …

Redshaw Quilt - complete (7)

Ready for stories, cuddles, and snuggling up …. and some ‘secret’ pockets in there too. I just hope they don’t get used for storing frogs, snails and puppy dog tales ….