Friday 1 April 2011

Camelot - Block 1

Here is the first completed block of the beautiful quilt Camelot by Trish Harper. I have hand pieced the block and loved the challenge of all those parts coming together. The only bit I did think may be a bit tricky was the setting in to the circle but it went in very smooth and I wondered why I delayed doing it. I also used a little bit of spray starch to prevent the circle from stretching as it was being sewn. One thing that I am quite often unsure about is which way to press seams and which way they should lie. Sometimes you want a shape to stand out and with a lot of seams coming together it can be quite bulky and so I went with what lay the flattest hoping that it would still work. We shall see.



This week I have been indulging in a spot of machine piecing. Occasionally even I need to do something that is a bit faster and this had me all excited. I bought a jelly roll last week at the quilt show and got a few pounds off the price because it looked a bit raggedy and it was the last one. It is just so pretty but you will have to wait a bit longer to see what it will make up into.



Valentine's Hearts by Cupcake Cottons. It is the first and probably the last time I shall do a border in this manner. It looks very pretty but fiddly. It needs a bit more quilting but essentially finished. Yeh! My contribution to all the glorious red and white quilts that are being shown around the world. I wished I could have seen them up close and personal. A big thank you to Sue from I Sew Quilts for sending lots of lovely photo's.



Now, I did just mention that I was at the quilt show at Westpoint and, I forgot my camera even after Elyte sent me a message telling me otherwise. Sorry Elyte. Lucky that Wendy took hers and sent me some photo's via e-mail.

The next two photo's are a little bit different for quilts and are by Sandie Lush. Sandie has a whole series of quilts in the shape of sweaters and the textures she creates really do resemble the knitting. When all hung together the quilt names read like a knitting pattern. They even have labels advertising Lush Knits. There are quite a collection but the famous one that she did and you may remember seeing it is the giant cricket sweater. These quilts appeal to me because many moons ago I toyed with the idea of doing a degree in knitwear and yes, Sandie is a knitter.





This quilt is by Dilys Fronks. It was part of a collection of quilts by Dilys who is renowned for her garden gate quilts. One day I am going to have to make one. This I just thought was beautiful.



Having bought the background for the hexagons and buying something that was so totally unexpected I am having doubts. I think I shall just wait and see if I like it any better when I have made a few more flowers. No more pictures now.

Happy Stitching

Love Shirley.

22 comments:

  1. I absolutely love your Camelot block! I really should learn how to hand piece. Valentine hearts is sweet. Interesting "knitted quilts" - I've never seen anything like them. Very creative!

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  2. What a fab block! What is the finished size? You're very naughty forgetting your camera. You'll just have to go back next year and do it all again!!

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  3. Your Camelot block is stunning! Congrats on the curve piecing..it looks amazing!

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  4. I LOVE your Camelot block...what a lovely quilt it's going to be Shirley..
    I see clamshells on that sweater quilt...so different and creative..
    Julia ♥

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  5. You have been very busy this last week! So many projects on the go and even a finished one. I love your little red and white quilt. So beautiful with the scalloped border. I have never even tried that; looks way too complicated for me. Have a loverly weekend. Vreni x

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  6. Quilts that look like sweaters. Now I've seen everything. lol How big are they? It's really hard to get an idea of their size since they look just like sweaters. 8)

    Susan in Texas

    PS Your Camelot block looks terrific!

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  7. Ohhh! Camelot!!! Glorious, oh, you are such a tease, Shirley... I am dying to get to mine, ah but these Klosjes are taking longer than I EVER expected... Oh, your colours are PERFECT!!! And the fussy cutting-wow!
    I am so proud of you: I love the movement in your block, I love the way the background goes and make your circle shine, and WOWIE-how perfectly stitched and pressed is that!!! ok... now you have raised the bar, Shirl- the challenge is ON! :)
    your bow-ties and hearts are so sweet... HUG!!! :)

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  8. hi Shirley, Your Camelot block looks fantastic! I had that pattern but gave it away as I thought it will be too hard for me to complete.

    I love that last quilt you showed with the blackbirds, stunning.

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  9. I am going to enjoy watching your Camelot quilt come together...the first block is gorgeous!
    Lisa

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  10. Very beautiful block.
    I have Dilys Fronks book and never try it. We can make that together...

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  11. Hi Shirley, your red and white hearts look fabulous. I know the border was fiddly but look at the result!
    Camelot conjures up all sorts of romantic thoughts about ladies, knights and castles and that block fits the bill. I googled the quilt and it is beautiful. I hope you enjoy the piecing and the opportunity to combine lots of lovely fabrics.
    Look forward to seeing where those bow ties are going to take us.
    And fancy forgetting that camera! Oh well it happens to all of us and you have shown us some beautiful pictures today.

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  12. Hand pieced....how good are you!!! Your klosje blocks are coming along - they are looking so pretty.

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  13. well done shirley on your first 'camelot' block, looks very pretty ! i look forward to following the the progress, only 15 more to go !

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  14. All that work, unassisted by oatcakes - ! The Camelot block looks triffic as does that fiddly border. What a star you are!

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  15. I have the Camelot pattern too but I'm not allowed to start it yet, Your block is gorgeous and so are the bow ties. I love a scalloped border but it is more fiddly. The wee quilt is a darling for it.

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  16. The Camelot block is very pretty and once again you have excelled at the fussy cutting. The border looks great - well worth the extra effort. Take care.

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  17. your block looks great. I love Lush's quilts. Her work is lovely.

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  18. Hi Shirley- Did I notice a bit of pink in your latest works (HA).

    I really like your Camelot block.

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  19. So many things to comment on.
    Your first block is wonderful! It's obviously a challenging block and you've done it to perfection!
    Those sweater quilts are creative and so unique.
    I like your pastel pink bowtie blocks. I'm guessing a sweet spring project will result from those pretty fabrics.

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  20. The Camelot block is just gorgeous. I hadn't realised that Sandie Lush had done a series of her 'knitted' quilts. The nearest I got to a Dilys garden gate quilt was a reverse applique cushion cover from her book but like you, I will one day.

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  21. The Camelot block is absolutely enchanting. It looks like quite a challenge to piece but what a marvelous block to have in the end. Thank you for sharing.

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  22. Everything is fabulous. Your Camelot quilt will be so beautiful.

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