A challenge for hazel
I confess that this has become an UFO (unfinished object) but at some point I will get around to finishing it! If this is your first time visiting this page, scroll to the bottom to read the first post.
As you can see I added another lace applique heart to this block which is Romantic Crazy Quilt 4.
I am not at all disappointed in this colour scheme. The more I use it the more I just adore it. Let’s hope I have enough silk to complete the whole project.
May 6th 2019
Adding the fabric layers.
The first elements of the embroidery.
It all went better this time, but I should have alternated the green and cream fabric.
These subtle green tones are perfect on the silk.
Almost perfection! Maybe the butterflies should have been green for a better balance. It is good to be back doing these blocks and I cannot wait to start joining them.
September 3rd 2018
Finishing the first block
As promised here are the final photos of my first block. I loved doing the lace applique. This is a wonderful way to keep tiny snippets of precious lace which cannot be thrown away.
The colours are coming together well.
I used a scrap of precious lace for the heart applique.
Overall I was delighted with the results of this colour scheme, apart from my error in fabric selection.
The balance of colour both for the thread and the fabrics, is almost perfect, so I will move on to preparation of the second block.
I think that any decoration should wait until all the blocks are complete so that I can check I have sufficient embellishments for them all.
August 14th 2018
Here are more images of my first quilt block – next time I will show you the completed block.
I love how the stitches between each fabric section blend in well if the colours are similar.
Notice how I have used various greens and brows in the stitch out.
With a great deal of preparation it can be hit and miss whether the colours embroidered in each section stand out. They can be lost if the fabric is not significantly different
July 24th 2018
Let me show you my progress with this first quilt block. You can see the embroidery is now being done over the attached sections of silk fabric.
These decorative stitches cover the joins between the fabric sections.
Embroidering the buttonholes
July 6th 2018
Today I planned and stitched my first crazy quilt block for this challenge. I decided that it would be best to use ivory dupion silk as the base fabric for each 11" square. With my assortment of pale greens, ecrus and cream silks I began to attach the various blocks. I selected to do this with my first Romantic Crazy quilt block using the larger 8" x 8" design.
I have to confess I love using my 200mm x 200mm square hoop; it has to be my favourite hoop. After I had attached four fabric pieces I noticed my first error. I had used the same fabric for two sections and failed to use my gorgeous pale apple slubby silk dupion!!! That will have to wait for the next block.
February 17th 2018
"This week I have sourced and sorted out the fabrics I will be using for my Crazy quilt challenge. There are several shades of fresh green silk dupion, which remind me of the coming of spring along with some beige, cream, ivory and sand coloured silk. Two of my fabrics are basically the same colour but one is slubby and the other is smooth so they reflect the light differently. I had great fun playing with the colours that I might use for my quilt blocks. Usually I keep to the "three colour rule" so that my embroidery is not too busy, so I have selected greens, light browns and neutral shades. I hope that the rich tan and peapod green will make the blocks pop, but I need to do a test stitch out to confirm this next."
February 2nd 2018
"I have been giving this project serious consideration and have decided that adequate preparation is essential. So I have checked out all my silk dupion and embroidery threads to decide which colour scheme would work best for this quilt. At the moment I am considering a green and cream colour scheme. Although I love natural colours, ecru, beige, ivory, oyster and taupe, these alone would be too much like the popular "latte quilt". I want to create something breathtakingly beautiful and different, unlike any other quilt made. I will show you the grouping of fabric and threads before I do a test stitch out. I suspect that not all the blocks that I have digitised will be suitable for this quilt. Obviously I will have to change all the colours of each chosen block I use, so that they all reflect my colour scheme and work well together, but each block will keep its distinguishing features."
View all my Romantic Crazy quilt blocks
You will need to consider the colour schemes and change the colours to give some continuity. I will rise to this challenge too and show you throughout the year the results, with a probable tutorial explaining what I learn along the way with some unique designs to help you. Check back here each month for updates.
Here are a selection of 8" x 8" quilt blocks. There are also 2 Dresden style quilt blocks and 2 oval blocks which could also be incorporated into a quilt.
Need a challenge? How about taking a selection of the Romantic Crazy Quilts and making a quilt with them like I am doing.
