ice cream soda quilt - not quite there yet


Progress with my ice cream soda quilt is quite slow at the moment because I am alternating crafting time with knitting the Matilda jumper I mentioned previously. I am also distracted by the planning of Sam's moving out quilt and with Spring almost tangible, I am thinking of all those dresses and tops I would like to make.... That's ok, there is no rush and no deadline. I usually cut fabric for 5 blocks at the time and baste them using glue. I am not a fully converted to the glue basting method but it does cut time and I much prefer assembling the blocks over basting. I don't like sticky fingers and I always get sticky fingers when basting the tiny inner star components. I am finding the combining of fabrics difficult for this quilt. I can't place my finger on it but something unsettles the harmony for me. In the end all will be beautiful and I try not to brood over the current colour balance too much .

Here are my first 27 blocks. I press each and take a photo before I stick it on the wall with a generous blob or two of blue tack. I then trim the photos to square shapes. I am going to try out different layouts on screen, it is kinder to the knees than doing so on the floor. Less dusty, too.

What are your views on fussy cutting? I think it is rather wasteful and don't habitually do it. It is tempting in some instances though and I have given in to the temptation a few times, if I could limit the fabric waste to a minimum. I really like the red trees in the third row. I fitted the kite shapes onto my very last piece of this fabric and there are just a few threads left, too small to use really but I kept them all the same.

I haven't thought much about the joining sections but I think they will be cut from various neutral fabrics with creamy/white/grey tones. Maybe I'll throw in the odd darkish fabric, too. There is a hidden rebel inside my head... I also haven't thought about the size or shape of the quilt. The pattern is for a largish square quilt with 175 cm sides, which is not a size that fits any of our beds and is too big for a sofa snuggle quilt. Also, I am more fond of rectangles on the whole.

Ah well, work in progress, sometimes delightful, sometimes frustrating. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello. Have a good Thursday.

Christina xx

Comments

  1. Loving all the different permutations. What a good idea to photograph them and then manipulate them that way. Modern technology is great. I can’t wait to see the finished project. B x

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  2. It is going to tremendous and you are right not to get too bothered at this stage because I am predicting it will be a riot of color and life - like your blog name! Jo

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  3. Wow, they are beautiful. I'm so impressed Christina, you are so creative and patient.

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  4. Oh my goodness, it is all looking beautiful. Like kaleidoscopes. You are making a lovely job of it, and I love that you've got lots of plans for other things too. CJ xx

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  5. Dear Christina,
    I love the blocks and love bright colours. It looks amazing. Would love to know where you got the pattern from as I rather like the design. Yes the red trees are great in that design. Like you I hate wasting material and often people pass their small unwanted pieces of fabric to me, knowing that I waste nothing. Can't wait to see the finished quilt.
    Regards, Robyn

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    Replies
    1. Hi Robyn. Glad you like my work in progress. It is fun to make. The pattern and paper pieces are from Tales of Cloth (https://shop.talesofcloth.com/collections/heirloom-quilt-kits/products/ice-cream-soda).
      Christina

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  6. Wow.. your quilt blocks remind me of a kaleidoscope! What a beauty it will be! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. The blocks are looking gorgeous and I love your idea of trying different layouts on the screen rather than the floor. xx Susan

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  8. Beautiful blocks so far and I don’t fussy cut as I cannot bear the waste. I’m not keen on glue because it sticks to the machine needle and I got a talking to from the engineer after the machine service last year. That said, I use it for handsewn projects. I don’t mind squares but very seldom make so seem to make those quite often!! The quilt will be fabulous when it’s finished and I can’t believe how much it has grown.

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  9. They look amazing, the quilt is going to be stunning! It all looks very intricate. x

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  10. They're looking fantastic! It's going to be one amazing quilt :)

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  11. The blocks look beautiful Christina... maybe it is just the juxtaposition in the photos that is not quite working for you? Moving them around might do the trick. It’s going to be a stunning quilt.

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  12. They all look so beautiful!

    http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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