Charity Quilts

A couple of months ago, when I was reinfected with the quilting bug, I went through my stash and pulled out the fabric I knew I would never use. I then put out a call on my online quilting group, Southern Cross Quilters, for anyone who might be able to use the fabric for a charity project. I had a number of takers and sent the parcels out. In addition to fabric, some spare blocks from various swaps were also included. There was nothing wrong with the blocks, but they were just colours and patterns that I have trouble working with. Recently I was sent a photo of some of the finished quilts made from the stuff I'd sent.

So majors pats on the back to Jeannie for the wonderful things she created. As you can see, Jeannie had no trouble making some great quilts out of the blocks I sent. The quilts will be sent to hospitals to be given to sick kids. Quilters are AWESOME!!

See the blue, orange and yellow one? I loved each of the blocks, but I'd never have come up with such a great combo!! So if you have fabric you know you will never use, think about donating it to a group who will be able to make something beautiful from it. Since my Fugly Fabric was apparently really fugly, I will be sending all of that off as well.

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Fabric Giveaway Winner

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner. I've been laid up sick for a few days. There were no new signups after the deadline, so no harm, no foul!!
The winner is:

Joyce Carter!!
Congratulations, Joyce. I will be contacting you to get your post details so I can get the fabric to you asap.

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Fugly Fabric Party

Welcome to my contribution to the world of Fugly Fabric!! I have a few different sets for the swap and a giveaway!! First, the good stuff. If you would like to win these three lovely 30's reproduction fabric Fat Quarters (well, that is what I am calling them), then you have two chances to win.  

What I Want In Swapping

I would like to do either a straight FQ swap or maybe 10" squares in a variety of fabrics - I am currently collecting bright or tone on tone yellows, or any colours of 30's repros or Civil War Repros but I am happy to swap just about anything (except I Spy or Novelty).

Email me at laren.oz@gmail.com if you are interested or leave me a comment and I will contact you.

Giveaway Fabric

1. Follow my blog - yes, this is a blantant attempt to get more readers!! and post a comment to let me know that you are now following. Chances are good I will follow your blog in return!  If you are already following let me know in the comments. Please include you email if you don't have a blog or a no-reply on Blogger.


2. Post A Link to Your Favourite Quilty Tutorial - a webpage, a video etc. Post the link in the comments. Please include you email if you don't have a blog or a no-reply on Blogger.

I will cover the cost of postage and international entrants are welcome.

Entries will close on Wednesday 16 May 2012 at noon.

The pink in this set is a really nice, bright, clean pink, not as orangey as in the photo. Same with the blues, bright and clear.

Fugly Fabric Swap Pack 1 - Country Checks

These fabrics are quite dusty in there colouring but have a lovely hand. The colours are muted and subtle. Not fugly as such, but just not something I would ever use.

Fugly Fabric Swap Pack 2 - Christmas Reds

These are a bit redder in real life but do tent towards the orange red end of the spectrum. The patterns on the two end FQ's are metallics.

Fugly Fabric Swap Pack 3 - Country Halloween

Fugly Fabric Swap Pack 4 - Just Fugly

These ones speak for themselves!!

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Sunday Stash - Pre-Washing Fabric

Below is the culmination of about two months worth of stash enhancement, lots of loads of washing and many, many hours of ironing!! There is no one designer or range for these fabrics, many are quite old or from no name brands.

I know alot of people don't pre-wash their fabrics, and I think that that choice is happening more and more with the popularity of pre-cuts like jelly rolls, layer cakes and charm packs. However, my decision is always, where possible to pre-wash all my fabrics.

My reasons for washing are pretty simple. Firstly, I don't want to spend hundreds of hours making a quilt, to have it ruined because a fabric decided to run. This is a potential issue with any fabric, irrespective of price. If you've had this happen, you REALLY don't want it to happen again!!

Secondly, I want to get as much shrinkage, chemicals etc out of my fabric before I use it. Again, I don't want any surprises the first time I wash a completed quilt. I use a variety of qualities of fabrics in my quilts, some shrink more than others. I want that minimised as much as possible before I start cutting and sewing.

One argument put forward for not pre-washing is that the fabric is easier to work with when straight off the bolt or out of a pre-cut pack. This might be true, but you can get the same feel and workability by putting in a bit of elbow grease and spray starch if these are big issues for you.

There is no right way of doing this. Some people like the wrinkled look that comes from unwashed fabrics shrinking during their first wash. Others aren't as concerned about colour bleed. But for me, the extra hours I put in before I start cutting and sewing are worth it in the long run. 

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All Tied Up Blocks Completed

Many years ago (over twelve!) I bought a kit from Patchwork Products. It was the first kit I ever bought. I didn't start it until last month!! Anyway, I figured it would be a good project to practice my machine piecing skills on, since it is made up of Shoo Fly and Friendship Star blocks. It is made in "country" colours of tan, green, blue, rusty red and brown. The solid blocks of tan and made up of pieced sections, which adds a great texture to the quilt and helps breakup the otherwise simple design of the blocks.There are 17 Shoo Fly and 16 Friendship Star blocks.

Below are the strips of the blocks waiting to be made up. This is a great beginner pattern as basically both blocks are made of exactly the same elements, just with those elements organised slightly differently.

All I need to do now is make up the outside border (which is a strip of the 4-piece in the neutrals). And then quilt and bind. This one will probably go out for machine quilting.

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