Tuesday, 6 November 2012

Solid windmills

I've spent very little time at the sewing machine lately,
but I have been playing with windmills in a few rare spare moments.
For this quilt, I chose to use solids, mostly Kona, some not,
because then I didn't have to worry about left and right blades of the windmills.

I found this a puzzle to put together.
This type of quilt is why we need design walls,
because each block interlocks with the next.
I used my portable, foldable design wall for this project--
a thrift shop picnic tablecloth.
the fuzzy side works perfectly to keep the blocks in place
and you can roll up the whole thing and take it with you
to a retreat or sewing day.

Here's the whole top, measuring 40 by 40 inches.
I'm making it for the fourth baby of friends
who got rid of their baby gear after number three.

I'm figuring out backing options
and thinking about using one of the reds for binding.

But I'm also pondering how to machine quilt it.
This might be a great design to outline in hand stitches,
but that's impractical by machine, since that's lots of stops and starts.
What advice do you have for me?
A stipple? squiggles? something else in free motion?

I'm linking up to The Needle and Thread Network WIP Wednesdays
and Quiltstory.

10 comments:

lej619 said...

Ok I am confused. Why would u not have to worry about left and right, because you used mostly solids??? Are the solids the kind that you can't tell which is the front or the back??
Love this pattern. I did one very semular to this pattern. And just love it!
Thanks

Sew Sisters Quilt Shop said...

Hi Brenda,
I'm writing from Sew Sisters Quilt Shop. We are celebrating quilting/crafting bloggers in Canada with Blogathon Canada this month. Would love it if we could add you to the list. Please see our blog for more details: http://sewsisters.blogspot.ca/p/blogathon-canada.html
Thanks
Carol

Susan J Barker said...

I do believe this type of quilt is called Square Dance and there is actually a technique to cutting and placing the blocks so that it works out perfectly without confusing variations... This pattern makes for a great kid quilt!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

I did a mini with this pattern and hand stiched 1/4" inside the seam for each pinwheel and it went pretty fast. Yours is a little larger of course, but you could use bigger stitches. Very cute baby quilt.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

very neat quilt...love all the color

Mary Ann Tate said...

Wonderful design for a little one's quilt.

Taos Sunflower said...

As lej619 said, I'm confused, too. Maybe if I just sat down and tried it, I'd understand. In the meantime, thanks for the tip on using the back side of a table cloth...what a super idea.

Anonymous said...

I just completed a quilt top with this design: http://pegsplace.wordpress.com/2012/06/

You are motivating me to quilt mine...still haven't decided what to do, so will follow you along! So beautiful and modern looking!

Anonymous said...

I just completed a quilt top with this design: http://pegsplace.wordpress.com/2012/06/

You are motivating me to quilt mine...still haven't decided what to do, so will follow you along! So beautiful and modern looking!

Leah said...

Beautiful! I love this layout. The solids are striking and love those few stripped blocks.

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