FO: Plaid Big Log Cabin

You might remember this big log cabin that I finished last year (or maybe you don't. that's okay!). Well, soon after finishing, I wanted to make another version.

I had most of a Kona jelly roll and I just loved how the bright colors paired with this Denyse Schmidt plaid. Of course, said plaid was one of her exclusives at Joann, and was virtually impossible to find.

Luckily, Jenny came to the rescue and sent me some of her precious stash. It was so wonderful of her, especially since I only know her virtually (hi, Jenny!).

I used three favorite prints on the back (I especially love that Nordika print from Jeni!).

I quilted it very densely in a crosshatch and the texture is really amazing. Several times, I questioned my sanity as I was quilting. But I'm so glad I kept going. I bound the quilt in this, and I love that it softly frames the quilt without competing. Finishes at 54" square.

FO: Big Log Cabin

Log cabin blocks are a forever favorite.

Really, I find them so comforting. And when I was asked to make a baby quilt in navy, grays and white, I decided it was a perfect opportunity to make one giant log cabin.

I used 2.5" strips (I had a roll of precut white strips, which jumpstarted the cutting process) in Kona Nightfall and miscellaneous neutral shades (all Kona).

The scrappy back is a mix of navy prints from the stash. The quilt is 43" x 44".

I have already started a new big log cabin this time with a Denyse Schmidt plaid and bright Kona solids.

A post shared by Jacey (@jaceynotjc) on Mar 26, 2017 at 3:56pm PDT

Again, I am using 2.5" strips, and seriously, it is a super speedy quilt. And as always, the log cabin block feels limitless!

FO: Kona Crossing - free pattern!

Last year, I made a solids bundle for Stash Fabrics (she is still offering the bundle here, if you like!).

I shared the quilt top back in, oh wow. July! I somehow forgot to share the finished quilt, but good news!

You can get a free pattern for it over at Robert Kaufman.

Kona Crossing pattern

I've been working on another version, using large blocks (a Doe layer cake, to be exact) and some Kona strips.

I hope this one will be an FO before the end of the year!

Stash Fabrics: Kona Solids Wonky Crosses

Three years ago, I met Beth, of Stash Fabrics. At that time, her business was just beginning, and she has built a very busy shop (with the same excellent customer service) and great selection. I love that she still offers free shipping for orders over $50. I also love that she now carries every Kona solid available. As in, all 303 colors that Robert Kaufman produces! Beth asked me to create a bundle of favorite colors, and I'll be honest. It was difficult to choose. After much debate, I chose a summery palette (available here for purchase):

Probably most shocking, the bundle is void of yellow. I really love the palette, regardless!

I cut each fat quarter into 5.5" squares and 1.5" strips and proceeded to make wonky cross blocks.

These are fairly simple blocks, but the trick is to pin or glue and check your intersections!

I debated a more random layout, but I really like the color play that is created by the groups of nine blocks.

I had to supplement my fat quarter bundle with just a few extra strips (I had some similar colors in my stash). You could also add in a few neutral strips or other scraps, if you like!

The blocks finish at 5.5" (I trimmed each block down after piecing), so this little quilt top finishes at 45" x 60".

I am hoping to add a little hand quilting to the crosses!

I hope you will check out the other tour stops over the next month! And you can see a preview of all the created bundles here (already available for purchase)! Oh, and Beth is also starting a Kona monthly club, in case you need to build your solid stash, one color at a time!

July 17 – Darcy @ Modern Cozy
July 23 – Jacey @ Jacey Craft
July 27 - Kelly @ Kelby Sews
July 30 – Nancy @ Owen’s Olivia
August 6th – Jodi @ Tales of Cloth
August 10th – Megan @ City Stitches
August 12th – Rita @ Red Pepper Quilts
August 17th – Elizabeth @ Andpins Handmade
August 19th – Tara @ Rad and Happy
August 21st – Sharon @ Color Girl Quilts
August 24th – Allison @ Allison Sews
August 27th – Kristi @ Schnitzel and Boo
August 31st - Jessee @ Art School Dropout

FO: A Study in Blue

I have been pretty obsessed with the BBC Sherlock series. I haven't finished it yet, but I've been rewatching the older episodes in preparation. Additionally, I just read "A Study in Scarlet" for the first time. It was fun to compare the episode and story as it was originally written. It popped into my brain when I was coming up with a name for this project.

I just sent Amanda her Wonky Bee swap package. A few years back, we had plans to each make this mini quilt, from the Purl Bee Golden Wreath tutorial.

Of course, we got distracted, and I sort of forgot about it. When I was planning my package for Amanda, I thought it would be a nice treat for her.

I used a variety of blues, predominately Kona Cotton, and I used a favorite light grey Alison Glass Sun Print for the background and binding. Elizabeth suggested using the same fabric for the binding and background, and I'm so glad I took her advice!

I used several blue threads to quilt it, with converging lines in the center. I chose to do this in a random way, to match the scrappy wedges.

I used one of Amanda's favorites, from Lizzy House's Constellations, for the back. Oh, and I used Jeni's machine binding tutorial. As much as I LOVE to hand bind, I chose to machine bind, since my wrist has been giving me fits lately.

Honestly, it was hard to give this one away, but I know it will have a good home with Amanda, and she deserves it.

FO: Earthy Strips

Baby quilts are always fun to make.

This one, for Bill and Meena, was no exception. Starting with Elizabeth Hartman's Xylophone quilt from her second book, I used Kona Stone, along with green and brown strips to make some (slightly) wonky wedged blocks. I decided to only use these two colors (although I considered yellow as well), mostly to avoid having a lot of wasted cuts. I do have a small pile of waste, but I intend to use them up as scrappy bits in some improv blocks.

The quilt finishes at approximately 48" x 52". I like to size baby quilts generously, so they can grow with the baby.

I'm remind of last January's baby quilt, for Wyatt. More green and brown, there!

As part of my ongoing free motion practice, I tried the meander stitch this time. Full disclosure: I started quilting this twice before landing on the meander. First, I tried pebbling, but it looked all wrong with the strips. Then, I started straight-line quilting, but I didn't think that worked here either.

So, the meander, which I did only on the Kona Stone.

For the back, I used a long ago stashed Deer Valley cut, which I love. I think the yellow/brown print works perfectly! I broke it up with some white Kona and a lonely leftover block. I left an unquilted area for my mom and I to sign.

And that's it! Another quilty finish, and another one I wish I could keep.

Kona Card Giveaway!

A lot of you asked in the last post about my banner. As much as I'd like to pretend that I drew that, I actually purchased it from Bloom Digital on Etsy. I love it, and I have a matching banner for my etsy shop.

So, on to some good news!
My pal Brenda, over at Pink Castle Fabrics, thought that one of you might need a new Kona color card.

I have the older version of the card, but your new card will have all 243 Kona shades.

The two cuts you see above are the new Leprechaun and Alegria.

Leprechaun is the dominant green in the citrus improv quilt (which I hope to be sharing this weekend, when I finally get some pictures!), and I've also used the new Parchment color, in the Scrappy Festive Table Runner I shared last week.

You can check out all of the Kona solids Brenda carries here.

Not to be an enabler, but Pink Castle also has a pretty massive sale going on right now, to clear room for all of the new fabrics coming in, which you can peruse here! I nabbed a little Summersville and Maya for myself. I just love both of those lines!

So, to win a brand new Kona card for yourself, tell me what Kona color (old or new) you've just recently discovered you love?
Mine is definitely Leprechaun. I cannot get enough of that shade!

One entry/comment per person.
I never ask you to follow my blog in order to participate in giveaways, but if you'd like to, please feel free! If you already do, thank you!

Also, if you are a no-reply blogger, please make sure I have a way to contact you!

I'll leave the giveaway open until Monday evening (the 20th), CST.

Good luck, and thanks for entering!

ETA: Comments are now closed. Thanks.

Summery patchwork

In the Love do.Good Stitches circle this month, Deborah asked us to use this Film in the Fridge tutorial. It was lots of fun to make these log cabin blocks, and the colors Deborah picked are so summery.

I also recently bought Ayumi's new pattern on superbuzzy. This is a new block of the month project, called the Super Penguin Quilt-Along. How happy is that?? The first block is adorable, and I started working on my first popsicle last week. Have you seen Tamiko's amazing version? Gah. It kills me!

I decided to start out slowly with the easiest of the popsicles, the watermelon version. Perhaps you, also, were not aware there was such a thing, but Ayumi tells me that it's a tasty treat in Japan, and there are "seeds", which are chocolate-covered rice puffs. Yum!

I pieced the watermelon popsicle with just one problem. You can see my mistake at the bottom points of the triangle. I was sure I'd have to start over, before I realized that the seam allowance would cover up those little boo-boos.

See? All gone! I'm almost finished with this little patchwork piece, and a good thing, too, since it's a gift. I should be able to share it next week.
Fabrics used: Lizzy House Jewels (from Outfoxed), Michael Miller Mini Mike's Random Pencil Check in green, Urban Cowgirl (the brown print) and the off-white is a Circa 1934 solid. I used Kona Pond for the border. Oh, and one more day to enter the giveaway!