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: Wonky Kites

I recently completed my last quilt for do. Good Stitches. After seeing this photo by Amber, I asked for blocks with a mixed neutral background and pops of orange, yellow, blue and green.

These blocks are a great way to use up triangle scraps, which always seem to multiply.

There's lots of ways to piece these blocks together, but I liked the wonky kites that formed in this layout.

I made a little strip panel for added interest, using mostly neutral solids and a small strip of each dominant color. That wasn't part of the original plan, but I love that section as much as the kites.

The quilting was so much fun, and came together quickly. I used my walking foot, and serpentined twice through each block, never touching the scrappy triangles. This sort of leaf pattern that resulted makes me happy, and I'll definitely use it again! I quilted the strip section with straight-ish lines from top to bottom.

The binding is from Ayumi's adorable Lighthearted line, and it was just the perfect orange for this quilt (with additionally awesome pops of yellow).

For the back, I used three bluesy fabrics, including the very fun Leah Duncan triangles, from her Tule line.

Up next, I'm going to share a little recap of my do.Good Stitches experience, with a mosaic of the quilts I contributed (and maybe one of the blocks I made for others, too).

Kahlan's quilt

My cousin, Maclaine, is having her second baby in just a few weeks. I jumped at the chance to make her new girl, Kahlan, a quilt. When we discussed her preferences, I showed Maclaine a wonky log cabin, in Ellen's 1-2-3 Quilt book, which I highly recommend! It was fun to select stashed fabrics in Maclaine's chosen colors, primary with some neutrals thrown in.

And I love the back, possibly more than the front.

That's probably because I'm a fan of off-center designs. Whatever the reason, both the front and back are happy, bright and were made with love for my cousins.

Here's a close-up of the quilting. This seems to be my favorite free-motion stitch of the moment. To me, it feels more organic than a meander.

For the binding, I chose a favorite Color Me Retro print by Jeni. I wanted a print, but something minimal, and this worked perfectly.

I was able to gift the quilt in person to Maclaine and her husband, and I think they love it, too.

Hopefully, Kahlan will arrive soon!

P.S. Thanks to Amy for help with the pictures!

Wonky Pinwheels + Nordika: A new WIP

After letting Nordika sit in my stash for a month or so, I finally decided how I wanted to use it.
Nearly a year ago, Natalie shared a tutorial for wonky pinwheels, and asked our do. Good Stitches group to make blocks. I truly could not get them out of my head, and knew that I eventually wanted to make a quilt from them.

I finished a few things recently, and felt it was time to get started.

I combined Jeni's lovely Nordika with some stashed prints, as well as a mixed gray background.

I'm pretty sure I'm already addicted.

I will get lots of crafting time this weekend, and I plan to work on the wonky pinwheels, as well as this and this.

Hello(?)

I didn't intend to be gone for so long, but that word I chose in January has been serving me well. I have been so intent on making, that talking about it has fallen by the wayside.

It's my month for do.Good Stitches again, and we are making star blocks!

We are nearly done with round three of the Wonky Bee. This is part of Sara's solids quilt. I assembled this portion, and made the wonky stars and the HST section above them. Melissa did the EPP section, and Nickedid the large postage stamp piecing. I love how this is coming together!

I currently have three quilt tops waiting for basting (this one, that one and another that is only on instagram currently). I'm also finishing a fourth quilt top, this time a postage stamp project. It's scrappy and fun!

Soon, I will share the dress I recently finished. I wore it to my future brother-in-law's graduation this weekend!

Wonky pinwheels

Natalie wrote the coolest tutorial this week! For her month in do.Good Stitches, she's asked us to use her Wonky Pinwheel tutorial along with a fall palette of fabrics. I jumped on the chance to make some of these blocks, and I think I'll find an excuse to make more very soon!

I've been thinking about a few ongoing scrappy projects, and I think this will be one of them.

I highly encourage you to give this block a try for yourself!

It is a little difficult to think about fall in Houston, though, since it doesn't really exist here!