Project Update: 04.07.2023

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!

For many students in Ontario, this week marks the first full week of Summer vacation! I hope all of you with kids, or who are kids, are able to enjoy this break to the fullest!

I needed a break myself last week, a series of thunderstorms rolled through and the constant changes in weather and air pressure were bringing me migraines. I took some time off from the blog, as well as a little time off from sewing, and am now feeling much more like myself and excited to get back to quilting!

But before I do that, I'd like to share an update on all of my ongoing projects so I know where I left off and what my next steps will be!

Friends, let's take a look!

Hexie Harvest BoM

The Summer season is a break for students, as well as for many BoM quilt alongs. But there is one I'm participating in that is still ongoing; Hexie Harvest!

Last month's blocks, Lilly Pilly and Honeydew, each used the same set of six jewel shapes and six tiny diamonds to create two unique designs, and I love how both of them turned out!

I started off the month with Lilly Pilly and finished all of my Honeydew blocks towards the end. The difference in scale between these two blocks will work really well to add some variety and visual interest into the quilt!

And with my June blocks complete, we've now moved into the month of July, which means two new sets of blocks!

July brings the Winter Jasmine and Juniper blocks! Like in June, these two blocks use the same set of shapes, but arranged differently to create two totally different designs!

But before we get into piecing blocks, the designer has suggested that now is a good time for participants to take a step back, look at all of their blocks arranged together, and see what the quilt is missing. Here's how my quilt is looking so far;

This isn't meant to be the final layout, just a quick idea of how I'd like to have my rainbow blocks grouped into little clusters across the quilt with the black background filling the spaces between. After seeing my blocks laid out like this, I've noticed that I have a lot of black background blocks, quite a few rainbow blocks, but not so many blocks with an equal amount of both.

These half and half blocks will make a really great transition between the dark background areas and the brighter rainbow blocks, and I definitely think I need more of them. I'll have to keep this in mind when planning colour placement for this month's blocks and again in August.

I can't wait to do some planning sketches!

The Hexie Harvest quilt was designed by Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth. It is currently running as a block of the month style quilt along, scheduled to end in Autumn 2023.

Chilhowie Mystery Quilt

Moving on to a quilt along that has already ended, I've been working on quilting Chilhowie!

Chilhowie has been mentioned in each of my last three posts for various reasons. In an early June project update, I shared that I had finished piecing the clue no.6 blocks and was ready to start quilting. The following week, Chilhowie was featured as the sample quilt in a sashing inclusive quilt as you go tutorial. Then, in my Summer goal update, I decided to set Chilhowie aside until I'd finished one of my other projects.

Prior to making that decision, I had quilted and assembled half of my Chilhowie quilt blocks, and since then, have not worked on it at all.

I have every intention of getting back to this quilt and finishing it once my other project is complete. I'm excited for that time to come!

The Chilhowie quilt was designed by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville. It was released as a mystery quilt along in November 2022.

Meadow Mystery Quilt

The Chilhowie quilt was set aside so I could focus on finishing this quilt; Meadow Mystery!

Meadow Mystery uses a different style of quilt as you go, one without sashing strips, which features quite a bit of hand sewing. And though it's a slow process, I've really been enjoying putting this project together!

I've even been able to take this project outside to enjoy the weather, though a nearby game of tug-of-war did make sewing a little challenging.

Regardless of the fun going on around me, I have now managed to add another row to this quilt and it is up to 4x4 blocks!

It's exciting to see the design slowly expanding! I love how the different blocks are working together so far, and as the quilt has grown, the unique effects of the hand quilting and machine quilting are really starting to shine!

The top row is next, I can't wait to get started!

Meadow Mystery was designed by Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs. It ran as a block of the month style, mystery quilt along in 2016-2017.

The Generations Quilt Project

Moving away from quilting projects and back to piecing, I've finally resumed work on my Generations Quilt blocks!

Back in April, I finished a Dresden Plate block featuring rainbow colours on a dark background. At the time, I had cut enough pieces to make four blocks in that colourway, but only completed one of them.

I've finally finished piecing two more of them, bringing the rainbow set up to three!

The final set of pieces is partially basted, so that one will hopefully be completed soon too. And once it is, I've got another colour scheme in mind that I'm excited to try out!

The Generations Quilt is a collaborative family quilting project featuring two traditional quilt blocks, the Dresden Plate and Six Pointed Star. The templates being used were hand drafted by me.

BoM Sample Quilt

The final project in the works is my sample quilt for next year's BoM project!

For this quilt, I picked some colours that are far beyond my usual choices, however I've found them to be a lot of fun to work with and am excited to be able to share this pattern with you in when Autumn arrives!

This is my own original pattern, the name and final design for which will be released in September 2023. I can't wait!

Friends, I am so thoroughly enjoying each and every one of these projects!

Some are relatively early along in the piecing process, while others are quit close to being completed! I can't wait to take the next steps in the process of piecing, quilting, and creating these quilts and I've loved having you along!

If you'd like to share an update of your own, I'd love to hear stories about your ongoing projects in the comments below! And you can share pictures with me on Instagram @v.a.fibre.arts!

I'm always so inspired by the work of other creators and can't wait to see what you've been up to!

Until Next Time Friends, Keep Creating!

~VA