Diamond Quilts, Selective Sewjo, and A Good Tip

ISSUE 36 :: Selective Sewjo :: WHAT'S UP :: WORTH A READ :: ROUND-UP

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I've got the sewjo, but it certainly isn't for the larger wips in the line-up. It's the small projects and bee blocks that have my attention at the moment.... you know.... fun, quick sewing and a finish. So who else is where I am, stuck in the mire of an unfinished quilt?

WHAT'S UP

My sewing of late has taken me in two directions, with a couple of projects in each. One was making it up as I went, first creating a quilted piece from my own design, and then letting some scrappy strips lead the way to a completed wall quilt I named Off the Cuff.

The other direction was totally different, in that it began with the very traditional hourglass blocks I featured in the last issue, and next I knew, I was doing the same blocks but improvisationally. That process was unique enough that I documented it in a quasi-tutorial. Expect to see more of those improv hourglass blocks...

WORTH A READ

Do you finish your quilt by blocking it? Can't say that I do, but Nicole/mama love quilts makes a convincing argument.
What NOT to do when organizing a group quilt. Oh do tell, Andrea/Gotham Quilts!
I laughed when I saw Angela/Quilting Is My Therapy pose the question, "That will quilt out, right?", but thankfully she goes on to share from her experience.
Hand Quilting Tools, a helpful primer from Amy/Amy's Creative Side.
Folks in the know swear by it.... Quick Tips: Glue Basting Perfect Points, Curves, and Applique from Cristy/Sew Much Like Mom on Diary of a Quilter.
#notionlove, a hashtag full of things us sewists love the most!
How to Make Every Free Moment a Creative One from Craftsy.
And lastly, What defines a quilting style?, a thoughtful post from Daniela/Block M Quilts with plenty of links for continued pondering.

ROUND-UP

The latest round-up is all about diamond quilts, and I've gathered up a hodgepodge.... so many unique designs inspired by the same simple shape. You'll find these and more in my Diamonds Pinterest board.

First up is Caitlin/Salty Oat's Teal Diamond Quilt made using the Kissing Diamonds tutorial by Erica/Kitchen Table Quilting. Of all the quilts I'm sharing, it shows off the diamond in its purest form. [saltyoat]

Erica/Kitchen Table Quilting is also the maker of Diamond quilt, where each of the framed diamonds is made up of 2 triangles, meaning no y-seams. [ericajackman]

Melissa/Happy Quilting made her Diamond Drop quilt out of half triangle blocks, and her fabric placement really allows for striking secondary designs. A tutorial for Diamond Drop is available on Riley Blake Designs. [happyquiltingmc]

The Diamond Stripe Quilt by Stefanie/Satterwhite Quilts uses solid strips to make diamonds of increasing sizes, a whole new take on a single shape. [satterwhitequilts]

Inspired Broken Diamonds Mini by Cathy/Blueberry Patch was inspired by the Broken Diamonds design by Kati/from the Blue Chair and incorporates halved log cabin blocks, making an old pattern very new indeed. [cathyeric]

Amy/During Quiet Time constructed her own templates for the over-sized paper pieced diamonds that make up her Facets. Using both solid and printed fabrics in different shades helped her create the dimension she was after. [duringquiettime]

There's quite a variety of diamonds in the quilt Carla/[modernbias] fashioned with the help of the Nurture Circle of do.Good Stitches. Size and shape was left up to each maker, with a request that each block contain at least one vertical diamond, offering her own paper pieced diamond patterns as an option.

P.S. One of the best new tips in my sewing tool-belt came from Michelle Wilkie - the idea of paring down a design by creating a 'window' in a sheet of paper and moving it over different areas, seeing what smaller section might inspire. It worked for me, and I know I'll try it again.

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