Block Sixteen, Mariner 24 Draws MMDQ to a Close!

The last block of the #MMDQ Block of the Month Quilt is now up on my blog.

Called Mariner24 after the 24-needle compass that it features, this block looks much more difficult to piece than it actually is. You can find the block instrcutions and pattern here.
 With this, all sixteen blocks of this quilt have been posted. Unbelievable how time has flown! I hope you will find as much satisfaction and pleasure from making these quilt blocks as I did from designing and drafting them. I take this opportunity to thank all the Desi Quilters who tested these blocks for me and who encouraged me with their kind words at every stage.
The blocks are versatile because of their size - a 15" circle set in an 18" square.  They can be used as stand-alone runners, for cushion covers, for long runners using 3 or 4 blocks. You could use 4 blocks in a square for a table cloth or with borders and sashing for a lap quilt! So, what would make me really happy would be to see more of us attempt these blocks!

Happy Quilting!

MMDQ - Round the Year Quilt Update

These are the first eight blocks of the quilt! When are you starting on your quilt? The blocks are paper pieced and finish at 18" - free patterns and step by step instructions can be accessed here.

I hope you will join us in the New Year - the blocks are much easier to piece than looking at them would make you believe. Lots of DQs have been working on their blocks - do have a look!

 Before I sign off, would you like some Lollipop Candy?

Happy holidays and happy quilting to you all!

New Blocks on The Quilt! Southward Bound and Spiked Dresden

This is Southward Bound, the seventh block of the #MMDQ quilt Round the World! This 18" block was tested by DQ Cindy Ellerbe. 

And here below is the Spiked Dresden quilt block, tested by DQ Caroline Nagar...

Block Eight - Spiked Dresden

The second of the blocks introduces you to a great technique - foundation paper piecing with freezer paper. It is, I assure you, much easier to piece than it looks! Check for yourself by clicking on this link!

Links for patterns and instructions for Block Seven and earlier blocks are to be found in one place - on this page on my blog! 

With this, we have finished half the proposed sixteen blocks in the quilt! Those of you who have not got cracking on it or are lagging behind on the blocks - the coming holidays may be a great time to jump in or to catch up! 

The next block comes up in a fortnight ; meanwhile, happy quilting! 

Round the Year Quilt Block - Venus

This post is long delayed; I am sorry! This block was tested for me by DQ Anuradha Bahuguna. I love the fabric she used for the background - stars twinking against the darkening evening sky. The pattern and step by step instructions for foundation paper piecing and assembling this block can be found here. Like all the other blocks of the #MMDQ Block of the Month quilt, this also finishes at 18" square, with a 15" inset circle.
I have given you an optional colourway for the block.

This is inspired by a folded star I saw on pinterest and uses a black and white print to set off fluoroscent solids. The fabric requirements for this can be found on my blogpost here.

I am sure you are interested in seeing the blocks that the DQs have been making...

Jaya Parker...

Cindy Ellerbe

Anuradha Ramesh

Diptee Raut

Devi Nair

Revathi Sampat

Uma Srinivasan

Lots of inspiration there, right? Don't forget to check in for the sixth block to be posted on the fisrst of November, 2014.

Shadows, Clouds, Squircles and a Duet - Layout Options for thr Round the Year Quilt

My back is still bothering me - so I have not been doing any piecing or quilting for over 5 weeks now! Hence I decided to delay Block 5 of the quilt to October 15th and do some designing and calculations instead.
So this fortnight is being used to post layout options (with complete fabric requirements for each ) for the block of the month quilt. Two options are already up, and one on the way. This is the `Shadows' option for the Dusk version.

Here are the `Clouds' for the Rainbow Quilt.

The details for these options are posted on my blog.

And what then are squircles? You need to see this post to find out!

But I will not leave you without sharing with you one more picture...the Round the Year Quilt made in two colours,

As you can see, I have been trying out various borders on this option, inspired by the original Camelot quilt. I  am tentatively naming this two-colour option  Duet, unless you can suggest something more apt?

And I do urgently need some more testers for the quilt blocks and would be grateful to anyone who volunteers! Thanks in advance. 

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Round the Year BOM Quilt Block - Sapphire

This is Sapphire Rainbow, the fourth block of the #MMDQ Block of the Month Quilt, Round the Year. Like the previous three blocks, this one is also paper foundation pieced and finishes at 18" square with a 15" inset circle. The pattern, fabric requirement and piecing instructions can be downloaded from the links at the end of this post.Fellow Desi Quilter Anuradha Ramesh has been sweet enough to find the time to test the other colourway, Dusk, for me. This is the design for what I call the Sapphire Fire.

Sapphire Fire Quilt Block

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I am yet to make this block in this colourway. I plan to use 4 shades of blue fabric from deep to light in this block, contrasted with 4 fabrics ranging from deep orange through light orange and gold to yellow. The background is planned in 2 shades of grey. Here is a look at some of the fabric I have been auditioning for the block! It is Fossil Fern by Benartex - I just love that fabric!

Fabric for the Sapphire Fire Block

Meanwhile, I  have also listed out of a few do's and don't's to keep in mind when paper piecing the blocks from this quilt. For example, 

• I often have people ask me if they can increase the printer settings to, say, 120% if a larger block is needed. It does not work that way, if you have the ¼" seam allowance added on to the template ( as is the case with the Round the Year block templates). You will end up increasing the seam allowance also to 120%!
• I like to cut the templates a bit larger on all sides and trim them after piecing. It may be just superstition, I don't know! I just like the thought of some margin in case things go wrong somewhere!
•  After cutting the fabric pieces, I can save a lot of heartburn if I remember to pin the pieces to the respective templates! At this stage, I also get a chance to check if I have missed out on a piece or two. (If you look at the Rainbow Sapphire picture, you'll spot a missing piece!)
• I like to sort out the templates shape wise unless specifically asked not to. There is a possibility you can chain piece them and why miss the opportunity?  
• It may sound obvious, but please remember to begin with piece #1 and #2 when you start piecing a template!
• Unlike in the case of piecing the templates, numbering or alphabetical order does not work when assembling the templates! So that it is not necessary that A is joined to B is joined to C etc...Follow the assembly instructions given in the pattern.

 You will find lots of more foundation paper piecing  tips on my blogpost which carries the Sapphire Fire pattern. So before I forget, here are the promised pattern downloads for the Sapphire Block for the two colourways. The files are huge, and may take time to download. You need Adobe Reader on your system(downloadable free online) to be able to view/ download these files. Happy piecing and quilting!

Pattern for Sapphire Fire, Block Four of Dusk Round the Year Quilt.

Pattern for Sapphire Rainbow Block Four of Dusk Round the Year Quilt.

Round the Year Quilt - Block Three - Card Trick

Here it is - the third of the blocks of the month! DQ Cindy Ellerbe  was sweet enough to test it for me!

DQ Cindy Ellerbe's test block halves

This is a `complicated' version of the traditional card trick block, which has always fascinated me!
This test block was made by Desi Quilter, Manju Narain.

DQ Manju Narain made this test block

Isn't it lovely? And here are my templates for the `Dusk version' of the block, ready for assembly.

The block pattern, including fabric requirements and piecing instructions can be accessed from my blog!
Happy piecing!

Round the Year Quilt - Block Two -Evening at the Pond

The delay in posting the second block of the BOM quilt turned out to be much bigger than I thought!
The fabric requirement, templates and instructions for piecing and assembly are all up on my blog (links at the end of this post).

The original pattern for this block was tested for me by fellow Desi Quilter, Sobana Sundar, who blogged about it here! She suggested a number of changes in the block, which I incorporated in the final version.
Here is her test block.

Isn't it pretty -a winter evening at the pond!? What she finally did with the block is something truly creative - a stunner of a quilt.

Aren't you inspired to try out at least one block from this Block of the Month Quilt? You can build a whole quilt around a single block.
Like I said, I simplified the pattern - so that there was no curved piecing in the circle construction. Another Desi Quilter, Nikhat Arshia tested the pattern for me this time.

I also made the block in the rainbow colourway, the geese flying around the pond as the clouds clear to reveal a rainbow against the blue sky!

And here is a  really pretty block made by Vicki Trerotola in a purple colourway.

The next block is ready to be released on Monday, so one needs to get cracking on this now!
Here are the links-
Block 2 Evening at the Pond - Fabric Requirement, Cutting & Piecing Instructions and Paper PiecingTemplates
Block 2 Evening at the Pond  - Assembly Instructions

Of Curves and Pins - Assembling the Dahlia Block

Okay ladies! The fun and games are over! You have the Dahlia arcs pieced? Now let us get down to some serious business!

Gather your tools - a small pair of scissors to trim the arcs to size, a box of pins to pin the arcs in pairs before you start sewing,  your (eyebrow?!) tweezers to help ease out the paper. Where is the Master Template? Refer to it to arrange your arcs.

Change the machine foot the ¼” piecing foot, set the stitch length at 1.5, set speed to “low” and needle position to “down” if you have the option. 

 Before you begin, it is reassuring to remember that all curves are straight as they go under the needle a stitch at a time! And that the slow and steady master the curves!

If you want more hints and tips on assembling the Dahlia, click here - the link takes you to my blog, where I have step by step instructions on pinning and sewing curves.

Looking forward to seeing your version of the yin and yang!

The Dahlia Block - A Modern Twist!

The traditional Dahlia Block acquires a decidedly modern face-over with a geometric / graphic black and white print to set off solids in neon bright colours!

Before you head to my blog to download the instructions, here is a look at some fun I had with the the versatile Dahlia Block!

This is another option for the Rainbow modern block! The same block in just two colours coming up now!

I loved DQ Vidya Vartak Joshi,s profile pic - a pink lotus; so played around with the pattern to come up with this.

And here is a totally different looking dahlia, inspired by shape-moth.blogspot.com. ( Hers is much prettier!) I love this, and am going to make this into a table topper!

The best part - these can all be stand alone blocks!
This will be all, till we are ready to assemble the pieced templates on July 22nd...

Round the Year Quilt - Block One DAHLIA

I hope you have your fabric ready, for the pattern for the Dahlia Block has been posted today, with complete instructions for piecing!

This traditional “DAHLIA” block is the first in the Round the Year Quilt; it is paper foundation pieced . We are chain piecing strips to construct the block. The best part of this technique is that you are not handicapped if you do not have a rotary cutter or cutting mat. And believe you me, it takes just two-three hours to piece it from fabric to this stage!

You can download the pattern and instructions from my blog. There are a lot of pictures to guide you at every step of the piecing process. If you are attempting paper piecing for the first time, an introduction to the mysterious world of  templates, colour codes, `piece by number' et al is also available here.

Some of us ( including me!) are making the Rainbow version of the quilt -  please do check my blog tomorrow for a post with suggestions for more colour ways.

So, let the magic begin!!!

 

Round the year Block of the Month Quilt - Fabric Requirement Update

No, no don't worry, there is no change in the fabric requirement! It is just that I have now worked out the fabric requirement for the more `modern' colourway of the 'Rainbow' Round the Year quilt - where the colours of the rainbow peep out from the midst of grey clouds against a bright blue sky!
I so love this, that I have decided to make both the quilts.

You can download the PDF file containing the fabric requirements here! Remember you need Adobe Reader on your laptop to be able to view the file.

Time to dig into your stash ...or your pocket?

Fabric Requirement for the Block of the Month Quilt "Round the Year" has been posted!
You know, I used to be a banker! But I don’t remember checking and re-checking the accounts (in those days of manual banking) as many times as I have checked these figures. Each pattern will also be tested by at least one fellow quilter and me before I release it!  But please remember, this Block of the Month quilt is more in the form of a quilt along; the fabric requirements that I give you are extrapolated from the five blocks that have been tested. True to my training as a conservative banker, I tend to err towards buying less fabric for a project than needed. This time I have made a conscious attempt to make a more realistic estimate and yet, it may not be very accurate. I hope you will bear with me on that! Now that all this is off my chest, let us get back to the task at hand.

Here is another look at the fabrics that I dug out of my stash for my quilt!

Several blues, a few oranges, golds and a dash of yellow!  There are a few greys too, which I shall use in the background squares.

As you can see, I am using an assortment of fat quarters of Fossil Fern by Benartex and some batiks from The Square Inch. Basically, you need  a minimum of 4 shades of the main fabric ( blues here) and  at least 4 shades of the focus fabric ( ranging deep orange to bright yellow here), besides the background fabric ( at least two shades of grey here). 

There is a lot of flexibility in the choice of fabric and colours  in the pattern, as long as you use fabric with strong contrast within a block. I have even designed these blocks with just two colours!

In India, most fabric is available in 34” – 36” width and conversions can be very tedious, so I calculated that too for you!

So what are we waiting for? Let us head straight to where all the action is! My blog!

Enjoy! 
Addendum ( 8th July 2014) - A downlodable file containing the fabric requirements is also now available in the same place!

What colours and fabrics are you choosing?

As announced a week ago, I am hosting a Block of the Month 'Round the Year" quilt from the 15th of this month. The fabric requirements will be given tomorrow.
To help you choose your colours, here are a few options!
The first is Aliya's Dahlia - quite like the sound of that, don't you? - a block our very own Desi Quilter Aliya Mir tested! How very pretty she  has made it look in her choice of fabric.

Another Desi Quilter, Sobana Sunder, tested what was to be Block No. 6 'Evening at the Pond' in really soft, soothing colours. She has even written a lovely blogpost about it! (While there you must see what other lovely stuff she has been making.) Meanwhile, this is what Sobana saw that winter evening at the pond...

 I must have been at the pond at sunset during the monsoons, because what I found was a brilliant sunset in deep oranges, golds and yellows!

Based on Sobana's feedback, I revised the block pattern somewhat to make it simpler for beginners. Nikhat Syeda  ( another generous Desi Quilter) tested this revised block, which has no curved piecing at all. I am thinking of making this the first block!

Isn't it amazing how different the same block can look depending on your choice of fabric and colour? If you are not sufficiently confused, here is a look at a totally different ( more modern) look that I experimented with. This is the Block called "Hope" after the famous Blue Diamond.

So I leave you here, dreaming of the colours in which your very own "Round the Year" quilt will come to life! Don't forget to come back tomorrow to check on how much fabric you will need for your quilt!

Introducing – the “ Round the Year” Quilt!

I am so happy to introduce my “Block of the Month” (BOM) quilt “ROUND THE YEAR” from July 2014 - June 2015!

You do not have to be an experienced quilter to be able to make the blocks (that look so difficult!!) that make up this quilt. Initially, one just needs to know how to stitch on a straight line printed on paper.

Lots of pictures will guide you each step of the way, just like a quilt along!

The Quilt

Designed by me on Quilt Assistant sotware, and inspired in part by the Camelot quilt by Trish Harper, the quilt has sixteen blocks, each a 15” circle set in an 18” square.

Unlike the Camelot (which is hand-pieced), these are, as far as possible, paper foundation pieced.

The blocks have been drafted/ designed  using  traditional patterns based on circles/ curved piecing ( yet simple to assemble)  like the Mariner’s Compass, New York Beauty, Dahlia, card-trick, drunkard’s path, winding ways etc. besides improvised Camelot-like blocks etc. However, an attempt is made to incorporate other techniques, where possible, in the blocks that come up later, so that the blocks do not become repetitive and boring over the year.

To help you along, complete patterns in .pdf files and several pictures will be posted with each block, tested by me or generous fellow quilter volunteers!

Layout

One to two blocks will be released each month, a total of 16 over 10 months. The last two months are set aside for putting together the top and quilting and finishing the project. We shall be joining them up them up in the traditional 4X4 layout, but...if you find this too much to handle...you could piece just a few blocks surrounded by a lot of negative space to make up your quilt.

You can also square up nine in a 3X3 layout for a lap quilt, a 2 X2 to make a table cloth, line up 3 or 4 or 5 to make table/ bed runners. The possibilities are endless, whether you decide to make all the blocks or not...

You could even make a single circle block and use it as a table topper like the DAHLIA here (which even a beginner can whip up in a few hours!) This, incidentally, is also Block Number One of the quilt!

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What you will get

I shall post the fabric requirement on 7th July 2014  on my blog. The detailed instructions for each block will be made available on this blog on the 1st /15th of each month from 15th  July  2014.

The .pdf files which can be downloaded include

1.  The block pattern in colour, with colour codes and fabric requirement.
2. Colour coded templates for paper foundation piecing where required.
3. Individual templates where needed.
4. A Master Template with block assembly instructions.

Colours

-          I am making my quilt with shades of blue as the main colour and yellows to oranges as the focus fabric. I shall be setting them in squares in various shades of blue to grey.

-          For each of the blocks, I shall be suggesting 2 more colour ways! Firstly, there is a two-colour option. . There is another option with black & white print and blue solid as the main fabric and the colour wheel as the focus.

 You could, of course, use any other that you like or go totally scrappy!

Fabric 

I shall be using fat quarters of Fossil Fern by Benartex, with some batiks from The Square Inch thrown in! Here is a look at my fabrics. 

And here is a look at the options for the first block, pattern for which is coming up on the 15^th of July!

 In the meanwhile, you can decide which of these you would like to make.

Fellow Desi Quilter, Aliya Mir, has been kind enough to test this block pattern for me! Here is a peek at her block, which is done in a totally different colour scheme! Isn’t it pretty?

This is how my `DAHLIA’ block is shaping up - I quite love it!

Keep a watch on this space for more information!