Saturday, March 6, 2010

Sew-in - christmas carol challenge quilts

Each month at our sew-in we get a new step for the christmas carol challenge quilt. If you are just joining me - the challenge is to pick a christmas carol and them make a quilt from it, like a round robin, except that we each do all the steps on our own quilt.

The first step was to make a 22 1/2" square to depict the song. Second step - 2 1/2" plain (not pieced) border. Third step was to add corner triangles to set the block on point (we apparently are getting another step that will turn it back right side up instead of sideways) and the fourth step is a 4 1/2" pieced border - that is the step for March - due by March 27th, our next sew-in.


It is amazing how different ladies translate the songs. Diane and Daisy are both doing White Christmas - and their quilts are really different from each other.

Diane's quilt - third step . . .



This is the appliqued center . . .

A corner of Diane's quilt. She is doing everything in WOW (white-on-white) except for the appliqued center with the sleigh. She was working on step 4, the 4 1/2" border, flying geese, all in WOW. A very striking quilt.

Susannah - step 3 (the white on the outside is wall, not quilt)

Susannah's center - her family picking out a christmas tree in the woods . . .


Daisy's center with step 2 - she is also doing White Christmas . . .


Daisy - step 4 . . . on the design wall . . .


Close up of Daisy's fourth step - a printed border of quilts in the snow . . .


My quilt - step 2 - T'was the night before Christmas - still some embellishing to do . . . and I MUST learn to take straight photos. . .


Here is my steps three and four - the corner triangles and the 4 1/2" border - I decided to do do flying geese. The green/white fabric is the fabric I was searching for - all over the internet, in friend's stashes, in quilt shops - and I was so lucky that my friend Diane had a fat quarter of it and that was enough to finish the flying geese, but I needed more for another border later in the quilt, and Ann Shipley in North Carolina had some in her stash and was willing to sell me some. Three whole yards - oh happy day!!!! Thank you Ann and Diane!!!!

This photo shows how I did one side in red/green flying geese and when the border turned the corner the flying geese switched to being the white with green. I like the way it turned out. There was a lot of figuring to get it to come out right. Don't let anyone tell you that you will never use the math you learned in school - I used it a LOT in this border.

We'll get our next step on March 27th - can't wait to see what Susannah will have us do next. Maybe we can talk her into giving us the step early.


11 comments:

luv2quilt2 said...

These are beautiful little quilts so far. No wonder you were searching so hard for a particular fabric.

Peggy said...

What a great project - beautiful quilts so far. Looking forward to seeing the final products!!

Lili said...

Diane's quilt in W-O-W is breathtaking. The possibilities really are endless in quilting, aren't they. I like the element of surprise that you get a new step each month, but I just know I would be confused with that math. I was marveling at how Susannah managed to find the time to produce such a beautiful quilt, if that head count correctly depicts all of her kids. Glad you found enough of your fabric for the border which is a masterpiece and really boggles my mind just to think about. This project really looks like fun. Did I miss one where someone was doing the song "Over the River and Through The Woods"? ~Lili

Jocelyn said...

Beautiful. This is going to be one lovely quilt.

Julie said...

They are all wonderful, and it's fun to see the different interpretations. I'm glad you were able to find the fabric, I looked but didn't have it. I look forward to seeing the final results!

LINDA BYLSMA said...

And I'm a busy girl, you say? I love your new heading, by the way. The pictures came out great, but Diane's quilt has to be seen in person, I think. She really WOWed me with her WOW.

Karen said...

A very interesting challenge. And I like that you are all working on your own pieces.

Mary said...

Mine is still missing in action. I will share it when I catch up! After Expo I'm still catching up on 'normal' life.

Elenka said...

Just beautiful!! Extending the Christmas spirit, I see.
Having a motivational group like that is wonderful, I think that's what I need. Was going to do some sewing today, but ended up shopping for new couches instead. Didn't find one, am exhausted and am sitting on the couch vegging, watching the Godfather part 2. Oh well.

Pat said...

These are very nice but I think I'd find this a very difficult challenge....I'd be stuck trying to find a song I could illustrate in fabric!!! MAYBE I could do "Let It Snow" and just use a plain piece of snowflake fabric....LOL

Crispy said...

The blocks are wonderful Jo, especially your's....I see the mouse doesn't have a tail yet ROFL. How wonderful that you have found that perfect fabric for the geese and your ending border :0)

Crispy