Recent and current quilt projects

Not done much gardening this year haha.

Lucky daughters to have such a talented Mother, I do not sew, used to embroider many years ago...
I must say you have made an excellent job, and they should last forever!!

Gosh they are lovely! You must get up very early and stay up very late!!! Well done.

I'm often awake in the night at the planning stage, mulling things over, working out layout and fabric amounts. Once I have started the cutting out I rarely do more than 5-6 hrs a day. I get back ache otherwise. I tend not to do sewing in the evening as that is when OH is in from the workshop and we sit watching TV or reading.

They are really spectacular. I'd love to see the process of how you come up with the design and actual construction. Is it all planned out ahead or do you create as you go?

I plan in advance so I can calculate the amount of each fabric I need.

I start be deciding which patchwork block[s] I am going to use then draw to scale the project. I place each block where I think it will go and how others will be placed around them. I then chose which fabrics will go in each block. The scale plan is then coloured in with the appropriate colour to give me an idea of how it may look. Then I work out how much each block will need.

I will see if I can find a plan to put up as a photo.

Once planned I know how many pieces to cut of the correct shapes and in which fabrics. Squares/triangles/rectangles etc. are all common shapes to use. I usually join the pieces by machine though the hexagons mentioned in your photo are hand sewn with small [1mm] stiches.

I have added a typical block plan so I can see how it will look etc.

They are beautiful . Love the colour combinations.
You are also a very good designer.
The only quilting I have attempted has been the Cathedral
Window design. I use the samples to stand my plant pots on !! Marjorie

Thanks for posting

I think most gardeners are creative people and have other things they enjoy doing. Your quilts look very professional.

WOW. what more can I say, Derek.

Thank you for all the lovely comments.

Beautiful Eileen. I especially like the one in the second pic.

Thanks Kate that's the top of the one in the 3rd photo.

having a day pottering in the garden and then some sewing.

They are beautiful Seaburngirl. Over the years I've made a couple with leftovers of fabric from years of making things for children/grandchildren/great grandchildren but squares is just about my mark. I made mine in winter when not too much going on in the garden.
Your girls have got family heirlooms there to pass down the family.

Wow! They are beautiful! It is so good to see such fine work is still being handmade in today's techno-world. I dabbled with patchwork and several other crafts back in the 70s, before the children came along and my energies were diverted elsewhere. My Mum did patchwork too but sadly the only piece I still have made by her is the pin-cushion which I use on my lace-making pillow, it is a treasured keepsake. Your quilts will be associated with many happy memories for your daughters too no doubt.

Oh My !!! .. Seaburn they are a treasure that will be appreciated by your daughters for many years, you are so clever, the hours you must have spent designing, sorting the shapes, colours fabrics and then the actual sewing is mind boggling to me, love them all...

I think Victoria's single quilt took about 90 hrs and Elizabeth's about 175 hrs. depending on the complexity of a block it is about 30 -40 mins per block. then the actual quilting varies depending on the complexity of the designs.

Wow that is some skill and patience to do that,love it .xx

Thank you Brian. I find it very therapeutic. There is a photo of a small lap quilt on my latest blog.