Well I’m hurtling along with this, especially after Jennifer suggested I ought to be a dozen blocks ahead just to be safe…thanks Jenn 
I know you’re right.
I have spent some time drawing up a plan of the whole quilt to clarify how many different types of applique blocks there are (wreath/lone flower/four elements/eight elements/symbols etc) and how many are variations of the same block or are exactly the same. I’ve also been mulling over ideas of how many blocks per month will work etc and how best to select what participants get each month (some easy/intermediate/complex for instance) so that still has to be finalised but I’m making notes of all my ideas.
However, more importantly I’ve finished stitching the Saturn block, drafted and stitched an Oak Leaf and Reel block and drafted and nearly finished stitching a Starburst block and drafted another block ready for fabric choices tomorrow. Phew…I need a drink and a lie down.
Oak Leaf and Reel block using two Smithsonian fabrics; Little Sister's Quilt, pattern Maze in Grass Green and Copp Quilt, pattern Willow in Terracotta.
I love the Oak Leaf and Reel pattern, my DD is named Ayla which is Hebrew for Oak Tree and it’s on my ‘long term list’ to make her a quilt using this pattern…one day.
Stitching late in to the night...
I decided to use the Back Basting method again… a little bit of work before hand but I like the method for these *cut as you go* blocks.
Starburst Block,
After drafting this block there was a little bit of tweaking to get the scale right, you can see I had to take just a whisker off before I was happy with it.
This morning I decided I had better cut all the background squares (in the past I had been fighting with 6 plus metres of fabric whenever I made another block)…perfect opportunity as DH and DS were out for the dayand I needed to take over the dining table for this job.
All the background squares cut, the centre square cut and (LtoR) Starburst, Saturn, Oak Leaf and Reel, Peacock and Feather Blocks.
Oh, while I think of it…6.9 metres of background (plus binding) needed if any of you are getting your supplies ready in advance. I used a Kona plain/colour Bone. I really like the quality of the Kona plains, it’s nicely woven to provide a good base for applique.
Two nights ago my DS (nearly 22) brought in to the house a quilt I had made him years and years ago (he lives in a little s/c cottage on our property so sort of still at home but ‘out of the house’) I spotted a veritable stash-full of Smithsonian fabrics in it and when I looked at the label I had started it in 1997, say no more…actually I am ashamed to say I had made the label out of Smithsonian fabric too…What was I thinking!
So I need to am going to give it a wash before I photograph it and show it to you but it got me thinking about my other quilts which have a fair share of these most beloved of my fabrics. Here’s one for today…(I have quite a few and I’ll try to show you one every few days)
Fair Isle
Fair Isle is so named because it reminds me of the Fair Isle knitted jerseys my mother knitted for me. (translate…Jersey is a New Zealand word for Pull-over/Jumper/Sweater)
Mum and her older brother (was she knitting for him too) about 1948
My quilt label says 2004 but that would have been when I finally finished the hand quilting (a job which took several years of intermitent quilting) I started this in 1997 when the backround fabric was released.
Fair Isle close-up. Background is my fave pink. I have heaps of the Green Smithsonian left; Copp Quilt pattern Berry Leaf in Avocado but would give my eye teeth for more of the red.
Like the Welsh Quilt I got my inspiration for Fair Isle from a British decorating magazine.
They're probably telling me what bedside lamps to buy but I only noticed the quilt...sorry about the sticky tape through the page.
10 pm, time to do a little stitching before bed.
Thanks for visiting…
oh I have wanted to make an oak leaf and reel quilt for ME some day as well.
its on that list …
oh how I would love some of that red fabric too, wish we could convince them to print this line of fabrics again, I bet we would all see bolts of it as Birthday presents, christmas/holiday presents, just because we deserve it presents!
LOL
thanks for sharing your other quilts with us I love seeing them and the inspiration and story behind them as well
Kathie
Love that oak reel and yes that pink
I do not have any either. Love the Fair isle quilt. Love the Yellow too.
Will be watching. Love what you are doing
Cheers
Lynne
Okay Margaret, Take a deep breath!! Please don’t stress out so much about getting far ahead. After all, this started out as your personal project and should remain fun for YOU most of all. Those of us panting for your patterns aren’t going to leave just because you are taking your time. The Beyond the Cherry Tree BOM is only one block per month, and will last two whole years. So you can see that you needn’t stress to keep us interested. I don’t want you to burn out. I don’t do well with people breathing down my neck, and though you may deal with that kind of pressure better than I, it still leeches the joy out of quilting. Your Fair Isle is gorgeous! Can you tell us what size the blocks are going to be? Michele
Hi Michele,
thanks for the concern, no I won’t burn out, for the moment I’m enjoying it but do see the need to pace myself. I’m glad you mentioned the Beyond the Cherry Tree is 2 years (tho I’m not familiar with it …I’ll google) cos I know this will be like the Morrell in terms of blocks and that was 6 blocks per month over a year, so it’s good to know 2 years is not out of the question.
The blocks are 11″ finished (as the original, I prefer to do that if possible when I’m reproducing) so I cut at 12″ and trim to 11 1/2″ after applique. I also didn’t cut all the way across the width (see picture) so that I have long strips for that narrow plain border. Quilt will be 88″ square plus whatever I make the narrow border, maybe 2 or 2 1/2″.
Hope you’re feeling a bit better each day, how’s the shiner?
Cheers, Margaret
I think your Fair Isle quilt is just wonderful.. I am looking for a thread explaining the Maltaville, but I can’t quite work out where it starts. Can you help orientate me, please?
Hi Liz,
thanks for stopping by.
The Maltaville Album Quilt is a quilt in the Smithsonian Institute. The quilt is dated 1847 and is an applique album quilt.
I have been drafting and making the blocks in readiness for a pattern, so far I have 6 done (61 in the whole quilt) but I won’t wait til I’ve made all the blocks before I start the pattern. I haven’t posted a photo of the entire quilt because of course the book it’s in is copyrighted.
I will post shortly though about the book and more historical details about the quilt to clarify where I’m going with it. Thanks for your interest, and I hope this helps.
Margaret
Lovely blog and I love the Fair Isle quilt… am new to quilting and enjoyed seeing the Welsh quilts… haven’t seen any of those before in my web surfing.
Thanks for doing it like the original. It has been really sad for me to see the historic quilts being dumbed down. I got a book for Christmas that was a pattern of an old quilt I was excited to make. I lost interest when I read the author decided to change the blocks so that there was less work in some of the blocks. They are all applique blocks. I guess if it is not able to be done by machine for some people it is not worth doing? Have fun with your blocks! Your quilts that you have been showing us are great.
Ohhh. That sounds so interesting. I will watching for the rest of the story. Thanks for the explanation.
Hi I am drooling. will there be a pattern? Is there a start date? Can I come play too?
Hi Martha,
LOL, of course you can come play, no start date yet but hopefully by mid to end Feb.
Thanks for subscribing too
Cheers Margaret
The patterns look lovely. I’d love to make this quilt. I also hate it when antique quilt reproduction patterns are dummed down, great that you’re doing the actual quilt.
How much will they cost?
I agree with some of you about the dumming down of patterns. I LOVE applique and the more intricate the better. If patterns have to be changed for machine applique then they are not worth bothering about. But then I may be an applique snob!!
I’m interested in your Maltaville Quilt patterns.
How do I purchase?
Thank you – Karen
Hi Karen, thanks for your interest. I’ll reply directly to you via email.
Many thanks,
Margaret