I’m feeling well chuffed, I’ve just finished the top of my Staying Home quilt and it’s turned out better than I ever hoped for! This is the quilt which started with the free quilt block designs organised by Natalie of the Birdhouse.Sixteen quilters in Australia each gave a free design to help us through the lockdown, they were mainly embroidered, I made thirteen of them. Here’s some of my favourite ones…
I had decided at the start to use fabrics left over from my Coming Home quilt to make it, a scrappy quilt of sorts! I had rather over-bought for the Coming Home quilt so I was pretty sure I would have enough. In the end I just added a couple of fat quarters of a dark green and a dark blue, just to help keep the colours balanced-ish. I chose colours to embroider with which would co-ordinate with the fabric.
I followed Natalie’s idea for sashing the blocks with a 1″ coloured border followed by a 1″ neutral border with 2″ scrappy squares in between. However, I wanted more of a throw size quilt so I also made twelve little house blocks too (as I said, I had rather a lot of fabric left!!). These would then alternate with the embroidered blocks to make a 5×5 block quilt. Once I had everything sashed I had a play on my design wall, trying to space colours fairly evenly without getting too het up about it. Even at this point I wasn’t sure if the idea of the house blocks was going to work…
I then started making all the 2″ square sashing. I needed sixty lengths of five squares plus the cornerstones. I cut 2.5″ strips and sewed them together in twos and threes, cutting them thern into the required width. I could then mix and match a bit so I didn’t have too many strips the same. I used the very dark fabrics for the cornerstones, arranging them in a pattern to give a little bit of order.
As soon as I started stitching the sashing onto the blocks, I knew it was going to work, I loved the effect of the scrappy sashing…
Once I got organised, it didn’t take too long to put it all together, I love it! It measures 62″ square, just a nice size for a throw and a nice size for me to quilt at home. I just need to check if I have enough batting and then I can finish it, I even have enough fabric left for the backing!
It’s taken about six weeks to make, not bad considering a lot of that was hand embroidering the blocks. Natalie and all the designers involved deserve a huge thank you, as I said at the beginning, I’m well chuffed with it, I keep looking at it on my design wall and smiling to myself!
If you fancy stitching these blocks, have a look on facebook for the Love & Hugs from Australia SAL page, all the patterns and links are still there.
thecraftycreek 
That looks absolutely fabulous, well done
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Thanks Jane, it suddenly came together at the end 🙂
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It really did come together beautifully. Just loving this!
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Such a lovely complementary quilt for Coming Home!
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This is a beautiful quilt Margaret, no wonder you are pleased with it x
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Love it, Margaret! 🙂
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A scrappy sashing can do wonders to unify things, and it’s worked a treat here. I’d go so far as to say ‘There’s no place like home’ 🙂
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oh wow! your scrappy sashing really has worked, and love the darker corner stones
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It looks smashing! I love the bit where the flimsie is altogether and neatly ironed, dont you?
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Thanks Amanda, it is a great feeling when you see it all neatly ironed 🙂
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Oh wow, those fabulous house blocks look perfect with your pretty embroidered blocks. The scrappy border is perfect too, adding oodles of visual interest and so, so much fun. Oh how wonderful all these elements look together.
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Stunning! Congrats on your finish! I really love the cat
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Marvelous! The scrappy sashing really sets off the individual blocks.
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Wow, this quilt is beautiful. I love the house blocks arranged with the other blocks. The scrappy sashing ties it all together. I can’t believe you finished this in such a short time.
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I think is has come together lovely – the scrappy sashing really sets everything off a treat. My favourite block is the one that says “joined in thread – stitched in friendship.”
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Your quilt top is lovely! Great work!
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Your quilt looks wonderful..love those little houses and that scrappy sashing. You made a good choice putting the darkest colour as the cornerstone!
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Its turned out beautifully, and I especially love your scrappy pieced sashing! Well done.
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It’s fantastic! I can’t even believe you have finished it so quickly! WOW!
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It’s lovely. As always. I’m impressed by your output! I made a quilt btw!! Never thought I would though I love seeing them. How are you in the lockdown?
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Thanks Anne, I’m doing fine, waiting to hear when I can go back to work!
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