I got to pattern test for Fran of Cotton and Joy Patterns
(this is actually my second time testing for her;
the first time I never posted about it here...
but you can find quite a few photos on Instagram)
I've been on a mission to create lots of Christmas / Winter quilts
for our home for a while now,
and I knew this striking design
would be perfect for Brandon's/the guestroom's bed.
I started with a fat quarter bundle of Alison Glass' Holiday fabric
and
of course
added more,
because we all know
I am just not a '1 fabric line' kind of girl.
I reeeally wanted to use the gray metallic brushed fabric
from Ruby Star Society
as my background.
I thought it was just enough 'directional fabric'
to be a challenge,
but there weren't actual stripes to have to try to line up.
The gold would add a festive bling
without being too feminine on that steely background.
I was worried about it matching
(grays can be tricky)
but didn't really have time to order a fat quarter
and wait for it to arrive
(after paying exorbitant shipping costs)
check it
and order the yardage I needed,
so I reached out to the 2 Etsy shops I found
that carried both fabric lines.
They were both unwilling to assist,
so I bit the bullet and ordered 3 yards from a different shop
(no way those gals were getting my business!)
and it turns out it goes perfectly
and created the perfect bold and glittery backdrop,
and I want to order more and make something else with it
because I love it so much!
I wasn't able to get started on it before Christmas,
except for getting my fabric pull finalized,
but I started cutting my fabrics after presents had been opened
and brunch was made and consumed
Christmas Day
and I spent the next week
slowly turning them into a stunning quilt top.
Even though I made the top in a week
(which, in my opinion, is pretty darn fast!
but - I had lots more sewing time than usual
thanks to a houseful of miserable sick people
who didn't need much food)
I worked slowly and methodically,
never had the pedal to the metal,
and just really
thoroughly enjoyed the process.
I did have a bit of trouble on my first few blocks
with my points,
but once I figured out what my seam allowance
needed to be for sewing on those corners
to make the diamond in square components,
everything was golden
and I had sharp point after sharp point.
If you make this quilt
(and you should! It really makes a striking quilt!)
I'd recommend that
before you 'batch sew' your components,
you make 1 block at a time
until you're pleased with your points,
just in case, like me,
you need to stitch that portion
with a little bit of a different seam allowance.
Although - I do seem to be the only tester
who had this difficulty
so
there's that, too.
(In case you're wondering
I sewed the corners on with a .2mm wider SA
than my normal 1/4" seam allowance)
Since I did figure out my points
(by the 3rd block)
I am thoroughly thrilled with this pattern!!
So much so,
that I made a second one
so I could test and see just how quick it'd be
if I wasn't incorporating directional prints
or (much) fussy cutting.
Pretty darn.
and, thru Sunday the 19th,
is 20% off when you use code STELLAR
