teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip

Sunday, 7 July 2013

Shattered Chevrons & Broken Arrow Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: June/FMQ

FMQ is now complete on my two June Skill Builder BOM blocks.

And here are the 2 latest blocks, which means I'm totally up-to-date and waiting, yes, actually waiting, for Alyssa @Pile O'Fabric to post the instructions for the July blocks!!!:

SHATTERED CHEVRONS BLOCK
Chain piecing HSTs

I'm about to trim my 2" HSTs only to discover my smallest Bloc-Loc is 2.5" :( - if you don't know what a Bloc-Loc is, check out my Bloc-Loc tute here.

64 trimmed HSTs

and here's the made-up block

I wanted to fmq the block really simply and appreciated that when Alyssa sent out the fmq suggested instructions, she felt exactly the same way.  I just did my usual vermicelli/stipple fmq stitch over the grey background fabric and left the coloured areas alone.

It was quite difficult to fmq this block - there are so many layers of fabric at each point that it was tricky to smoothly sew right through them all.

And take a look at the back.
Kaffe Fassett - Lake Blossoms


BROKEN ARROW BLOCK 
10 x 1.5" wide strips of foundation paper piecing

The finished block ready to fmq

And here it is fmq'd - again, kept it simple, just vermicelli/stippling on the background grey.

and a closer look at the back
Kaffe Fassett - Paisley Jungle

Do you know I think these two blocks are my absolute favourites? They were quite time-consuming, but there was nothing difficult or brain-aching about them, and the finished result is so pleasing - it would make great cushions covers.  

And here's my progress so far - firstly laid out as the blocks will be in the final quilt:

secondly, with each row laid out next to each other to make a better photo:

and thirdly - how the back's looking, and it has to be said it's pretty scrummy to my way of thinking!

Oh, and before I forget, I don't know if any of you would even have noticed a change, but way back in April, I created a February block (yes, up until now, I've been way behind every month on this BOM!) called The Mood, here it is:
 

After I created this block, I decided that the whole quilt needed some sort of commonality to pull the whole thing together, so I've always quilted the grey background fabric with a vermicelli/stippling stitch.  You might notice two sections of this block made from the background grey, yet I'd already done straight line quilting in a triangular spiral on each.  In reply to Sonia @Fabric & Flowers' comment, I did say that I really wanted to redo these two quilting sections but that I'd hold fire until I was further on with the quilt to make my mind up for sure.

Well, this month, the time had come - when I laid all the blocks out together, these two sections were screaming at me so loudly that I couldn't bear it a moment longer and ripped them out and fmq'd right over them.

Here's how they look now - you can still see the original stitch lines slightly, but it's nothing that won't disappear when the quilt's finally washed.  I feel sooooo much better now - the vermicelli/stippling has knocked those two grey sections right back, and the whole quilt looks a million times better, amazing how your eye can pick up on something and know it's not right even if you don't always know quite what it is.
 
 

Next Time: For July, I have absolutely no idea what we'll be making and for now, I'm just thrilled to be completely up-to-date, which has to be a first since this Skill Builder BOM began back in January!!!


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47 comments:

  1. Queeniepatch7 July 2013 at 19:56

    Such precision! All your work is fantastic eye candy. It is not my style, but I absolutely love looking at it! Thank you for giving me such visual delight.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD8 July 2013 at 09:38

      Thanks Queenie for your lovely comments about my work. I actually don't like this quilt myself - I love the Kaffe Fassett backing fabrics and for me that's the only redeeming feature of the whole thing, but I think that all together they're too 'in your face'. I've come to the conclusion that I really can't bear sampler quilts. This is my fourth sampler and personally I don't like any of them. They're a great way to trial blocks and learn new techniques but I've promised myself that this will be the last - if anyone catches me signing up for another sampler BOM I'd like them to shout at me very, very loudly ;)

      Delete
  2. Jessica7 July 2013 at 20:36

    These came out gorgeous! Your FMQ is beautiful. Great job :)

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  3. Pat7 July 2013 at 22:33

    This is going to be a real wowser of a quilt when you are all finished.

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  4. Lorna McMahon8 July 2013 at 00:30

    Wow! You have been busy! Your blocks all looks sew awesome, Chrissie! And the backs are sew-weet, too. Your free motion quilting - love the variety. Have you made a quilt as you go quilt before? I have not tried that one yet.

    Lorna:)
    http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD8 July 2013 at 09:51

      I made my first QAYG quilt back in February - 'The Something NEW Sampler'. I decided I didn't want to hand sew all those joining seams so I came up with my own way of machine sewing them. I wrote a kind of a tute at the time, well it's more of a description of how I did it rather than a detailed tute, you can read about it here

      I'm not in love with QAYG, I like that you can really try out some great fmq on the smaller blocks but I don't like the grid pattern that it creates on your quilt. I don't mind doing it now and again but I wouldn't want that look on all my quilts.

      I'm starting to look at all the backing blocks for this quilt, which I was going to sash with the background grey, but now I'm thinking maybe I should sash with more Kaffe Fassetts so the QAYG grid pattern won't be as obvious. I'll think on that one for a while longer before making a decision. :)

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  5. Vicki8 July 2013 at 02:04

    I am totally in love with ALL of your quilts. That broken chevron is outstanding!! Do you use a home machine for your quilting? You have convinced me to follow you.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD8 July 2013 at 10:01

      Thanks Vicki for your wonderful comment :)

      I quilt all my quilts myself, at home, on my Bernina 440QE though I dream of one day owning a Sweet Sixteen mid arm as apartment living will never allow for a long arm!

      I don't send my quilts out for quilting, personally I like to see the quilt through from start to finish and I feel that it wouldn't be my quilt and my work if I handed over part of the process to someone else - the completer/finisher in me just wouldn't allow it and the perfectionist in me would never be satisfied!!! That's just me though and I completely understand that everyone has different feelings/views on this aspect of quilting.

      Thanks so much for dropping by and especially for the follow, which I have returned and let me just mention again how much I love that bag you've made :)

      Delete
  6. Sarah Lou8 July 2013 at 02:32

    Wow, these are definitely my favourites too, I love the precision and the FMQ is just perfect :D

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  7. Sue C 8 July 2013 at 03:55

    How impressive. Your blocks, colours choices and quilting are all superb. I was going to sign up for the Skill Builders BOM but didn't think I had time to fit it in. I am sorry I didn't now. Beautiful work.

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  8. Janine @ Rainbow Hare8 July 2013 at 04:02

    Congrats on getting up-to-date. These blocks are stunning!

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  9. Anonymous8 July 2013 at 05:47

    Absolutely beautiful--front and back!

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  10. Books_Bound8 July 2013 at 10:49

    These are looking great! I love your quilting on the bullseye one (can't remember its real name!) I'm sooooo behind. I need to devote a weekend and just knock a few of them out, but that won't happen until at least August!

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  11. Rachael8 July 2013 at 13:43

    your quilt is going to be amazing!! i love the broken arrows block.

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  12. Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation8 July 2013 at 14:33

    I really love both of your blocks, but that broken arrow block is SUPER cool! Your quilt is going to look fantastic!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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    1. Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation12 July 2013 at 08:53

      Love this! I jumped over and checked out your tute for QAYG. I've never been a huge fan of it because I really hate hand sewing. I really like your method and might give it a try one day!

      Thank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

      :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infataution

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    2. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD12 July 2013 at 21:28

      It's so easy to machine sew it Kelly - not a bad option if you want to join fmq practice pieces and the like :)

      Delete
  13. Paula@TheSassyQuilter8 July 2013 at 14:59

    Your color choices really draw me in! Love your work...as always. I would love a sweet sixteen too! I don't know if I could handle a long arm. There is a place near me where you can rent a long arm, might have to give it a try. I like doing all the work on my quilts too, feels more personal.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD12 July 2013 at 21:30

      I've just found out I can rent the long arm at The City Quilter - need to investigate this more as I guess you can't just use it with training - must remember to ask more about it when I'm in work tomorrow :)

      Delete
  14. QuiltCandy8 July 2013 at 16:13

    Such beautiful work, as always Chrissie. I think these two latest blocks are my favourite, they really are stunning. And your FMQ is wonderful. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the blocks and seeing them all come together. xx

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  15. Vera8 July 2013 at 16:42

    Oh these are soo nice. I might start with these :-) Beautiful work! Sorry to hear you are not liking sampler quilts. I'll shout at you if I ever see you joining one as sampler quilts my be my fav thing.

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  16. Polly @ Pieces by Polly9 July 2013 at 10:21

    Beautiful!!

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  17. Anonymous9 July 2013 at 10:30

    I love the blocks and I have never made a quilt as you go but I love the blocks and your quilting. I think I need to try out the shattered chevron, wonderful job!!

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  18. Janet @ Simply Pieced9 July 2013 at 10:48

    Great colors and I love all the use of solid fabrics. Great designs!

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  19. Catrin Lewis9 July 2013 at 18:29

    Love the quilting you've done on these!

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  20. Joanie's Trendy Quilts9 July 2013 at 18:35

    Oh your quit blocks are fabulous! Love the different block patterns, the colors and the quilting! I have made a couple QAYG quilts. I think you are going to join them differently than what have done. You are quilting them to the edge where I would left a seam allowance to join sew them together.

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD12 July 2013 at 21:46

      There's so many different ways to join QAYG isn't there?! I'm not really up for all the hand sewing involved so I might use my own machine sewn method instead!!! :)

      Delete
  21. Sue Daurio9 July 2013 at 20:10

    Oh what gorgeous blocks! The first thing I thought when I saw both of those, is the would look awesome in a frame! What great art work

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  22. Unknown9 July 2013 at 21:30

    Your progress is just amazing. Those blocks are just gorgeous. Makes me want to start my next project.

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  23. MaterialGirlQuilts10 July 2013 at 08:13

    All of your blocks look fantastic! Great quilting.
    Amanda

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  24. Rosa10 July 2013 at 10:41

    Your blocks are absolutely wonderful.Beautiful quilting!

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  25. Pile O Fabric10 July 2013 at 16:30

    Very Beautiful! I love you fabric choices for Shattered Chevrons. This month we will be working with some curves and circles :)

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD12 July 2013 at 21:58

      Thanks Alyssa, these two blocks really are stand alone stunning - great designs by you. Curves and circles? - a complete change but I'm thinking I'll be okay as I've made a Drunkard's Path quilt before and I followed your directions for the Pinless Curves block as part of the Something NEW Sampler. Looking forward to the next challenge :)

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  26. Cloud CouCou10 July 2013 at 17:05

    Your skill builder BOM is amazing! I wanted to sew along but didn't have time at the start then ended up doing other things. Seeing yours makes me wish I'd done it now!

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  27. Michele11 July 2013 at 06:15

    I really like them all so far. The finished quilt is going to be spectacular.

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  28. Helen11 July 2013 at 18:19

    Scrummy is an understatement...This quilt is a real 2-sided wonder!

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  29. audrey12 July 2013 at 12:13

    Wow, those blocks are incredible!

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  30. giddy9913 July 2013 at 09:50

    Beautifully done; all of it!

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  31. Nancy@owensolivia16 July 2013 at 13:48

    Lovely! Visiting from Better off Thread.

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  32. Deb@asimplelifequilts16 July 2013 at 19:25

    Wow... all of your blocks are amazing! Beautiful fabrics and great quilting.

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  33. Newbie Jen17 July 2013 at 14:15

    Those blocks are awesome! Great job.

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  34. AmandaK@whatthebobbin18 July 2013 at 09:04

    Love the broken arrow block. nice work!

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  35. Becca18 July 2013 at 17:55

    Love the modern blocks with the bold print backing. This will be a stunner when it's done. Thanks for sharing!

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  36. Two22 March 2014 at 02:21

    Love your broken arrow block! But how do you make these long stripes? On paper? Or is there a tutorial on internet?

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    1. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD22 March 2014 at 14:09

      Thanks, it's foundation paper piecing and here's a link to the tute I used Broken Arrow tutorial :D

      Delete
  37. Val's Quilting Studio9 March 2016 at 08:04

    Man that ol HST offers so much variety doesn't it! Thanks for sharing your creative ideas this week at TUesday Archives.

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I love to hear from everyone, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts. Please leave a message to let me know you visited, it's a great way to get to know you all better too :)

Chris Dodsley


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