Shades of blue...

Still cleaning up the sewing room, but managed to put together a pile of coordinated blues. Must admit, though, they aren't all cotton, but they go together quite well so I discounted this as a major issue! 

I went with the 3D bow tie design again, in random sequences. Total of 7 fabrics, 20 blocks, to make a 4x5 quilt. Squares started as 10x10cm. The blue is almost on the grey side - the pic is a bit off colour wise, which I will get a better pic once it's done.....

I have a soft, brushed cotton for the backing and a light batting. Probably not a full size baby quilt, but still a reasonable size for a pram or wrap.....

It's pinned up and ready to quilt, but it's getting late so it will have to wait for another day. ;)

Another finish!

Quilting... Check!

Just a basic straight stitch in a light green. With all the different colours in this, no single colour was going to be perfect for them all, but I think it's ok. The backing is a leopard print. 

Trimmed... Check!

Bound.... CHECK!! 

Finished size is about 75cm square. 

It's a lot softer than some recent quilts/runners I have finished. I used a Pellon lightweight batting that's pretty cheap - probably not the best for heirloom quilts, but for doll quilts and table runners, it works just fine. :)

Given the Aboriginal print I used for the binding, I thought I would photograph it with my Metti dolls. I got the girl first, but she doesn't wear her original outfit. He wears his original loin cloth. The vinyl on her is so much more sturdy than him. They made these for years, so they could simply be a different batch. Another version of this doll has them painted up in traditional body paint, but they are on my wish list. Metti is an Australian manufacturer that are no longer exists... Such a shame... :(

Penny wanted her photo taken, too! She wears a gorgeous dress made by Georgia that I received in a swap ages ago. 

(You can see the backing fabric in this one...... Grrrrowl!!)

Bow ties nearly done...

So, I have put together the blocks, and even though they are all completely different, I think they work quite well now I have the border attached. I used a redish/brown fabric that seemed to bring them all together. The binding will be different with a combination of all the colours in a dot style print. Now, to quilt, trim and bind!! 

Bow ties!!

I've wanted to make a bow tie quilt for ages! The one with the puffy centre, not just a flat one... ;)

There are many tutorials online, but here is my version. It's so EASY!! It takes longer to cut the squares than sew them up!

Firstly, decide on background and bow colours. Cut 3x squares for the bow and 2x for the background, all the same size. Depending upon the final block size you want, this will work for any size! I used 11cm squares so that my final block size would be 20cm with a 5mm seam allowance.

In my pic, I have folded out my centre to get an idea of the final look, but trust me, it's the same size as the others ;)

Fold the centre square in half wrong sides together, and run across bottom of background square. Place a bow square on top, sandwiching the folded piece at the bottom with the pieces right sides facing, stitch down the side.

Once that is done, open it out and do the same again, using the other two pieces. Make sure the pieces are opposite to the first set.

Here's where it gets a little tricky.....

Finger press the seams in your preferred direction - I went towards the darker fabric - and open out the "centre", matching up the seams in the middle. They should fit pretty well with the seams in opposite directions. Put in a pin to hold in place.

Flatten out the centre and stitch from the top and stop at the pin. You will then need to manipulate the remaining side so that it is flat, and then continue to the end of the side.

Now, for the magic!! Just open it out... Ta daa!! 

Now, just press and that's it!

Now, to decide on a layout. I chose scrappy colours (what's new there??) so making a cohesive will be a challenge, but I am leaning towards them all facing the same way. I think it would look amazing with random colours and just the centres one colour, don't you think?? Black and whites with red centres, maybe??