Thrifty fun.
Who can resist a rainbow of colours
I certainly couldn't, especially when I saw this swatch of colours was only $2.50!!
The pieces were 2.5 x 6 inches.
I cut them into squares, then sewed diagonally to make half square triangles.
It was a good excuse to use my Bloc Loc HST ruler. The ruler 'locks' onto the seam and stops the square moving as you trim it. It's nice to know your fingers are well away from the blade as you cut small pieces. The easy to read measurements make accuracy a breeze.
It really did make trimming those little squares easier.
For the layout I went for a very random look and then added a black border to frame all that colour. The finished size is 14 inches. I'm currently quilting it by sewing little french knots at the corners of each square.
I've also been playing with old jeans.
Roughly cut and pieced. I love the way the shades of denim look so calm.
A perfect contrast for the crazy combination of fabrics that are having a party on the back.
Pin , Pin , Pin .
I wish it wasn't so hard to take photos of quilting...
I've done a mixture of machine and hand quilting. The machine quilting helps stabilise the quilt and adds variety to the texture but quilting with perle 8 is my true joy. Lovely big stitches of pretty colours.
I'll be stitching away on this quilt for a while...
To finish off my thrifty sewing post here's a sweet dish I found recently.
You just have to smile at a dish that has happy people waving at you.
33 Comments
Love your projects! Please tell me about your needle & thread choice for the denim quilt -- I have one I need to something with.
ReplyDeleteThe plate is adorable!
Little hsts and french knots? You have gone mad ;) very pretty! Love the denim and the colorful stitching is beautiful! The dish is brilliant too!
ReplyDeleteHappy post!!! Love the solid triangles! And denim- only you Rachael could work such magic on these fabrics! It reminds me of a modern day version of a Wagga! ( do I have that name right?) BTW did you buy your Bloc Loc locally?
ReplyDeleteOh so much wonderful play. I wouldn't have been able to resist the rainbow either.
ReplyDeleteDenim is very picnic blanket looking. Love the hand stitching.
Love that colorful big stitch quilting! The perfect compliment to all that denim too.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've been having fun!
In reply to Smazoochie's question about needle and thread for the denim quilt. In my machine I used a size 90 denim needle and 50wt aurifil thread. For hand quilting I use perle 8 thread and ... any needle that seems to work. I have a pincushion full of needles and I just select one that with a eye that will fit the thread and that is strong enough to go through the denim.
ReplyDeleteLove that colour quilting on the denim- what a great contrast.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started quilting I used to make denim rag quilts all the time...they are so versatile and last forever.
Love your glorious rainbow of colour.And what a bargain!
That mini is ADORABLE! What a visionary you are ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo melzie
Yet again, amazing projects. Op shop finds are so muchfun.
ReplyDeleteOh Rachael you are so much fun....your combinations made me smile...love those crabs on the fabric...like them in real life to eat too LOL! FUN....FUN...FUN!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so inspirational!I would have tossed the swatch aside and look what you have done with it.
ReplyDeleteLovely idea to quilt with french knots! Your thrifty projects are fantastic and the the little rhyme on the plate made me smile ... might need to cook a roast for dinner tonight!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your projects! Those hst's are so tiny......wonderful effect! And the denim is gorgeous! I've been saving jeans for years for just such a project....but haven't done anything yet! You are inspiring! :o)
ReplyDeletewell I just love frugal crafting and these examples are just great. The colour swatch quilt is particularly lovely. It reminds me of some trousers I made for myself when I was at uni - made from strips of upholstery swatches sewn together in vivid colours and patterns. I still have them...can't wear them of course but you can't get rid of something like that!
ReplyDeleteThose mini half square triangles are so cute and the French knot quilting is a great idea. I've been wanting to try tying a quilt but I like the thought of French knots better.
ReplyDeleteThe denim quilt looks fun. It must be quite heavy? Did you still put batting inside?
Love your jeans quilt!
ReplyDeleteSo much fun to play with little bits of fabric! It almost feels like a 'freebie'. lol Your denim quilt is quite lovely. I haven't made one in years and never with perle cotton quilting. LOVE the texture.:)
ReplyDeleteYour half square triangle quilt turned out pretty. I have a Loc Bloc, it's great. I saw one for flying geese I want, but they are expensive...you have to have a ruler for every size. I love the quilting on your blue jean quilt. Your one creative gal !
ReplyDeleteLove the colourful quilting on the denim, it's going to look awesome.
ReplyDeleteThe Bloc Loc ruler is a fantastic idea.
Oh, your projects are so wonderful! Love your little thrifty mini - great colors and great border fabric too.
ReplyDeleteBut your denim quilt makes my heart beat a little faster! The perle cotton quilting on it is like the frosting on the cake! Super! Now I want to get out the 3 bags of old jeans lurking in my closet and make a denim quilt! LOL
I'm not sure where to start! Your hsts look fan, and I'm completely smitten with your jeans quilt. How difficult is it to hand quilt through denim?
ReplyDeleteHello Rachael!
ReplyDeleteWow, you surely had a lot of fun for $2.50. That little quilt looks great!
I am looking for that bloc loc ruler, too, but it seems that they have not reached germany yet.
Your jeans project looks fantastic, too. I have a whole box full of old jeans and am planning to make a pouf out of them.
Do you know that you were mentioned in the last issue of Down Under Quilts? Look here:
http://dutchsister-s.blogspot.de/
:-)
Aaah, wrong link!
ReplyDeleteHere:
http://steffiscandyquilts.blogspot.de/2013/09/down-under-quilts.html
Very clever thrifty fun! This kind of play is the best!
ReplyDeleteBusy girl! Love what you did with the swatches, and the quilting on the jeans is fab :o)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE these photos! Your thrift finds made me squeal - how cute is that little dish! I love the spotty fabric in with those half square triangle solids - it's pretty amazing how those rather plain (though still beautiful!) rectangles can be transformed into that stunning quilt. I squealed again when I saw your jeans quilt. Mostly because I have a pile of jeans that I have been gradually collecting that topple over every time I rummage through my stash! I adore your quilting on this quilt and have mentally filed it away for future use (as in, when I finally get around to making a denim quilt!).
ReplyDeleteI love your little hst quilt - the randomness is great.
ReplyDeletethe denim quilt is fantastic with the stitching!! Love the colors on the denim and you know I love the backing!
super cute plate!
Un capolavoro da un semplice campionario!
ReplyDeleteL'azzurro denim ha un fascino particolare!!!!
Ciao
Wow, great job with those little solids. A simple idea with a very dramatic result!
ReplyDeleteI love denim in quilts too. Is it hard on the hands to quilt at all?
And what a cute dish! Fun post, Rachael. :)
Great projects--love the idea of that bloc-lock ruler--so neat! Where do you find those fabric swatches? Great for scrappy quilts...hugs Julierose
ReplyDeleteAren't you a clever, thrifty gal! Love the little hst quilt. Your addition of dots and text really make it your own. Your jeans quilt is really yummy with all the different colors of stitching. I like the idea of doing some stitching by hand and some by machine.
ReplyDeleteWow, these are both great. Love the fun you have had playing with the colour swatches. And the quilt with the jeans is wonderful, too. Definitely like the combination of the machine and hand quilting. Very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThe Queen is right...you are so much fun..I just have to smile outloud.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.