Sunday, July 10, 2011

Kaleidoscope Quiltalong Progress



This last few days has been all about catching up with the Kaleidoscope Quilt Along. I'm pretty please with where I've gotten to and should be fully caught up by the time Elizabeth posts the next set of instructions on Thursday.


By this afternoon I have half of the blocks for this quilt fully finished, and the other half pretty far down the road. I found it a bit difficult at the start to envisage how this was all going to work and flow together, never having tackled a project like this before, but the Flickr group has been really great to provide inspiration and, together with some great ideas and hints on design from Elizabeth, I am really loving how this quilt is coming together.



I'm doing the baby quilt size for a friend who asked me at the start of the summer to make one for her soon-t0-arrive baby, and I'm hoping that this will be a hit with her for baby O's room. I decided to use some of my nicest boy's novelty prints in variations of 3 strong colours - blue, green and red. I did doubt at one stage that it was all going to work, but decided to go the monochromatic route rather than mixing it up and have fallen in love with it.


I must admit that I have gotten to be best buddies with my seam ripper (and found a few new choice phrases!) in sewing up these blocks, mostly through my own stupidity (i.e. getting too excited and rushing ahead without checking my layout and sewing the wrong pieces together). I've also struggled to get my points matching up precisely on a few of the blocks which is a bit frustrating - this one has been ripped back and resewn about 5 times and this is the best I can get it. I know it doesn't look too bad in the photsos but the points are definitely NOT matching!


This one caused me some heartache too! But I figure that the little imperfections will get lost in the overall effect once I have it pieced together. It's actually reassuring to realise that they don't look as bad even already in the photos! I'm also trusting that the centres of the blocks will flatten out when its all together and quilted. Despite trying to press it into submission with my iron this afternoon, it was not playing!


Here's the layout for the top half of the quilt - isn't it fun? I really like the colour blocks and how the colour moves across it. It definitely draws the eye in.


Fingers crossed that piecing the rest of these goes reasonably smoothly:


I can't wait now to get it all together! I'm linking this up to

{Sew} Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations and

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced


37 comments:

Canadian Abroad said...

You must have been doing some serious concentrating keeping track of what went where for your fabrics! But the result is spectacular. It is going to be an awesome baby quilt.

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Oh you have done great - I haven't even cut my white triangles yet! On the experimental block I did, my centre piecing was so diabolical it looked like some sort of posing pouch - yours look beautiful.

KendasCrafts said...

love your blocks so far. Will look great as a baby quilt!

Lynette said...

I really like how you're putting your colors together there!

Jamie said...

I love how the blocks look all together! The fabrics that you chose are so cute!

Jenniffier said...

I too am working on catching up. I had planned one doing more by now, but just haven't gotten to it. Luckily I have until Thursday :) Yours are looking wonderful!

Kylie Lloyd said...

Sarah, your kaleidoscope quilt is looking amazing. I just love the fabrics and how they are coming together. I have yet to cut out my fabric for this quilt along. I'm so far behind. But your blocks give me some inspiration to get out and start cutting asap.

Jessica Kelly said...

love your blocks so far!! This quilt is going to be so fun :-)

Katie B said...

Your points are looking great from here! Mine are a bit of a mess. This is going to be a sweet quilt.

sewhappiness said...

It's looking gorgeous already Sarah!!! Omg I love it!! I just can't wait to see it all finished!!! Now how much more cute could those fabrics be??? Drooling.... can't wait, can't wait!!!
xoxo

Judith, Belfast said...

These fabrics are gorgeous and the blocks are taking shape lovely. I'm way behind with mine, trying not to panic! Jxo

Helen said...

Wow Sarah, your Kaleidoscope Quilt is stunning. There is such fabulous movement and colour in this design and your choice of fabrics is really fun! I can't wait to see the finished product! Your quilts just keep getting better and better all the time.

BTW love the updated website, it looks great!

Helen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sue Daurio said...

Love your blocks, what a fun quilt! I have a about half mine done as well. Can't wait to see yours together, looks wonderful!

KD-Quilts said...

It's looking great! I love the monochromatic look. This is going to be a beautiful quilt! I just started sewing my blocks together yesterday (but haven't gotten around to blogging about them!)

Susan said...

What happy blocks! So glad I found your blog. Come visit me when you have time.
Susan @ www.sewmanythingstosay.blogspot.com

Cindy said...

This is going to be so great for a little guy or gal! The colors are great, the fabrics adorable (little bugs float my boat lately) and the overall effect is spectacular! what a great gift!

Melinda said...

what a lovely kaleidoscope quilt!

Tina Craig said...

Your blocks look great. I love the novelty prints and how the colors are coming together. I was having trouble with points, too.

Bree said...

LOVE your blocks! This is going to be such a fantastic little boy quilt.

Ruth said...

I really like these blocks - your fabric choices are so fun. Found you via SewHappyGeek! Nice to 'meet' you!

SewHappyGeek said...

Ha ha you always make me want to make everything you ever show pictures of! the colours look fantastic, and I love how the blocks tease your eyes!

Kirsten said...

You have some great boy fabrics in there!

Emily said...

Adorable fabric!

Live a Colorful Life said...

Your blocks are great. I love what you are doing with your colors--that takes some planning!

Elizabeth Dackson said...

(I swear I commented on this on Monday - but apparently, I must be dreaming!) I think your blocks are looking great, Sarah, especially all put together like that!! Great job!

CityHouseStudio said...

So cute, Sarah!
Can't wait to see the Kaleidoscope quilt all finished!

Pinkadot Quilts said...

I just may have to give this quilt a try, lovely!

Debbie said...

Very fun! wow

Amy said...

very fun and cheerful.

M-R Charbonneau said...

Your quilt is so fun and cheerful! That is one lucky baby!

Kate S. said...

This looks awesome! I love all the cute boy novelties that you used, this will be a great i-spy for the kiddo as he gets older :). I am way behind on the QAL and just trying to decide on my design/how to arrange the colors. Not sure if I will do scrappy or colorblocked or what!

Sandy said...

Your quilt blocks remind me of summer and children playing outside...before computer games took over. Very cute, and quite nostalgic too.

Megan said...

Looks great Sarah! Thanks for linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and have a great weekend!

Lee said...

OMG, am I ever loving this kaleidoscope quilt! So colorful and fresh and pretty. Can't wait to see it finished! Thanks for linking up to WIP Wednesday. : )

SewHappyGeek said...

Hey, I wanted to let you know I featured your link on SewHappyGeek's Feature Friday! Thanks so much for linking up, and if you want, go grab a button! :)

Unknown said...

I love quilts, and I am just starting my own by choosing a pattern. I love this! What a fun, dynamic pattern, and I love your fabric choices!