Pages

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Building Blocks Tuesday

Hello and welcome to friends old and new.  Today I am honoured to be the Guest Blogger for Jen at Quilter in the Closet while she is taking a little summer break.  It was Jen who gave me the impetus to start this blog back in January when she issued her 100 Day Challenge without which I may well have still been procrastinating.  Therefore it seems fitting that my first ever guest blog should be for Jen.   It would be wonderful if you could all link up your blocks too, to make my first guest post really successful, the icing on the cake.  Did someone say cake??????

As this is a very special post for me I am launching the start of a new quilt, new to me anyway, although I'm sure most of you will have heard of, and some will quake at the thought of, The Gypsy Wife.  Oh yes, I have dreamed about it for over two years, I have had the pattern for over a year, and now I have started it.   If you haven't seen it before here it is


Beautiful isn't it?   The challenge to me is in the complexity of it, the sheer number of blocks combined with the strips, and putting it together with those partial seams, but I love to challenge myself so here are the first blocks.


Bordered square in a square 5 inch finished


Hourglass with two borders 6 inch finished


Square in a square 3 inch finished, I need another 22 of this size for the quilt, and no I am not kidding, there are another 12 in different sizes too.


Pinwheel 4 inch finished, yes I agree I didn't do a very good job of the centre


Puss in the Corner 5 inch finished, no I haven't pressed it very well, you don't miss much do you?

I have started with section 1 and these are all the blocks in this section.  Yes I know it was an easy section and they will get harder but please let me bask in my moment of glory with the almost finish of a section.


This is the first Puss in the Corner I made, it was too much purple for the section, but I need two for the quilt so it won't go to waste.


This is the one I made a mistake with, yes with such a simple block, but you get the bad as well as the good here.  What did I do wrong?  I cut the centre square 3 inches instead of 3.5 inches,  Actually I rather like it so I may just use it anyway.  AND, wouldn't a perfect quilt be just plain boring?  If I was the perfect quilter (is there such a thing?) you would all be watching hoping I made a mistake, or is that just me?


These are the 1.5 inch strips I cut, I won't need all of these for this section and yes I know I duplicated one, but the strips run the length of the quilt and some lengths are so long they need two width of fabric strips.  No, they are not all 1.5 inches, some are 1 inch........If you are interested I believe there are 55 strips in total, not including the long ones.

If you are interested there is a Gypsy Wife quilt along on just now, they are on to section 7 so I am a little behind, but I've been following it since January.   It is being held by Hydeeann from Splish Splash Stash and Megan of Jaffa Quilts.  There is an excellent document of all the blocks in each section and another on the strips.  Here are the links for the block chart  and the strips.   If you read both blogs from the start of the  quilt along you will get all the info and excellent tutorials.

If you have been before you might be wondering about my circles quilt, so here is my progress.


These are the finished (unless I add something) blocks.......


and these are the rest.  Oh yes, two quarter circles left to appliqué and they are already made, doing my happy dance........

So, that's it for this week, I hope you enjoyed your visit and it would be lovely to see you again.

Until then,
Smiles from
Kate

23 comments:

  1. I've REALLY been wanting to start on the Gypsy Wife quilt! Maybe one of these days I'll have to give in... 😉 Excited to follow your progress!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good job on your new project so far ! I'm looking forward to seeing more blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've admired The Gypsy Wife quilt since it was first released, but felt it a little too ambitious for me. I've loved every one I've seen completed, and I can tell from your beginnings that this one will be no exception. What fun it will be to watch it grow! All that, and more work on your circles quilt, too! You've been a busy girl! Delightful guest post, Kate!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the great colors in your Gypsy Wife quilt-what a challenge-just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have looked at Gypsy Wife many times since it was released and think about it often - I do not collect up the kind of fabric most use though so would either need to get some or do it in a totally different fabric scheme - have fun

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats on your first guest blog post! Ah, Gypsy Wife, I've admired this quilt pattern for some time. She looks like she would be so much fun to piece and play with. It looks you are off to a great start with her.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sewing a Gypsy wife is a big challenge. I will keep our fingers crossed. Good luck! Your choice of fabrics is beautiful.
    Greeting from Poland
    Kamila

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have seen this quilt before and was astonished by the colors, the design, simply everything. I'll really be looking forward to updates on this quilt - maybe some time in the future I'll try one too ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've not heard of a Gypsy Wife quilt before so I shall follow your progress with great interest - loving your fabrics so far and the purple one - good luck :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. You've taken on a big challenge there, Kate! Your fabric choices for your blocks are great and I love the fussy-cut centre in the purple one. The odd oops makes us all feel a little better. There probably isn't anyone out there who never mis-cuts.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have yet to see a version of this that I didn't like, so I'm really looking forward to watching yours take shape.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Good luck with your GW quilt, that's a very colorful one! I love the purple Puss in the Corner block:-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gypsy Wife! Well that is going to be incredible Kate! I love the way your blocks are looking so far.
    I haven't been working on any blocks,but I hope you have a really great linky party!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Someday I will make a Gypsy Wife. I love the pattern. Will be fun to see yours come together!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love Jen Kingwell patterns! The circle blocks look fun too!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh my gosh! I *love* the Gypsy's Wife quilt! What fun to be working on one. :D

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks like you are off to a really good start with your Gypsy Wife! I'm enjoying making mine, up to section#6 now, adding to it as & when I can. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Kate - long time no see!! I just love your blocks for the Gypsy Wife - I have seen a couple of finished quilts in real life and they are jaw dropping - so many pieces ... It will be lovely to follow along with your progress on this one. x

    ReplyDelete
  19. That is my newest quilt obsession! Bookmarked it - where do I find the pattern?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tami, Splish Splash Stash already covered it and it depends on which country you are in. It would have saved me much searching for my pattern. Check out this post http://hydeeannsews.blogspot.co.uk/p/gypsy-wife-2016.html
      Scroll down and it has links to all the posts in the quilt along.
      Smiles
      Kate

      Delete
  20. The Gypsy Wife is so lovely and sooooo tempting! Oh, Kate, don't let me start! I have so many other quilts I need to get done. Your blocks are wonderful and so is your collection of fabrics. This quilt will be so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gorgeous and perfect little blocks! I can't wait to see your Gypsy Wife progress, it is a beautiful quilt!

    Thank you so much for guest hosting. It was a great feeling knowing that all was taken care of as I was on holiday. Keep up the fabulous work!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Kate, this is going to be fantastic! Looks like you are off to a great start! And Yay for hosting the link party!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and leave a comment, it helps me grow as a quilter and as a blogger. It also makes me very happy :)
I try to respond to all comments by email, but if I don't reply within a few days it may be because you are a no reply blogger

With smiles from,
Kate