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Monday, 30 May 2011

Kaleidoscope mini quilt

 I am taking part in the first Brit Quilt Swap. In fact I am a Swap Mama!
We are a small group of UK based quilters swapping doll-size quilts. There are about 40 of us in this first round (I am sure there will be future rounds and more swappers next time!). So far I have been amazed by the standard of work and the amount of talent in our little group - Go Brit Quilters!!

I have decided to make this scrappy, mini kaleidoscope quilt. I was really inspired by this beautiful quilt by Clothwork. I love all the hidden circles you can see. Somehow, I haven't been able to get as many circles to 'pop out' of my quilt top. I'm not sure whether that's because it's smaller or just that I didn't pick fabric with quite the right tones. It is a lovely pattern though, so I may experiment on a bigger quilt in the future.
Here is the big pile of fabric I pulled out of my stash. Though I have described the quilt as 'scrappy' there were no actual 'scraps' involved! That is just my way of explaining the fact that the quilt is made from lot's of tiny pieces.
Here is the first one I made, with a bobbin so you can see the scale. The block was meant to be 4" but they have all come out a bit small and the finished top is 19" overall.
I think it is a bit busy for a border so I might just bind it. Any ideas for borders/binding?
Also, my partner likes buttons, what do you think of adding some little buttons to the block intersections? It would certainly help hide my imperfect piecing! But is it busy enough already?

Why not head over to the Brit Quilt Swap group on Flickr and take a look at our collective creative output?!
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18 comments:

  1. Mrs Flying Blind...30 May 2011 at 15:15

    Jo, that's gorgeous!

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  2. Unknown30 May 2011 at 15:46

    Oh this is delicious - great work Jo

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  3. Sheila30 May 2011 at 15:54

    It's amazing to think it all measures just 19" - if you buttoned all the centres of the blocks it would be like tying the quilt, aybe no further quilting required? Great job mama.

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  4. liz allen30 May 2011 at 15:55

    *falls off bed in awesome wonder* gorgeous! what fabrics did you use?

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  5. Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane30 May 2011 at 16:21

    So pretty!

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  6. Justine30 May 2011 at 16:29

    It is really lovely but I think the addition of buttons would make any button addict squal with delight!

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  7. {Leila}Where the Orchids Grow30 May 2011 at 16:51

    Super cute, I love the idea of buttons!

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  8. Jen30 May 2011 at 18:30

    I think that the difference between your quilt and the one that inspired you is how the darks and lights in the pinwheels are arranged. In your quilt, it's the same in every block. In the inspiration quilt the placement is alternated between blocks -- in one block the dark part of the pinwheel points straight up/down/left/right and in the next block it points on the diagonals. Your quilt is beautiful nonetheless!

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  9. Judith, Belfast30 May 2011 at 20:07

    I LOVE BUTTONS! And I love your quilt and I love Sheila's idea of tie quilting with the buttons (only no loose threads showing please!), so I guess you'll just have to give it to me!! Jxo

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  10. Susan30 May 2011 at 21:25

    Love your quilt! Maybe a light colour binding contrasting with some darker colour buttons?? Look forward to seeing what you decide!

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  11. Cathy @ CabbageQuilts31 May 2011 at 03:03

    Love your mini quilt Jo! xo

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  12. sylviesgarden31 May 2011 at 10:21

    It's fabulous!

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  13. Lynz31 May 2011 at 10:34

    I think some little buttons scatterd over would be adorable! Remember that one we saw at the quilt show with all the buttons and beads all over? It wasn't too much and it was a little pieced pattern. LOVE this. LOVELOVELOVE!!!

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  14. the girlfriend gap31 May 2011 at 13:28

    buttons added to a quilt bumps up the adorable factor :) I think a button in the middle of each block would be cute or since this is a mini quilt what about a skinny solid border with buttons all around. Yes Go Buttons! I added buttons to cornerstones on a quilt and I love it. A picture is on my blog if you want to check it out just follow the quilt label I am a new blogger so it will be easy to find. your quilt is a very cute .... now I want one....quilt! beautiful thanks for sharing
    Jsnita

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  15. the girlfriend gap31 May 2011 at 13:37

    just went back to my blog, check the jean quilt label though it is not the best picture of the buttons on the second to last picture of the post. sorry janita

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  16. A Time for Stitching31 May 2011 at 17:04

    I love this design. It looks very complicated.
    I'm glad you had a lot of partakers for the first Brit Quilt Swap!
    Teresa x

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  17. Jamie1 June 2011 at 18:53

    I think it's very pretty. I like the idea of buttons and can't wait to see it all finished.

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  18. Anonymous2 June 2011 at 16:03

    That is just super cute!

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