Thursday, December 17, 2015

Allietare Golds


Well, it's Thursday, not Monday, but Week 3 of Bonnie Hunter's 2015-16 Mystery Quilt, Allietare, is now wrapped up! I had hoped to spend last Sunday finishing the remaining four patches, but I developed some tendonitis in my shoulder. I've found the best cure is to do nothing at all, which is challenging, but it worked and I am better now.

It seems like I get this every year at this time. I used to think it was from hand sewing, but I've realized that it's the computer that's the problem, and sewing is just the collateral. Then I wondered, why do I spend more time on the computer at this time of year? I realized the answer is too much online shopping! So there's a lesson in there somewhere. :D


I was happy to be working with all the Kaffe golds, ochres and umbers this week. They were my main inspiration for this project, so it was nice to finally use them. A lot of Kaffe's older designs used this palette, so I've been using up some long time stash inhabitants...


...like this gold Lotus Leaf. I love that combination of gold with chalky pink! I bought most of these in long quarters (9" x 42"), and they were a tangled nightmare to wash. They all frayed down to about 8.5". I'll never buy a long quarter again!

For this week's clue, where all the cuts are multiples of 2", it made the most sense to cut across in short 2" x 8.5" strips. And with a tricky large print like this, I thought it would be easiest to manage if I made the four patches from the same two fabrics, rather than random fabrics like Bonnie suggests.


So they just naturally came out in matching sets of four. Maybe I can do something interesting with that down the road, maybe not!

I had hoped that we would be sewing the golds together with our constant fabric, which is my blue batik. The blue would have helped my browner fabrics seem more gold:


We're only halfway, so I guess there's still time for that!



I think I missed the boat on that aqua and taupe four patch on the left there. But otherwise, the big prints work as long as there is enough contrast between the fabrics.

Last time I forgot to show you my black squares...


...which I decided to cut all from the same fabric. I didn't have a lot of suitable black in my stash, so most of it will be from this red hearts fabric. It just seemed easier to cut them all the same.

This week we had to cut 36 large light rectangles, and I decided to cut them all from the same fabric too:


They feel like they will be sashings or borders, so I think that will look good.

And finally, last week I finished the first step on all my hourglass leaders and enders. Now I've started on step two:


I'm amazed at how fast this moves along! I had 300 or so sets left when I started in late October. At this rate they could be done by the end of January, with no extra effort at all. In fact, I miss them right away if I sit down to sew and I forgot to take them out. Now I'm thinking of a new project for when these are done.

The Week 4 Allietare clue comes out tomorrow, and I think a reasonable goal will be to finish it by Thursday, not Monday! My Week 2 post was too late for the link up, so if you missed it you can find it here. And of course, you can see everyone else's Week 3 results right here. We're half way, and I seem to be sorting out the challenges and keeping up, so, woo hoo! Bring it on. :D

18 comments:

  1. I love your prints! I almost used my Kaffe prints too, now I know how great they look!

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  2. OK, so tell me, just how many quilts do you have in process? I'm getting confused. But I love the pink and gold combination, I have something similar in the Grandmother's Flower Garden that I'm working on.

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  3. I have some of those same prints! They look fabulous in your mystery. Isn't it fun to have a secondary project progress like those leaders and enders? I know what you mean about missing them! --Terry

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    1. Thanks, Terry! It's fun to recognize some of the same fabrics, isn't it? The Leaders & Enders have become an important part of the process for me now -- it's surprising!

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  4. I didn't even think to look in my piles and piles and piles of Kaffe Fabrics (I took them in a huge Rubbermaid tote to a workshop and the teacher said she had never seen so many Kaffe prints - even in a shop. Many old ones in there.) Hmmm. I have several of the ones you used, so you have given me ideas. Especially that circle-y gold one in the first photo. That's why I love blogging so much.

    Today will be another day of sewing (Allietare #4) some and making batches of cookie dough. Next week will begin the baking in earnest.

    Your four-patches look fantastic.

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  5. The gold is fantastic and working so well here. Genius. The black was a surprise - I find that really exciting - a whole new perspective. It's fun following this - hope you keep the tendonitis at bay.

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    1. Thanks, Jillian! I agree, the black is very dramatic. I have a good feeling about this design, I think it's going to be one of Bonnie's best!

      Nothing worse than doing nothing when there's so much to do, but I'm trying!

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  6. Oh--your fabrics are so pretty! I love the combinations.

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  7. Your fabrics look really wonderful!

    I overlock the edges of all my fabrics before washing them, to avoid that frayed mess. You do lose a little fabric to the overlocker, but at least the rest of it is safe. And that way I always know if a piece of fabric has been washed or not.

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  8. Very interesting choice of colours, I love kaffe´s prints, but I don´t use them for such small pieces. But it works and looks great.

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  9. I'm having loads of fun watching you make this mystery quilt; all the pleasure without the work! You have got me very curious to find out how this all works out.

    I love the ochres and unmbers and golds that you chose. Your fabrics represent those lovely warm colours of that part of the world very well.

    Take care of the tendonitis.

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    1. Thank you, I aim to please! I do try to represent the fun of the process, so I'm glad that is coming through. :D

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  10. You are my kinda of Gal!!! I LOVE Kaffe Fasset fabric!!! Its my Favorite!!! And you are doing it here for the mystery!!! WOW!!!!!! I will be totally following you here ...I am eager to see your finish!!! Merry Christmas!!!

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  11. I love your Kaffe Allietare! I'm not doing this mystery, but I enjoy seeing other quilters' progress. Have fun!

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  12. Your golds are beautiful, love your variety of fabrics for Alletore!

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  13. This is going so well - I love the golds and ochres; they just make me want to grin.

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  14. Such beautiful fabric and the colours are all so wonderful. Have a very Merry Christmas!

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I'm told Blogger has been bouncing some comments, so if it happens to you I'm sorry! But the settings look right so I can't explain it. In any case, thanks for reading!

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