Kate who blogs at Tall Tales from Chiconia is co-ordinating the making of a quilt to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Australia. There’s information on her blog if you’d like to read more and maybe contribute a block too – she needs 36 blocks altogether! The theme for the block is “Time for Teal” – so we’re making teal coloured blocks around the afternoon tea theme. Kate also making a Teal Ribbon block which is the symbol to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.
Kate organises a F2F block swap where basically each of the 12 members make 3 12″ blocks per month for a person who’s month it is. I’m really not explaining this very well, but Pat was one of the ladies, and she sadly lost the fight with ovarian cancer which has lead to the Time For Teal quilt being created. You really need to head to Kate’s blog who explains it all much better than me.
Initially for me the first thing I had to do was go shopping. Being a very newbie quilter (Hey, that’s the first time I’ve called myself that!!) I don’t have a stash of quilting cottons. So far I’ve only got the fat quarters I’ve bought for my Splendid Sampler.
Luckily there’s Dolly’s Craft Corner only 5 minutes away and I had time to call in yesterday once the snow had melted.
I bought a jelly roll with 20 strips of fabric for £12 and a spotty fat quarter. Oh and 2m of some cream cotton poplin. I was really excited to get started but had to get H to his physic appointment then take the MIL out for tea.
Eventually at 7:30pm I made a start. Armed with my iPad and followed the instructions for the Dresden Plate on Craftsy Class – Blocks of the Month 2012. It’s a free class where Amy Gibson shows you how to make 12 different blocks. It’s worth a look if you’re thinking of having a go at quilting. I was enthralled and watched it from start to finish about a month ago. It set me in good stead for when I throw myself into the deep end with the Splendid Sampler.
I don’t haver the fancy ruling for cutting out the pieces but she includes a template to make your own out of cardboard.
I did this for the first time – continuous chain piecing I think it’s called!
The little pointy pieces were really simple to make:
Here they are laid out ready for stitching:
And all stitched and pressed….
I pinned each dresden in place and attached with plate using machine appliqué.
I used this stitch (for my future reference!)
And it gave a really neat finish I stitched the centre circle with the same stitch.
I only said I’d make one but had also of ideas going round in my head so this morning I put pen to paper and designed my first very own block! I made a cup shape and cut out 4 then jiggled them about on the fabric.
Then I had to do some maths.Those funny shapes in the middle are tea cups in case you’re wondering! After making the Splendid Sampler blocks I’ve learnt why these 1/2 inches are everywhere w hen cutting out pieces so this was really easy to work out. ( I couldn’t have done this a month ago!).
I used the same appliqué method to attach the tea cups and then just added the border to the edge.
I think this is my favourite of the 2.
I’m going to post them off to Australia on Monday. You never know I might just get chance to make another one. I hope so!
And don’t forget, you can make one too if you’d like!
T H I M B E R L I N A 
Love your teacups, I’m very impressed with your dresden plate too, I’ve not plucked up the courage for that one yet!
It was really easy! Have a look at the craftsy class – it’s a free one. She’s a lovely person too with a nice voice so easy to watch whilst you’re sat doing something else. 🙂
Is there no end to your talents? 🙂 I’m really impressed with both of your blocks, I’d never have guessed that they were your first attempt at quilting. And that they are for such a good cause is brilliant.
Debbie
Thankyou! Us crafty folky can turn our hand to anything! 😃
Thank for sharing! I’ll check the link out.
There’s some great tips Abi 😃
These are great, love the colours
Thanks Ruth, they are gorgeous. I’m going to make some cushions for my lounge – I’d not have bought these colours normally 😃
Ali – these are amazing! I really mean that. I am jealous of your fabric because I have a very limited amount of true ‘teal’ blues in my stash and am finding it difficult to find as we have very limited fabric shopping opportunities round these parts. I used most of the little bits I did have on Pat’s quilt. I think I might have enough for the odd teapot or two though.
Are you not interested in joining us for the next F2F block swap? I did mention you as a possible new participant to Kate but thought you might have taken on enough with the 100 Sampler thingy you are doing.
I really would like to join in the f2f but we’re having a big extension built this year’s crust waiting for plans to be passed. I’m not sure if I’ll have somewhere to sew or how long it will go one for. I’ve been in touch though and said I can act as a stand in if anyone’s poorly or anything, and is struggling with it.
I’ll post you some of the teal I’ve got left. It’ll go in a normal envelope and I can send it to your England address so it’ll only be the price of a first class stamp. 😃
Oh, you didn’t have to do that! I am planning on contributing regularly to Kate’s ‘teal quilts’ though so it will come in really useful and give me time to find some more. I did have a look to see if they do a similar sort of thing in the U.K. but couldn’t find anything so, in the meantime, I’ll be posting my efforts down under. As for F2F – there will probably be another in 2017 as we’ve all had a lot of fun with it so we’ll be looking out for you then!!
So impressive, Ali, no one would peg you for a beginner. Love, love, love the teacups!
It’s easier than making frocks, except getting all the patterns and colours to match, that’s harder! Thank goodness for jelly rolls! 😀
Being an absolute non-quilter, I had to think for a moment about the jelly rolls!
haha… not the ones round my middle!! 😉
Love it and the colours, and the tea cups are very definitely tea cups, they look fab!
I got a bit lucky drawing the tea cups, it worked first time, but I did try and keep it simple 😀
What a great contribution! Nothing newbie about these two at all 🙂
Thanks Teresa! Its great yo make something without worrying if it will fit! 😀
Wow, look at you! As everyone else has said, no-one would take you for a newbie, and you’ve made two wonderful blocks to add to the mix. As this is going to be a regular event, even if I end up with more than 36, none will go to waste and whatever is left over this year will go to the next one. Thank you so very much for your lovely contribution and for helping to promote awareness of ovarian cancer. The quilt will be auctioned at Ovarian Cancer Australia’s fundraising event in either September or October, depending how fast I can get it done. And 8 May is World Ovarian Cancer Day, so I hope to have a decent amount of work to show in a post on that day 🙂
Brilliant, I hope you got lots of support, I’m sure you will. I’ve been wondering the best way to post them. Shall I just fold them an put them in an envelope? Each square is just over 12 1/2 “. I don’t have a 12 1/2” square ruler and am too scared to trim them really get down in case I take too much off then they’ll be ruined!! Sorry to give you a little extra work. 😀
No, do leave them untrimmed, and just fold them up and put them in an envelope. Having some extra may come in useful if there are several blocks which are a bit scant 🙂
They’re in the post!! 🙂
🙂
Wow they are both really lovely. I was happy with squares but must have a go at machine appliqué K xXx
It’s easy enough – I’ve bought bondaweb in the past but for these I just pinned each one down and it was fine. 🙂
I just love these Ali! Such pretty fabrics and your teacup design is gorgeous! I think you could use that as the basis for a full quilt! ☕️
It would! Maybe as a picnic sort of quilt with cakes and buns on too! Give over giving me all these extra ideas, lol 🙂
These are great, think you have the quilting bug!
I sure have!! And I didn’t even realise there was such a thing! :-0
They both look fabulous!
Thankyou! It’s a good job they’re for a good cause otherwise I’d struggle to part with them! 🙂
I love these colours so so much!!
They lovely aren’t they, though not something I’d normally be drawn to but I will be now! 🙂
These are lovely. I think I may join you on ‘the dark side’s and try quilting. In addition to being a new sewing skill I can use my old Singers for it. You have persuaded me.
Brill! Have you had a look at the craftsy class? It’s so good for Newbie quilters who aren’t new to sewing. Enjoy! 😃
Will check it out. And oil that treadle 😃
Just beautiful, Ali! I’m so impressed that you designed the tea cup block yourself! Great work for an important cause. I’m sorry to hear about the loss of one of the women in the group.
Thanks Carolyn, next up, when I’ve finished all what I’m doing I need to have a go at your quilt blocks that you designed. 🙂
Wow! These are fab and aren’t looking like the blocks of a newbie. You’ve really got the hang of this patchwork malarkey. And you’re designing your own blocks already. Clever old you 🙂
Thankyou! Except the old bit, lol 😂😂 I’m just going to sit down, scratch my head whilst wondering how to get rid of that excess fabric in the back of my colour blocked dress. Quilting is so much easier! 😃
Ha ha! Didn’t mean old in the sense of you being old – that would make me old too. Agreed, quilting much easier!
Ali, these are Fab-U-Lucious! Am gob-smacked by your talents & speed ! The colours & designs are so lively – they make me grin just looking at them. I’m not particularly a teal fan, so that’s sayin! somethin’!
WOW!
Thanks Del! I didn’t think I was a teal fan either, I’ve never been drawn to it when shopping for fabric but I’m loving how these go together and I bet I’ll be wearing this colour myself soon! 🙂
Betcha’ right!
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Look at you go! I love the teal colour combination.
They’re great aren’t they! I might have to make myself a cushion or something with the leftover fabric. 🙂
Wow! these look great. Thanks for the information re : the Craftsy class also x
You’re welcome! 🙂
Love them. And the tea cups are fantastic, what a great idea!
They’re cute aren’t they, think in gonna end up with another addiction now I’ve dabbled in quilting 😃
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