Quick Curve Ruler | NW Quilted Cat

Hello quilters!

The sunflower is one of my favorite flowers because it is always in bloom during my birthday month. I love how bright and cheerful sunflowers are while dancing in the sunshine.

When I saw the Soak Up the Sun quilt in a new book, Mini Wonderful Curves by Sew Kind of Wonderful, I fell in love and had to make this quilt right away.

I purchased some Pepper and Flax fabric from my local quilt store to use as the sunflower petals. In the book, the petals are all scrappy yellows, but I wanted to use this pretty fabric for all the petals.

The background is made up from 5 different gray and white low-volume fabrics from my stash. The green petals are from 4 different fabrics, and the dark gray centers are also from 4 different fabrics. A great way to use up some stash!

Soak Up the Sun block

This quilt uses the QCR Mini ruler, and it goes together pretty quickly. Don’t let the curves scare you! The ruler makes it easy and fun.

I assembled my quilt top over about a week, sewing most of a weekend and then after work in the evenings.

Here’s my inspector performing his initial cat scan and quality check:

Tiger Inspects Soak Up the Sun Quilt Flimsy

Now onto the quilting! I used my HQ Avante, and did some free-motion flowers and swirls using Glide thread.

Soak Up the Sun Quilt, Just Off the Longarm!

I used a dark gray fabric from the Pepper and Flax fabric line to bind the quilt. My backing material is also from the same line, but I selected a lighter gray with yellow flowers.

Here’s a look at the completed quilt:

Soak Up the Sun Quilt

Soak Up the Sun Quilt

I really enjoyed making this picnic blanket sized quilt! I’m ready for summer with this beautiful quilt.

Happy quilting!

~Jennifer

Happy Friday, everyone! It seems like it was a really long week at work for me, and I’m so looking forward to getting some sewing time in this weekend.

I am working on a couple of secret projects that I can’t reveal – yet!! One is for Quiltmaker magazine and the other is for the Black Cat Crossing Halloween blog hop (link in my side bar). And, just maybe, there is a birthday present in the works for a special someone.

Today and tomorrow, one of my favorite LQS, the Pine Needle, is hosting their fall open house. I stopped by today at lunch to check out all the great new projects and classes.

I’m particularly excited about meeting Violet Craft and purchasing her Forest Abstractions quilt pattern. I’ve been eyeing this pattern for sometime so I decided to go for it! I love paper piecing so I think this pattern will be up my alley.

I also chatted with Dawn of First Light Designs. She’ll be teaching a Dancing Churn Dash class at the Pine Needle this October with the Quick Curve Ruler. Of course, I did pick up that ruler and pattern! Oh my list of to-do projects keeps growing.

There is a wonderful display of quilts inspired by Charley Harper’s designs during the open house event. I neglected to write down the maker of these quilts so if anyone knows, please let me know!

I just love, love, love the cat quilts:

Fall Cat

Winter Cat

Spring and Summer Cats

Here are some more of the featured quilts:

Koala Quilt

Giraffe and Cheetah Quilts

There were several more quilts, but my photos didn’t turn out very well.

Of course, the fall cat is my favorite because it reminds me of my Tiger (aka the Quilted Cat). These quilts have encouraged me to make my own Charley Harper inspired cat quilt in the future.

Only 3 more weekends to go before the NW Quilting Expo!

Enjoy!
~Jennifer