Elizabeth, from the blog Don't Call Me Betsy, has a great new quilt pattern up at the Moda Bake Shop - the Modern Halves Quilt. Her example was made with an awesome fabric line, but mine is so far a very random assortment of scraps. I don't have a whole ton of scraps so this will definitely be an ongoing project. Here are the four blocks I have made so far. I like the blue one a lot, as well as the orange and pink/purple. The red one...not so sure. The fabrics just don't seem to play together very nicely. It will either be on a "set aside" pile, or I'll just incorporate it and hope that it behaves better once sliced and paired with another colour half.
My "finish" for this week is this set of potholders for my Mom, made to match her apron from Christmas. These were not made using a pattern, I just winged a log cabin design to a size that felt appropriate for a potholder, sandwiched it with one layer of Insul-Bright and one layer of cotton batting, did some basic quilting, added a binding and send them off in the mail. :)
And other exciting news - I finally decided to try to sell my Janome Sewist 521 that has given me so much grief and frustration, and am now in the market for a new machine! I'm not looking for anything fancy, in fact I prefer a basic mechanical machine that will be reliable and will handle the quilting I like to do. The machine I'm most strongly considering at the moment is the Husqvarna Viking Emerald 116. I've read a ton of reviews, have been emailing back and forth with someone who has the machine and loves it, and was able to "test drive" it at the shop on Saturday. It is on a super sale this week at a local store, which is a bonus for sure! Tomorrow though I am also going to go visit a different shop that sells Pfaff and Babylock, two brands that I am totally unfamiliar with but I want to at least check out. My budget is very modest, but I'm confident that I'll be able to find something that will work for me. Fun times!!
10 comments:
Look great! I see what you mean about the red block. Like you said, I hope that it gels when you split it!
I am biased....love my babylocks!!
Heather I LOVE the blocks - I think if you go for a few more blocks and add some more busy fabrics it will blend in!
I don't think the red block will look that bad once split and mixed in. Yay for a new sewing machine!
Your blocks are fun! Hopefully the red one will fit to your liking once you have others done...Darling potholders!! And cool about a new machine - good luck!!
I love your Modern Halves blocks! I really think the red one will look cool once you get it all put together.
I'm kind of in the same sewing machine boat! Mine is really close to dying, so I've been looking for a new one. It's so overwhelming, and I definitely don't need anything with 120 stitches, you know? The one you looked at looks great to me! I'm thinking about getting a used Husqvarna Viking on Craig's List. Yikes!
I share your opinions on the blocks; the blue is my very favorite.
Good luck in your sewing machine search...we'll be interested in seeing what you bring home.
Hugs,
Pam
I really like your orange block, too!
Ooh, I'm looking forward to hearing which machine you choose. I think if I were in the market for a new machine, I'd just want a simple mechanical one, too. Just one with a lot of throat space! :)
love how your blocks are coming out, esp the orange one!
Your blocks are looking great so far, Heather! Sounds like a wonderful project to work on a little at a time when the scraps become available. Good luck on your quest for a new machine!
I like your blocks! Good luck with the machine shopping. Take your time.
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