WIPs With Friends

I have been doing some pattern testing this past week.  

Testers had a 3 week turn around to get a top done and mine is done 

(well almost done), 

in just over a week!  

I don't see any way to get it quilted and bound by the three week deadline either, but oh well!  

This pattern is called Diamond Falls.  

We were allowed to choose our own fabrics so I'll start there.  

I chose to use some older Lizzy House fabrics, her Lizzy Dish line. 

 I was thinking about turning this into a picnic quilt for myself. 

 Since I didn't want to repeat a fabric, I threw in 2 of the duck/swan fabrics from Red Letter Day too.  

Even though most of these photos don't really do justice to the Kona Jade, that was the background.

There were a bazillion diamonds (or 196) to cut out.  

I got those all cut and was able to spend some quality time sewing over the weekend. 

 I got a lot of the diamonds sewn into rows and *some* of those sewn together.

Man oh man there were a lot of diamonds.  

I had to pay serious attention to placement especially as construction was on the diagonal!

Sorry for the bad photo.  My "design wall" is a flannel piece tacked up to the hallway wall. 

 It is the only wall big enough for me to use but the lighting is crap.  

Here is half of the diamond portion (actually 1/4 of the quilt) finished.

This gives a better idea of the true color of the background.  

It was almost dark and super windy so this is the best I could do for a photo last night. 

Phew half way there.

I have to say a few things about this pattern. 

 The cutting directions need some clarification, but once I figured that out, 

it was not a difficult to put together as I had thought it would be.  

It went together fairly easily.  

Makes me think I should try another diamond quilt. 

 I don't think I would have been able to do as good a job a few years ago. 

 I'm confident my piecing had improved a LOT as this actually matches and lies flat!  

Now I will be back at the Folksy Fish, sigh.  

This was a nice break.

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts too.

OK, your turn.  

What are you working on?  

Please click on the blue Inlinkz button to add what you are working on.  

Remember to use the #WIPsWithFriends on social media and go ahead and 

grab the button for your blog!

~XOP~

An InLinkz Link-up

Pattern Testing

I *finally* chose my background fabric for the pattern I am testing. 

 I went over to my friend, Crazy Quilt Girl's house and brought my focus fabrics.  

We laid them on lots of different backgrounds.  

The one we both liked the best was Kona Jade.

Even though the pattern uses a patterned background I think this will work, or at least it will work for the effect I am going for making this quilt. 

 If I'm cutting a bazillion diamonds, they should be a color I love right?

These are the fabrics I am using for the focus prints and they looked really great on the Jade.

I didn't remember to take a photo when I got home so this will have to do.  

(Hey anyone else notice it is almost the same color as my mat? LOL)

So I see emeralds (actually diamonds) in my future this weekend! 

 What will you be up to?

~XOP~

Fabric Pull and My Big Mouth

I volunteered to test a pattern for someone.  

I did not fully realize what I was getting into, I admit it. 

She sent the pattern and there are 196 diamonds that need to be cut, LOL.  

I ordered my ruler and pulled some fabrics. 

 I think it will make a cute picnic quilt so was 

thinking about using some of my Lizzy Dish fabric by Lizzy House.  

It is an older line and has dishes and silverware on it.  

Now I need to determine what I want to use for the background.

 I could use the white pearl bracelet fabric, but am thinking that I might want to try a color, especially if I use it for a picnic blanket!  

Maybe an aqua?  I could use yellow but I am not the biggest yellow fan, LOL.

I have quite a bit of this line all except for this one yellow print!  How odd is that?

Luckily a friend has some that she is willing to send me for this quilt.  I have really great friends!

Guess I had better figure something out for the background now.  

Also, I need to get back to making fish.

 Diamonds have to be first since that quilt has a 3 week turnaround time!! 

 If you need me, I'll be off cutting a bizillion diamonds.

~XOP~