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Monday, May 29, 2017

Classy and Scrappy

This crazy month of May is almost over - and it's still raining in Ottawa. Hopefully not enough to cause more flooding! Everything is very green when the sun does shine :-)
I haven't been quilting as much as I think I should. But I have been reading books (not audio or even digital). What a treat!
Classic side of the placemat
Classic side of the placemat

This weekend I made a placemat for a very special friend. Tipi was one of my mother's best friends. She didn't want anything big, but said that a placemat would be great. She mentioned dark red, blue and yellow.

All of the fabrics were from my stash. I did have three fat quarters from the same line, full of beautiful roses. I'm not sure that it's her style, so I added some more funky flowers to the mix.

The placemat will go with whatever mood she's in - one classic and the other fun and scrappy. I used a blue and yellow Provence style fabric as well as many red, yellow and gold fabrics from my stash and scraps. I put two log-cabin type blocks together.

Fun and scrappy side of the same placemat
The first, more classic side, comes from the Square Scramble pattern by Kate Colleran in the Spring 2016 Quilts and More magazine.

Square Scramble pattern by Kate Colleran
I free motion quilted (FMQ) the placemat with an all-over design of small flowers with a couple of loops. I used a slightly variegated beige thread (King Tut, 40 wt. from Superior Threads) for the top. 

Free motion quilting on the classic side of the placemat
Free motion quilting in beige on the classic side 
The bobbin was another lightly variegated yellow thread.  I love how the yellow shows up against the dark reds.
Free motion quilting in yellow on the scrappy side of the placemat
Free motion quilting in yellow on the scrappy side
What I learned
  • Even when I was really careful with the cutting and piecing, my classic placemat didn't come out even. I'm really going to have to take our guild's course on sewing with accuracy. Even if it's not my idea of fun, being accurate when I'm trying would be nice!
  • I love the two different sides of this placemat. One classy side and the other fun and scrappy. Great for any mood!
  • I don't often use an all-over pattern when free motion quilting. Because of the two different sides, I believe that this was the best way to go.
Related Links
Project Details
Classic side of the placemat
Classy & Scrappy placemat
20" x 13"
Classy side - Square Scramble pattern from Quilts and More magazine, Spring 2016
Materials: cotton 
Techniques: piecing and improvisational piecing, FMQ

Great News! Classy & Scrappy was featured on Free Motion Mavericks!

Linking Parties: I will be linking this post to the following link-ups. Check out what everyone is making! MOP Monday, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Moving it Forward Monday, Oh Scrap, Linky Tuesday, Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, Free Motion Mavericks, Needle & Thread Thursday, Off the Wall Friday, Can I get a Whoop Whoop?, 

Update: I linked to Sarah Goer's fun linky, Show Me Something Improv.
I am linking this post to Sarah Goer's Show Me Something With Squares. 

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12 comments:

  1. Ariane30 May 2017 at 05:43

    This is a super cute placemat! Small projects are great to practice your skills. Keep going!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert4 June 2017 at 21:35

      Thanks Ariane, small projects are truly perfect for practicing!

      Delete
  2. AlidaP30 May 2017 at 07:14

    Two sided projects are just the best!! You did a great job with this place mat! Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert4 June 2017 at 21:36

      Thanks Alida. Two sides on a placemat also means less washing :-)

      Delete
  3. Susan1 June 2017 at 10:15

    Twice as nice! Thanks for sharing on Midweek Makers!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Louise3 June 2017 at 21:13

    Placemats are so fun! You get all the different steps of making a quilt, but in a useful, miniature form :) Yours turned out great. I really like how you covered all the style bases by making a classic and a modern side.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert4 June 2017 at 21:38

      Thanks Louise. I really enjoyed making this because I didn't have time to get bored making 4 or 6 of the same!

      Delete
  5. Warm Quilts3 June 2017 at 21:50

    What a great gift! And, your mother's friend gets two gifts in one - very sweet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert4 June 2017 at 21:38

      Thank you. I really hope she likes it - she is very dear to me.

      Delete
  6. Muv8 June 2017 at 17:47

    Hello Andrée,

    Such a sweet placemat! I always enjoy seeing items made from little bits and pieces. I love the way you have used a quilting design that echoes the florals in the fabrics.

    Thank you for linking up with Free Motion Mavericks - your placemat is project of the week!

    Love, Muv

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert11 June 2017 at 21:02

      Thanks Muv, that's great! It was so much fun knowing that I only had to make one :-)

      Delete

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