Monday, June 10, 2013

Drunkard's Path Quilt

I started a new quilt a few weeks ago. I am making it for someone who loves circles, and asked for bright colours with pink, green, orange and aqua.

Basting in the playroom
Drunkards Path Quilt

I decided to dig out my drunkard's path templates that I've had forever (mine are Elisa's Backporch Design in both 3.5 and 7 inches), and use only fabrics from my stash. These templates are amazing. The cutting was so quick and easy as compared to paper templates.

Love these templates for cutting drunkard's path pieces. Well worth the $$$.

 
The blocks were easier to piece than I expected (the templates came with great instructions for only using 1 pin per block). However, once I got all of the blocks made and placed out on my design wall, I hated this quilt. It just seemed much too bright. When I was picking fabrics, I really tried to mix my mostly medium tone prints with both light and dark prints, but it was difficult to do using only stash fabrics. I think now that I really needed more low volume, or even a light neutral background fabric to tone down the brightness of the quilt.

I must admit, however, that it is slowly growing on me. It helps to take a step back, and to take a look at it through the camera lens. Then it is possible to see the circles, and the quilt is a little less crazy.

On the design wall
Drunkard's Path on the Design Wall

I am now working on quilting it. But I'm having a terrible time. I bought new thread - a pretty variegated Mettler silk finish thread, and it keeps breaking. The tension doesn't seem to be the problem, so I think the needle is too small for the thicker thread. Of course, I can't buy needles for my machine locally (I need heavy duty needles for my Pfaff Grand Quilter) so I ordered some new ones today. I'll give them a try, and if that doesn't work, I'll have to change thread.

Quilting...
Free Motion Quilting

I'll leave you with a photo of me and my youngest. She loves having her photo taken, especially by her big sister.

Me and Little Miss S

9 comments:

Liz said...

Love the colours - it looks awesome. And I'm not just being polite :-)

What Comes Next? said...

love this quilt - the mixture of the two sizes of circles is wonderful, and the whole quilt is just so cheery. Do you need the HLX needles? I can get them locally and can send you some. If the thread is breaking, you're right, it probably is the needle is too small

Alisa said...

It's beautiful! I just finished a Drunkard's Path Quilt using the same templates, only in the larger size though. We even used a couple of the same fabrics! Yours is gorgeous.

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation said...

That is so cool! I love the different circle sizes. It is so interesting to look at, and your fabrics are awesome!

-Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Poppyprint said...

I love it! Good luck with the quilting, I am having similar frustrations. Like Janet said the inset smaller circles are brilliant! And hey, wasn't your youngest a newborn a few months ago?

Coser Tejer Crear said...

I found you Via Show and Tell Tuesday. I have to try those templates! Did you buy them online?

Happy Turtle said...

That looks great!
Carol

Anonymous said...

My, that project is really hard and time-consuming yet you managed to finish it all by yourself. Kudos to you for a job well done! It’s really really lovely if you should ask me. You really have a lovely kid too. I simply love her dazzling eyes and innocent smile.

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Chris said...

I love the bright colors....very nice!