I've enjoyed all the chain piecing for the Cowabunga Florabunda quilt, which will be a Christmas present for my DD and SIL. This has to be one of the easier quilts on which I've worked.
I like the antique/vintage scrappy Florabunda Bonnie Hunter found in Florida and for which she posted instructions on her blog.
A number of folks in Blog-land have made scrappy Florabunda quilts, including Janet O. of Rogue Quilter...
...and Debbie of Stitchin' Therapy...
... and now, I want one of my very own!
Chris of Weekend Wisdom is joining me for a Florabunda mini-QAL and we're going to use only stash to do so... tho we may have to purchase a solid or solids for the lattice/ladder part.
We won't start until I finish my Cowabunga Florabunda and get it to the LAQ-er... so I'm thinking the end of September or the beginning of October. We are not setting any deadlines so who knows how long we will take. It's more about cheering each other on and having a good time.... and maybe seeing which of us has the ugliest floral in our respective stashes!
If you would like to join in the fun, let me know. The quilt is a good beginner pattern using two basic quilt blocks... a 4-patch and a HST. I can provide links to helpful online tutorials for making both of these blocks.
There won't be a ton of chain piecing (such I've been doing the past two weekends) because you make each block (5 four-patch units + 4 HST units) separately using the same background fabric for each block. This gives you that secondary layer for this quilt as well as a scrappy look.
You can make your Florabunda as big or as small as you'd like. If you'd like a border... or if you don't want a border... it's up to you! Pick whatever fabrics you'd like... retro, batiks, solids, prints, contemporary/modern, traditional... let your imagination and stash be your guide!
And if it's just me and Chris... that's okay too!
We've been known to get into sufficient mischief all by ourselves!
Is that wall of fabrics your stash? Yikes!
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't have a couple of other quilts that I have to get done I would join your quilt-along and make another one. It has been a fun quilt. You are right--it is easy, but it looks more involved than it really is. Nice quality in a quilt. : )
Your mention of batiks is intriguing--that could be really nice. Arrrgh! Don't tempt me.
I bought my dark border fabric today--RJR at $4 a yard on the clearance table. I have 3/4 of the top assembled now.
How tempting....it's indeed a beautiful quilt that I really want to make once. I can't say yes yet, but I don't say no either....
ReplyDeleteGreetings Roos
I already made mine! It is set 10 blocks by 11 blocks (90 x 99). I thought I had used up all my florals, but I found some fabrics from cleaning out the quilting/weaving stash that had belonged to both of my grandmothers and my mother. THere are genuine feedsacks, 50's, 60's, and more current florals in it! It will be going to the county fair next week and then right onto my bed.
ReplyDeleteThose quilts are gorgeous! I love yellow and I love scrappy! I may have to follow along in an unofficial way! (I am working on a custom quilt that I have to have finished by November and it has tons of hand applique!)I'm not sure I can do anything else!
ReplyDeleteExactly how HUGE is your stash? If those are photos of your stash, I bow very low in recognition.
ReplyDeleteYour QAL idea sounds good....I will promote it when you get it going. Let me know.
Sounds intriguing and I do love the pattern...we will see if resistance is futile!
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun! I recognize the Jacob's Ladder pattern. My son's name is Jacob and I used it as one of the blocks in a sampler quilt I made for him a long time ago. But I didn't realize that putting them together made such a nice pattern. I would love to make one just from stash and if its small, I think I can manage that. It might make a nice gift for him. What size were you thinking of making?
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun. I will have to check my stash to see if I have some flower fabric...I know I don't have any solids.
ReplyDeleteSo tempting!! It looks like a fun and gratifying project to do a sew along. I love seeing all the versions. I would be in if I didn't have to sleep! :-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. I know this quilt is going to be a treasure.
ReplyDeleteOh - the more I see them the more I Want one too...... You are a bad bad bad influence LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. I love that you opened this up to everyone. It will make a fun link-up party.
ReplyDeleteI have a few phone calls to make then I am diving into my stash and see what I have in my floral drawer. I will be very happy to see those fabrics find a home.
I love it. Count me in for a quilt along. I'll go with scrappy.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a fun and gratifying project to do a sew along. Seeing in versions kind is best way to good reviews.
ReplyDeleteHi, I do have some florals but not enough to make anything large. I would love to follow along, but how will we know when you start? I'm not very good at blogging..
ReplyDeleteDian
Dianlee@hughes.net
I'm digging the 2nd one!
ReplyDeleteI ended up doing in the pink and green...those were the only florals I had! Maybe I could make another one....
ReplyDelete