Curious Fractals - part two

I'm continuing to work on my Curious Fractals quilt, paused only slightly by a combination of fabric miscalculation and mishap. First I underestimated how much I would need of a certain colour, and the secondly I cut out a few framing pieces using the wrong-side of the template, meaning they are backwards.

I could piece a replacement piece together with scraps, but with my points so on fleek (see post below) - I've decided to hunt for a few extra fat quarters so I can finish it off properly. After much searching fabric is on its way, so I hope to finish this quilt by Christmas.

I've been posting progress as I go on instagram. Follow along #CuriousFractals #WillThisEverEnd?

More points on fleek today. Finally getting to my Easter weekend sewing with my #curiousfractals project. #quiltonfleek #menwhoquilt

A photo posted by Chris Webb (@chrismakesthings) on Mar 28, 2016 at 9:15am PDT

Another shot with some of my pieces laid out.

Feels like I painted (quilted?) myself into a corner a bit with my #curiousfractals project. Deciding how best to square off my icositetragon (24 sided patchwork) - 5 of the 24 fragments seen here... #menwhoquilt #parsongray

A photo posted by Chris Webb (@chrismakesthings) on Feb 21, 2016 at 2:52am PST

Curious Fractals - part one

This year I have a few projects I want to work on, and spending my first week of the year over on 52Quilters was a great year to help me sort out my ideas and draw up a proper work list.

I've written a lot about craft as a kind of sustenance for me, something that helps me focus, keep balance, and save time for myself, but I've always been careful to categorise it as play and not "work".... My approach for 2016 is to do the opposite, not categorise it as work in the sense that it's going be to major source of income, but to acknowledge the need to develop myself and just generally do more. It's work in the same way that going to the gym, read a challenging book, or forcing myself to go to the dentist is work: sometimes a pain, but mostly very good for me!

So my first project of 2016 is my Curious Fractals quilt. Quite a few years ago I broke my own stash rules and bought up a good selection of fabrics from David Butler's Curious Nature collection, and I've been sitting on them, failing to get off my stash ever since.

After trying a few different ideas, and building up anxiety over cutting into my stash, I've decided to revisit my fractals pattern from the Mini Rainbow Swap last year. To enlarge my colour rainbow mini that had 8 colours repeating three times, and create a much larger and squared off version using 12 colours of Curious Nature repeating twice.

Last look before its off in the post to my partner - I hope you like it! #rainbowminiswap #rainbowteamYELLOW

A photo posted by Chris Webb (@chrismakesthings) on Mar 31, 2015 at 11:42pm PDT

I'm using paper piecing for this project, the quilter is divided into 24 fragments, each made up of three paper pieced pieces. I haven't decided how I'm going to frame/square off the work, but I've started on the fragments. 

I know per piecing is a fast and straightforward way to piece, but I forgot how much prep there is: cutting out the 72 fragments, numbering fabrics and laying out what fabric corresponds which each piece. I spent most of the first weekend of January planning instead of sewing, but progress is slowly underway.

The first cut is the deepest.... Finally cutting into my stash of #curiousnature to make my #curiousfractals quilt. #menwhoquilt

A photo posted by Chris Webb (@chrismakesthings) on Jan 17, 2016 at 10:02am PST

I've made my first cuts and will be updating on here and Instagram as Curious Fractals comes together!

Week #21.5 - Curious Cushion

If you've been paying attention you'll know that I've been on holiday and that week #21 was a craft clearout week - but those who are extra sharp will know that I didn't actually make anything last week, so I'm now posting week #21.5 (really my 21st project) and I'll be catching up soon with project #22.

Since reading this post on Mollie Makes about Amy Butler's husband David Butler's new line of fabric called 'Curious Nature' I have been itching to get my hands on a few fat quarters to have a play with myself.... and since going overboard and buying myself quite a few meters of the fabric, I've been itching (bus also a little hesitant) to get making with it.

It's been one of those situations where I covet the fabric so much, and know I want to make something for myself with it, but because I don't know how much I'll need or what I'd like to do with it, I just can't seem to get going with it.  So rather than start cutting and piecing and let my work go to waste, I decided I could spare a few strips and donate them to the 52 weeks : 52 crafts project as means of getting myself going and getting started playing with the fabric.

Add in a not-so-great weekend of weather, a tutorial for a 'Strippy Pillow' that's been on my tute-do list for quite a few months, and a full day of terrible films on telly (and I do mean terrible - Speed 2: Cruise Control, anyone?) and I found myself in the perfect storm of crafting.

I followed this tutorial from Quilting in the Rain but cut my own strips a bit larger (3 inch strip instead of the usual 2 1/2 in from a jelly roll) and spaced mine a little further apart.  I also decided to make the cushion soft and cosy by using a contrasting corduroy for the background.

and here is how I did;

I suppose I especially loved working with this fabric because it is 'very me', and because I struggle to find modern but not too girly fabric to work with... but also I just love the way the actual pattern designs both perfectly contrast and perfectly complement one another.  On their own the fabrics seem a bit dull and read as very sort of 'gun-shot grey' as I described it to someone, but together all sorts of deep blues and bluey greens start to emerge and they come together to create a sort of muted vibrance if that makes any sense. (Probably just hit about a 10/10 on the poncey meter).

(from the side here you can see the corduroy back)

Anyway, the slight shame I felt from indulging myself and purchasing these fabrics is long gone, and in fact I think I might have to buy just a few more pieces in different colours - I especially love some of the brighter greens and darker greys (my favourite below) and can't wait to mix them into the bunch.

As you may have guessed (clever you!) this cushion will be going on sale to raise more funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Currently my spring clear out is happening, but as these auctions end the cushion will be listed and it will appear below:

** please note the auctions below update only once an hour, so there may be less time to bid than you think! please click to follow the link.

In the meantime why not browse through the auctions ending this evening, and stay tuned to the blog for some of my holiday pics and crafty finds in France!