Tuesday, October 07, 2008

new projects

Craziness is at an all time high around here. I have 13 quilts in progress at once (!!!) and a Christmas tree skirt that is 35" square, which qualifies as a quilt in my mind, so let's just call it 14. And there is no end in sight. Trying to come up with a name for all of these may be the end of me. That is one of the advantages of using patterns, they come pre-named.

This pattern is called spiderweb. After seeing this photo I knew I needed to make one. The pattern is free and it is found here. While you are there, you might as well spend some time at the quiltville website, it's incredible! There are lots and lots of fun free patterns. This one is on my list to start soon, in red and white. Oh, I can hardly wait!

So here is my first spider web block. It's made from all scraps so far, even the cream. I'm planning on this being a long term project.

Another L O N G term quilt project that I finally started this weekend is based on this quilt. Sarah and I decided we would each start on one and work on it together so we started a flickr group to encourage each other in our journey. You are invited to join in (the madness) if you would like.

I already see some dilemmas with this quilt. Do I make all the geese first, then join them together later? (I'm afraid of burn out this way.) Or do I work on this on a block buy block basis? (I'm afraid that it won't look random enough this way.) I'm going to have to think that one over. Are any of you surprised that I started with pink? This is going to be a stash quilt, so to me, it was the obvious place to start.

edit: I am using this tutorial for the flying geese. It's an easy way to make triangles (if there is one). The final blocks will be 2" x 4" finished.

60 comments:

Alissa said...

These look like they are both going to be GREAT! I can't believe how many you have going at once... does a quilt ever get forgotten about and you come across it months later? Ha - that would happen to me!

Samantha said...

That spiderweb looks fabulous! I'll have to add it to the long list of things I'd like to try.

audreypawdrey said...

I love the spiderweb and I love, love that triangle quilt. I must stop myself from attempting that right now, but I so want to.

Nanette Merrill said...

Flying geese and string quilt blocks - such cute work. I love them. This is really sweet stuff.

Linda said...

I am loving the spiderweb quilt so far! It is a great way to use up scraps. I started one in all blues a while back. Seeing yours makes me want to get back to mine! I LOVE the colorfulness of yours, though! I might have to do another one of these days in more colors.

Lina said...

Oh my goodness Amanda Jean, I had bookmarked that very same spider web block to try later on too. Your version looks stunning!

Myra said...

Great patterns! Thanks for the link to the spiderweb pattern! 8-)
Is there a pattern for the triangles quilt? Did I miss a link for that, or are you just winging it?
Happy stitchings!

Needled Mom said...

What fun projects! I'd do the geese by the blocks and then you can make them fly in all different directions.

dawnkristine said...

I LOVE the string quilting method...I have a square one almost done actually, but I have never tried the spiderweb, I may have to though, I love it, and your color selections are the bomb!

house on hill road said...

i really want to do the spider web one - i have that photo faved in flickr. maybe in 2009?

Anina said...

You are truly crazy!
Long term project you say? I'll believe that when I see it. What colors are you planning for the flying geese quilt?

Sweet P said...

If it were me, I'd sew blocks together as I went along, especially if it is a long term project. That way I would feel like I'm getting something along the way.

Cindra said...

I loved that flying geese quilt the first time I saw it... can't wait to see how yours develops.
I have to say though I love, love, love the spider web block! One of my favorite quilts came from that website.

Jessica said...

oh, I love Bonnie's quiltville ~ she is the reason I got into quilting! :)

MichelleB said...

Love, love that spider web. So cute. And good luck with the Tokyo one! I can hardly wait to see what you get done.

Anonymous said...

I love a good long term project and I haven't had one for a while ( not counting all the things I am just too lazy to finish) but now I do. How cool is that spider web quilt? Thank you as always for a wealth of inspiration.

Nichole said...

that spider web block looks like it would make a fun quilt! i look forward to seeing how it turns out! i am sure it will be gorgeous.

jacqui jones said...

oh wow love that spider web scrappy one i want one

John said...

I love that Random Ohio Stars quilt you linked to. And, of course, the triangle quilt is a work of art. Will you share the dimensions of the blocks? I am tempted to join in, though I probably won't get to really start it until after the holidays (when I stop joining swaps!). Audrey, if you do it, I'll do it too!

Lauren The Artist said...

The spider web is lovely and those geese are pretty "random" and scrappy. I like to put my finished pieces (units) in a brown sack, so when I pull them out, its definitely randomized. ~jen~

lera said...

You amaze me. I am dying at all those itty bitty pieces in that spiderweb quilt. Looks like a lot of work to me!

And 14 quilts at once? You ARE nuts. In a good way. Kind of like candy corn with peanuts.

Renee said...

The spider web quilt is gorgeous. I can't wait to see it grow

Des said...

oh crap! I've got my own 14 unfinished quilts going and now you're making it FIFTEEN and SIXTEEN. love the spider web!!!!

Amy Jo said...

you're going to one busy woman!!!

Anonymous said...

Love your spider web block! so cute with all those random scraps.
I'm excited to follow your progress on both quilts! Good luck!!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

ah! lucky 14! I had that number two days ago... I've just added three more quilts... sigh. Gotta keep jugglin' the projects around...
you have some beauties already going here! love that spider web!

Julie said...

your flying geese are perfect...
what are you using to make them?? I tried making some a while back and it was a complete bomb...
julie

Becky J. said...

Do it block by block....but....make the blocks big like 20X20. I have done this before and it works out great. You can pre-cut a piece of muslin and then lay everything on top...add spacers, lost blocks..whatever and then when they are all finished they are random, but turn out to all be the same size for easy piecing. Get it? Good luck. it looks great so far..gotta love that pink!

kristen said...

ooohh...I LOVE the spider web block you did!! the colors are lovely. i can't wait to see the finished quilt!

i can't imagine having that many quilts going at once. i'm working on one and i'm having a hard time getting it done! i need some of your energy i think.

a friend to knit with said...

14 quilts!!!
oh, i am going to sleep so much better tonight knowing you have more in your path than i do. :)

Unknown said...

Spiderwebs look great! For whatever reason paper piecing scares me. . . all in due time, I'm sure :)

amy smart said...

I LOVE that spiderweb block! So glad you posted your block AND the link to make one. I can't wait to try. I hope mine turns out half as cool as yours. The colors are brilliant. Woo.

Dannielle said...

That spiderweb block is awesome! That's gonna be a beauty of a quilt. Can't wait to see it!

I am Arizona; a person, not a place. said...

Wow, I love the spider web block. Very cool!

Pikku- Kettu said...

The spiderweb quilt looks like it's going to be a real beauty!

ayumills said...

Oh my goodness! your spiderweb quilt is so cute! I love it!!! Can't wait to see the finished quilt!

dutchcomfort said...

Love both the quilts you’re working on. All my projects end up being long term...!

Tine said...

Both of those are on my to-do list!!!
Your spiderweb block is so pretty :-)
I think I will choose to start the tokyo's triangles first....so I'm off to join in the fun on Flickr.

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Wow, just love the spiderweb block...

Three Birds Inspired said...

I would make all the flying geese units first, put them into a paper bag and then pull them out and stitch together totally randomly.

I think you would be pleasantly surprised!

Anonymous said...

Incredible choice of colours.....Mam

MelissaS said...

Love the spiderweb.

I know what you mean about getting burned out on the geese. I'm making a bed size with hourglasses. I have to make a set and then move onto something else for a while.

jacquie said...

they both look like so much fun. i'm really tempted on the tokyo triangles. i'm afraid to count all the quilts i'm working on...so one more shouldn't make much difference?

Anonymous said...

oh my goodness. I love spiderweb. And I've been loving those crazy geese-trees ever since you posted about it the first time. I want to do that too, but I already have a long term quilt project. :) Someday I'll join in, I think.

sulu-design said...

I can see why you had to start the new quilt - that flickr photo is awesome. I can't believe that you can keep all 13... I mean 14... quilts straight. I'd have one bumbling mess if I tried to juggle all of those.

KateKwiltz said...

And I thought I had a lot of projects going!
I'd love to sign up for the flying geese group, but I'm in an "I hate triangles" phase! This might be just what I need to pull me out of it! :)
Love the spider web, too -- lots of possibilities there!

Amy said...

Oh that spider web... I MUST make one. Thank you for the inspiration - I've been lacking in that area for a bit.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Love at spider block...the fabrics look great together!

Philigry said...

oh, i love that spiderweb!

Susan J Barker said...

I followed the link of how to make the spiderweb quilt, and maybe, just maybe it will go on my to do list...

I have been contemplating on how to name quilts and the other day thought perhaps I would use a similar method to naming as is used for Hurricanes... Albert, then Bertha, then Carlos, then Debbie, etc... Doesn't really describe the quilt itself though does it??

carolyn said...

L-O-V-E that spider quilt...just my thing too. I can't wait to try one. Thanks for the heads up.

Rach said...

cute projects! :) I think I might join in your tokyo triangles group. :) I'm thinking of making one out of all asian prints - I certainly have enough in my stash. :)

Carie @ Space for the Butterflies said...

That triangle quilt is AMAZING! It really will be a magnum opus. If you think you can stand it I would make the geese as you get the scraps and then piece it together at the end, but it would take a bit of determination to finish

Val said...

You never cease to amaze me. I always love coming here to see what you are doing.

Roxanne said...

Looks like you're working on lots of fun stuff! But seriously, if you are done with the flying geese quilt next week I am going to come over there and kick your butt!! :) Just kidding...it looks really beautiful and will probably be really fun to work on - especially with no pressure since it's a long term project. Have fun with it!!

Anonymous said...

I'm gonna have to try the spider web too. That is neat.

Rebekah said...

that spider web quilt square is so cool!

Sarah said...

I just saved so many new quilt patterns to try in the future! Thanks for all the awesome links. Loving your spider block and the flying geese...

Khris said...

Just LOVE the spiderweb and LOVE Bonnies Quiltville site...I did her first Mystery Quilt called Carolina Crossroads and never felt better and free'r to use scraps then I did with her leading the way. She is awesome...hugs Khris in Oz

Anonymous said...

The spiderweb is gorgeous - I love the fabrics enough to overcome my aversion to the word "spider." As for the flying geese, have you considered the one seam flying geese method? It uses a little extra fabric because it's dimensional, but it's super fast and easy to sew. You could chain piece hundreds in an hour or two. Of course the pressing might take a little longer... I found it recently on The Quilt Show and I blogged about it here.