Starting the Collection Quilt - month 1

I have been itching to start this project since l  first saw the patterns at Australian Quilt Market late last year.  The Collection Quilt block of the month is an applique skill builder project, designed by Carolyn Friedlander.

We've included a lot of fabrics from Carolyn Friedlander's more recent collections, including Carkai, Friedlander and Euclid.Whilethe fabrics we will be using aren't identical, the completed quilt will have a similar look and feel.  This week our first shipment of the brand spanking new Freidlander lawns and quilting cottons arrived so we have now kicked off the program.  Patterns and fabrics for Month 1 are now on their way to members.

The project is divided up into 9 installments, and each month there are new colours and fabrics to explore and a new needle turn applique technique to explore.

This month we are working with low volume prints from Carolyn's Euclid and new Freidlander fabric collection. We have supplied larger cuts, and an additional choice of fabric than actually required to complete this section of the quilt.  We did this deliberately  so that our program members can mix it up a bit and personalise their fabric choices.  Hang onto those scraps - as you might want to weave some of them in later too.

I will be stitching along with everyone each month and sharing my Collection Quilt journey here.  For my low volume block I opted to use all three fabrics, and made sure that some of that gorgeous pickle from that aerial print was in the centre panel.  I'm hoping that using part of the silver grove motif from the same fabric in the top section will create the illusion of continuity and perhaps even prompt the viewer to stop for a second look at this quieter section of the quilt.

I was so keen to start that I took it along and completed my basting while waiting with Mum in a hospital waiting room this morning.  Good thing hand sewing is so portable.

I made good progress in a short period of time, and even made a start on the applique.  There's a bit of a bump in my first straight line attempt, but I can live with it.   After all it is a skill builder isn't it ;-)

Next month we will be diving into some colour with more Euclid linens and peachy  Kona cottons.  Here's a sneak peek.

We are waiting to take delivery of more patterns, so we've opened up some more spots in the program for $35 per month, for 9 months. Join now and come stitch with us.