Friday 18 July 2014

Whip up a quickquilt

I've had a change today, instead of hand sewing I've been machine sewing. Wanting to use up some bits and pieces of cotton fabric. Don't want to make a big quilt, but a little quilt for cats would be nice, not for me but to give to someone else. This is the easy quick way, I've shown this once before, when I turned a piece of quick quilt into a curtain. This is the same principle. I find it easier to sew the bits onto a bigger piece one by one, rather than join them all up. 
The stripey backing piece is from an old worn out flannelette sheet, cut to a 24 inch square. I've cut two pieces to make it thicker. First choose a piece of cotton fabric, put it face down in the centre, and sew along one side. Then turn it over with right side up.

Then get a second piece, right side down, and sew along one edge. Turn it right side up.

Then do the same again on the other side. Right side down, sew, turn it right side up.

And so on.....keep adding more pieces. Pin the edges down to keep it flat. Iron if you want to.  
Add more to it and it grows bigger.

You need longer pieces so you might have to join a few shorter pieces to make a strip. Put the strip right side down and sew it on in the same way.

All done, when the patchwork reaches the outer edges time to finish it off. It doesn't matter if the edges are not 100% straight. I don't have any wadding so I have put another piece of the stripey sheet on it. The backing is is a piece of red cotton sheet. Cut it bigger and bring the excess round to the front to make the border. My quilting is not fancy, just straight lines to keep the layers together. I want to start in the centre and work my way towards the outer edge, but Bugsy has decided that the sun is too hot in the windowsill and he wants to lie on the table for a few minutes. Come on Bugsy, you are in the way. I get him to move by offering a tasty piece of chicken.

All finished, doesn't take long to run one of these up. A mat for a cat. Five layers thick and washable. It can be put in a cat bed, a box or basket, or can be put on a chair if you want to keep the chair free of cat hairs. Janet has seven cats, I'm sure she will find a place for it. 
Here is another snippet of the picture I am creating, it's on the back of a piece of upholstery fabric. Long way to go yet, will show more as I add to it.
I feel a bit peckish, time to make my dinner. Won't be anything fancy, can't be bothered to cook.
Toodle pip.

17 comments:

  1. I like to quilt as you go for small things, I did a big quilt like that a couple of years ago and it took ages to join up all the squares. Your fabric picture is looking interesting, I like the zingy colours.

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  2. loving watching your fabric picture come to life..

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  3. I love the way you've taken to making patchwork. it's a bit addictive isn't it!

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  4. Thank you Ilona, I am a big fan of your blog. This is a great tutorial, i will definitely try it out!

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  5. You are piecing like we crazy quilters piece. We use all sorts of shapes besides rectangles and squares. You would be great at crazy quilting!
    Tana

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  6. I love this technique. I am very new to quilting and this looks like the perfect first project. Thanks for the tutorial Ilona.
    Much Love Claire from frugal living xxx

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  7. I like your quilt! Some kitty is going to look adorable resting on those lovely colors.

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  8. Love the picture and the little quilt Ilona. I think my moggy would love it but I am ashamed to say I have forgotten how to set up and use my sewing machine, let alone create such imaginative stuff. It's raining here today but the gardens will be happy. My radishes were a disaster but the runner beans are looking good.

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  9. Love the new cat quilt and thanks for the tutorial. You've made it look so easy that I think I'm going to have to give it a go.

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  10. Can you recommend any where to buy wadding very cheaply.x

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  11. I think you need to do a YouTube of instructions for folks trying out this technique. Great way to use up some scraps.

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  12. Lovely quilt! Just caught up on your blog after a great week walking in N. Wales (lucky with the weather or what!) Husband and I had a good chuckle over your Mars advert, below!!

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  13. Look at Bugsy doing a test drive of your very pretty cat quilt.Great ideas,always, and your fabric pieces look as though they will wash well and last.Your applique fabric art is turning out to be very interesting.I like the combinations of texture and thicknesses and colours chosen.Curious to see the completed project.As Tanya says I think crazy quilting would be right up your alley.Have a good one, regards, Destemona.

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  14. It is lovely, bright and cheerful! Expect the seven cats will have a squabble concerning who gets to lay on it :). Think l shall have to put together one for my cat, have lots of fabric scraps. Thanks for inspiration. Fun and useful. Pam

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  15. Inspector Bugsy was doing a very important job testing the quilt. He can't risk substandard cat quilts going out from his address, you know.

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  16. Here where we live, we have a limit (5) on how many animals we are allowed to keep in our homes, otherwise, its called a farm (no farm animals allowed in city limits) or animal hoarding and if someone reports you, then you have to give up all your animals. Also we have a leash law. That's why I only keep one dog, a Chihuahua. Do you have any restrictions about animals where you live?
    I personally like string quilts, much like your log cabin quilt.

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