Birchen Quilt Top for Fat Quarter Shop + Art Gallery Fabrics

Fat Quarter Shop has teamed up with Art Gallery Fabrics to present to you, AGF Stitched with Kimberly, which offers one-of-kind free quilt patterns exclusively for Fat Quarter Shop.

This season is the Birchen Quilt.  I picked out some fabrics and used Triangles on a Roll to make this top.  I used mostly Bonnie Christine's Hello, Bear collection and added one Leah Duncan print and three solids as well (not pictured).  Both artists can be found at Art Gallery Fabrics.   Photo from my Instagram account.

And two progress shots.

This is only the top.  It looks complicated, but it was a fairly straight-forward quilt to make.   Fat Quarter Shop offers a nice video on how to construct it, as well as a few tips.

I think this is by far the busiest quilt I have ever made to date.  It was fun!

Is it any surprise there is black in this quilt?  :)

The black was actually an accident because, you know, I'm human and capable of making poor choices.  I had originally chose the cream multi-colored mountains print in place of the large HST, but I immediately knew I had made the wrong choice once I laid out my blocks.

 I was bummed.  I don't use any special software to mock up my blocks with its fabrics.  I just try to envision my projects in my head and hope and say a silent prayer everything will work out in the end.     Does anyone else do this too?  Luckily, I had chosen the black subway print as well because it became my saving grace.

The location for this shot is right down the street from me.  I call it the Coco-cola Bar because of the old timey large red coke sign out front, and well, it's a bar.  I'm not sure if this old place even has a name except to the locals that frequent it.  I love how the wind kicked up this top and made one diamond the focal point.  Thank you Mother Nature.

You can find the pattern here, and you can see other quilters' interpretations of the Birchen quilt here.  You can also purchase a quilt kit.

Thanks for stopping in today!  Feel free to follow along on Bloglovin'.

xx nancy

Find me elsewhere: Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook

One year ago: Cargo Duffle by Anna Graham
Two years ago: Paper pieced star
Three years ago: 30 Fat quarter projects

life lately || sewing

I thought I would share on here some of the things I have been doing lately in the sewing room.  Most of this I share on Instagram, so if you have an account, stop by!  But I know many of you do not have one, so I don't want you to be left out.

I have two main projects in the works.  First up is my Circle Lattice quilt by Carolyn Friedlander.  This was my first attempt at hand appliqué, and it is not that bad actually!  It is a slow process and one that gives my fingers a beating.  I do enjoy the time spent with working with my hands while tucked under something I have made.  It is very satisfying.

My next project is another appliqué, but it is a mini.  This is called my xoxo quilt, and to be painfully honest, I have had mixed feelings about it.  It was one that I sketched out, but that's about it.  I worked piece by piece hoping that in the end my desired outcome would be achieved.  Well, I ran into some hiccups, which is natural for improv.   And now I have the top 90% done, and I have NO clue how to finish it. And by finish I mean binding, what I want the final product to be, etc.  I am just hoping inspiration will slam into me with full force.

I joined in on an Instagram hashtag that didn't really catch any steam.  I made this improv flying geese panel, which I adore, and I hope to return to it soon.  But for now it is in the WIP pile.

And lastly, I made this small piece as a prototype.  It was a design that came to my mind during my book writing, so I quickly sketched it out not to forget it.  I think I would like to take out a few of the overlapping gray and black areas and make them lighter.  I just need to order some Aurifil, and as soon I do that, I can finish this piece.  I am not sure why it is taking me over 3 months to order a spool of thread.

Not quilting related, but Matt gifted me a loom.  My weaving is done and just needs to be hung onto a dowel.  I definitely foresee more weavings in my future.

I found these odd baskets (I have two) at a thrift store for $2.  They hung on a wall waiting to be used.  When I started to clean up my sewing room I discovered a clever use for them. They now hold my large and small embroidery hoops.  I don't know about yours, but mine were hanging on a nail and kept falling off.

And just a quick shout out to Bobbie Lou's Fabric!  She has some great quilting cottons with new arrivals coming in all the time.  Be sure to pop over and check it out.  And of course, free shipping on orders over $50 in the US.

So those are just a few of the things going on.  I wish I could share it all!  One day though!  :)   Just know I am alive and I have not sworn off quilting, although my husband thought for sure I would after he witnessed the stress in my life and home last year.  Ha!  It's all good though!

Happy quilting!

xx nancy

One year ago:  Triangle Fish Quilt
Two years ago:  WIP Wednesday
Three years ago:  30 Fat Quarter Projects