Blues and greens

I’ve made another quilt as part of my quilting ‘stretch’ project using the block from Sherri at A Quilting Life’s mystery block a month. As I said then I don’t know if I’ll manage to make a quilt a month, but I won’t really know unless I try…

And now I don’t want to not achieve this goal I’ve set and so on I go.

This month I’m sharing my tenth charity quilt but it’s now a pile of one as the other nine have now been donated to the Mansfield Coordinator of Project Linus UK.


My tenth charity quilt

After last month’s attempt to use all the scraps remaining from the quilts I’d made so far (and failing spectacularly if I’m honest!) I decided to take a similar approach this month, but also I wanted to some non-pink sewing for a change. Or mostly non-pink as it turned out.

These were the fabrics I pulled from my stash scraps - most have already featured in previous charity quilts, but not all. The plain blue was from a Hobbycraft fat quarter bundle - isn’t it a stunning colour? - and definitely not pink!

A selection of fabrics from my stash and from leftovers from previous quilts - mostly blues and greens this time round

I’d found some other older pieces of material together in a bag recently and so some of those offcuts, and larger pieces also made their way into this bundle. And there’s a lot less pink than I’ve sewn with recently, I just think my eyes needed a change.

This month’s block is a patchwork star, which is similar to April’s block - the difference is the centre square comprises four squares rather than a single larger square. I realised that I needed a plain for the background, and that’s where the blue came in.

Piles of squares and oblongs cut ready to sew into the patchwork star block

The patchwork stars came together pretty quickly, and were a favourite to sew despite the many options for misplaced seams, thankfully most of mine were pretty well behaved. There’s a lot of small triangles that go to waste with this block though, and I can’t help but think there must be a use for them…

All four central blocks are on the left (partially obscured) of the wool mat, and a pile of small triangle cuttings are on the right hand side

Adding the borders

As I was using scraps from previous quilts I didn’t have enough of each for all the borders to be the same, so I took a different approach to random this time. I split my border fabrics into two piles, and laid out the strips to see how they might work, but keeping them in their respective ‘half’ of the border.

The four blocks are laid out in a square - they have two of their three borders already attached

I’m much happier with this more controlled random approach - and I used up a fair bit of the already cut fabrics too. And yes, that green really is quite vivid - it was an old summer top of mine, and I loved to wear that vibrant colour.

Deciding on a layout

This month was trickier than I expected it to be. I had the white and grey zig zags in the middle at one point, I tried a stepped approach across the quilt with the dark paisley print, but in the end I kept coming back to this layout.

The finished four blocks laid out with the darker paisley print forming a cross pattern

Which meant I could add the blue as a border, which helps bring this one together I think.

A blue border is added to the assembled four blocks

I’ve returned to straight line quilting for this one, but in a shocking turn of events have done this freehand (completely) for the first time. No sticky tape to help with the lines this time round, and no ill effects either. In fact I think this was one of the most enjoyable quilting sessions I’ve had, and quickest too as I managed to complete this in just two one hour sesions.

A quilting action shot - the quilt being quilted

It looks ok doesn’t it?

Now quilted the wadding and backing are added - the wadding shows beyond the blue border

I’ve still a little bit to finish on this one before I can say it’s complete. The binding is attached on the front and just needs handsewing to the back, which I plan to finish this weekend. But that small detail isn’t going to stop me sharing it here (and I’ll most likely add a final completed photo once I’m done).

And it’s done

The finished quilt - complete with the binding handsewn onto the back

So that’s the tenth quilt done, and I’m back on track with my relaxed timetable for the block of the months - I’m actually a little ahead as I’ve already started the centre blocks for the September quilt, but that is most definitely for next month’s post!

You can see my other quilts which I’ve made to donate to Project Linus - a charity whose mission is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children, who are sick, disabled, disadvantaged or distressed through the donation of new, homemade, washable quilts and blankets, including those that are part of this ‘stretch’ project in earlier posts. I’m aiming to publish an update on my progress in the last week of each month for the remainder of 2025.

A quilty update - September 2025

It’s been a few months since my last quilty update and so, it’s time for another update. If you remember I posted my quilt plans for the year in February, and it’s been useful and helped me not add too many more things to my list, despite a visit to the Festival of Quilts in August!

The ‘stretch project’ I set myself is still the main focus, as now I don’t want to not do that. But it’s not just that project in this update.

So how am I doing?

1 The teal flying geese

I’ve still not started this one, and I’m wondering if I will get to this one this year. I’m still debating whether or not to postpone this one until next year, or wondering if I could spend an afternoon getting started. But then again, maybe I should spend that time finishing some of the things I’ve started, or the other non-quilt projects on my list!

2 The mystery block a month

Progress on this one remains steady, and I think that’s mostly because it’s linked to the ‘stretch project’. I’m almost back on my slightly relaxed track with this one, which is great news. Since the last update I’ve shared the following monthly blocks:

I’ve also laid the blocks out partly to see what they look like together, but mostly to check I’ve got the right greens in the right place - and I have, so far, phew!

Laying out all seven blocks of the month in order

And while this looks good, I don’t think this will be exactly how it ends up as I suspect, looking at Sherri’s other quilts, that there will be sashing (or borders) in between each block, and so that will give me more decisions to make when the time comes!

I hope to share the August block later this week, or early next week - which definitely takes me back on track, not that I’ve started sewing it yet of course!

3 The jeans and pyjamas

Nothing to see here, and no updates either. I still think this one will happen this year though.

4 The Essex linen kisses

There has been a spurt of progress since the last update, and the quilt top is together.

And it’s looking fab.

The completed quilt top, complete with a thin matching colourwash border

Since my last update I’ve sewn all the blocks together, added sashing in between the blocks with pops of corresponding colour by the crosses. I also decided I wanted to add more borders, and just about had enough material left to add a narrow border following the colour wash across the blanket.

Then I added a final glittery gold/charcoal border, and considered the backing fabric and binding. I’ve bought some gold bias binding which I’ll use to finish off the quilt, but the backing fabric was more problematic. I saw a beautiful ochre colour material, and ordered that - but when it arrived it wasn’t right for this quilt, even though it was lovely. I realised the backing needs to be bright to really work, and so ordered some bright orange and bright green fabrics when they were on sale, and typically these both work!

Now I can’t choose which I prefer. I like the orange, but I think the green may work better as this blanket’s purpose is a picnic blanket - my thinking is that any grass stains will show less on the green! I’m forever practical.

Actually I think that’s my decision, so you never know that may even be the prompt for me to pick this up again. Keep on watching this space.

5 My floral fancy

No update here either, but in my defence at the start of October I’ve got a day’s training on my new Bernina machine at their London HQ, so I’m hoping that I will gleam knowledge, or at least know how from there, and that that will help!

6 My English Paper Piecing (EPP) blue diamonds

I have made progress here, it’s been just the thing to pick up on those warm summer days in the garden. I’ve even cut into the vintage tablecloth, and while it was never going to be a heartbreak thing for me, I did have a bit of a ‘should I be doing this’ little wobble.

But I pressed on as I wanted to free up more of the small diamond templates, as my pile of green and blue blocks are growing more quickly than I have free templates. MOH suggested I just bought some more, but I have them - they’re just covered in fabric, and freeing them gees me along on this project.

I think it’s going to work out pretty well too, though now I think I may need an additional fabric for the larger diamonds, but we’ll see.

Four blocks of blue stars edged in lime green diamonds, joined together with a central large diamond from an embroidered vintage table cloth

And the ‘stretch’ project

My quilting timetable is still very much dominated by this project, and it’s still delivering the results. Since my last update I’ve completed the following quilts to be donated to charity:

Which makes nine completed quilts, all of which are photographed below and have been donated to the Mansfield Project Linus Coordinator.

A stack of nine charity quilts which I've made and donated to Project Linus UK Mansfield

I was able to donate these at the same time as attending a ‘Project Linus Sewing Day’ with a new-to-me patchwork group. I went along to their day to find out more about the group, take part in the day and to take these quilts along with me to donate.

Of course I started, but didn’t quite finish, another quilt on the day so I spent a short amount of time finishing this baby quilt the next day, so it’s ready for the next patchwork group meeting. It’s not my usual style of quilt, but all the materials were provided by the charity and all I needed to do was sew.

A small - baby size - Paddington 'snowball' quilt started and almost finished at the charity sewing day

I’ve still more to come on this stretch project, and hopefully at least some of the other projects too. I’ll share how I get on later in the year, and with the summer days moving behind us I’m hoping for many more sewing room days, which will definitely help!

Where there's water, there's life

* I was invited to this year’s Gardeners’ World Live and provided with a pair of tickets to the show, therefore all my posts will be marked as 'Ad’ though as usual my views and opinions are very much my own.

This garden, designed by Rachel Bailey, celebrates 30 years of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) which pretty much does what it says on the tin, and also sponsors the APL Avenue at the Gardeners’ World Shows. The garden highlights the vital connection between water, plants, people and nature and includes innovative design techniques that slow down the water’s flow ensuring it is conserved and used effectively in garden landscapes.

Looking across the boardwalk and planting to the blue gazebo and seating area

The blue gazebo structure is clearly one of the most eye catching elements of the design, and I guess the blue reflects the garden’s water theme. Then there’s the boardwalk, also used near water and/or in damp areas which again reinforces that water connection.

The boardwalk extends out through the planting to an upright wooden sculpture
The wooden posts are repeated through the garden and also act as bug hotels with holes drilled into the wood

I’m a big fan of the planting, both close up and from a distance it’s really effective - and when you’re close up you can see the pools of water emerging from the boardwalk and can easily imagine how those gravelled areas could hold more water as and when required.

The other thing I’m a fan of in this garden are the chairs with their striking design, which both stands out and fades into the background. They look pretty comfortable too.

Informal and full planting with yellow and blue/purple flowers
The corner of the boardwalk provides the perfect spot to display the two crystal goblet awards

This was a great garden, and while I don’t think it’s something I’d replicate in my own garden it is one that I can admire. I wasn’t the only one to think so as this was awarded a Platinum award and also Best in Show - the photo above proudly shows off their crystal goblets for those awards.

Subtle, understated but quietly proud - I think that sums up the whole garden to be honest.

* With thanks to Gardeners’ World for inviting me to Gardeners’ World Live, it was quite a show! I’ll be sharing more from my visit to this year’s show throughout the year - I hope you enjoy them as much as I did the show.