Hello, Quilt Top!

 My Apple Pie Penny Patch Quilt Top

is ready to link up with the other pretty quilts in progress at

Stitched In Color

Here is a close-up of the fabrics.

My top is an oversized throw, 66" by 78",

with 11 columns and 13 rows

and 143 blocks.

The background is not as scrappy as some of the other quilts

as I really love this 

Riley Blake print on which I based the color scheme and theme of my quilt
and which pulled all the other fabrics together.

When I started this project, I was thinking to make a picnic quilt.

I did encounter some challenges putting this top together.
Read more in A Tale of 20 Blocks.

I do think this cottage style quilt top has enough vintagy appeal to put it on a bed in the summertime, so I am saving the last of the print to make a couple of pillowcases.

For the backing I am going to use this older print from P&B textiles
that has been in my stash for awhile and
the blue apple print and the blocks
that did not make the front of the quilt.

Anyway you slice it, I like pie!

:)

Apple Pie Penny Patch Layout ~ On My Design Wall

On My Design Wall

My Apple Pie Penny Patch Quilt-Along Layout

I am getting closer to having the top ready to piece.

These fabrics and blocks actually do not photograph well.

It is much prettier, lighter and brighter than it looks.

However, taking the photos and stepping back and studying them helps.

Katniss has been a good quilty kitty helper. 

Tomorrow Katniss and I  will move a few more blocks around
and then we may be ready to piece the top.

Sweet quilty dreams!

~ <3 ~

A Tale of 20 Blocks

On My Design Wall - Penny Patch Quilt In Progress

(updated) 

I am working on my Apple Pie Penny Patch for this quiltalong ...

@ Stitched in Color

Here are my 20+ blocks for the Linky Party

Well ... actually I am looking at these blocks on my wall  and moving them around every once in awhile as I work on other things today. 

This is what I had at one point on my wall ... 

(1) Penny Patch - Scrappy 

This is what I had on my design wall after putting up a stack of the penny patch blocks with the 6.5" squares.

Very scrappy.

Scrappy usually makes me happy.

But this is looking a bit too busy-busy to me.

I am not scrappy happy.

Hmmm ... what to do?

While I thought on this, I made a few more blocks ...

 Butterfly helped.

Katniss helped

After studying my design wall, I decided that maybe it was the scrappy low volume and neutral 6.5" blocks that are the problem for me. 

So I took out these 6 blocks ...

... and I added these 6 blocks which were already cut ...

Then with more thought and a little help from my friends I took out the blue.

.. and this is where I am now on my design wall ...

(2) Penny Patch - Focus Fabric - No Blue

I think I like this much better.

I have taken out the blue apple print.  It was not in my original color scheme.  It was a late addition when I happened upon it in my stash, with the apple basket print and I added both when I was cutting.  The apple basket print with the green background is staying.  The blue apple print is too strong and the wrong color and I will save it for the backing or for placemats or something.

I am going to cut more of the light fruit and veggie print (below) which is actually the fabric that started this quilt. Somehow this print is just low volume enough to make the rest of the fabrics work better.

Awhile ago I bought two yards of it from the sale rack at a nearby quilt shop because it appealed to me. This fabric is the one that I used to develop the color scheme for my Penny Patch Quilt. When I started pulling the other apple prints and red and greens and yellows, I decided I had to go back to the quilt shop and see if they still had the bolt, thinking I woud like to use it for the backing of my quilt.  I bought the rest of the bolt, about two and a half yards so I can at least make a pieced backing with this as the primary fabric.

I will be putting at least 2-3 in each row along with the other large squares.

So now I have a scrappy Penny Patch Quilt with a "focus fabric."

Time to sew on!

Also linking up today with

Design Wall Monday @ Patchwork Times

If any of my readers would like to comment with your thoughts on whether you like the

(1) Scrappy
or
(2) Focus Fabric - No Blue

arrangement better, I would appreciate your feedback.

TIA!

Have a Happy Quilty Day!

:-)

Penny Patch Cut and Ready to Sew!

Katniss says, "It is about time! 

Where have you been?

I have been right here in the sewing room waiting for you."

The Penny Patch Quilt-Along is in full swing at

Stitched in Color

and there are some great quilts in the

Linky Party

I best get sewing if I am going to join in!

I am making an Apple Pie Penny Patch quilt.

Here are my fabrics:

I  picked these fabrics a month ago and was ready to go and posted this here in 

Pick Your Own Fabrics 

  and then while I was waiting for the cutting requirements, I got busy with other projects and these pretty fabrics sat in stack in my sewing room.

This is my color scheme: 

Fabric A - green

Fabric B - red

Fabric C ... pop color ... yellow

Low Volume

(hmmm ... looks like I shall be moving the dark check over to the red/black side)

Fabric N - the squares in the front.

I am making a twin-sized Penny Patch Quilt.

When I fussy cut the squares from the apple pie recipe print,
I had some small pieces left over so I cut them to 2" squares rather than cut a strip
so I could save the remaining print for another project.

Here are my cut 2" strips. 

You can really see the contrast here between the colors and the low volume.

That black/white check is definately getting moved left as it sticks out too much to be low volume and the light green/red print with the white background will be moved over to the middle with the lighter fabrics.

Here are all my squares.

Time to sew!

My 1st 2 Penny Patch Blocks!

Katiniss and I will be in our sewing room.

Have a happy quilty day!

:-)

Pick-Your-Own Fabric

 

An Apple Pie Penny Patch Quilt!

 

 

I have been picking fabrics in the scrapatch today!

 

I am participating in the

 

 

@

Stitched in Color

 

 

Although I like to think I know a little bit about quilting,

I know have sew much more to learn.

In today's  Color Scheme Ideas installment

I feel like I have already learned some valuable

new tips for picking colors and fabrics.

 

 

My A&B Colors ~ Red and Green (Apples!)

My C  Color ~ Yellow (Sunshine!)

2 Medium Brown ~  (Piecrust!)

 

Here are my red and green and yellow fat quarters

with some of my low volume fabrics.

This is a very eclectic assortment of fabrics.

In addition to apple prints from three different lines,

there are classic Thimbleberries, a Kate Spain modern geometric,

two prim type sheep prints, some squiggly sewing theme scrips,

 a Riley Blake print, and a some other random stash fabrics.

I have added a touch of black for a bit more contrast ...

 

 

 

 Butterfly helped by adding the black and white to this quilt ... ;)
 

My low volume neutrals are grayish green and tan.

 

 I  picked through my stash ...   added and subtracted ...

arranged and rearranged ... switched fabrics in and out ...

 

 

This is what I have right now ... I like!

 

When I have finalized my choices I will cut fat quarters

from the yardage so I start with the 30 FQs called for to

make the twin size quilt.

 

 

Mmmmmmm ... I love apple pie!

(I just may have to bake an apple pie now.)

 

Hope you are having a fun day in your fabric patch, too.

 

Tomorrow I am planning to enjoy the quilts at a nearby quilt guild show from the Tewksbury Piecemakers. 

These quilters always put on a good show.

 

May you have a happy quilty weekend, too!

 

~ <3 ~