I’ve just joined in my very first communal patchwork effort. We each had to appliqué a cat block – pattern provided – using the vliesofix method. It’s a surprise for a friend.
No colour was stipulated just that we had to use Japanese fabrics. I’m not a very good embroiderer so I’m a bit worried. I hope my block doesn’t let the team down. That would be awful on my first foray into group creativity.
Anyway here it is in all its “glory”.
I’d really like to take part in a Quilting Bee, Block Swap or Challenge one day with other bloggers but I’m just not sure where to find such an animal and/or how exactly it works. If you know, I’d love to have some information. Thanks
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I like the way you’ve used the fabric to suggest the body contours. You could have a look at the scquilters on line group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scquilters/ They do block swaps.
Thanks Dot. I checked scquilters but it looks like the swaps are all cancelled.
I think your cat is lovely, and I don’t think you have to worry about letting anyone down! Your friend will be tickled to get it. If not, you can send it to me…..8-)
Thanks Linda
There are heaps of quilting bees on flickr http://www.flickr.com/groups/quiltingbeeblocks/
Your cat is lovely, I don’t think you have to worry about whether or not it’s up to scratch. 🙂
Thanks Kate I’ll have a look.
I think your block looks very sculptural! Very 3-D!
For your next communal effort may I suggest trying a Round Robin quilt with 5 other quilters? Each starts with a medallion and passes it on with some fabric. Everyone contributes to everyone’s quilt top with each planned round, say: triangles, then applique, then squares, then curved, then “anything goes.” Oops, I think I’ve forgotten a round. There are books on how to do it.
Anyway, each quilter adds fabric to her round, and if you do it as my group did, keep it secret from the medallion-maker. That way when the top is revealed it’s a fabulous surprise. I fashioned a label and had all the makers sign their contribution.
Cheers!
It’s lovely and you needn’t worry, it’s very neatly stitched. I hope you find a good bee or swap to join in on.
Love the cat – very feline looking.
Block swaps – can be fun but they are a huge committment. You make one block for every person in the group which could mean 20-25 blocks.
The Round robin is fun but also a big committment. You start with your own center block and then pass your block and any extra fabric you have on to the next person who adds borders all around the center block… you don’t get to see your quilt again until all of the rounds(turns) are done. I’ve done them both ways – with set rounds (squares, triangles, etc.) and with no set shapes for each round. The quilts that were done with no set shapes were much better as the people were free to design each round – they got very creative and the resulting quilts were gorgeous. We also passed a journal with first block that told how we wanted to use the quilt, andy dos or don’ts(such as NO orange). And the quilters of each round also wrote in the journal about why they did what they did on the round.