Quilting Journal - Part 1

This is quite a special little book. It was sent to me by SummerSadie who organised the first round of Quilt around the World Quilting Bee. It came as a big surprise in the post and it arrived with a lovely pencil too.

I decided that I would use this book to plan and collect quilt block ideas as at this stage I was very very new to this technique. Having only dabbled in it in the past.

My main thought was how to find quilt blocks that I could not only create but those which I actually understood HOW to create. Often I was put off by the final outcome looking simply too confusing.

So as I researched the drew ideas in this book, often adding colour to see how it would look and also logging the site where I found it for future reference.

On occasion the owner of one of the blocks coming to me would want a particular block design that they would have a link for or a layout to follow. So I would plan in out in my book first so that I had something to follow when at the sewing machine.

The above drawing is a lovely cottage.

I really enjoyed making this block and up to that point it was by far the hardest that I had ever tried.

I also used the book to record any blocks that I found which I liked and maybe one day would be able to try either for this Quilting Bee or another. I have added drawings, print outs, notes and measurements.
I must not forget the need for matching fabric and keeping a log of this between sessions. It is quite easy to "forget" a good combination of colours during a cup of tea or a good nights sleep!

Even my own attempts at designing my own blocks were added to the book.

Seasonal research for special blocks have been added, for future use as well as for this Quilting Bee.

Then take the inspiration and sketch, or is that scribble, some of my own ideas until I get something that I like. I then take these ideas and progress these on to patterns. templates to pin and cut the fabric with.

The next page?

xx