Saturday, September 7, 2013

St. Louis Leftovers

During a short house-sitting gig in Victoria last month, I wanted to have a quickie project for the evenings.  I grabbed my gorgeous fat 1/8th stack of Shelburne Falls purchased from Westwood Acres, some coordinating Kona solids, a Sketch and Pearl Bracelet or two. I also threw in a couple of Chicopee prints since they go perfectly with Shelburne Falls.  Pre-cutting 4" strips before we left home meant I could just set up Lise-Lotte's sweet Featherweight and piece to my heart's content as soon as we arrived!

The plan was a St. Louis 16-Patch using Steffani's great tutorial.  The 16-patch blocks are huge, so the quilt top goes together very quickly. Depending on your choice of big print, small print or solid, the blocks can look quite different. It was a perfect holiday project that didn't require much thought.

Shelburne Falls Table Runner

Because I had long F8's instead of Fat Quarter's that the tute calls for (my strips were about 21" long), there were leftover pieced sections after cross-cutting the initial strip sets. They were so pretty I couldn't chuck them, so this table runner was born (thanks to Leanne's encouragement on IG). Like so many modern things I make, this runner doesn't really go with my house - at least until we update the living/dining room, so I think I will gift it to a friend turning 50. Her home is much more modern and I know she likes these colours.

Shelburne Falls Table Runner

Shelburne Falls Table Runner

The quilting is simple organic lines, all in Aurifil of various weights. I just chose the colours that coordinated. I'm not fussed about thread weights for quilting, but usually aim for the 28 or 30 wt.  The binding is Kona Grass Green and the backing is 3 different shades of Kona aquas from a FQ stack I have.

Shelburne Falls Table Runner
Front: 28 wt #5006, Back L-R: 28 wt variegated #4653 2ED, 40wt #2730, 28wt #5003 and 50 wt #4668. The two grey spools are from the V & Co. Simply Color collection and the orange spool is from the Tula Pink box set, both generously sent to me by Aurifil for the Patchwork Please Zakka 2.0-along.

As soon as the 16-patch quilt is actually quilted, I'll share that too. If you've got a bunch of fat quarters to use up, I highly recommend this fun patchwork quilt. You can go crazy with colour, or keep it subdued with a constant solid colour paired with large prints. It would be a great charity quilt pattern for guild sew-ins, or a fun block to swap at retreats.

13 comments:

Live a Colorful Life said...

It's beautiful! You still have my address, right? Ya know--in case you make something else fabulous you want to part with...

Laura said...

That looks great! I love your fabric choices (and the aurifil - mmm)

Leanne said...

It is a wonderful table runner, I am looking forward to seeing the quilt. I am alway happy to be encouraging too.

Catherine said...

It looks fantastic, what a great way to use up the scraps

Charlotte said...

it's lovely, and I have similar scraps left from my scrappy trip along. You have me thinking...

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

V nice, Krista. I really love the green binding - perfect (but not obvious) choice. Maybe you should be squirrelling these things away for when you finally do update your place!

Elsa said...

Lucky friend! Looking forward to seeing the quilt ~ I may have to make one, I've got so many fabrics that need using!

mascanlon said...

That's my plan for today, a pile of happy Ann Kelle sweet treats and a few solids mixed in for fun and my Granddaughter will have a fun cuddle quilt for Fall. Pattern is just so fun and easy to do!

Debbie said...

Love this and how it came together!

Katy Cameron said...

Very nice, and love the thread choices :o)

Sonia said...

What a great way of using the pretty left-overs (its hard to say scraps when they look that good!). I love all the different thickness of strips. I'm sure it will make your friend very happy! x

Canadian Abroad said...

Best use of leftovers I've seen in while.

Heather D. said...

I love the variation on the 16 patch. Really cool!