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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Happy Butterflies





















A little cutting and sewing, pressing and trimming as time allows and slowly my collection of happy butterfly blocks has steadily grown. Next week I plan to begin sewing these together, most likely in a pleasant random swarm of beautiful colour! The feature collection is Biology, a recent Cloud 9 release by Sarah Watson, mixed with some Cloud 9 Cirrus solids along with a Nancy Mim's Pick a Bunch print and a smattering of organic solids also from Robert Kaufman. All wonderfully fresh and organic.

 I began with 7" squares of fabric, using a scant 3/8" seam as I find a larger seam more secure, especially when sewing on the bias. Making up my own plans as I go I figure there's no reason to stick with the conventional scant 1/4" seam. I've never really understood why this very narrow seam allowance has become the standard for the unfinished seams in quilting - I guess that's my earlier sewing background wanting to have a secure finish. Each hourglass block has been trimmed down to a 5 3/4" square, although I prefer to think of them as my butterflies.  :)


Sharing at WIP Wednesday.

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26 comments:

  1. eileeninmdApril 8, 2015 at 9:43 PM

    Very pretty, I love the happy butterflies! Enjoy your day!

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  2. DeniseinVAApril 8, 2015 at 9:58 PM

    That is going to be a gorgeous quilt! I love those butterflies.

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  3. MaryseApril 8, 2015 at 10:26 PM

    I like where this going ... beautiful fabrics and oh my! Love the butterflies print!

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  4. JeanneApril 8, 2015 at 10:48 PM

    Karen you are amazing with your quilting patterns. Love this one. Hope you are well and life is going good for you!!!!

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  5. geaninaApril 9, 2015 at 1:03 AM

    Lovely butterflies print! :)

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  6. CarlaApril 9, 2015 at 1:38 AM

    Those prints look really nice in those blocks. Happy stitching!

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  7. amandaApril 9, 2015 at 3:28 AM

    Beautiful butterflies! Your seams as stunning as well. I could admire your work all day, Karen!

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  8. GigaApril 9, 2015 at 3:46 AM

    Material to make a quilt with butterflies happier. Hard work Aug waiting, but you like it, I think. Regards.

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  9. Dirk RosinApril 9, 2015 at 4:02 AM

    kult ! :-)

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  10. JoyApril 9, 2015 at 5:18 AM

    lots of work but ot is worth it;)
    Amazing color!

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  11. Fun60April 9, 2015 at 5:29 AM

    Can't wait to see how you are going to arrange the blocks. That butterfly fabric looks wonderful.

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  12. CathyApril 9, 2015 at 6:06 AM

    If you only knew the many times I wish I could take a class on quilting from you. All the information I need to do it by myself is available, but it is so much nicer to do it with a friend who knows how to it it so well!
    I did answer you comments on my blog about the bees...
    Blessings!

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  13. Karen @ Pieces of ContentmentApril 9, 2015 at 6:47 AM

    Hi Cathy, this would be a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon or more together….if we lived closer. Maybe you will find a nearby quilter who would love to share her techniques with you. I rarely have a block of time to set aside, thankfully quilting lends itself to being worked on in small snippets of time.

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  14. RachaeldaisyApril 9, 2015 at 7:50 AM

    I always think hour glass blocks are so satisfying to sew, I love that you are calling them butterfly blocks, so apt with those beautiful fabrics. Happy sewing.

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  15. SusanApril 9, 2015 at 12:41 PM

    Your fabrics play so perfectly with this pattern! You are going to have a wonderful quilt from these pretty shapes!

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  16. KimApril 9, 2015 at 3:36 PM

    The butterfly fabric is so pretty. It blends beautifully with the mixture of the other fabrics. These fabrics will make a lovely quilt, Karen.

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  17. marmarelApril 9, 2015 at 5:17 PM

    Beautiful fabrics you use!
    Greetings from Marijke

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  18. Kelsey BoesApril 9, 2015 at 10:08 PM

    They are simply gorgeous, Karen.

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  19. AllisonApril 10, 2015 at 4:36 AM

    I love a good short cut... great photos!

    I read recently that the narrow seam allowance is so that there is less bulk added to a quilt... whether it's true or not, I really couldn't say... I'm a 1/4 incher sewer myself.

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  20. EricaStaApril 10, 2015 at 4:58 PM

    Fantastic work again!
    Many greetings by Heidrun

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  21. AmyApril 11, 2015 at 8:14 AM

    what lovely fabric, I think it'll look quite beautiful at the end :-)

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  22. Janneke April 11, 2015 at 7:28 PM

    I´m fond of butterflies, this quilt will be wonderful, but what a tremendous work.
    Wish you happy sewing next week, I´m sure you enjoy it and the result will be great!

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  23. FilipBlogApril 11, 2015 at 7:49 PM

    Very creative and nice material.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  24. LizApril 16, 2015 at 5:48 PM

    Another gorgeous quilt in the making!

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  25. AnonymousApril 17, 2015 at 2:25 AM

    The larger seam is an interesting feature. I'm curious to know if the pieces feel bulkier due to the extra fabric.

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  26. Karen @ Pieces of ContentmentApril 18, 2015 at 8:51 AM

    Hi Preeti, I often sew with a slightly larger seam, even with epp. With larger pieces like this there is no noticeable extra bulk at all. If anything the blocks sit better/flatter and pull less, being more stable. The fabrics I am using are quite a fine weight quilting cotton. If I was using a design with many tiny pieces then I may need to use a scant 1/4” seam.

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