Are you tired of hearing about the dragon quilt yet? Well, I’ve started work on the last dragon, and should have the block done by the end of the week! Then it’s just building a quilt around the blocks. No problem.
Here’s how the second dragon turned out. I’m definitely feeling more at ease with the process (although my thread still breaks from time to time for no reason I can discern). Thank you to everyone who suggested the squeaking from my machine was probably my quilting foot. It totally was! PHEW!
Once again, I totally stole the border idea from Sarah @ {no} hats in the house. Also you should check out her blog because she just made a brilliant double wedding ring in liberty and oakshott. I’ll wait here.
Anyway, the third block is the smallest, but also (I think) the cutest. Or will be when I get the back leg and tail sorted. And I figure out where to put the wings. Trivial matters. (She says after having used up an entire eraser trying to get them to look right.)
The quilt will be larger than this (so the blocks will be more spread out), but this is where the dragon blocks will end up roughly on the quilt. So I have quite a bit of space to fill up with other stuff. I should figure out what that stuff is going to be some point soon.
Because I needed a bit of a break from the dragon quilt, I partnered up with Katy @ Lethargic Lass to bring you a couple of paper-piecing blocks! The first is the 3D X-Factor block, which is a 6″ finished block. Shown above are 4 blocks put together.
The second is the Boston Block, which finishes at 12″ and has two possible layouts shown above. Both are available for purchase over at Craftsy! Both of the blocks are designed by Katy, and the digital patterns were created by me.
I’m hoping to do a lot more pattern making in the new year (both free and purchasable), so hopefully there will be many more to come!
Linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced and her WIP Wednesday link party!
38 thoughts on “The Last Dragon”
No (response to your first question). Pfffffft (response to undeserved praise). And (saving the best for last), this is such an unexpected favorite of mine! The added whimsy of butterflies and sprouting seeds alongside the dragons takes me back to the magical Puff 😉 And sort of makes me want to add a dragon quilt to my wish list. #inspirationoverload
Phew! (first) Hah! <3 (second)
OMG please make a dragon quilt. I would love to see your interpretation of it! Also, I suggest Oakshott instead of Kaffe shots because that glimmery color is really great for dragons. 😀 I figure for a 9 year old who is going to beat this up, Kaffe shots will have to do, though. #meanauntie
dooooooooomity doom doom dooooooooooooooooom!!!!!
(seriously woman, this is amazing. How could I ever get tired of seeing it?)
I have to say, I have to psych myself up to do each of these dragons, because there really isn’t any picking out mistakes. So the Doomity-Doom-doom-DOOM feeling is still there. 😉 I’m going to be relieved when the scary bits are done!
(And move into the “omfg now what” stage of scary bits.)
I will never get tired of this quilt. It’s amazing. I love the little butterfly. And I like that he’s a little softer and looks all sleepy 🙂 maybe his wings should be tucked up resting too?
E xx
Thanks Erin! It seems with each one I’ve managed to get the dragon to look younger. 🙂 This one is more “just out of the egg” age, I think! Maybe I will give him little wee wings that wouldn’t possibly work yet. I like the idea of them resting, too!
Sarah’s DWR is in my top five favorite things of the year. Period.
I’m expecting this to crack the top ten, so don’t let me down. 😉
I love the whimsy, the intent, the fantasy colours, and the thread sketching. Can you make me a unicorn!? Haha
Her DWR and her shooting star quilt are both in my top 5. It’s getting a little crowded with her up there. 😉
Excellent, NO pressure or anything!
Also, I will TOTALLY make you a unicorn. I wonder if I can find sparkly thread somewhere. I already have a vision of this in my head. 😀
Unicorns! Now we’re talking, though I do love your dragons to, they’re so sweet.
Hahaha well if/when the unicorn gets made, you know it’ll show up here! 🙂
I never tire of seeing these dragons! This is one of the best orignial quilts I’ve seen in a long time. The big payoff…seeing that little girls face when she opens up this delicious gift!
Oh wow, thank you so much, Jayne!! What a super sweet compliment. 😀 I’m so close to this thing, that I just see what’s wrong with it. And I know how fickle kids can be, so part of me is terrified she’s not going to like it. o.O
I love each one more than the last. I agree with Erin, perhaps the wings could be folded and tucked down over the shoulder/back — but what a sweet, sweet dragon.
Thank you Pat! 😀 This one is definitely the baby of the bunch (although they’re all meant to be young ‘uns) and I love the idea of the wings tucked in. 🙂 I think the wings are going to be smaller than the others to make it look even more baby-like.
I love the look of thread sketching!! I haven’t tried it yet. Paper piecing looks complicated but makes awesome quilts. Something else I want to learn!! Love those blocks 🙂
Thank you! I’d never tried thread sketching before this project. 🙂 It’s just like free-motion quilting, except that you go over things a couple of times. 🙂
I love paper-piecing, so I might not be the right person to ask. 😀 I love the precision you get from it! It’s not too complicated, especially if you’ve done other stitch and flip techniques. It’s just like everything else, it requires some practice. 🙂
I love, love, love your dragons! Great job!
Thank you! 😀 You’re all giving me the courage to go face that last one. 🙂 Each time it’s a little scary because if you make a mistake, it’s really hard to pick out (if not impossible). So I kind of have to give myself a bit of a pep talk before tackling each one! Once I get going, it’s fine, for the most part. 🙂
Did dragon #2 burn up the flower?? I like the dragons. Not so sure about the purple walls from the S-W color post. And I LIKE purple.
keep on truckin’!
Hahahah yes. It was an accident! He’s young and learning how his fire works. 🙂
The jury seems really mixed about that purple! I think it takes a certain kind of house to rock that color, and in that house it’s beautiful. My house…not that house. LOL
suuuuuuper cute.
Thank you!! It’s definitely been a process. 🙂 I’m hoping to do another quilt like this without a crazy deadline attached!
This is totally my favourite quilt ever! Your talents are legen-wait-for-it-dary!!!!
Awwww, thank you Katy!! Although I know it’d be better with doxies on it. 😀 Also I totally laughed at the legen-wait for it-dary! <3
Man, I sure hope I can make a quilt to go around these blocks that doesn't suck. I really have NO clue what to do with the rest of it. :/ Other than flying geese in there somewhere. Because I've never done them and that's silly.
There are a number of things that can cause your thread to keep breaking. Old thread breaks easily. I’m assuming this isn’t the problem. More likely it is that the needle you are using may have a small burr in the eye. Try changing your needle and see if that helps. Still breaking? Take the face plate off the machine and feel for small burrs. They can snag the thread and cause breakage. Use a small very fine file to remove the burrs. These occur when the needle is bent by pulling your fabric or sewing to quickly thru extremely thick seams. Once in a while, it is from having threads stuck in the tension plate (more often this just causes tension to go off)so take a needle or dental pick and fish between the plates. Hope this helps.
It’s only breaking when I use my FMQ foot, with piecing it’s fine (and I’ve never had a breaking issue). I’ve been assuming it’s user error (I am seriously the biggest FMQ noob ever) and perhaps in areas where there is a lot of stitches on the back, it creates too much friction and breaks the thread? Is that a thing? There is no education in these guesses I’m making! lol I will definitely check between the tension plates and check for burrs though. 🙂
When I come by on the 13th maybe I’ll have you take a look. 😀 I’ll be working on the quilt (although I’ll be done with the dragons by that point).
Your dragons are just so adorable – I could never get tired of seeing them. I wish I had your vision and ability!
Thank you, so much! Although I am going to admit I don’t really have a “vision” other than “make three dragons, build quilt around it.” That second part is worrying me a bit. Someone recently asked me how I planned to quilt it given the big dragon panels. Uhm.. Well, crap.
Your dragons are adorable! Your niece will love this quilt! Can’t wait to see it finished.
Thank you! I have nightmares that she’s going to hate it, but I guess if she does, I can buy her some legos and keep it for myself, right? 😀
I must have missed the first two, definitely glad I caught this one though. They’re adorable! I agree though, the last one is (will be) definitely the cutest 🙂
Thanks Pippa! I just finished the stitchwork on the last one, and I’m really pleased with how it came out! Definitely my favorite of the three. 🙂 I’ll have a post up tomorrow with the photo of it!
These are so amazing Anne – I’m in awe of your skills! I love how cute you managed to make all the dragons, and I’m going to echo the comment about this being one of the best original quilts I’ve seen lately.
That is such a great compliment, thank you so much! It’s funny that this quilt started with the comparison critic post and now I’m getting compliments such as this, which blows my mind! (Comparison critic, still in there. Dangit!) I have now moved into the “omg how do I build a quilt around these that doesn’t suck?!” stage of design fear. lol
Love, love, love. I am going to be so sad when all the dragons are done 🙁 maybe you should make more… Yah?! 😉
Awwww Kelsey, you are so sweet! I actually just finished the last one (she needs a border, though) but I have a feeling there will be more quilts of this nature in my future. 😀
Although it’s making me want a new machine something fierce..
Still loving those dragons. But I LOVE those X blocks too! 🙂
Thank you Amanda! Katy and I are talking about having a pillow-along with the X blocks. 🙂 (Because QALs are a big commitment and PAL is such a cute acronym!)