WIP Wednesday
Most of the last week has been consumed by two things, so not a lot of variety this week. I’m going to cheat and use my FAL sheet to track what I’ve done!
#1. Sew, Sew Modern Swap – I believe this is my favorite thing I’ve ever made. I sure hope my partner likes it! This will turn into a 24×24″ pillow (it’s quite large!) and I think I’ve been convinced to do hand quilting around the cranes. The paper-pieced crane pattern is by Patchwork Pottery, and is available for purchase here.
#2. Madrona Road Challenge Quilt – I finished the front of this right before having to run off to quilt guild. To create it, I made a paper-pieced pattern in Illustrator, and had it printed out at Kinko’s to the size of 4′ x 3′. All the curves are pieced because I’m insane. There are some mistakes but I’m hoping they’ll disappear with the quilting.
#3. Tote Swap – No progress on this one.
#4. April & Kerry’s quilt – No progress.
#5. Quilt for me! – No progress, but our guild is having a Sew Day on Saturday, and I think this might end up being the focus for sew day.
#6. NuBees Quilt – No progress.
Linking up to Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday link party. This week it’s hosted by Heidi at Buttons and Butterflies!
-Anne
Oh wow! Where did you find the pattern for the cranes?! It’s gorgeous!
Oh crap, bad blogger! I meant to put in the link to the pattern. I’ve fixed it now, thank you! It’s a paper-pieced pattern by Patchwork Pottery, available here: http://www.patchworkpottery.bigcartel.com/product/crane-star
(Although it appears it’s gone up in price!)
Thank you so much for your compliments!
The cranes are amazing and I think hand quilting would make it even more special!
Thank you! I am waffling but leaning more and more towards going ahead and doing the hand quilting. I just worry that it will make it a bit less durable. :/
I love the origami cranes, but your Madrona Road quilt is my favourite out of these projects. I think the curved pieces look like paths, which fits so well with the name of the fabric line!
Thank you!! I’m currently not really on speaking terms with the madrona road quilt, but I’m sure after some cooling off I’ll like it more. lol (Please tell me I’m not the only one who has this kind of reaction to quilts hahaha)
Ooh the cranes look fantastic! Hand quilting sounds like the perfect touch!
I just love your curved piecing! Seriously awesome!
Thank you, I really appreciate it!! I am definitely leaning more towards hand quilting. I have to try it at SOME point…
Your cranes are lovely! I want to make one of those as a pillow for my son who is really into origami. Your Madrona Road quilt is absolutely gorgeous!! I haven’t even started thinking about what to do for that challenge, you have set the bar high!
The pattern is actually designed to be a pillow, so it even has the measurements in there for making it into one.
I hope you do make it, it’s not difficult, just a bit fussy. Just wish the pattern was a little cheaper. I need to make a few more to justify the cost, obviously. 
I spent probably an hour or two just sketching ideas for the madrona road quilt. I rarely (maybe never??) use a single line for a quilt, and I felt really constrained by it. I’m sure you will come up with something gorgeous with it, though!!
Thanks for all your kind words, you always make my day!
The Madrona quilt is just very cool!!! I really like the background and how your lines flow…
Thanks so much.
I am planning to write up a blog post about how I made the pattern and what I learned/would do differently next time once the quilt is done (quilted and bound). I’m not sure I want to work with a paper-piecing pattern that big again for a while, though!
Love the cranes block, it’s so pretty
Thank you! It’s pretty big, at 24×24″, but should be perfect for a large pillow!
I just commented on your picture on Lovely Year of Finishes on flickr. Still loving it.
I appreciate it! And I’m glad for the LYoF for pushing me to finish it. Now to just quilt and bind it!
Your cranes are beautiful! I can see why it’s your favorite project
Haha thank you! I was also joking with my friend that it’s about as on-trend as it gets. Low volume background, rainbow paper-piecing, hexagon, linen…text prints…Yep, there we go!
The cranes are just great. I have not seen that pattern before.
Thank you! I found it a while ago when I was surfing the internet for paper-piecing patterns. (Yes, I have no life.) I’ve been wanting to make it for a while, and this presented the perfect opportunity!
Wow, those cranes and curves are seriously impressive! I keep saying I’m going to learn how to paper piece and how to sew curves … and then I postpone it. These give me more reason to move learning those skills up the list again!
Thanks so much! Paper-piecing is mind-bendy at first, but once you get over that it is seriously SO fun. I love it.
Maybe a bit obviously given the last few projects I’ve done…I SWEAR I’m going to do more improv this year…
As for curves, I got a lot of practice during the mod pop quilt-a-long. The hostess posted a video tutorial of doing pinless curves, and I have never looked back. SO much easier and faster. You can see it here:
http://shecanquilt.blogspot.com/2012/10/sewing-curves-lets-do-it.html
It really is all about relaxing and not tugging. Which come to think of it, is kinda like FMQing…
Beautiful cranes! That is quite eye catching
Thanks so much.
I have really loved all the rainbow on low volume things showing up on flickr, so I was excited to have a chance to do something in that vein. 
Wow, those cranes are awesome, I have never seen anything like them! I am stopping from the WIP hop, I would love to have you drop by my post: http://domesticdeficitdisorder.blogspot.com/2013/01/its-wednesday-wip.html
Thank you! I found it while surfing for paper-piecing patterns, and immediately fell in love with it. I have only seen a few people do it, and generally in traditional fabrics, so I was excited to do a modern re-interpretation.
I will definitely stop by your blog after I’m done responding to comments. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Really lovely. Loving the fabrics and design as well.
Thank you! I’ve had fun busting into my stash lately and using up things that I’ve been “saving.”
I love both of these pieces!! so unique
Thank you! I’ve been having a lot of fun working on them both, although I’m feeling a little burnt out on paper-piecing and ready to do some improv work!
I can see why the cranes are your favourite, and the hand quilting will put over the top into spectacular! Good work on the Madrona challenge too!
I am definitely leaning towards doing the hand stitching.
Do you think it will make it less durable, though? Regardless, I need to get over my fear of handstitching and just do it! Thank you so much for the compliments!
I absolutely adore both of your projects! Absolutely magnificent and inspirational. Thank you so much for sharing
Thank you!! The madrona road quilt was making me pull out my hair, so your super sweet comment really helps.
Those cranes are incredible – I love the depth that the subtly patterned background fabrics adds to the quilt – so much more interesting than a solid background! Beautiful!
Thank you, so much! I had a lot of fun putting together a “low volume” stash for that project, and plan to use it for many more!
Anne-love the cranes! Fabric choice is awesome. I’m sure your partner will be very happy!
Thank you, Valerie!
I just picked up the perle cotton today to do some hand-stitching on it. I hope I don’t mess it up!! o.O