Monday 29 February 2016

Gypsy Wife: a few more pics


Well, there's a lot of fun happening out there just now, have you seen? The Gypsy Wife 2016 QAL has started! We've all heard about it, we've all wasted spent time checking out everyone else's fabric pull, and we've all said we have too much else on, yes?




And I really wasn't going to join in, but... I am so enjoying playing with this pattern again!



Second time around though, I'm doing a few things differently! Making up the separate sections as you go rather than simply working your way through the book is so much more satisfying. Don't know why this didn't occur to me first time around! And it's so much easier to keep track of all those different sized ‘filler’ blocks by making them & putting them straight into a section! I'm also able to look at each section individually, trying to get a good sense of colour balance as I progress. 




I didn't have a ‘focus’ fabric last time, just went for the all-out scrappy look! I'm using ‘Tapestry Rose’ from the Hapi line by Amy Butler as my 'focus' with this version, and it's been really helpful to use as a guide for my colour scheme.





Fabrics are - so far- all from my stash, including Anna Maria Horner, Amy Butler, Jen Kingwell, Tula pink and a little bit of Liberty. Going for the scrappy look again, but selective scrappy!



finished 1st GW / new 2nd WiP


Oh dear, and what about those pesky long vertical strips? They gave me so much grief last time, and I'm still struggling to get them 'perfect'! Along with consistent ¼” seam and pressing ... the other thing I'm trying is not cutting them out from folded material, as sometimes you end up with a bow in them and we certainly don't need any more curves!
But the best trick I've found so far in preventing those strips from starting to sway is sewing one strip top to bottom and the next strip bottom to top, and to keep alternating ↑↓ as you add more strips.
EDIT: Great suggestion from Julielou to also try starching the strips before sewing, will give this a go with my next lot.




And there's a bit of a party happening on Instagram here, the gypsy wife quiltalong 2016
- pop over to see lots more pics!


Linking up this week with Cynthia for 'oh scrap' here


a bit more #43
Saturday nite
and, just for a change, our bookclub all went into town
along to the annual Auckland Writers Festival  
to listen to Elizabeth Gilbert (of ‘Eat Love Pray’ fame)
She has a unique perspective on creativity, speaking about life, living in the moment and
"following the whimsical path of curiosity rather than staying with the uninspired safe course"
Inspiring!


11 comments:

Megan said...

I love how it's coming along Linda! This colour palette is gorgeous.

gayle said...

I absolutely love the colors you're using! I'm having to be careful not to drool on my keyboard...

Anonymous said...

Great! The finished one & the new gypsy wife. That´s an interesting pattern, I´ll keep it on my mind - for later....

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Thanks Gayle. I’m enjoying working within this restricted colour range.
I’m thinking of the bigger blocks as clusters of bright colour like those bigger roses on the Amy B 'focus' fabric.


Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Your quilt is going to be lovely! I love the fabric you are pulling your colors from. Thanks for sharing all your great tips with Oh Scrap!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Thank you! Yes, I love the pattern – reminds me of a lovely colourful Gypsy shawl with lots of tassels hanging down!
But there are certainly some sticky areas with it! And I do remember last time around I did nearly just chuck it all into the depths of the wardrobe, but I persevered, and love my first version!
Thanx for stopping by, Linda

Julie said...

Your new GW is looking great. I have a habit of cutting strips from folded fabric too, so much easier though. starching them before sewing helps too. Looking forward to seeing more of this.

Mary Marcotte said...

What a pretty quilt! I love that scrappy look. "Selective scrappy" though? I'll have to use it the next time I'm teaching oxymoron. I'm definitely going to check out the Instagram pics! Thanks for the link.

Snuva said...

These are some lovely blocks - and I love your cheerful and colourful fabric choices!

Sorry - this isn't letting me change profiles. I blog at http://http://sparky.tasgeocaching.com

Nancy said...

I love your Gypsy Wife blocks. And that's a great tip to sew long strips from one direction, and then the other. I'll have to try it when I'm sewing strips next.
--Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

Robby said...

Seeing verion 1 & 2 next to one another is a bit of a revelation. I like them both, but the second one seems to have a place for the eye to rest here and there rather than being bombarded with color (and I am a big fan of color). Great inspiration and insight there. Thanks for sharing them that way.