Yes, it's true. I just love sampler quilts. Mostly I love making sampler quilts because I make so many different blocks and I never get bored. Something about making the same thing over and over just cannot keep me interested. While some quilters just love to cut everything out at once and then sit and chain piece units before assembling the final blocks, I am more of a one block at a time kinda girl. Which leads me to my newest project. My SIL and I have been sewing "together" for about 1 1/2 years now. We pick a project and each work on it at the same time using our own fabrics and acting as each other's sounding board and cheerleader. We have worked on mystery quilts, online BOMs and sometimes just select a pattern to try. It is just great to have a quilting buddy and I think it has improved our piecing along the way. Our last big project was the Gypsy Wife quilt which I just loved doing and know I might never have finished without my buddy cheering me on. Anyway, we each also have our own projects that we work on and we are both hoping to work on Bonnie Hunter's mystery starting late November. But in the meantime we have started a new project called Sampler Magic by Lori Smith.
I found this pattern in my stash and decided it would be perfect for using some Christmas fabrics that I had collected several years ago. I am using this focus fabric that is just below these first blocks.
The pattern is easy to understand for an "old school" quilter like myself. No fancy or speedy techniques (though I do enjoy those), no making units larger and then trimming, just cutting out a whole block, arranging it next to my sewing machine and sewing it together. Bliss! I just love selecting the fabrics for each block though I must admit to having a little difficulty with value in a few them. But overall I am enjoying this project and I am certainly glad that my piecing has improved this year as some of the pieces are pretty small. So here are several more blocks.
And the first row is complete.
And just for fun here is my SIL's version.
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12 comments:
what a great new project. The pattern looks like lots of fun to make. Love your fabric choices :0)
What fun to see the comparison in colors / both versions are beautiful :)
Oh so awesome! I love Lori Smith's patterns and have a ton of them. I've only done one but I love them for the same reason that you do---lots of different blocks. I love that you're doing sister quilts! I'm making Austin Bluebird sampler and, having no sisters or brothers with wives, I'm making my own sister quilt. Fun, fun, fun! XO
Our quilt group made Sampler Magic as our charity quilt some years back.
It's a great one for everyone to get involved in and very interesting to see both colour ways.
I really like the way you frame those Christmassy themes! this is just beautiful. Qnd I also really like your SIL's too--great colorways they will be family heirlooms.....hugs, Julierose
Your special fabric is just wonderful. It doesn't have the over the top Christmas feel. It is very elegant and the colors work well together. Fun seeing it in 2 colorways. You are lucky to have a sewing sister (even as an in-law). Some of us are just "blessed" with brothers!! sigh . . .
How fun to quilt with a friend! Your quilt is going to look wonderful and it's always exciting to realize our piecing/quilting skills are improving.:)
Awesome! I love how you are using the Christmas fabric! Great colorway too!
Your color choices are wonderful. This is going to be a great quilt.
Lori Smith is one of my favorite designers. I love here applique and piecing quilts. But this one is a beauty! I invite you to like this post to Hexie Weekend - it's great eye candy. And I do so love the colorway you picked for yours.
Love the Christmas fabric and blocks blend so well together. I agree, doing the same block over and over is boring. I did that a lot when I started as that was the thing. Then I found I also became bored and look for more interesting patterns now.
It's nice to find a kindred sprit, old time quilter who does one block at a time. I do not and probably could not cut everything out first and then sew. I like to see things as they progress.
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