Spooky Part I - Creating A Pattern Collection and Making a Quilt

Every pattern starts with a sketch.

The collection is created from several prompt-based challenges. Each prompt, words of autumn and Halloween topics, served as source of inspiration for one pattern.

In this step, planning for colours is already included.

Now the pattern collection is done !

Out of all resulting pattern designs and their colourways, I selected a set of my  favorites and best matching patterns in red, orange and purple colour.

The number of patterns required for the planned quilt is determined by the quilt design I chose.

Making the first cut is always scary - what if something goes wrong?!

But thanks to the quilt instructions I had this time, I trusted the process and began.

Once I get into it, the cutting is actually my second most favorite part of any patchwork project !

Based on the sketches I digitally created the first motifs for the patterns, to set a style and colour scheme.

This is the cornerstone for all patterns will be made to match and be combined with each other.

Its the Hazel Quilt, a design plus instructions by Erica Jackman is my choice for my Halloween-themed quilt. (Visit www.kitchentablequilting.com to see more of Ericas work !)

Digitally I put my patterns into the provided template, to plan out and better imagine what the finished quilt would look like.

After four hours, all required pieces for the quilt top are cut and ready, both the coloured and the neutrals

Laying out and seeing all pieces in neat stacks always makes me so fidgety to start sewing and see the finished quilt.

Sewing begins with the smallest pieces, that are the 'boring' ones in most cases, because those are needed in high numbers.

For the flying geese you can see in production in this photo, over 80 blocks are required for the small throw size quilt.

Following the quilt instructions I learned a new time effective technique for those blocks, too. 

With the finished flying geese blocks and all the colourfull patterned pieces, I worked on a full layout for the quilt top on the floor.

I was not fully happy with the digital version I did before. While it gives a good preview, the physical layout method is more intuitive and direct for the final planning.

My first try did was not specific enough . . .

Another very handy thing is chain piecing, for which pieces are fed into the sewing machine one after another without cutting the yarn in between.

For one, yarn tension stays perfect at every new seam and secondly, you can save a bit of yarn this way.

And really, cutting the chains apart afterwards is so much fun ! :)

. . . so I wasn't all happy with that one either and a second Layout followed, this time with each and every piece of the final quilt top.

There was just about enough space on our living room floor to fit it all !

For this layout I didn't quite follow the instructions for the Hazel quilt and did my own version.

Finally, finally, finally the big part of sewing starts !

Now through careful and strategic planning, bigger blocks are made by combining all the small pieces.

After a bit of a break in the process, I moved back to my sewing space because it is kinder for my back than crouching in the living room.

A sturdy pizza box came in handy for transporting the pieces to the sewing machine in a sorted manner, one block at a time. 

The carefully ironed blocks practically fly through the machine !

With every seam and newly combined block, the entire piece becomes a bit harder to handle.

That's the main reason why ironing them in between is helpful. It makes sewing smoother and the last big ironing so much easier !

Since I'm a bit lazy sometimes, I moved my sewing machine to the living room, to work next to my layed out pieces. But that doesn't only mean shorter ways but also less confusing the pieces which is very convenient.

Then it's time to iron again. When the quilt top was in 12 bigger block pieces, I did do some more ironing for safety and while the pieces are still easy to handle in size.

I always start on the back side, to make sure the seam allowances are nice and flat. All the fabric will be more smooth now and the blocks can be sewn together more precise.

Sewing the quilt top works especially good with "nesting" - that means placing the seam allowances of to-be-sewn-together pieces so that they face away from each other (green marker). Ironing or fingerpressing them before sewing makes the fit better. This way, those connection points won't be too thick in the end.

Sometimes, directions of the seam allowances don't match, in that case I cheat a bit by ironing them the other way (red markers).