Twisting Away

      Finished another Jelly Twist (Cluck, Cluck, Sew) top. It is a fun pattern and easy if you layout each block (I use cardboard sheets stacked) to sew. This time, instead of batiks and white, I used strips given by QuiltDiva Julie and low volume whites for the background. It had a rocky start. Looks real different from the other one, but still fun!

I will add a scrappy border yet as I hate tons of seams in the binding.

Previous Jelly Twist

Jelly Twist 1 and 2

      I have had just plain trouble writing and posting. I want to, need to, but my ability to multi-task in my life is not where I would have it. Other stuff is getting done, but not writing. There is a certain mental energy and focus that writing takes and I find myself often lacking it. I am going to try to get on track.
       The last time I showed Jelly Twist by Cluck, Cluck, Sew, most of it was together. However, the more I complete tops, the more I dislike having lots of seams in the binding for bulk and also I want more fabric with allowance to trim. So, I sewed extra colored strips made up of scrappy batiks for an outside border. If I trim after quilting, it will not change the quilt itself. I like the finish of it. So, I girded up, pulled fabric and sewed it on. Now, ready for the quilting pile (like a lot of other ones done).

     So, Jelly Twist 2 is from strips sent by Quiltdiva Julie. I thought I would put the black strip in the center of each block, so I made some sample blocks and tried it out. Nope, the black took over and made a different look than what I wanted. Unfortunately, I had sewn all the center black strips with the white squares on to be efficient and had to dig out other white fabric and cut squares. I found some other color strips I had to supplement for the black ones. I should have just cut the strips I needed for the sample and then evaluated instead of cutting perfectly good strips I now have to salvage.

Yikes with the black, right?

Ah, better, ok?

Set of two rings of blocks. Decided to leave out the whites with real darks from now on. Back to digging out more strips.

     Now, out of 48 blocks, I have 30 sewn. The other blocks I layed out on pieces of cardboard stacked up so I know I have enough strips to sew all 48 blocks.

Jelly Twist understated tones

      A Cluck Cluck Sew pattern, Jelly Twist is a great size (60 x 80) using one jelly roll and white strips. I started the blocks on the quilt retreat in March, but webbed and completed the top this week. I am toying with putting a 2 1/2" strip all around so I can have few seams on the edges in the binding, but it would make it bigger. I have been trying to stick with a 60 X 80 comfort quilt size. It was an easy pattern and I loved putting it together. The strips were a gift and they have a very nice forest feel, but hard to photo correctly.
     I have another one in the works for some strips that QuiltDiva Julie sent me and will get it cut up as well as another strip one that is all sorted for strip sewing.

The next Jelly Twist

In and Out, Jo's Country Junction free pattern all ready