Basket of Blooms Punch Needle - Two Colorways, Two Sizes

Just released, my newest punch needle pattern, Basket of Blooms, has two colorways included, as well as two sizes for each colorway. When I designed the pattern, I couldn't decide which colorway, so I decided to just make both. I made the larger sized version (9" x 12") with red and green on a black background:

Basket of Blooms Punch Needle

I made the smaller version, with a size of 6" x 7 3/4", in the lighter colorway, with the shades of red and green to emulate the colors of a faded antique hooked rug:

Basket of Blooms Punch Needle

Both of the Basket of Blooms tapestries are punched entirely using the beautifully variegated Valdani threads.

For the larger Basket of Blooms, I needed a frame instead of a hoop. At first I purchased carding strips and made my own, but I wasn't happy with it. After using it for awhile, I decided to purchase this beautifully handcrafted 18" x 18" frame on Etsy, from the shop Beecreekltd:

I added the handle so that I could turn the frame with ease, as well as pick it up to move it around. Those carding strips can be sharp! A second handle on an adjacent side would have been even better, but at the time, I was anxious to get my tapestry completed.

When punching the design, I place the frame on a low, plastic top table. I can turn the frame around easily, as it just slides on the plastic, and I don't have to worry about harming a different surface, such as wood.

The pattern is available as a paper pattern mailed to you, or as a PDF download.

 

Until next time!

Martha

Rolling Star Quilt Pattern

When making quilts, I can really bounce around from making "easy to piece" blocks, such as the simple four patch, shown here in my quilt entitled "Practice"

to blocks that are a bit more intricate, such as the Georgetown Circle block, shown here in my quilt of the same name:

Georgetown Circle

I wanted to make a small quilt made with some fabrics I designed, and when I found the rolling star block in my Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns book by Barbara Brackman, I thought it would be a fun block to piece as a 6" block. And it was!

 

And here is the little quilt I simply call the "Rolling Star Quilt", with little stars in the sashing:

Rolling Star Quilt

 

 

I had so much fun making the blocks, in fact, that I made another quilt just like it, except in a pink dominant colorway:

Rolling Star Quilt

I've just finished the pattern, and have it up on my website. My pattern includes instructions to make the rolling star block either by hand , or by machine. I've done both, and each method is fun in it's own way!

Rolling Star Quilt Pattern

 

All of the fabrics in both quilts are fabrics that I've designed and can be found in my shop on Spoonflower. 

The pattern is available as both a printed pattern mailed to you, or as a downloadable PDF.

That's all for now! I'm still trying to play catch up, and have more patterns to prepare.

Until next time!

Martha