Snug as a bug!

That's what I'll be when this little lap quilt is complete -

 

I decided to try to use up all of the wool fabric that I had - so this really is a scrap quilt - which is already becoming a favourite before it's quite finished - maybe partly because the weather forecast is for much colder weather and I will be able to curl up under this beauty!

To get the most out of the pieces of wool I had I decided to cut more squares and rectangles in different sizes - I have already cut out rectangles using Bigz die 658113 - 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" unfinished

 http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/658113/sizzix-bigz-xl-die-rectangle-4-x-8-finished-4-1-2-x-8-1-2-unfinished

 

and squares using Bigz Die 659838 - 4 1/2" unfinished square - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/659838/sizzix-bigz-die-square-4-finished-4-1-2-unfinished

using the Big Shot machine, and then

I also cut out some 3 1/2" unfinished squares with die http://www.sizzix.co.uk/catalog#q=657608 

and some 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" unfinished rectangles - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/catalog#q=657625

Finally I cut a few 6 1/2" unfinished squares - using the Big Shot Pro http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/656250/sizzix-big-shot-pro-machine-only-periwinkle-w-standard-accessories and die http://www.sizzix.co.uk/catalog#q=657264d 

My plan was to create 12" finished blocks - so I could make some using all of the 4"/8" shapes and some using the 3"/6" shapes --

The photo below shows the lay out for the 4"/8" pieces

 and this photo shows the layout for the 3"/6" pieces. ( the photo is a cheat because the proper one came out a very strange colour so I laid out another block but didn't have enough rectangles!!!)

I had enough pieces to make a total of 16 blocks which I decided to lay the pieces out randomly, but took care to make sure that the colours and patterns were mixed in each row.

I joined the blocks into 4 rows of 4 and then joined the rows - so I have a lap quilt measuring 48 1/2" square.

Just a note that I still only used a 1/4" seam and I pressed the seams flat open on the wrong side to try to reduce bulk at the seams.

I like it so much I'm going to add another photo -

I'm going to back the quilt with either a plain wool or fleece - I'll show you a photo of it finished next week.

And just as I was going to finish this blog - one of my friends, Alex, suggested that there were enough pieces left to make a cushion so I trimmed the remaining pieces to 3 1/2" squares and laid them out like this -

 

 which when stitched together became a cushion front -

which then just left this -

I'm very pleased to have used so much of these beautiful fabrics and will show you the finished quilt and cushion next week - along with a lovely valentine project.

Keep warm this week - I'm hoping for snow to go and play in with the grandchildren - we can hope.

Angela