Grand Designs Quilt and a Giveaway!

My Grand Designs quilt and pattern are finally done! I've been working on this one for a while and I feel a real sense of satisfaction in finishing it.  It's not a difficult quilt, but all of those pieced curves just take time. I think it's well worth it though.

As mentioned in this post, the inspiration for this quilt came from a piece of artwork in the TV show Grand Designs.  I couldn't find the artwork but fortunately one of the commentors, Mitch, directed me to the designer's website that contains a picture of the sandstone artwork. When I first saw the website I said to my husband, "This wasn't the artwork, was it?" But he said, "Yes, that's the one." I had remembered the artwork quite differently. I suppose because I had only seen it for a split second, and then embellished it my mind.

I designed this quilt so that there was no wastage of fabric, and so you don't lose the fabric design across the pieced white line. I used six half yards of Alexander Henry June Bug - fabulous fabric isn't it. You could also use 4 charm packs (140 5" squares).  I machine quilted double lines on the sashing and then hand quilted single white lines going through the blocks.

I like the way the quilting shows up on the back.

The pieced back is a nod to the blocks on the front. I kept it very minimal on the advice of my husband. He likes minimal.

This one is for my sister Kelly (it's going to be hard to let go - I'm very much in love with it!)

Thanks to my awesome pattern testers/proofreaders! The pattern contains step by step photographic instructions on how to piece curves (using pins). It takes a bit of time but certainly isn't hard. I would say this pattern would be appropriate for most quilters, but maybe not absolute beginners.

Now for the giveaway details. Unfortunately I don't have any left over June Bug fabric, but I do have this charm pack of 40, 5" squares of Denyse Schmidt's original Flea Market Fancy fabric, which could be turned into a mini Grand Designs quilt, or combined with her new FMF Legacy range that has just been released.

OR you may have fallen in love with Aneela Hoey's new range "A walk in the Woods". Your choice!

And ofcourse I'll throw in my Grand Designs pattern. Just leave a comment here telling me a favourite book - it could be one for children or adults (I know it has nothing to do with the quilt, but I'm after new ideas for myself and my kids!). I'll randomly pick a winner on Wednesday 14th March.

The Grand Designs pattern is available from my downloadable patterns page and will be 20% off while the giveaway is running. If you would like a hard copy please contact your local fabric store and ask them to get it in (Australian and New Zealand stores can order from HQW Distributors).