CRAFTY | MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS

ByGnomeAngel

Back in June I wrote about a quilt pattern, Midnight at the Oasis, which I had fallen in lust with. Over the past few months I’ve been slowly stashing away fabrics that I’ve wanted to use to make my version of this quilt.

The minute I decided to make this pattern I had it in my head that I wanted to do black and white background fabrics with bright, bold colours.  I have been so excited to get started on this quilt.

gnomeangel_midnightattheoasis_7329…top is hand pieced, bottom is paper pieced…

This quilt pattern calls for applique (something I’ve not done before), isosceles triangles (something I’ve never done before) and Y seams (another never done before).

It took me 2 attempts (and much googling) to work out how to work isosceles triangles.  In the end I made my own foundation piece template. (I know, right? My own friggin template – how far have I come!!!)

I was really pleasantly surprised to see that my hand pieced version is as good (if not better in some parts) than the versions that I made using foundation piecing.

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The middle block required me to applique circles and I had such a blast doing these.  I was lucky enough to get an applique lesson from Michelle (formerly Buttontree Lane) on the Quilt Delivery Day for the Annual Exhibition.

With a lesson under my belt I used Michelle’s “How to Applique Perfect Circles” tutorial to make this block and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.  Admittedly the green circle looks more like a 50 cent piece than a circle… but it’s not a bad start.

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With the middle section done it came time to do the Y seams. I was really surprised at how these came together.  I need more practice, but they’re not too bad for a first timer.

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With the center done I decided to procrastinate on making a decision about the sashing and move on to cutting fabric for the next row of blocks.

I had such fun working this out.  It’s not a style that I would normally do and I’m relishing the adventure.

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While I was cutting out the block backgrounds I was auditioning sashing fabrics.  I tried a couple of different patterned fabrics and in the end I settled on the black version of Pearl Bracelets. I love the strong contrast, but I’m a little concerned at how it’s going to translate as the quilt top gets bigger.  The only thing that I keep in my mind is that the sashing will only be 1 inch wide.  I’m thinking of it like a framing mat.

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The quilt needs 80 orange peels for the next row and so it came time to draw and cut out the orange peels.

Originally I planned to do the majority of the orange peels as 4 of the same fabric, but the more I started playing with the blocks the more I decided to mix it up.

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It was fun – like putting a puzzle together.

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I love playing with this. It’s been such a fun process.  I finally settled on a layout (thanks to HUBBY)…

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Now I just have to turn the edges and applique them down. That should only take a year or so, right?

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7 Comments

  1. I love your colors! I’m trying to decide if I should tackle this and am getting very tempted!

  4. Angie, this looks great, I too like the mixed up orange peel pieces. I like the strong contrast of the black sashing/border. Is there another border before you add the orange peel squares? Great work on your template making, you have certainly learnt a lot and grown in confidence.

    1. Thanks Raylee! There’s not another border – the peels will shrink down (seam allowance) and they’ll go against the black border (the black border ends up being an inch wide) and then there’s another 1″ border around the peels before another border of applique and pieced blocks.

      I’m thinking if this thing turns out the way I hope it’ll have to be a custom quilt job to do it justice. I’m totally in love with it (despite the fact that the piecing is totally whacked) and think this will be the first quilt I actually contemplate hanging on the wall and not putting on the bed!

    1. Dude! I took another look at yours this morning on IG and you could totally still finish your peels before me. You only have a few to go and then it’s done! Are you not doing the flower baskets in the corners of the next row?

      We can keep each other motivated, promise! 🙂

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