french braids

Several weeks ago a few sewing friends and I had a sewing day together, each of us starting or working on a french braid quilt using the 'Petronella' pattern by Blue Willow Designs and using their Rainbow ruler. I used some lovely fabric designed by Holly Holderman for Lakehouse that I had (instead of using a jelly roll which this pattern is designed for), and added in a few extras for variety. Here's a peek ~





I'm really loving how this is coming together. Something I have really noticed lately in my quilting is how my tastes have expanded - from loving mainly just reproduction type fabrics when I started quilting, to now loving lots of different things, and even moving into colours I would never have chosen before. My first completed quilt top (shown below - the borders were put on after this photo was taken and it still needs to go off to be quilted) is in fairly neutral colours and more traditional type fabrics, but I am finding lately that I want to move more into prettier florals and spring colours.


I wonder if this is because I am more confident now in choosing fabrics and putting colour and pattern together, or whether at the moment as we come into spring and summer in Australia I am just feeling the need for prettier colours around me.

In any case, choosing fabrics is always adventure, and so much FUN, and this is my favourite part of my job at the quilt shop, helping customers choose their fabrics and decide on colours.

Well, I'm off to do some more sewing on my french braids, and I'm looking forward to showing you more when it's finished.