Millefiore moving along...

for the past few weeks I have been mostly working away on my Millefiore Quilt, 

this is what I've got up on my design wall, 

I wandered away from the original plan, as set out by Katja, since I wanted to make the rosettes more fully round in places, 

then, I modified it again, making it more rectangular and filling in background spaces with a blue diamond pattern,

the rosettes are quite a lot of fun, and I've even designed a few of my own, which makes me even more impressed by all the wonderful designs Katja has done!

someone asked about the way I made the paper templates.  The advantage of making them yourself is that you can modify designs and make new shapes. Plus, you could make as many or as few as you need. 

so this is how I do it, it is actually very simple.

I just go to a site called incompetech.com which is a free graph paper generator. You can print off graph paper of equilateral triangles in any size.  Choose the .5 inch size. then, print off a stack of this paper on to 67 lb cover stock.  (. Some people may need to turn off the option in Adobe's Acrobat reader "shrink to fit" which may resize the grid slightly to fit your printer's printable area.). 

 then, it is easy to just cut the shapes you need, 

i keep all my previous shapes organized in a booklet that has clear plastic pockets, 

this is the start of the rosette for May!

(You can see earlier posts about his project by scrolling back)

EPP sew along

Today I pulled out a small EPP project; again one of the patterns from Katja Marek's new book called The New Hexagon.

It is made from just one block sewn down to a felt backing to use as a candle mat.

I am getting ready for the Millefiore Quilt Along that anyone can participate in!  All you need is to get your own copy of the book, and then register on Katja's web page.  She will email you instructions for a rosette each month!  The first one starts in just a few days, January!

This is a sneak peak of some of the rosettes that she has photos of posted on her instagram feed,

aren't they pretty?  The first months rosette is the largest... 

If you want to register, just go to www.katjasquiltshoppe.com/the-new-hexagon:

If you need the book, I think we have copies at the store, and more on order.  

I am really looking forward to getting started!   Hope you decide to join up!  Oh, yes, and there is an instagram tag if you want to view the progress of other participants too--- #thenewhexagonmillefiorequiltalong

Happy stitching!