Take one Jelly Roll.......... and Race !

I'm sharing a sewing project with you today, rather than a card.  After my visit to Cowslip Workshops' Christmas Fayre yesterday, I couldn't wait to get home and dig my sewing machine out !  All those fabulous fabrics and haberdashery.... Bliss !  This place is seriously harmful to one's bank balance !

Firstly, here are the pix from my visit to Cowslip which I promised to share yesterday.  I didn't actually take many as most of the stallholders were a little reluctant to allow me to take photographs of their displays - I guess I can understand they wouldn't want their ideas to be copied, but it is a pity as there were some yummy items. 

The whole place was decorated with beautiful festive design quilts, these are just a couple of them which were displayed outside the barns/outbuildings containing the stalls.

 

 

Here's a shot taken inside the (very crowded) restaurant - again beautifully decorated.  If you find yourself anywhere near Launceston in Cornwall in the next couple of days, it's well worth a visit to Cowslip.

 

Enough of my day out yesterday, let's get on to today's project.  Ever since I found a YouTube video of a 'Jelly Roll Race' I've been fascinated and wanted to have a go myself at making one of these.  So, when I picked up a lovely Moda Jelly Roll called 'Joy' at Cowslip yesterday I knew I'd have to sit at my sewing machine as soon as I got home !   I have to confess to being more than a tad intimidated by the amazing and intricately pieced quilt patterns around but do want to try out projects using the beautiful fabrics available. 

 

First take a Jelly Roll (packs of pre-cut fabric strips for anyone who knows little of the world of quilting - which was me a couple of months ago)

Add one of these and sew straight seams for a couple of hours

 

 

This it what you end up with (folded)



 

(Opened out)

 

(Close up of design)

 

I love the total randomness of this piecing method and of course this is only the quilt top, so there is a fair amount of work left still to do.  I plan to back it with cuddly fleece fabric and do the actual quilting in red thread.  It's a good size at 52" x 62" (sorry I just can't 'do' metric measurements !) even without a border - which I may or may not add.  It should make a warm and cosy festive quilt that'll invite every one to cuddle up with on a cold winter's night. Another Work in Progress but once it's finished I'll share more pix with you.

 

Hope you've enjoyed seeing today's project, I've a few more cards to share over the next few days, I'd love to have you visit again if you have the time.