Monday, April 22, 2019

Be A Diamond Blog Hop and Giveaway

Hi blog hoppers!
Carol has organized another fun blog hop for us! This time the blog hop is for projects featuring the diamond shape.


See the shape of this golden yellow diamond template? That's called a "round brilliant cut" shaped diamond, which provides the maximum reflection of light. I thought it was a perfect project to work on for the Be A Diamond blog hop.  Although some quilters (including me) are wary of using templates, I cut my template diamonds using 2.5" strips and it was quick and easy. 

Me, Susan, Marj and Barb all working with the diamond template
This project was started during a quilt retreat last winter. What a surprise it was to find that there were 4 of us at retreat who brought the diamond templates to start working on this quilt pattern. Two of us had a large template and two had the mini size. 

working with the layout

Susan and I used the small template and made our projects in reverse. She put the colour in the template position, and I put the colour on the edges of the template. It was fun at first, but then I realized how challenging it was to do the layout and needed to have the project laid out beside the machine as I sewed the blocks. I could have made the quilt construction much easier on myself to use one background fabric, but I didn't of course!


wrong side of a block which uses 2 foundation papers
Using this layout, a block is two foundation papers sewn together on the long diagonal side. This is how the block looks from the back. One side has the paper still on and one side has the paper removed. It was very easy to remove the papers as they are just a wee bit stronger than tissue paper. 
This project is an interesting blend of using templates and paper foundation piecing. You can watch a video on how to piece the blocks using foundation papers here


All the machine quilting was done with the walking foot. I stitched vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines, and then stitched 1/4" inside the light diamond shapes.

Here is the finished quilt! 

This bright and happy wallhanging wanted to called "Umbrellas". It has 144 pieces and measures 16.5" square. 
Linking up to Alicia's Finished Friday and the One Monthly Goal Finish party because this project is my April UFO.


right side of a block which uses 4 foundation papers
Because I still had many leftover foundation papers, I started another project using the easier layout with reverse values that Susan had made. In this quilt design the template is used to cut the coloured fabric and the pieced sides are the background fabric. I am using up the little scraps left over from the Tula Pineapple quilt. Four foundation papers make a block in this design and are joined on the short diagonal side.




Here are the diamond blocks I made from the leftover scraps. The plan of the moment is to sew these blocks into the backing of the Tula pineapple quilt. You can see the quilt top in progress here.





Here's the "Be a Diamond"  giveaway... a lucky blog hopper will win the diamond template and 150 of the foundation papers!  If you would like to give this pattern a try, leave a comment below. The random winner will be drawn at the end of blog hop on April 26th. The draw winner was randomly chosen... comment # 35!


A big thank you to Carol who organizes these wonderful blog hops for the online quilting community to enjoy! You can find all the Be a Diamond projects on the Pinterest page here.
Here's the list of bloggers to visit today:


Kathy’s Quilts (that's me!)


Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day - Say no to plastic pollution

72 comments:

Nancy L said...

I love your quilt and would love to try to make one. Great site and giveaway!!

Danette said...

These are just wonderful! I love paper-piecing, but I have not tried these Missouri Star papers. I will have to pick some up if they are very easy to removed. peterstankovich@comcast.net

ThreadCatcher said...

I've had my eye on this template for awhile. Good tip about using the same background fabric to make things easier when putting it together. Thanks for sharing.

Cecilia said...

I love how different the blocks look when you change the color placement! Thanks for sharing!

Britt-Inger said...

Thanks for sharing your lovely projects. Thanks for the give away

Deb M said...

I love the quilt you are going to use to back your Tula pineapple quilt!
deb(dot)rick(at)live(dot)com

jrquilts said...

thanks for sharing would love to try this. hjrogers@sympatico.ca

Carol Swift said...

What beautiful quilts using the templates! I love how you created two totally different looking quilts with the same template. Thanks for sharing and hopping with us!

gailss said...

Loved this diamond quilt look and just think it would be fun to try and do a table runner with it. Funny you should have it on your blog as I just watched Missours Tutorial and enjoyed it....thanks for the chance to try it out.

Kathy said...

Love your quilts. Thanks for sharing and for the chance to try it out.

Joy from Days Filled With Joy said...

Lovely!! I haven't seen that template before.. and I do like using them :) I'll have to keep an eye out for one! I love both designs you made from it... thanks for inspiring us! xx

Scrapatches said...

I love this pattern. I have seen it before and it has always looked complicated so I have never sewn it. Thanks for showing an easy way to make this. The template and foundation papers look like a good way to go, Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win and make one of these beautiful quilts ... :) Pat

Needled Mom said...

That does look like a fun template. I was thinking it would be the perfect template for the kite in a spider web quilt too. Right? The layout you have created with the scraps is as nice as the primary one. Well done.

Carol C. said...

What beautiful quilts!! So fun how different they look by reversing the colors!! Thanks for your inspiration, and for giving a chance to try the template out!!

Nann said...

What an interesting technique! Your umbrellas are so colorful. And you put the scraps to use right away! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

Frog Quilter said...

I have lots of scraps that could be used for this template.

Vicki in MN said...

Fun project!

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

I think I like the Umbrellas quilt layout better. Both are beautiful though. Makes you wonder how many designs you can get using the template.

Quilting Babcia said...

This looks like fun, especially for something about table-topper size. A great way to use up some scraps too.

tink's mom said...

Love both of your projects. Didn't see the umbrellas until I read the title, then all I could see were umbrellas. Great job. Oh, your give away is a wonderful offer but I already have that template so you can skip me if I should win. Thanks.

Calicojoan said...

Oh how fun and best yet a second project from leftovers. It's a rainy day here, so those umbrellas would come in handy. :-) Love it!

Sorcha girl said...

Looks like the retreat was fun/ It was interesting to see the difference a change in fabric placement can make in the design of a block. I'd like to try my hand at Diamonds...thank you for a chance in the giveaway.
clara-chandler@att.net

Rozz01 said...

Both quilts are charming and the MSQC tutorial inspires me use my scrap box of 2 1/2" squares for this quilt.

Vasudha said...

Love umbrellas with hidden diamonds and diamonds with hidden umbrellas :-)
I'd love to try this pattern!

karen said...

I love your umbrellas quilt...very colorful & cheerful. I'd love to try out the diamond shapes. Also, I've been wanting to say that I really love your en provence quilt at the top of your blog. I didn't do that one (but I've done other Bonnie Hunter mysteries). Yours is one of my favs I've seen.

Cathy said...

I love those umbrellas!

I know that other block as a Hummingbird block and tried to make some paper pieced ones several years ago and made a big mess of things.

works4me said...

Both versions look wonderful and so different from one another. Colour placement really is key.

Thanks for the chance to win.

Glenda said...

Wow!! Thanks for the inspiration.

barbara woods said...

love that shape

Susan said...

Lovely little wall hanging, and sweet that you can make another quilt from leftovers.

Dona said...

Love the quilts. I just bought my first template from Missouri and I can't wait to use it.

Deanna W said...

What a great little template and a chance to win too!! Nice to see you and Barb...if only in a pic and not in person!!

Dix in Canada said...

Both quilts are great projects & so different with the change in color placement! I would love to make one. Thanks for the incentive as well as a chance to win.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I love your Umbrellas! Such a fun way to use those diamonds! Thanks for the giveaway, Kathy!

Karrin Hurd said...

Great quilts, thanks so much for the giveaway!

mumbird3 said...

Wow - that's an amazing little template!!! mumbird3atgmaildotcom

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Great projects! Hey, I made 2 Arkenstone (diamond) blocks this past month.

Mary said...

Template and Paper piecing? Sounds difficult. You made two very different looking layouts. No need for putting my name in the drawing.

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

Great projects! Love your diamonds!

Suze said...

Love the diamond layouts - they are very different. Thanks for the giveaway chance.

Carla said...

It's amazing how the fabric change makes two entirely different quilts. Looks like a fun way to make diamonds. It's even more fun when you can share the process with friends.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Wow...love the difference in the quilts...and thanks for the giveaway...I don't have this template....

Anna brown said...

Very cool idea...Love bright color's and they look so pretty all together ... happyness04431@yahoo.com

Kathryn said...

I love to try new things. I have lots of scraps I could use with this. Thanks.

Sherill said...

I love your quilt and your backing project! This template and the papers sound like alot of fun to try! Thanks for the chance to win them!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Oh! I think it would be SEW much fun to win your giveaway!! Thanks for sharing in the Blog Hop, too.

Kelly Grace said...

Interesting project, always looking for a new technique!

GranChris said...

I love this one. It would be a great scrappy project and a wonderful charity quilt. Jmikebalou (at) aol (dot) com

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I've not used the MSQ papers before - very sweet project and I do love the tiny stars.

SandraC said...

I love this! ....it does looks quite intricate and a bit difficult, though.

Marla's Crafts said...

Very pretty. Love the pattern.

Dione Gardner-Stephen said...

Amazing the different looks you get reversing the colour positions! I really like your Umbrellas, even more than the more classic layout. :)

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

Happy Earth Day to you! I planted 6 trees!!!! Love the umbrellas!

Michele said...

I love your diamond quilt!

suzanne, dutchess county NY said...

Looks sew fun! Templates are fun to use and share.

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Great quilt, and love how just changing it a bit made it look so different, and the bright fabrics are awesome.

Stitchin At Home said...

Love your umbrella quilt.

Katie said...

What a lovely pattern and it looks so easy. I like the idea of using two different techniques but I really don't need to start another project. But hey, why not? Keeps me busy and out of trouble.

Sherry said...

Thank you so much for showing how one pattern can look so different just based on color position.

I think both of your quilts are lovely. . . but I am partial to "Umbrellas". . . and wouldn't it be fun if you had used a background fabric that looked like raindrops.

Oh no, I can see a rabbit hole coming up. . . .must resist the urge! LOL

Once again, thank you for sharing.

BarefootThunder said...

Both pieces are wonderful, I would love to give them a try, thanks for the chance.

Unknown said...

I love the umbrella quilt. I also like to paper piece

quilt101 said...

I love your diamond quilts, especially the tula pineapple one! Would love to try this technique. Thanks for a chance to win!!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

Interesting! I guess I need to do a giveaway also - look at the responses! Have a great day Kathy - your colors are so vibrant and neat project! Hugs

Angie said...

Very interesting and cool. Enjoy your day! :-) :-) angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

Janice Holton said...

Now this is weird! I just NOW got the e-mail notification for your post from yesterday! Sheesh! Your diamond project with the template is a fun and versatile one! Even though it was more challenging to assemble, I do love your scrappy look. By the way, do you know if the Missouri Star papers can be used in a printer?

Kleine Vingers said...

I would love to make a diamond quilt. aubphg (at) hotmail (dot) com

Sue said...

Love the template and the quilts. Especially love the earth day pic. Can you tell me where it comes from? sueclive at aol dot com

Sharon said...

What a lovely, sparkly diamond quilt! Your quilting makes it pop. Thanks for sharing!

QuiltGranma said...

I'd love to win that template and foundation papers, I've had my eye on making one of those quilts, but have not gotten to it yet. I have lots of scraps could go in around the diamond shaped piece of fabric,

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Pretty Umbrellas wallhanging!

Patty said...

Such a fun quilt top! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Your projects turned out great! and using the template was so cool!