Weekly Finish...Or Not: Exploding Heart and Intrepid Tops

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I finally got on the bandwagon for the Exploding Heart.  

Back in 2021, Quilters were posting pictures of their beautiful hearts on social media, and I fell in love with it.  Eventually, I bought the pattern but it seemed complicated (I don't know why) so I put it aside.  Then in September 2022, I discovered an Exploding Heart sew-along FB group and realized the pattern included instructions for using the Accuquilt cutter.  Woo hoo!  So, yes, I included this on my 2023 goals list for February.

I finally decided on red and pink since I had plenty in my stash and set out to do all the cutting in December.  There was a lot of cutting of squares and HSTs but the cutter made it so much easier.  It took me a week to sew it together; and although the top was finished before Valentine's Day, I still need to quilt and bind it.

I loved making this pattern and it was not difficult at all.  I am so happy with the end result that I plan to make 1 or 2 more, at least.



This second finished top is Intrepid by The Quilter's Clinic.  It's a smaller size - a wall hanging I'm making for my DH to hang in his man cave.  

I'd seen many geometric quilts on social media and really wanted to make one.  But, again, I was intimidated.  Then in July, I went to the International Quilt Festival and bought the kit from The Quilter's Clinic booth.  This is the third top I finished this year.

The kit included all the fabric already cut into strips.  But I had a bit of a problem because it uses an equilateral triangle and I didn't have that ruler.  I started cutting the triangles using my 12-inch Omnigard ruler but that was no fun.  That's a whole lotta triangles!  Then I discovered that Accuquilt has a die which I quickly ordered.  The die made cutting the triangles a breeze!  Unfortunately, the hand-cut triangles and the die-cut triangles did not quite fit nicely together.  So some of the green/blue edges are jagged.  But that's okay because it was a learning experience and DH says he loves it!

These are the 3rd and 4th tops I have finished for 2023.  These, too, will be added to my pile of tops to be quilted.

I'm happy to join these linky parties.  Be sure to visit them to see what other quilters are sharing.
Until next time ... 
Be happy and keep on quilting!

Comments

  1. KatFebruary 17, 2023 at 11:40 PM

    I love your Exploding Heart quilt. I think this is one of my favourites!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gwyned TrefethenFebruary 18, 2023 at 4:23 AM

    I'm not surprised your husband loves his new quilt. I'm a sucker for optical illusion style quilts and bright colors. This ticks both boxes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jennifer Fulton Inquiring QuilterFebruary 18, 2023 at 7:46 AM

    Everything in my quilting journey is some kind of lesson ;-) Two very lovely quilt tops! The geometric one is very striking. Don't you just love using Accuquilt to cut out a quilt? Boy I sure do! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PaintedThreadFebruary 18, 2023 at 9:22 AM

    That heart is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Joyful QuilterFebruary 19, 2023 at 5:49 PM

    You are well on your way to a couple of phenomenal quilts!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Alycia~QuiltygirlFebruary 23, 2023 at 7:54 AM

    Both are so great!! I really like that exploding heart - and it does look extremely difficult!!

    ReplyDelete

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