Meet the Maker
Hi there, my name is Breanna Gaudaur and I am an avid quilter, pattern tester, tech editor and long arm quilter based in Ontario, Canada. I’ve been quilting since I was six years old, and it is still my favorite way to spend time. My favourite soundtrack while quilting is a toss up between my latest audiobook or whichever Taylor Swift era fits my mood in the moment.
You can follow along with what I'm up to over on Instagram - @roseivyquilts!
About The Quilt
The Peach Street quilt pattern was an immediate yes for me. Ok, to be fair, I’ve never turned down the opportunity to test one of Fran’s patterns. But this pattern felt like exactly what I needed, especially in the midst of a winter that has been holding out for far too long.
Thankfully I was able to get started right away because I ended up having the perfect fabric on hand. I went with Robert Kaufman’s Kona Solids in Creamsicle and Nectarine for the peaches, with Roasted Pecan for the pits, stems, and binding.
When it came to the leaves I really liked the look of Old Green, but I didn’t have quite enough of it. Rather than switching out for a different green, I used a few scraps of Dill and ended up with four leaves that were a little darker than the others. I ended up really loving the little bit of variation that those darker leaves added to the finished quilt top.
I ended up deciding to use one of my favourite background fabrics, Cotton + Steel Basics - Freckles in Twinkle Metallic, and I’m so glad I did. The little clusters of metallic add the perfect amount of magic.
Tackling Curve Blocks
I’ve been sewing curves for a number of years now, but at the start of each new project I still feel a little nervous until I’ve sewn my first curve. Then the muscle memory kicks in and I get to just enjoy the process. When I was first learning to sew with curves I really wasn’t sure whether I should be using lots of pins, zero pins, or trying something different like glue basting.
Through trial and error (and sewing a whole lot of quarter circles!) I eventually realized that my favourite method is to just use one pin for each curve. I’ve found that If I get the ends of the curved pieces nicely lined up and pinned in place I don’t even have to bother with marking and lining up my center points. I just take my pinned pieces, line up my starting points, and start stitching. Then it’s all about going slowly and not fighting against the fabric - two things I still need to remind myself of quite frequently!
Sewing the Quilt Blocks
One of my favourite parts of quilting is watching the blocks slowly transform from a pile of cut fabric to a complete block. Even though the results are totally predictable, every time I finish sewing a set of seams and take my in-progress blocks over to my ironing board I get genuinely excited to see how everything is coming together. I felt like this was particularly true with my Peach Street quilt because the blocks themselves are so delightful and fun.
The days are getting warmer now, the snow is melting, and I am very excited to get my Peach Street quilted and bound. We are still nowhere near peak summer and peach season here, but I have never been more prepared!
Quilt Top Fabric:
Robert Kaufman’s Kona Solids in Creamsicle, Nectarine, Roasted Pecan, Dill and Old Green
Cotton + Steel Basics - Freckles in Twinkle Metallic
Purchase the Pattern
