Friday 9 February 2024

Onwards but not exactly upwards

Baby Playtime

I had squares leftover from my disappearing ninepatch of which I'm still sewing the binding so made a simple baby quilt. I had just the right size and pattern of flannel for the back The quilting in both directions wasn't the best idea. Just vertical would have been better.

37 x 41"


Close up

Flannel backing












Stash attack

I bought a pretty blue and yellow + green collection from a friend's stash sale and thought about adding them to my own but as usual decided to "use them up" (this is why I never get to my precious fabrics) and chose to make Sister's Choice blocks and though I planned to end up with 2.5" units and 12.5" blocks,   I absentmindedlyended up with 3" units and 15" blocks because I was using a 3.5" ruler but that's all to the good. 

Any way I cut strips and loads of 3.5" squares and triangle units the latter with an easy angle ruler so I could use the same size strip. I also added in more fabrics.


Fabric pull





Fabrics on Clothes Horse

Units laid out. I started each block layout with the triangle units first.

I laid out each fabric on a board and then used the "web" method to join the units and then the rows. However I cut the rows apart before joining them as then I can chain piece two pairs and also avoid those distorting bits of thread inbetween.

A "web"

Completed block












And more blocks:

I might join them quilt as you go.



Friday 2 February 2024

More Show & Tell and a Twist

 

DNP Quilt made by Pat as requested by a family member.

Absolutely beutiful quilt by Mandy Munroe @mandymunroemm

Liz made this from swapped fabric as part of 
a group challenge.

Amazing "cheater cloth" beautifully
hand quilted by Jacquie

Gill's quilts made as a thank to a hospice.

Quilting design on Kerry's quilt which I'll try
for my letterbox quilt. Third try lucky?



twist

I used my circles to make these quilting
templates.


This is my cackhanded version
of "Terry's" twist a rechnique to
avoid lengths of binding 
twisting when you wind them.
Check out Terry Rowland's binding
Youtube around just short of 12
minutes in.


Monday 29 January 2024

Oast Quilters' Show & Tell

 Kerry told us how a former teacher had told her students to only use a single line of fabric in their work otherwise impending disaster would ensue! (Who WAS this!!) Kerry's work takes another path  and I'm pleased to say none of the quilts in our Show & Tell conformed to this safe and somewhat boring approach.

However I do sew with several people who do take this approach and their work is always very nice and sometimes depending on the collection used impressive. My outcomes are more hit and miss but I continue to trust in the magic of patchwork.



Barbara has been finishing her tops
and this was a cenrepiece now rounded off.

Beautiful work by Barbara, a consummate needlewoman. Check out the tiny hexagons with the wedding rings and subtle basket colours.


Pictures of charity pieces by Canterbury 
Quilts. Above the right hand one is by
Marianne and they completed the donated flannel top which would make a wonderful wheelchair
blanket.


Jolly quilt by Chris

A "Norah" quilt by Fiona.



Sunday 28 January 2024

Oast Quilters

Magnificent quilt pieced and long arm quilted by Kerry


 Kerry Keeble came to speak at Oast yesterday. There was a good turnout and a very friendly atmosphere and we enjoyed Kerry's talk and the lovely colours and fabrics in her quilts.


She will teach aspects of fussy cutting at the workshop tomorrow.


 As a postscript I had my bag body all done for our Bonnies meet on Friday, missing Trish.



Tuesday 23 January 2024

Lots in hand

 I bit the bullet on Friday and embarked on basting my "Letterbox"  quilt this last weekend listening to quite a lot of the Guild Retreat content online as I went.

Laid sideways here. Uses lots of older Laura Ashley brushed cottons and Viyella.
I've had a go at quilting it but have rejected the pattern and the thread and now will pull out what I've done back and try out Baptists' Fan or a block template and see which I prefer. I like this quilt so much I want to be sure.

Still folded and reproachfully awaiting machine quilting is a dispearing ninepatch made from a pack of fat quarters and destined for Linus.

DNP


I have leftover squares which I'll sew into four patches for a smaller Linus quilt.



I've pieced the units from Valerie Nesbit's wonderful Two strip Mix Up workshop and arranged them and layered up the numbered blocks and taken photos of each so I don't lose my way (I probably will). 

Jelly roll had a very limited number of variations.

Top of the pile


Saturday 20 January 2024

Quay Kawandis

 It was great at Quay last meeting to see yet more people had taken up the Kawandi project.

Mags'


Pippa's


Friday 12 January 2024

Queen Beez

At our Queen Beez Christmas get together we laid out our project and then our most recent borders to add. We have just one more wide border with lots of work to do on it to go. We will still be stitching it next meet up. I have just started on the outer triangles now.

So far

With added borders laid out.


Then it was time to admire Maggie's lovely complex projects. I'm so grateful to have such lovely creative friends. I get such a thrill from seeing their work coming along.

A complete reworking of units from a Jen Kingwell BOM

Colourful hexagon quilr laid on top

And another hexagon top in the making.

I  took along the now bound log cabin Maggie longarmed for me and collected my Summer Fruits (? name not quite decided yet) which I am binding now.