Rolling Along

81" square

Yesterday I trimmed off the different lengths of border strips to give an even edge and secured the side seams ready for Maggie my long arm quilter to load her machine.
And on another note the view from the window as I write this has much improved since the tree man trimmed off the silver birch branch that dangled half broken away.

Close Up

Not just quilts

The clever quilters on the retreat made other items besides quilts, in particular Miriam who we shared our group of tables with.

Miriam's Easter basket and Sue popped
a knitted chick on each of our sewing
machines. . . 

and the chick came with an egg.

Miriam made memory bears for her granddaughters using their
school uniforms and a cushion too.

Debbie's jelly roll rug;
the script was
paticularly effective.

This is Isabel's: she plans to
resew the last few rounds.

And this is Sue's large one.

Retreat projects

Here are items made by people with names beginning with 'C'.

Carrie's

Chris's

Chris's

Colette's

Home Today

62.5 x 73" approx.

Shortly after eleven last night I sewed the last mitre on my stack and whackery squares quilt using Brandon Mably's map fabric. Making this was a chance to play with colour and pattern. I will try to sell it eventually and if no one buys it it will be given to Linus or Siblings Together.  I think it works and I'm very pleased.
Tomorrow I'll trim and press the mitres, pack away my machine and cut the pieces for my Woolies kit.

And again!

Hexagon Log Cabin Stars and other doings

 When I was here last time I shared a log cabin star technique described HERE and was delighted to see Kathy was making her own version using lovely fabric inspired by CFA Voysey designs.

Kathy's log cabin stars, beautifully sewn

1

2

3

Chris's quilt was lovely and bright and Carrie's soft and gentle.

Carrie's

Chris's

We all contributed blocks for a farewell present for a very kind and helpful member of staff. 

Blocks put together by Mandy for Peter

Playing with fabric

"Map" fabric starting point

Since a workshop with Judy Johnson in Sisters I have made a lot of stack and whack type four patch quilts. I chose a fabric with an interesting design and large repeat such as this Westminster map fabric by Brandon Mably. I cut four 24"  length of fabric by 25"  wide repeats and layered them exactly on top of each other and rotary cut 5.75" lengthwise strips and then subcut them into stacks of four identical 5.75" squares.

4 identical squares

These can be left as they are mirror imaged or for this quilt rotated to form a new pattern.

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation 4 and the one I chose

Variation 3

Blocks laid out

Retreating 02

I am taking truly awful lurid pictures. When I get back I'll take my camera in as I feel the settings have been changed somehow but I have no idea what to do about it.

Three BOM blocks: the lattice is a setting block

Windmill block missing its centre

Siblings Together block for Jo

Anyway on Day 2 I completed my three current BOM blocks apart from an appliqued circle on the windmill type block and made the March Siblings Together block. In the evening I layered and cut Brandon Mably map fabric and started to chain piece stacked four patches. Results tomorrow.
Meanwhile completed tops started to materialise. So sorry my pictures do not them justice.

Julie's completed quilt

Isabel's; she added a border but my photo was
unusable. 

Chris's quilt is full deep reds but none of my
pictures  worked.

Carrie's wonderful penguins though my photo muddies them.

Retreating 01

This BOM block was very tricky by machine. I'm glad it's done.

Family visit

It's always nice when visiting my daughter to see my quilts being used:

This fits in so well.

This is one of my favorites.

Enjoying each others company.

First Quarter

I took the chance to have hanger uppers at our last sewing day so I could take pictures of the year's output so far. I still haven't managed a good picture of Westminster Chimes so I'll have another go at the QQ Show..

Little Black Dress

Westminster Chimes

Six Wagon Wheels

Crosspatch: will pursue
this technique.

First U3A Cherrywood quilt

Siblings together quilt,
already posted.

Having been very good about my resolution to finish quilts this year (I've nearly finished quilting the other U3A quilt) I am going to treat myself to starting a new but long planned project at the upcoming quilt retreat and also work on a hardly started one. Watch this space!

And a coda: patchwork pavement in Madeira