Final Finish of 2021

I have been binding this quilt in front of the TV - at 82" square it took up a lot of space. It's called transatlantic stars as I took part in a block swap with mostly Americans hosted by Nancy of Blogging, Near Philadelphia. The theme was Brown and Teal blocks. I made loads of extras and some of these have gone into a smaller quilt currently at Lea Priory Quilting. Maggie quilted this one too, my treat for the coming year. It dates from 2008-11 or thereabouts and around the same time I bought feature fabric and backing in the JEMS sale here in Canterbury. Both swap group and shop are now defunct but Nancy is still making wonderful ever evolving quilts and I read all her posts as do many others.

Detail

Feature fabric

Backing - meant to be. Lots of extra space in the fabric cupboard now these two long lengths have been used up.

 

And now there are two

 mug rugs. I opted to do one for my applique class as something small having always wondered why anyone would bother with such a useless item. However it has transformed my life or at least my table which was always an irritating chaotic mess. It seems to have imposed calm and order as well as providing a space for my mug and mince pie plate. I have already made another one for when the Christmas season is over and plan more - a chance to play in a 8" by 10" scale.

We are supposed to be doing
needle turn. I struggled - my
tree bears scant relation to the
pattern. Hand and machine quilted.

The second one uses Cherrywood scraps left
out after the kitchen cushions. Hand big stitch
quilted.

Cushions and cushion backs

 

I used Cherrywood fabrics for these two cushions to match the others on the kitchen chairs. The round and round one on the left is the Cherrywood version of one I did in a Quilters' Guild Region 8 Janet Bottomley improv. sampler workshop and the Drunkard's Path variations one on the right was done in a Region 2 Judi Kirk workshop using templates I bought from her.

I quilted each with black 80/20 wadding and a butter muslin back so the wadding wouldn't catch in the feed dogs.

Here is the back of the Janet Bottomley one.

I have always done zip closures on the backs of cushions and would turn over one half of the backing to cover the zip and somehow sew down the bit the zip didn't extend to. In the last couple of years I have learnt a couple of techniques to make for a much neater finish: zip tabs from various zip pouch tutorials including Mister Domestic's and a separate flange to cover the zip learnt in  a Louise Mabbs' workshop for Oast Quilters. Everyone who attended that event felt this alone justified the day and I have seen it pop up in many members' work since.

To make the zip tab cut a strip 4 or 5" long and twice as wide as the zip plus seam allowances.

Fold in half and sew along the seam line allowing a degree of ease.

Pressed

Fold and press so the seam is on one side. Cut in half, one piece for each end.

Thread onto the zip so the

 tab seam is on the reverse

 of the zip.

Sew carefully across at the bottom end of the zip - it's counter intuitive - not towards

the body of the zip. (both these photos)

Cut away the excess zip with not-your-best-scissors and carefully pull the tab down right side out.  Repeat at the other end.

To prepare the flange piece cut a 2" strip the width of your cushion and press in half lengthways.

Raw edges aligned sew to one half of your cushion back.

Lay the zip on top right sides together. Sew along the edge of of the teeth.  You will need to stop needle down at one point, raise the foot and negotiate the zip toggle past the needle  and sew to the end. Pull away from the zip.

Note you are sewing along the to top edge of the zip and the flange is enclosed between zip and backing.

With the zip right side up and the first sewn side towards you, place the second half back over the zip  (photo below)and sew along the edge of the teeth and tabs as before making sure you don't catch in flange or the other back.

I folded over the edge of my second cushion back but this was unnecessary.

Press the flange over the teeth.

With zip partially open lay cushion top and back right sides together and sew round all four sides - I go round a second time with a narrow zig in the seam allowance. Make sure the corners are secure.

Trim the back as needed and turn through, pushing out the corners.

Day out

 I enjoyed a lovely day chilling, sewing and eating with the Queen Beez at Mary's. I enjoyed seeing some old friends - things on display that is. The other two Beez are younger than me but I have known them for quite a long time.

Mary made the flag cushion while the cushion in the back was made in a fussy four patch session led by me and Mary bought  my batik quilt at our last show.

I also admired Mary's baskets top on display.

While there I was sewing the binding down on the Sliced Squares quilt which Mary liked so much she wanted to buy it. I wanted her to have it but in the end a modest sum was exchanged and I have to agree it will look well on the back of her sofa. It's gone to a good home and Mary will finish the binding.

Sliced squares

On my return home the mail had been again - too big for the letterbox - the last two wadding rolls, soft cotton and cotton/bamboo 50/50 from Doughty's.

Poly wadding

The 

Soft and Bright needle punched poly had arrived the day before from Empress Mills. This wll be good for quilts I often make which finish at 54/56" by 72" as it's 120 inches wide. I will cut four 60 by 80" pieces to have at hand.

Bag

And poking through the letterbox this morning an unexpected gift from Sarah Hibbert whose book I've pre-ordered. There's been a delay so she's sent us this bag. There was really no need but very welcome nonetheless especially as it has a zip closure. And next time I give goods to the charity shop they can keep the bag I use. One in one out.

Through the letterbox

 These lovely tree decorations came with cards from and Sue and Trish. Delightful - they so clever. 

And at our lunch Maggie gave all of us one of these little Santa socks.

Making progress

 

The Sliced Squares quilt has now had the binding attached and the edges trimmed. I've added more handquilting to supplement the main ditch machine quilted lines and am stll going round the outside triangles.

Maggie quilted and trimmed the edge beautifully, I'd already made the binding so it didn't take too lomg to attach it.
So now I have lots of hand sewing to keep me going in front of the TV these quiet evenings. I have sleeves and labels to come as well.

(Mostly) personal Show and Tell

 It was just six of us gathered at Lower Hardres for a lovely quiet day of sewing. I was cutting, the rest hand sewing apart from Sandra whose Featherweight purred gently in the background.

Maggie brought back two quilts of mine which she had made a super job of longarming so with Give and Take I had three items for Show and Tell. They still need binding which will be lots of lovely hand sewing over Christmas.

Sunny made from a Philip Jacobs Westminster main fabric - it glows.

Transatlantic Stars: it's hard to take a successful photo of this quilt which has surprised me with it's niceness

Give and Take started in Tara Faughnam's class

In addition Tansy brought along the group quilt the other five members of Pogles had made for her recent big birthday. Coincidentally it used some of the same Alison Glass wovens I had used in "Sunny" and it is lying on top of my quilt which frames it nicely.

Tansy's Pogles quilt with lots of personal touches

Detail showing some of Beverley's row; another member did the lovely quilting, Jacquie, I think.

Oast Quilters' AGM

 There were some very nice items in the challenge display. Makers had to use a pink dotty Kaffe Fasset fabric.

This was the winner

This was very jolly

Lovely group applique quilt

Detail