Bits & Bobs

 

I framed the DP tulip block to bring it up to size and looking at the pieces laid out I need to do this elsewhere. Just the clamshells and basket to do plus fillers so should manage to get on with this.

Tried a bit of "webbing".

And I made the Quay raffle quilt chequerboard block - don't feel up to an applique one. Using the group fabric I miscut my pieces too small so had to use mainly my own. I hope this doesn't put the quilt out of kilter. I took in my fabrics hoping they will appear elsewhere in the quilt.

I finally ran out of displacement activities and ditch quilted the sashing strips of my Modernish sampler. The fine thread disappeared. I am now happily handquilting the border in 12wt. perle attempting big stitch. I'll post shortly.

One of my displacement actions was laying out the blue Simple Shapes blocks. I did the outsides first which pleased me but but I am dissatisfied with the middle but it will more or less have to do. When I come to the warm version I'll start in the middle.

And we had a Chartham Hatch day. I made a doll quilt using a charm pack which I didn't photograph but I did take a picture of a baby quilt Tracy made for (I think) her great nephew.

Super

Progressing

 various projects.

I resuscitated Sweet Tea and Green Beans as I have done the bulk of it. Of course I've been dragging my feet as these final blocks seemed the most taxing. Anyway I've just laid out the blocks to check on fabric placement and I may redo one of two of the more straightforward ones in different colours. 

I've finished the Drunkard's Path flowers and next up are the clamshells. I have done these before so should manage. Last is the basket. A previous attempt at that big single piece was not successful.

I've also completed my chequerboard block for the Quay 2027 raffle quilt.

Region 2 visit to Maidstone Museum

 Twenty of us gathered for this Guild day out. They fill up quickly as it's a chance to go behind the scenes. We gathered in one of  impressive Victorian rooms which still sported a whole tall wall of glass fronted bookcases with elaborately bound volumes preserved inside.

Quilted petticoats. The black one was especially fine.
One of the organisers was especially interested in these.

Detail of silk patchwork
Stars seemed to be a single piece.
 Perhaps the surrounding diamonds
were appliqued to reveal the
central shape.

A log cabin quilt including many shirtings, some quite coarse fabric.

Seemingly random hexagons. Detail.

A quilt with plenty of use,

Detail

Wonderful turkey red setting

Taking a close look

Selected quilts lay ready to view and my group of 10 stayed to examine them more closely.

Then my group with the museum curator went up into a the store in a more modern part of he building. We saw racks of clothes many 20th century worn by Lady Brabourne, also smocks worn by most of the rural populaton and a soldier's jacket from the Crimean war, restored but still stained with blood from his fatal wound.

I remember those instruments of discomfort.

In the afternoon we sat in tables of five to make nifty thread tidies and chat. I still have to do the final step.

At home

 Sandwiching in progress

Modernish sampler which in its various stages has been in the making a long time.

On the bed.

I drew the border pattern (slght tumblers)
 and drafted the corner piecesmyself.

SchweShwe fabric used to make a Twisted
Sisters quilt using Ami Simms' pattern and
templates.

Quay Quilters' Show & Tell

 I took Indy's quilt to Quay and took pictures of the other quilts for the  group WhatsApp page.

Elaine's pieced block from an Ethelburga workshop.

Newest member with a hanging she 
hadmade using a cloak from a
production

Beginners with last week's block

Avril's unusual sampler quilt. Very interesting.

Heather was demonstrating needleturn applique; she explained it very well.

Also blocks are coming in for our group raffle quilt.

Ann's applique block

Avril's pieced block

Elaine's symmetrically pieced block

Lower Hardres Sewing Day

 13 of us got together to sew,not an unlucky number at all. We had a lovely day and showed some great work. I had got out  my Sweet Tea and Green Beans project thinking I only have 3 or so blocks to do and I should finish given how much work I have already done. I didn't make much progress but it's a start and I shall keep going now.

Here is our Show & Tell not including the dog blanket from my last post.

Sheila's from a Katherine Guerrier class

Becky's crochet

Tracy's using Penny Jeffries Blosma and Song fabric

Baby quilt gift by Mary 

And another one for a little boy who lives by the sea

Stehanie's brilliant baby gift,one pocket for the bunny; the other for
its clothes/

Judi's sewing room wall hanging; the patter on the machine is machine quilting.

Decorating

The decorator (our daughter) 

and her assistant are staying over during the week

and the decorator's assistant (Indy)

has requested her own quilt.

It's still a top at the moment.

Belatdly I realised the fabrics are long held Laura Ashley brushed cottons. She's worth it.