Making strides

Stepping Stones

Border Quilting

I finished a second card trick block for my Siblings Together November stint and I received two for my October collection from Colette but my major news is finishing our Bonnies quilt from last year, a major project and a delight. It is a Jackie Taylor pattern which I redrafted so we could use templates and I alo added a flying geese border. Maggie Breakspear longarm quilted it with a different design on the border which I love. I have always wanted to make a quilt with a courthouse steps setting and  these continue the background fabric of each of the four adjacent pieced blocks.

Block 2

Block 1

Block 1

Lovely blocks from Colette

Detling Show

Yesterday was the Detling Show. I went with friends and met up with more and had a lovely day though, inspired by friends, did more shopping than I expected but am very happy with it all.  The  quilts on display, selected by the organisers, were excellent too though some I had seen before.

Superb work in silk by Jane Rollison

Detail

 I am a great fan of Carolyn Forster's  work and always very impressed by how many quilts she can show on any one topic, here hexagons.

Carolyn's Star Rose, A one patch design

And this one uses the same shape

When I got home I completed the machining on our current "Bonnie" project and finished the hand sewing in the evening watching the last two episodes of "Innocent" recorded some time ago - excellent except a bit rushed toward the end. I would do it differently IF I did it again - fusible wadding, stiffer interfacing - but I'm glad I used nice fabrics. I try to avoid 3D but the pattern was well written and there was an explanatory photo on her site for the hard to explain bit. it's Beth Studley's  project basket pattern. 

 It turned out bigger than I expected but all the more useful - it will contain scraps
deicated for a workshop next year.

The inside fabric toned in well.

Log Cabin Star 04: three diamonds all done

The third round of strips were cut 1.25" and the fabric was less than a fat quarter and I cut 10 strips. 
For the final round I wondered whether a fat quarter would be enough but of course it was. It was 21" wide so I know I could cut twelve 1.5" strips 1.5 x 18/19" .  Note I cut down from the 21" side not along it. Lots of wastage but enough!
What next? All will be revealed after the next U3A class on Monday 19th.

Log Cabin Star 03: Second round of strips

Can you see the two seams at the starting edge

You will know where to add the next strip when you see the ends of TWO seams at the edge. That is where you start and then continue in the same direction as before, following the same pattern of covering the two seam ends.
These strips were cut 1.5" x 20"; of course WOF (width of fabric) of fabric strips would be more economical but I am using fat quarters - so far.

I used a separate strip for each diamond.

I found I need 7 strips for this fabric round.

All done.

Log Cabin Star 02: adding the first set of strips

The first round of strips was pieced from five 1" strips

The first set of strips was cut 1" wide from a fat quarter so 20" long. I found I needed 5 strips: this project is very greedy!

Sewing the 3 diamonds to the first strip.

And press towards the strip fabric.

Now trim in line with your diamond.
Note at the sharp acute end you will need extra fabric to accommodate the angle.

And trim again at the obtuse wide angle.

To aid economical cutting I only sewed two to the next strip as it left a longer piece to use later.
Try to consider this when cutting.

Continue adding strips either clockwise or anti-clockwise consistently  till you have completed the first round.

Log Cabin Star U3A project 01

My Log cabin star Christmas cushion

This is a project that appeared in Popular Patchworth Nov/Dec 1993 and was designed by Rowena Strittmatter though I learnt it in a workshop for Quay Quilters taught by member Doreen Nicholson. This is is second one I have made and in the spirit of passing forward I'm doing it with the U3A measuring my strips and recreating it. Anything goes as far as size of the initial diamond and number and width of strips is concerned as long as you make three log cabin diamonds all the same. 

The 3.25" strip

 I chose to to start with 3.25" diamonds so cut a 3.25" strip.

Then I used the 60 line on my ruler and inch makings to cut the 3 diamonds.

60 degree line aligned with top
of fabric

And cut!

Now use the 3.25 to cut an equal sided diamond.

I've indicated the lines  help you.

And cut! Repeat twice more.

Oast Quilters UFO day

I spent a happy day sewing on Saturday and on my new machine which I am liking more and more. I made the November Siblings Together block, card trick, all very neat till I had to unstitch units and seams as I didn't put it together correctly. I'll do an extra one as now it is not so neat.
The other thing was a sample for the U3A log cabin star.

Siblings together blocks round up

My month to receive blocks is over though I think more will appear later. I shall add more myself too. They are all beautifully sewn and just what I requested.

U3A November Project

Done done

I finished the birthday party morning project which was a stand up pencil case. However despite being told which way round the zip went and despite knowing which way it went and despite thinking quite smugly I was putting it in the right way I inserted it the wrong way so opted for a pouch instead  - right size for a rotary cutter? I have learned not to fear zip insertion and will learn more pouch patterns from the net.  Excellent instruction from Stephanie.
I also made the U3A bag using a construction method taught by Margaret. I put in pockets including a zip up one to make it more useful. Our residents' association is having an arts and crafts day in November and I'll probably put a for sale price  on them.

Bag side made from four pre-quilted pieces.

Inside: three pockets

39

We celebrated the Quilters' Guild's 39th birthday on Saturday which was as ever a lovely day, especially lovely for me as, no longer Guild rep. I could sit back and enjoy the jolly organisation of the Pogles Wood girls, Tansy, Beverley and Jacquie.
In the afternoon we had the most wonderful presentation by Inger Milburn of quilts employing a log cabin technique - so inventive and so beautiful with construction and design samples posted on the design wall behind her.
Just a taste!

A one block piece

Detail

The crinkled effect was achieved by washing so the base fabric shrank.

Siblings Together

It's my turn to request and receive blocks this month and these came through my door, beautifully made.

From Margaret

From Mags

From Gillian

A precious gift

A kind person gave me this improv. hexagon quilt, just the right size for my bed!

Made by Heather Hasthorpe

From above

U3A

Here is a small selection of bags made by the class using a clever construction technique taught by Margaret. We plan a group picture at the end of term.

Add captionAngela

Rosemary

Anne

Jane

Margaret

Table Mats by Jane