Thursday 31 March 2016

2 completed quilts

Today I can share 2 quilts that I am over the moon with, I have successfully quilted thanks to an amazing book      Machine Quilting with style by Christa Watson,    what a wonderful book   I had really thought I would never be able to do a large quilt on my domestic machine but success!
I started by quilting the 6 mini quilts I had made,  will add photos of these in a few days then moved on to the row quilt I did as a BOM with Little Bunny blog last year.  This I quilted with the walking foot and as it was in rows was not too bad to manipulate,  I used different patterns for each row,  maybe I should have done more quilting but quite pleased with how it is,  for now it will be on the spare bed along with others waiting to be quilted.





This is my scrap vortex quilt also made last year,  I just love scrappy,   this I quilted free motion with a sort of squiggle,  the stitches are not all the same size but I definitely improved as I went on with it,
My granddaughter Sal is 18 on Sunday and she is off to uni in September,  this might brighten up the halls of residence but will be more than happy to bring it home if she turns her nose up at it!  I will make a label and take it with me, if Sal decides she would like it I will sew it on




I think I mentioned in a previous blog that I now have my machine in my horn cabinet,  I am sure this has helped with the quilting as the machine is flat to the surface making it a bit easier to do.


My next quilting project is a baby quilt for a colleague of Helen`s,  not sure how I will quilt this will try and photo it better when quilted.



Once this is done I am on hold as I have used all the wadding,  I had a roll of recycled but wold like to get some warm and natural,  having priced it on line think I will have to do some saving first! I wonder what anyone else uses and what you recommend,  I have a small piece of the warm and bright which is polyester that I will use for a playmat,  it feels nice to touch but do not think there is much difference in price,  maybe it is good for baby quilts as it will be easy to wash and will dry quicker.

Thursday 10 March 2016

200th blog, quilt and blocks

As I was doing this I noticed it is my 200th blog    a milestone reached!!

I have a few things to share today but first I thought I would let you know how much I did in february.  For the first time I kept a record of my stitching antics.
2 mini quilts to flimsy stage
doll quilt completed
2 hares
3 shopping bags
25 assorted blocks
30 blocks for a baby quilt    not bad going I think.

here are some photos of bits and pieces

this is my square vortex mini which I have today quilted and bound.  The quilting did not go too badly but it is only 24" square so not too much of a problem feeding it through,   this has given me a bit of confidence to attempt the other minis I have in flimsy stage



 this is one of the Blossom hearts BOM  block 4   stepping stones.



this is block 5 in the Blossom hearts BOM    mountain



this is the splendid sampler block  Simple Simon    rather like this  it is 6"   would like to make some larger but not yet worked out what size I need to cut the squares.



Another splendid sampler block    I have made this 12" though it should be 6"  bit if a mess on one of the grey triangles

   This is the third block in the secret garden BOM   I am enjoying these more than the splendid sampler ones.  We get one block a month unlike the SS which is 2 a week



Finally the calendar girls block for march
patches and leaves,  it should have some applique leaves on the background fabric but  could not work out how to do needle turned applique.


 I have also made a lone star quilt but will share that  along with a baby quilt in a few days