Doll quilt

I joined up with a group of ladies making a doll quilt this month having seen a quilt one of them had done. This is the link about the quilt challenge   at least I hope I have shared the correct link,  links confuse me. http://cattinkakw.blogspot.com/2016/01/puppenquilt-mitnah-aktion-doll-quilt.html.
We had a month to make the quilt and they are all being shared on cattinka`s blog today and we are sharing our own on our blogs today too.  I do not have a doll but do have an ancient bear which like me will be 70 next year and when I was 50 Mum bought me another bear.  However I am not using this as a quilt for the bears but as a mat for Pearl my featherweight machine she seems so at home on it!  The quilt measures 12.5" x 15.5" .  Due to my lack of piecing skills for small blocks I decided to do a scrap quilt, I save all scraps over 1" and had great fun joining lots of them together and making 30 blocks out of them  I am so pleased with how it worked.I have machine quilted it with a random sort of swirl,  this is the really tricky part for me but quite pleased with it though the stitches do vary a bit in size

sorting scraps

lots of blocks

the completed quilt

close up of my attempted quilting

my 50th birthday bear  he is called Fortesque his name was attached to him

my elderly bear  poor thing is very bald on his body and even has a few holes in him. Have given him wool eyes as he has lost the original ones and have had to replace his paw pads many years ago.

featherweight on the quilt inside her cover

how at home Pearl looks on the quilt mat

11 blocks to share

There is no finished stitchery today but tomorrow I reveal the doll quilt challenge.

I have lots of blocks from BOMs to share


the first 3 are from the Splendid sampler BOM   they should all be done as 6" but struggled so much with the second one that I made it 12" instead    will probably make more this size too as it will look a bit odd if all but one are 6". This BOM is organised by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson with lots of other designers taking part. We get 2 blocks a moth,  have yet to do block 2 for february as it is a vase of appliqued flowers and need some hep with this

Hearts aflutter designed by Pat Sloan

wings designed by Jane Davidson

lots of love designed by Melissa Corry

These 2 are from Pat Sloan`s mystery BOM  my secret garden   the blocks do not appear to have names.

block 1

block 2


This is the calender girls BOM  for february we had 3 blocks that make into a very nice wall hanging if you make a few of each block,  I am at present just making one each of the blocks then will consider what to do or not to do with them

this is the bonus block of a friendship star

tree block  

house block

all three blocks

This is the latest block from Susan of Desertsky quilts    so enjoying this challenge as all the blocks are either stars or pinwheels.

confetti star

That is all of the BOMs but now for a play on disappearing nine patch blocks.  I was watching a video of Jennie Rayment on justhandstv which inspired me to have a go.  The first block was done starting off with 9  3" squares and then sliced, and turned. I then added 4 more squares between each piece, stitched together, sliced and turned then a further 5 squares added, stitched sliced turned then joined together it finished at 15" sq    http://www.justhands-on.tv/

This block I started with 2.5" squares and added 4 more times   it ended up 24" square,  This I feel is too large I find the contrast in the smallest and biggest squares too big but such fun playing around

Modern HST BOM, hares and ahoy mini quilt

I have now completed the first 3 blocks form Alyce of Blossom Heart Quilts.  Alyce is doing a series of HST blocks using a variety of ways to make them.


Block 1   Candy,   HSTs made using 2 triangles back to back with a diagonal line and stitched either side of line then cut on the line   this is the method I am used to though I do have an easy angle and companion angle template   must try using them one day

Block 2  Ninja,   this was made with 2  7" squares right sides together,   sewn with a 1/4" seam all round the outside then cut on the  diagonals giving 4 HSTs   was not keen on this method as you have bias edges and they did stretch a bit,  do not think I will use this method again but it was good to try it and learn alternative ways of doing things.

Block 3  the lantern, again another way to make these using 2  10" squares right sides together, lines drawn on the diagonals and 1/4" seam stitched on all the sides of the drawn lines  now draw central horizontal and vertical lines on the square.  Cut cut on the drawn diagonal lines between the stitching and then on the vertical and horizontal lines and you have 8 HSTs. I found this worked very well and was quick to do if using just 2 fabrics. Wondering what technique Alyce will be sharing I think the next block is due soon    There is a link to this BOM on the right hand side of my blog

These are rather cute  little hares, I found this pattern on seriously crazy for crafts site,  they only took a few minutes to make,  the tricky part was getting the stuffing into the ears .http://seriouslycrazy4craft.blogspot.co.uk/ This is the site that had the owl pin cushions that I shared a few weeks ago,  have worked out how to add a link now.!

Just remembered I have the latest mini to share from Jacquelyn    Ahoy. In the central blocks there should be appliqued anchors hence the name. The background fabric is mint green with spots but it does not photo well,  the 4 plain panels will have embroidery in but not adding this till all the quilt pattern have been released then will decide how to embroider them all. Thinking I will use a tan thread, maybe red work but tan instead but could change my mind ,  it has been known. Like most of my quilts it is only in the flimsy stage

sewing machine cover, mini quilt and some blocks

On monday I make a cover for Pearl my singer featherweight machine,   it came in a case but it smells horrible so have left the machine out of it but found it was getting covered in dust so a dust jacket was needed.   It has worked quite well and keeps pearl dust free.

   Tuesday Michele released the latest mini quilt a square vortex measuring 24" square.  100 HSTs and 20 flying geese,   lots of trimming needed. It should have a white background but I like dark ones so used purple,  not sure it works so well with the red but was using scraps.

I follow desertskyquilts blog and Susan has been sharing blocks with us stars and pinwheels,  I finally got to make some of them  so here is a photo,   the one at the bottom on the left hand side is not in the series but she had made one and I thought I would have a go too.Not sure what I will do with these maybe just keep them for reference and then if I want to make a sampler quilt I can use them.

I have also signed up to do Blossomhearts HST quilt which is 24 blocks over 12 months,   the link is on my blog.  Have not started yet as not decided on fabric but think I will use lots of fabrics and tie them together with the sashing.

pinwheel disappearing nine patch quilt

Having a sort out in the stitching store room I found my disappearing nine patch blocks I made ages ago,  they have been cut up so having laid them out randomlyIsewed them together.  The only non random part was the pinwheel squares   , I had used one in each of the 20 blocks.   It went together rather well and now joins the rest waiting for quilting.

Here in the UK we have a channel create and craft,   this is where I learnt to do patchwork and Jennie Rayment one of the tutors/demonstrators plans to make a Dear Jane quilt in march with blocks made by viewers  I have made these 2   most of them are too complicated as there are no instructions in the book,  the book was bought with the idea of making the quilt but no way will I attempt this one.

I am also taking part in another mini quilt challenge.  the design

 calls for applique centres but having not mastered applique yet I have used pieces of calico and will embroider the centres   the plan is to make all the minis as they are released then do the embroidery at the end but who knows maybe I might have learnt how to applique by then

I am still miffed re google,  one follower said it said there was no title or sender on my last blog so she could not read it!