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.

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

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!

2 more flimsie quilts

I have made 2 more quilts   first Urban neighbourhoods   the new year challenge quilt from Michele Foster,    unfortunately I was like a bull in a china shop and after making the 30 blocks I thought I knew best and put it together without following instructions.  Alternate blocks should have been rotated 90 degrees  I certainly was not going to unpick it all but will make another correctly in the next few weeks.  I used a jelly roll,  the river bank by Fabric freedom and some plain yellow.  How much easier using a jelly roll, so much less cutting to do as it was the right width,  will use another the next time too.Sorry the photo is very dark   taken on the kitchen floor.

the next one was in the mini series,  also one of Michele Foster`s  Carousel rides which I am very pleased with,  one more to go then all 6 will have been done and I might then pluck up some courage to try quilting them,   have a notion that small quilts might make life easier!  The last one is due to be released at the beginning of feb.

Have been in trouble with the lap top,  seems I was hacked and then ripped off over fixing it, paid out a lot of money fortunately by cheque which I have stopped,  police sent me to PC world and they have worked on it they said windows had been corrupted   not sure what all that means and put a new windows in and so far all is well,   the only problem now cannot reconnect my printer or reinstall Microsoft office so no printing at the moment,  will download to memory sticks and go to staples for now.
Not very motivated at the moment re starting a new project   I hate anything new but hopefully will start something soon,  have Farm girl vintage,  Women of the Bible and The farmers wife all on the to do list for this year.   Maybe will do another Crazy challenge  have signed up but not started yet.
Comments have been down so looks like google have stopped some from leaving a comment but I think everyone can still see what mischief I am up to   will just see what happens.  Have removed the embedded bit from comments after being given the instructions.

blogger change

Today I read about this google change to blogs,   sorry I do not understand it but seems we will all be affected    I have joined most blogs via the google button but those that do not have it I think I might not hear from when they have posted to their blog,    will be such a shame if we lose contact with those we are following   hope I can stay with you all and you can stay with me, I do have the google friend button on mine so maybe those of you who wish to continue following me will register on that,  http://pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/blogger-change.html. I have tried to copy the article but my mouse broke yesterday and having problems trying to use the pad,  will buy one today when I go into town

hexagons now a quilt

These last few days I have made my hexie quilt from the BOM 2015 challenge.    The hexies have been sewn by hand onto the backing fabric then a decision had to be made about the sashing,  as there was not much red in the quilt I choose to use red with the background fabric as corner stones, the sashing is 1.5" and the borders are 3.5", overall it measures  94" x 66"   my largest quilt to date.
It is now on the spare bed along with all the others waiting to be quilted!

Here is the next mini quilt in the series of 6   this is the 5th one and called Carousel ride,  it measures 27".  so many HSTs   72, I make them with 2 squares back to back but they all have to be trimmed back to size    what a pain!  Likewise there were 72 flying geese,  these I also make with a big square making 4 from each square and had them to trim too,  It might be small but took 2 days to do. When all 6 are done, the last will be released in feb, I will have a go at quilting,  I am hoping smaller will be easier and might turn out to be doable and then give me a bit of confidence to  attempt some of the bigger ones

Lap top is back working,  the shop had to take it back to earlier time, they are very good as it is out of guarantee, fortunately I had things backed up both on a memory stick and external hard drive.  Was concerned windows office 2007 would not reload but it went on fine along with my printer so fingers crossed all will be well 

Happy New Year to everyone,    and belated Christmas wishes too.

I have been very neglectful with my blog,  it is over 3 months since I posted but have been following everyone else in my absence.

Will now try and add some photos of what I have been up to.     Success these photos look ages to add,  having problems as at the moment my lap top is not working with windows,  have been locked out somehow so now it is going very slow,  takes 30 mins to open a folder and the same to get onto google. Have spoken to Microsoft who say it is my problem and will have to pay a technician to sort it,  seems they are passing the book as when I went onto bing and put in what the computer says is the problems there are loads of people with the same problem.  Rant over.

This is my aiming for accuracy 11 quilt,  it was a block a month but I waited till I had them all then started it a week before Christmas and finished it Boxing day,   well to the flimsy stage so it now joins aiming for accuracy 1 on the flimsy pile.  It is one of Michele Foster`s of MiskhasPlayground.com  BOM`s.  I am thrilled with it, the triangles were a pain to do on the border and are not all they should be but I can live with them.

 These are  in another series with Michele,  she is sharing 6 mini quilts,  have now done the first 4 and waiting for the next 2 to be shared with us. They will be 24" square when completed. Thought this would be a good challenge as maybe just maybe I will not have too much of a problem trying to machine quilt it as there will not be a lot of weight to battle with,  I am living in hope anyway. The first 3 I made at the same time then the 4th when it was released. I arranged the first in a different way to the way we were shown and the second one I managed to get 2 pieces around the wrong way but what the heck I call in a personalised quilt. The 3rd and 4th are I think correct.
 

oh dear now I look at this the error is quite noticeable   maybe I will  no it will be too difficult to put right,  I will live with it

This is a BOM by Jacquelynne Steves,  we were able to either embroider, applique or use a fabric in the squares,  of course I opted for the embroidery version. It is the first quilt I have done on point and unfortunately is a little out of shape but hopefully when it finally gets off the flimsy pile the quilting might disguise the shape.  Jacquelynne has now joined up to work with Michele so I can see some amazing quilts being shared by them.  They are bring out some mini quilts soon with embroidery/applique on so will have a go at those too

Loving this next wall hanging  Home and Heart it is from Bird Brain designs and the same people who designed the cat one I did. I decided not to do it all in one colour but used a different perle cotton for each block Have now bought their latest design Stitchin`Wisdom Quilt which  I am looking forward to starting. Sorry the quality of the photo is poor think it is easier to see enlarged like this than smaller. I am hoping the hospice Helen is a nurse at is going to like it and maybe use in a raffle to raise money as they need every penny they can raise to keep the hospice running smoothly

Just a couple of pincushions I made   the owl was so quick to do, thought the little one was a little too little so enlarged the pattern, liking my pyramid one too,  have made quite a few cushions in this shape over the years  mostly embroidered  and bigger but not pin cushions.

These are the Christmas table pieces I made for Xmas 2015,  a table runner that goes down the centre of the table and, 4 place mats and 4 mug rugs. we used it on 24th when my 2 daughters and granddaughter came for the day for their Xmas meal,  Helen the hospice nurse was working on 25th she always volunteers to work on Christmas day as she has no children, so a quiet day I had on 25th and ate left overs and got on with the A4A11 quilt. They are now put away till next year, (the mats not my girls)    have had the Christmas fabric for years so glad to get something done with it at last

This is a small runner I made from some scraps Jennie Rayment gave me,  it fits on my horn cabinet which I have finally got downstairs and my benina Heidi is housed in it. I was so cheeky when the fire brigade came to fit new smoke detectors I asked them if they would bring the cabinet down for me and they agreed to.  Will post a photo of my set up next blog as have not taken one yet. Hopefully I will be less than 3 months next time it will be less than 3months next time. The fabric is rather Christmassy so think I will make another one for the rest of the year or maybe do a spring, summer and autumn one and ring the changes.

These are the last 3 blocks in the hexie BOM and all 12 laid out,  did wonder if I could join them all together and then attach them to some fabric but changed my mind at I am now in the process of sewing them on individual blocks which I will then join together with sashing,   not sure what colour I will use for that,  have 2 more to do then will decide.

This is a bit of fun fabric,  I could not resist when I saw it and bought a panel and have now made a holder for my fountain pens, roller ball pen, biros and propelling pencil. 

Think I have added enough   hope you enjoyed it all if you managed to last till the end of the posting

 I have Alfie Helen`s cat staying for a couple of days so not much stitching will be done as he demands attention!