I am not able to link to the picture I want to share directly – but if you’re into patchwork and vintage – then you must take the trouble of clicking on my link, finding the ‘Old Believer’ Collection and having a look at picture number 15.
I really do not know what to think….!!??
I’ve pieced everything together on the “blue quilt fit for a garden bench”, and added an outside border. I am still not satisfied, that the diamond shape made by the blue squares, is standing out enough. Perhaps my eyes can no longer look at this thing objectively?
We packed up the spare bed today, to make room for my sewing table. We had lots of visitors at the beginning of the year, so my sewing things were tucked away in the cupboard. I have pieced this quilt mainly on the kitchen table, and I just LURVE being in the hub of the home, crafting, with the family busy around me. However, I really don’t like the mess ( I am a messy crafter) nor the fact that everything had to be moved when dinner time came around. So, back to the spare room I moved.
We placed the mattress from the bed up against the wall, in preperation for my friend who have bought the bed, picking it up – and it turned out to be a fab quilt board!
My first question – to the audience – is: does this pattern/block have a name?
My second question – to my self – is: how am I going to quilt it?
I am contemplating outlining (inlining??) the white zig zag-edged shapes with two rows of stippling 1/4″ apart. I think that would bring out the blue diamonds like I want to.
As I finished pressing the last few seam allowances open, Maddy arranged my squares and took a shot. Hard for nine-year old arms to reach over the centre of the blanket to get a good shot! 
I love the idea that the final stage of the design was completed by her. Our garden quilt.
The red colored square in the middle has a heart on in. Bloody romantic I am 
Our first Thursday Quilting session was a blast. Gill had me set up from the start, and whilst I sew’ed she cut for me, and checked on proceedings, and made coffee. Lovely all up. That same afternoon the DDs had a birthday party to attend, and I in turn had 3 more hours of sewing at home.
Gill shared with me a great technique for getting perfect corners on my nine-patch.
I have, with a little help from my trusty assistant DD9 put together a photo shoot of the steps.
First, rule up your nine-patch including seam allowances onto glad-bake. If your finished piece is 6” x 6”, you’ll be cutting your nine patches 2.5” x 2.5” so rule up a nine-patch made up of 2.5” x 2.5” squares. Then cut a piece of interfacing the same size, center on your drawing and pin to your ironing board. We made sure the drawn on side of the gladbake was facing down, to not get any pen marks rubbed on to the interfacing. (and make sure the glue-side of the interfacing is UP).
Next, lay your fabric patches on top, along the markings on the paper. Making sure to butt up the sides of the patches carefully and not let them overlap.
Then place another piece of glad-bake over the entire thing and press (no steam). The glad-bake will stop any glue from the interfacing ending up on your iron. I love this tip.
Fold two rows of patches together, right sides facing and stitch with a 1/4” seam. Repeat with the other row running in the same direction.
Next, I trim the edge of the fold that has just been stitched. This is not a necessary step, but as my quilt will be for a garden bench, I will try to minimize the bulk of the seam to make it softer to sit on. I cut off just enough to be able to open up the seam. This could be done with scissors but the rotary cutter does it in a jiffy.
Once you cat stitched and trimmed two rows running in the same direction, fold you fabric along the seam running the other way, making sure to open the stitched seams.
This is made easier if you run you nail along the seam first, or iron it open. I dont like ironing it open, its very fiddly, and if you iron your interfacing too much it will shrink.
When you have finished you last two seam, trim, and ta da! your perfect corners are ready to be admired.
I have made a pile of 17, shall keep you posted on my progress.
My friend Linda has been taking patchwork classes with Gill every second thursday, I recently joined her to have some structure around getting a quilt completed for the garden bench before the arrival of spring. I know what I want to create, but thought the ‘forced’ two hours of work once a fortnight, would get me inspired to get cracking. I wanted to use a design I had seen on a quilt at the Herrenswood homestead last year. Lots of little squares joined in 9 patches, alternating with white squares, to make the outline of larger squares.
I first thought i would raid the stash for an assortment of colours, but on closer inspection, there seen to be enough in the blues alone, my fave colour, so have purchased a white fabric with blue dots to use af the ‘white’ part of the quilt. The blues that I have already are very different, but I think it will still ‘gel’ because the squares a small-ish (2 inches finished) and because of the blue dots on the ‘white’ fabric.
I have played around on my new beast, the iMac, with three different layouts, my first thought was layout 1, as it would be the easiest to create, but I am not a fan of the ‘x’s in the corners that stand out, I want the largers squares to be dominant so I think I will stick to layout 2 although that means a little more planning and thinking as I can’t just use my simple nine-patched and plain white squares. The 3rd is just to plain disorganised for me. I suppose it could end up being something completely different once I get the teachers input.
This weeks class was cancelled due to a family members death. I was keen to get started, and tempted to just go ahead with what I thought would be the way to start, but have decided to hold my breath, wash the fabrics, iron them, and have them neatly folded in a bag ready to roll in 2 weeks time. I want to make sure I get as much ‘gold’ from Gill in the way of quilting knowledge, the ensure the best end result, but also taking the easiest route
I’ve been Awarded…
1. Recipients must pick 5 blogs they consider deserving of this award for creativity, design, interesting material, and for contributing to the blogging community in whatever language.
2. Each of the 5 selected blogs must include the name of the author and a link to his/her site to be visited by readers.
3. The recipient must show the award and indicate the name and link to the blog of the one that handed it to him/her.
4. All Award recipients must include a link to the Arte y Pico site to inform all readers about the origin of this award.
My 5 pick: Jhoanna for her most amazing softies, Concha for bloggin bi-lingually and making fantastic bags, Tina, for knitting and positive-ness, Julie for adorable cuteness, and Yasmine for magic on paper.
looked like this
Camera has been missing for a few days. Found it next to the sewing machine. And next to the kitchen scissors (had blamed MIL for them).
So, I did not get the Bear wallhanging completely finished, but I just needed to handstitch the edging fabric to the back, so only a 30 minute job. I gave the present, took it back, and shared a glass of birthday bubbles with my self in the corner of the couch whilst I finished it. And then came brain freeze 2: forgot to take a photo of the finished project. I’ll email SIL for her to take a pic for me for my bragbook.
I am now officially without a WIP.
What shall it be, what shall it be..?? Actually, perhaps I could attempt to finish the crossstitc santa I commenced 6 years ago, or start sourcing fabrics for a christmas wallhanging. Would be nice to be albe to put either on tha wall in December.
I am not entirely satisfied. Mainly because I am not an experienced knitter and my stitches are uneven. Also because the sleeves are very narrow, especially where they join the body, and they are way long. The edges on the front pieces (they overlap) were not very neat, so I crotcheted a row of single crotchet to neaten them a little. I was running out of time, so chose a crotchet cord for the inside ties, and two buttons from the stash for the outside, one on top of the other, for that girlie touch. Handed the finished product over to Little Miss Evelyn today. She is adorable!
Oh – I DO like that the fit of the body is long and narrow, I find that a lot of babies and childrens clothes are too wide and too short. And I like the little roll-over neckline.
Hot or Not – Lukewarm. Wouldn’t do another. But was happily surprised how quick a jumper that size is to make, so will perhaps try another pattern.
First I have to get stuck into an appliqued wallhanging for Niece Anna. She turns 1 on Saturday, and is the only one out of 5 nieces and nephews who has not received something homemade from aunty M yet. The pieces have been traced, and cut tonight. Have sent an order through a friend for some fabric glue from the shops tomorrow (between work and basket ball practice there will be no shopping time for me tomorrow) and I will get a good part of the sewing (if not all) done tomorrow so I just have to add binding friday evening. Thursday is booket out!
At the moment I am stitching up the bear for DD7. She is in love. I think the neck is rather fat, and it makes Mr Bear look like a Mr Piggy. Perhaps the addition of the stitched nose detail and a bow around his neck to trim it down, will make all the difference.
Talking about bears: DD8 went to the tip today on a school excursion (learning about recycling and sustainability I agree with, asking the kids to bring money to buy other peoples junk back – I’m not so sure), and came home with a rather filthy stuffed bear that needs mending. She was happy, a bargain at AU30c!
I have been looking at this picture of a danish birthday table runner (link is in danish, but photo bilingual) for a while. I think that might have to be my next sewing project. I’m not sure about the red and white squares with the natural, it’s a bit busy for me. But I love the flags on the ends. Mayby more neutral and smaller red/white squares in a checker-board pattern.
