Monday 30 January 2012

Guerilla Knitting

Just wanted to share these images with you on the same day that I learnt to crochet...(Big thank you to my dear friend Mary Ann who shared a link to a great tutorial...more to come on that)


This HAS to be my very favourite,,,and my next project!!!!!

Quilt-as-you-go Scrap Buster!!


This is my new love! I've always wanted to have a bash at Quilt as you go..and through one link or another I stumbled across this..here
Its not a tradional way, as you don't add the backing until last, therefore the back won't be technically quilted, just a bit of stichin in the ditchin! But it has meant that I can test out a few new stitches on my new machine and the quilt top will be lovely and quilted.
At the moment I'm not sure how big to go, I might stop at 9 squares, add a Q.A.Y.G. border and then hand tie with a button on each square and use as a throw...not sure yet...and I'm getting impatient!!
each square of batting starts out approx 14 inch square

each oblong of fabric..I didn't use a ruler...is sewn log cabin style and quilted as it is layed down

I'm currently hiding from the Quilt Police as there are some VERY DODGY stitches that are TOO nicely in focus!!

BUT who would know and I won't tell if you don't...
This is a really fun approach, a brilliant scrap buster, so far I have only shelled out for a metre of cotton batting. I have some backing that might be JUST right but thats another story.

Project Linus day of quilting on Saturday here in Derbyshire..we have a machine you could borrow, we have the fabrics and the batting ...we even have lunch. If you're free and would like to spend a day quilting for a VERY good cause - let me know and I'll forward you details  .

Saturday 14 January 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012

BOM meets Project Linus! Finished at Last..


Thank you Victoria for encouraging me to complete this quilt in time for the 16th BOM quilt deadline - I've really enjoyed the whole process. I combined my Hybrid T- Rose   BOM (x 2 plus a couple of mini ones)with some donated blocks for Project Linus to make a quilt for the project to be distributed locally in Derbyshire.
When I was wondering about how to put it all together you guys at 15 mins helped with tips and colour suggestions - so I added red and some navy - and its been a real joy to stitch as close up, these fabrics and colours are enough to make your heart sing!

I've quilted the rose in a 'liberated'spiral!
Backed with bubblegum pink fleece and finally a binding of a recycled navy and white dress fabric

Mostly I've quilted in the ditch, but on these leaves I've quilted with some horizontal stitching - plus I picked out the stars and quilted around them

Wonderful mixture of vintage and new fabrics - my favourit bit is on some text fabric that mentions Tea Roses - I LOVE IT!!

So again, thank you for the inspiration - sorry there wasn't more more BOM's within it ...but I'm recycling ...what can I say??!!



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Tuesday 10 January 2012

I-Spy quilt for a little boy

This was the first layout of an I-Spy quilt for a little 3 year old's Birthday. I ended up putiing a little square of colour within the the 2 solid blocks because I thought they were a little plain. And if I remember rightly (golly this was only a week agao and I've forgot already!!??) I removed the orange paisley and the Kaffe stripes and instead popped in some other 'busy' fabric with a picture on rather than a pattern...and then I added a border of the Kaffe stripes that I love so much.
For quickness and ease I have backed with fleece for the last few smaller quilts...something that I never thought I would do but have been quite pleased with the results and when needs must....(and did I mention that Dunelm Mills have a half price sale on their fleeces....aha method in my madness....)

And at last I have been quilting the Pinky-Blue quilt that I made earlier last year out of orphan blocks donated to Project Linus and a couple that I made for Block of the Month over at 15 Mins Play
Victoria has encouraged me to finish this quilt in time for the 16 th January where it will be judged with some other quilts that have been made out of Block of the Month samplers...and I'm so glad that she did. I have so enjoyed making this quilt - the colours just make my heart sing...al those pinks and reds....lovely. I'm sure wherever it ends up it will be enjoyed.
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Growing.......




Happy New Year to you...rather belatedly but you'll see why!!
I'd had a nice tidy up in sewing corner (of our living room)
But one of my Christmas pressies (Thank you my lovely Mother-in-law xxx) was some money towards a machine that could free-motion sew . I'm embarrassed to say how many machines I have aquired since learning to quilt..in an attempt to machine quilt in a free motiony way, but ALAS none do.
This money led me to the listings of Ebay.....
et Voila!!
May I introduce Nina the Bernina...a little older than me but still going strong (touch wood)

Has anyone seen the living room?
So now chaos is reinstated. Not alot of living can be done in the living room. Only if you take turns and enter one at a time in strict rota.Posted by Picasa
Yes...I know what you're thinking...one has to go. And it will...one day....soon.