Two New Year's Resolutions Fulfilled

Cathedral Window

This year I have resolved to do a bit more hand sewing and also to try out more stitches on my new Brother machine, which I bought to take to workshops. Yesterday I achieved a little of both, with varying degrees of success.

We had our first Studio Quilters Saturday meeting of the year and, as I had finished piecing  Bonnie’s Mystery quilt, I was ‘in between projects’ and very happy that Susan had planned a demo on ‘Cathedral Windows’. She went over the basics of the traditional hand piecing method first. (I have already resurrected a project that I half started several years ago- making 2 ½” squares – which I will keep strictly for hand piecing in ‘at home’ meetings).

Then Susan showed us a quicker way of doing it all by machine, using the blind hemming stitch to neatly catch the edges on the ‘windows’. After much fiddling with the setting on my Brother I eventually abandoned that stitch. It seemed illogical – I could shorten the stitch length but not the width and it wouldn’t do it in mirror image to go round the other way where it might have been easier. I tried a few other decorative stitches but nothing seemed to follow a neat curve easily.

When I got home I replaced the window insert, now ragged from so much unpicking, and got it right first time with the equivalent stitch on the Bernina which seemed to do everything that the Brother couldn’t! As I had to join the two panels into a little pin cushion, I found I couldn’t do the back window under the machine, so had to do that one by hand.

Long story short – cute little cushion with tiny buttons – too pretty to stick pins in!!!!

This weekend I have picked up 3 tops to be quilted so I’d better get up in the loft now. The ‘En Provence’ quilt has already slipped down the list.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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No Sunshine 'En Provence'!

Mummy, Mummy, why are your pins so sharp?

Because I never use them!

I waited until this morning to photograph my Mystery Quilt, which I completed last night. Sadly, it is looking like rain all day, so it doesn’t do justice to the colours. But I am very pleased how it came together – albeit quite a bit larger than I imagined. Bonnie Hunter’s clever design gave as (529) units of 3 ½” squares, so the final assembly was a breeze – I didn’t use a single pin from start to finish!

Now I am deciding how to quilt it – I am thinking edge to edge Baptist Fan, as it would be good to practise that. Then again, all that ruler work might be back aching on such a large quilt. Maybe I will just do it around the border and freeflow across the middle. See pictures of everyone's progress at:

 http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2017/02/mystery-monday-link-up-finale.html

The ladies at Connecting Threads were surprised that I had no show and tell at our first meeting on Wednesday evening. But considering I had no access to my sewing room for 2 weeks over Christmas, I think I’ve done well to catch up and I will show it next month.

Yesterday's workshop was another story, however. I started out with all good intentions of completing 20 little blocks to make a pretty ‘Heart Cushion’ demonstrated by Ann Shuker. I even got out my ‘treasured’ scraps to match my Hunters Star quilt. Then I remembered why I don’t enjoy foundation piecing!

It’s not that it isn’t an excellent technique (sometimes essential), or that I don’t get how to do it – but if it tries even MY patience, then it is just not for me. 

So I satisfied myself with making just these 4 very pretty little units (which have inspired me to start on a sort of sampler project I have in the back of my mind) and just enjoyed the company of the other lovely ladies.

Have a wonderful time in 2017 everyone and Happy Quilting !

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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Happy New Year!

UPDATE!! All units completed and ready to start assembly now the final layout has been revealed! 

Check out Bonnie's blog to see pictures of some people's who have finished already. I will be posting more as I complete the blocks.  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2017/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6-7.html

Review of 2016

While I wait to get back into sewing the next clue in Bonnie Hunter’s En Provence Mystery Quilt, I’ve been looking back over what I have achieved in 2016. Here are some of the things I’ve finished for other people and for myself - some of the highlights from earlier this year, before I started my blog:

First on the frame this year was a group project made up of basket blocks pieced by the ladies of Studio Quilters, using selected ‘half square triangles’ from the exchange I organised the year before. Susan made a lovely job of setting them in a cream background with pretty coloured sashings.

Soon after, I received a plea from a lovely lady named Eirlyss, to help her finish a project she had started some 40 years earlier. The fabrics give its age away, but it was an ‘heirloom’ project to her – so I went all out to make it special by adding a turquoise background and some full on feather quilting!

After that I finished the appliqué and quilted this lovely Edyta Sitar designed ‘Spools’ quilt which was sold on its first outing! (Might have to make another one - great for using inch wide scraps!)

Then I had another request to finish an old hand pieced project for another dear lady, Rita. This one was harder still in many ways – involving more assembly to create a fitted bed cover with binding around inverted corners.

At last, I was able to complete my Hunters Star ‘Pretty in Pink’ - a pattern I had been saving for six years or so! I think I might put it in for FOQ next year - it is my best quilting to date and I have it on my bed!

I think I’ve made good progress this year, with plenty of practice and inspiration from Youtube and Facebook groups – and you’ve seen my more recent finishes.

Next year I plan to use some of my scrap piecing units (strips and strings) to make some charity quilts for Africa/Linus; try some hand sewing (stiff thumb joints permitting) and make some small items in between larger projects.

Have a wonderful time in 2017 everyone. Thank you all for your wonderful company and encouragement. Happy Quilting !

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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