Bags More Quilting!

Victim of my own success!

Well Mary was so pleased with the 'London' Bow Tucks Bag, when I delivered it and the two cot panels on Thursday, that she asked me to make another one; this time in a cute dog fabric (as well as quilt two more panels). I just couldn't leave it alone and, alongside starting quilting the top for Lesley, I had it finished by Saturday lunchtime!

Then It was back up in the loft for a seven hour stint to complete this free-motion design, with a new twist on those flower petal feathers zigzagging down the open spaces. Val's piecing was superb and it was an absolute joy to work on - so pleased with the result.

(Followed by a long soak in the bath with a large Sauvignon Blanc!)

So did I give it a rest today?            No!!
  
I made a start on the other pieces Mary gave me. This is the first, a whole piece of brushed cotton which she wants as a playmat for a nephew. The front is patterned and doesn't photograph so well. But here is the back; it is a plain chocolate brown and really shows up the texture. 

Next up is an over-sized 'queen' top, which is technically too big for my frame. But I have agreed with our new group member, Sue, that I will give it a go. What's more she has asked for metallic thread (which I will look for at Olympia next week). So that's another challenge! If I go quiet for a week or so, you will know what I am up too!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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Triple Threat!

Foundation Piecing, Fussy Cutting and Glitter!

Three of the most testing things to contend with, at the otherwise enjoyable Connecting Threads workshop presented by Kate Percival the weekend before last;
1) Foundation piecing - still THE most trying technique - fiddly and wasteful.
2) Fussy cutting - just unbearably wasteful!
3) Glitter (Christmas fabric) - AAAGH! It gets into everything - my machine, my cutting mat, the ironing board and therefore everyone else's project, my hands and, by the end of the day, my face!!
Still I managed to get through the day and made this little snowy house block, having bravely cut into a couple of the Christmas FQs from Duxford. Now I've made a start, I will make it into a wallhanging or something for Christmas.

Then I went back to Michelle's charming Wild Flower quilt which finished up lovely. The 'osnaburg-like' background fabric was a bit challenging for my machine which gave me a few skipped stitches, but it came out well in the end.

After that I found I just couldn't live with the mistakes on the Halo block and set about unpicking it! It was incredibly tricky to dismantle just enough to get to the three sections that were wrong. Then I had to replace the little triangles without the foundation backing and put it all back together again. Lost a little accuracy on the points, but at least all the colours are in the right place.

Next job was for Mary, who wanted me to quilt these two cute panels as cot quilts to give to her friend. I like how the texture came out on the back of the Hungry Caterpillar. 

Mary also asked me to make this 'Bow Tucks' Bag designed by Penny Sturges. I've made several of these in the past and they are no small task. It took me twice as long as the two quilts to put together, but it was very satisfying when it was done. Lovely 'London' print fabric!

Now that I have all these tasks under my belt I can start on quilting this top for Valerie, who has pieced it so beautifully for her friend Lesley (who chose the lovely colour combination). I'm going to enjoy this one - I can feel more of those flower feathers coming on.

 

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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Three for Three!

Flower Feathers!

Very pleased with my progress this week. I finished Gill's sweet pastel quilt with my first attempt at these flower petal feathers in the border. They were so pretty and such fun to do  - I think I will be doing a lot more! 

Then I moved on to a complete contrast; this striking black, grey and white strippy quilt, with its bright red accent, was a group project from Studio Quilters led by Elaine.

(You can't really see the quilting black on black in the pictures).

Next up is this  version of Janet Clare's block of the month design featuring wild flowers in raw edge appliqué, beautifully executed by Michelle. It's all loaded up and ready to go. I will start quilting it next week, when I have time to do it justice.










Meanwhile, I will be doing even more foundation piecing on a Christmas runner project at tomorrow's workshop by Kate Percival at Connecting Threads. I might cut into the silvers and blues that I got at Duxford! Who knows, it might be finished for this Christmas.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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Line Tamer to the rescue

And More Foundation Piecing!

I've been hard at work up in the loft these last 2 weeks. First of all I took on Pauline's beautifully pieced top, made with Janet Clare's 'More Hearty Good Wishes' fabric, in nautical inspired blues and neutrals. She asked for an allover  wavy design and once I got into the groove, I couldn't  stop until it was finished. Unfortunately, I have no pictures to share! 

Then I moved on to Gill's sweet quilt for her Grand Daughter.

It is made with a jelly roll and charm pack from the 'Darling' Little Dickens' range from Dreamy Quilts, which features rabbits, ducks and sheep in delightful soft green, pink and 'puddle' blue. 
 

Another beautifully pieced top- I have noticed how Gill chooses to press her sashing seams flat, which creates a challenge for me, as there is no 'ditch' to stitch in.  
This is where my 'Line Tamer' came in - a nifty little ruler tool with a channel down the middle to guide the hopping foot on my long arm machine, as I outlined the blocks.

Once I'd got the whole thing stabilised, I did more complex arc ruler work to create curves in and around the blocks. You can see the effect so far from the back.

I think I will do a new freehand petal shaped feather design in the borders.


But I'm taking a little break from it for a while and yesterday I started on The Halo Block designed by Sue Garman (who sadly just passed away). 

This is a block of the month programme from The Quilt Show. In my last but one blog I told you how challenging I find foundation piecing - but I felt I should give it a go anyway. I was literally stitching until 3am and still hadn't finished all 19 sections.
I carried on today and, as I added the final row, I realised I had got 3 pieces the wrong way round!

But I don't think it matters too much - I have used such pale colours and I did at least get the pink 'halo' in the right place. I am not making the full quilt and will incorporate this as a panel in my ongoing project using my favourite treasured fabrics.

Happy Quilting Everyone!

Janet

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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