Pink Quilts Make Me Happy!

Two in Two Days!

It was inevitable that once I started on these two quilts for Laura, I wouldn't be able to stop until they were finished. That is exactly what happened. 

They were just so pink!

The first one had been difficult for Laura to piece, as I mentioned before, but you would never notice. It is such a lovely design and fresh fabric choices. I went for a large scale motif to set off the large star blocks and was pleased how it seemed to swirl around them. 



And the 'pantograph' effect on the back was really satisfying. 




Last night, I loaded the second one and I have been at it non stop today. The layout was simpler and I used the straight rows as my guide for my smaller edge to edge motifs.

A different style of feathers on this one, 'bump bump' off a curl, linked by little flowers. This one looks busier on the back.






I might have a little break now and then I can start on Meryl's pretty top.

That's my pink fix for this week! 

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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Pretty Flamingo!

And Double Diamonds!

Just finished work on this stunning Storm At Sea quilt for Renate. It is probably my favourite block as the design possibilities are incredible. If you know the block, you can see that she has pieced it with the double sashing layout which adds another dimension to this fascinating design.

I used a mid green thread on the top, which shows up quite evenly across the strongly contrasting fabrics. My edge to edge swirl pattern gives it a lovely texture on the bright green backing too.

Just wonderful - I love it!

This week I started a patchwork course for beginners at The Sewing Studio in Borehamwood, hosted by the lovely Bunmi Okon. Everyone was so enthusiastic and eager to learn. It is going to be so much fun.

I showed some examples of Storm at Sea from the design book and Julia decided she would like to try it. Although it requires accurate piecing, once you have the hang of the three different units, you can do amazing things with them. Julia made an excellent job of my 'Mystery Quilt' last year, with very little assistance. I am sure she is quite capable of this, and I will enjoy helping her too.

Next up on the frame is the first of two pretty quilts made by Laura for her granddaughters. Lots of fresh aquas and pretty pinks including these cute flamingos! Laura struggled with the pattern as it was made up of 60 degree diamonds with 'Y' seams all the way through. But she persevered and finished it and I know it will be very much loved! 

After those two quilts, I have a lovely 'Tilda' designed top, pieced by Meryl, to work on and it is already speaking to me! 

Meanwhile, I have pulled out this log cabin project I started last year and made a little more progress. I am really eking out every scrap of these treasured fabrics.

      

         It's hanging up in my sewing room to keep the inspiration going!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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Puzzle Pieces

Crafty Girl

When my good friend Ann saw this apron I made for the Studio Quilters' challenge last year, she asked me to make her one. Last week she reminded me that I hadn't done it yet! So I thought I had better set to it.

As you can see, mine is sewing themed with a tab to clip my scissor 'Zinger' to and a detachable pin cushion to stop me stabbing myself in an awkward place!

Now Ann is a card maker not a quilter, and very good at it too. But I struggled to think of a suitable theme for the appliqué. Then it came to me that she is also a keen puzzle piecer - and that was it!

 
Just the thing for the deep front pocket.

And her initial for the top pocket. 

The method was another 'make it up as you go along pattern'! Fortunately I had kept the diagram from last time - basically just measurements plotted onto a grid which I scaled up to mark on the fabric. 

The whole thing was cut as a single piece (with a lining behind). I sewed right around it, turned it right side out and top stitched the edge to make it flat.



Then I crossed it over at the back and joined it at the shoulders with binding to cover the join. 

I am looking forward to giving it to her, but I've told her she mustn't get GLITTER on it!!!!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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What's Afoot!

Sliding into Motion!

So, I decided it was high time I got to grips with free motion quilting on my domestic machine(s), having shied away from it for far too long. My last real attempt, at the Kathleen Laurel Sage workshop the year before last, was such a miserable failure, it left me depressed for a week!!



 'If I can do it on the long arm, surely I can do it on the Bernina',  I thought.
I've got all the equipment; The Queen Size Supreme Slider, the quilting hoop, the No.72 Bernina ruler foot, stencils, markers, Machingers, and the Westalee rulers.


Today I really went for it, starting with a traditional feathered wreath:

Then I did a bit of stippling (my bête noire).

I doodled on with some loops and flowers, wishbones and feathered curled ribbons...

 A little bit of ruler work and micro pebbling. 
(I had a little go with my new Westalee foot on the Brother machine, when I got it back last week. I have to say I was not impressed. I have the thicker long arm rulers and they don't work very well with a low shank machine). However, the new Bernina foot (No72) was excellent. It was expensive, but very well engineered by comparison.





I tried some ribbon candy (difficult that one) and some free form 'bump bump' feathers. Then I finished off with some circles.





Of course, I am so lucky to have my long arm machine which I use for the majority of my quilting. 
But I am pleased with my results today - I think I've cracked it!






Happy Quilting Everyone!

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Little Brother is Home!

Bunnies in a Bind!

Although I am by no means a hand stitcher, I have to say I quite enjoy finishing the binding on a quilt. Not that I'd want to do many at 28 feet like this one! Although it seems a daunting task to begin with, once you're in the rhythm it is quite relaxing as you end up wrapped in the quilt. And how satisfying once you're on the home straight to that final stitch of the whole project. 

Here's the quilt at full stretch filling my whole frame. 

I used my preferred binding method, with a 2 inch strip pressed through this little tape maker. In contrast to my very expensive machine, it is probably the least expensive tool I've ever bought (50p at a boot sale about 20 years ago). 


I've used it on every quilt I've made.

My new 'Glide' foot did just that! It works perfectly for an edge to edge design, (hearts and flowers in this case to complement the fabric). Not that there were any bulky seams, as I had swirled them all! But it was helpful to work with a transparent foot so you can see where you're going. 


It has been a fun project and I hope Jane likes her Bunny Quilt. 



Before I got started on this though, I had a great practise session with my new micro handles and finished my own version of the Sew a Row. I am itching to share pictures of it, but I have to wait a while still. Suffice to say I have 'quilted it to death' and I am very pleased with it! Here is a little teaser picture of the back....

 

There has also been some progress with my scrappy 'Project G'. The other night (when I was too exhausted to do anything other than some 'mindless piecing') I churned out a few more of these little 9 patches.

It is getting quite colourful. At some point I need to look at the design again and work out how many I need!

And today I got my Brother machine back (after some chasing!) Let's hope he's all better. 
I want to try out my new ruler foot. 

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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Doctor on Call!

Upgrade and Service

 

At long last Auntie has had her long overdue service. Alan (the engineer who installed her 5 years ago) said he had tried to retire, but keeps getting called upon to service Handiquilter machines in the UK. 

I was very glad he was still available, because he clearly knows what he's doing and doesn't mind climbing up in my loft!

The skipping stitches problem had been increasing and clearly she needed some attention and TLC. Alan stripped her right down, cleaned and oiled her and reset the timing. Now she's purring like a kitten again!

Then he fitted the new interchangeable foot assembly so I can use my new attachments; an open toe foot for detailed work and the transparent 'Glide' foot for edge to edge designs. And finally he installed these new 'Micro Handles' for greater control for 'pebbling' etc. I will need to experiment with the best position to set them in and I might be on the look out for a high stool to perch on while I'm doing close work. I am excited to begin practising, I really feel I want to up my game!


Meanwhile, I have managed to complete the Sew a Row quilt, but I can only give a sneak preview at this stage. Here are the houses I did for the first row. I am pleased with the final result and can't wait to see how my other rows have been used. 

 

Now that Auntie is back on form I can get on and finish quilting my own version of the Sew a Row. Then it's the big Bunny Quilt!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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Getting a Handle on Things

And Finding My Feet!

Another fun day out at the Festival of Quilts yesterday. We made good time on the journey up in our luxury coach - thanks again to Ann K for organising it. 

My first call was to find the quilt made by Lynda Jackson (Handiquilter educator) before I met up with her on their stand. I had seen pictures online so I knew what to look for, but it wasn't easy to find tucked away up the far end. 

But it was worth the search - a truly magnificent dragon on a black background filled with intricate quilting, which you need to see up close to appreciate. I love dragons and she had actually painted this on herself. It earned her a well deserved 'Highly Commended' from the judges.

I had pre-ordered several new accessories for my Handiquilter machine which I then went over to claim. The great big handles in the picture above are called 'Micro Handles', which seems a bit perverse. They fit lower down the front of the machine, nearer to the needle, to give greater control when doing delicate, smaller (micro) work. This is something I want work on.

I also bought a conversion kit to allow me to switch feet, now that there is a range of new ones available. So in addition to the standard hopping foot I have an open toe foot (for the micro work) and a 'Glide' foot which should make edge to edge quilting and quilting around appliqué smoother. 

I am all set now for Alan to come and service Auntie, the week after next.

And how about this for a pair of scissors! They are specially for cutting wadding - I do a lot of that! (A Christmas present from my dear brother - I wonder if I can wait 'til then!)

As if that lot didn't cost me a small fortune, I bought the other two feet in the picture above as well! These are 'ruler' feet to use on my Bernina and Brother machines, so I can learn to use my long arm rulers on those too. 

But Hey! I didn't buy ANY fabric!!!!!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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