Under Cover

Too Hot to Trot!

Well too hot to go up in the loft anyway.

Having got the first of Jenny's three bold and bright quilts under my belt, I am now waiting on the special thread I have ordered for the other two to arrive. It's so frustrating - the next one is all loaded and ready to go. But then, as I say, I might have to wait for the temperature to drop a little before I can go back upstairs. This one was fun though!

In the meantime, I have turned my attention to my own interpretation of the Sew-a-Row quilt project we are making at Connecting Threads. I have been duplicating the rows I have made for the exchange, but in my own colours. We still have one more row to do, but this week I have jumped ahead to make the final beach inspired row.

 

I have been working on some of the appliqué pieces. Much as I like my new Brother machine, you can't beat the Bernina for this task. I've noticed a lot of people seem to prefer a zigzag to finish off fusible appliqué, but I like the simple blanket stitch for a nice clean edge. On the Bernina I have so much more control over the speed and I can do one stitch at a time around the intricate shapes. Today it has been transformed from a box of little units into a complete pieced top with just the border appliqué to be added. 

It has to be kept under cover until all the quilts are finished for 'show and tell' in September. But I am already loving it!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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Pipe dreams.

3rd cushion this week!

 

Following on from the challenge cushion in my last blog, this week has seen me finish off another old project and speed through a new one. The subtle tones of this calico and woven pink stripe in this 'shabby chic' cushion truly appeal to my taste. Viv started us off on this method, last year, from Jenny Rayment's 'Tucks, Textures and Pleats'. The main panel is constructed from folded bias cut strips, opened out like 'cathedral window',  to reveal lines of machine embroidery underneath. Now I have added a slim inset mitred border and matching piping to make up this cushion.

The third cushion I made on a whim, as a surprise gift for a lady in our group who gave me the off cuts from her Japanese workbox at our last workshop. But I have yet to catch up with her to present it. I have gained such a reputation for frowning on those who throw away scraps, that my fellow patchworkers now give them to me before I can 'name and shame them!' When I saw these long right angled triangles of bright orange, pink and white floral fabric, I immediately thought of Storm at Sea - my favourite block.

Mixed with this plain deep pink, a crisp white background and bright bold pink floral backing it makes a fun cushion! 

All that and yet more piping! It seems to be my thing at the moment!

Next up - THREE bold batik tops to be quilted for Jenny. She has been busy!

Happy Quilting Everyone!

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Challenge accepted.

Connecting Friends!

Two projects completed this week -  

Challenges from Connecting Threads group and Studio Quilters.

This cushion was made from scraps of fabric donated by each member of Connecting Threads - the challenge being to use them all in a single project as a memento of our friendship. It started off with the intention of being a wallhanging for my loft studio.

I dabbled with the letter stitches, on my new Brother machine, to stitch out the sentiment: 'Connecting Friends'. It was good practice at least, if a little wonky! But they were a little small for what I'd envisaged. 

As the piecing evolved it looked more cushion shaped. So I changed tack and made it into one, especially to take with me to workshops, so that I can always think of my friends.

The other was the annual challenge from Studio Quilters. The brief was to make a small satchel bag using any method we liked. 

I had already pieced together this sort of 'bargello' panel from a handful of scraps that Bernice gave me a few months back.

This was a classic 'make it up as you go along design'! I pulled together all the bits I needed - the interlining, cord, button and black and gold lining fabric. 

And somehow it all seemed to work out perfectly. 

The 'Sew a Row' (vehicles) is completed for this month's exchange and I have done the same for my own version, but that all has to stay under wraps for now. 

So all in all I am feeling quite up to date! 

Happy Quilting Everyone!

www.englishquilter.co.uk   

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