September Goals

We're already five days into this month before it dawned on me that means new goals! I think I was still lingering in August.
I have been busy, just not really on the goals I thought I'd be working on.

I'm working on a couple of projects - one for a friend who is sending things off to Tanzania (blankets for babies or elderly), and another who is raising funds for Burundi- her brother works with villagesoflife.org there.
The year since I made a quilt for the Burundi effort, seems to have flown by. This year my friend suggested bags might be a good idea. So I enthusiastically began the first one, thinking I'd take it easy with a ready made print in squares.
Having done the lining, pockets and all, I was feeling quite chuffed with myself, until I realised one rather large error once I turned it all through - (having secured the handles going over them several times of course!). Here it is in all its glory.

I'm sure being astute people you all realised its upside down!! If only I'd thought to check that before I sewed the bottom and side seams and then cut the corners off to make the squared bottom. Ah well, fortunately I had another duplicate of all the fabric so I did make another one. I guess I'll just have to keep and use this one myself - and let that be a lesson to me!

So, on to September. I think this will be completed into a blanket to accompany a couple of others to Tanzania. Here's hoping I can get it done. 

Another friend (thank goodness for them, but they can create work sometimes!) asked me about making a weighted bag, just a lap size for some of the Pre-Primary students in her and a colleague's classes. The inner part of the bag goes together quite quickly, but I thought an outer bag might make the washing easier, even though it has Poly-pellets inside. 

So I added a few bits and bobs and here are a couple just lounging around on the sofa:

What amazes me is the calming effect the weight seems to have on children who are somewhere on the autism spectrum. Any shouting out, or inability to sit still for a while seems to be addressed with the weight across their lap. Very glad someone discovered this at some point. 

So, I hope to get back to the quilting soon, but since September only has 30 days, I've only 25 left already!

Until next time,

Lynn 

Postage Stamp 2

Several months ago (January this year actually) I did a 2 inch postage stamp quilt that I really liked- such a great way to use up those scraps.
Only problem was it was rather small - 41" x 52", more a baby sized quilt. I've enjoyed seeing it laying around on a chair or bed, but since a friend of mine is soon to be a grandma for the first time, I thought it might make a nice quilt for her to either use or pass on to her son and daughter-in-law.

Here it is in the bottom left of the photo, with its newer larger sibling recently created.

So I thought OK, I'll have another go, using two and half inch squares this time to make it a little larger to go on a single bed. (This one is a 57" x 77" now). So I did some of the 16 patch blocks by hand at night, then as I laid them out on the floor, chose a little more carefully so that the oranges and reds were more scattered over the surface.

Another shot of some of all of those squares. So glad I didn't count them until I'd finished, not sure I would have kept going if I'd realised there were 824! Who am I kidding, of course I would have kept going. 

These things are definitely addictive! So I kept cutting more squares and adding to the blocks. I sandwiched it a couple of weeks ago and did the straight line quilting only a week ago. For the first white border I was keen to try some 'ribbon candy' I think its called. Scrap quits are great places to try new quilting I find. So I gave it a go. I'm quite pleased with the result, though corners will take quite a few more attempts until I'm happy with them.

I realised that in order to do the final border, I needed to make sure I knew where to put the frames for the quilting I wanted to do there.  So I actually put the binding on first - something I haven't done before on a quilt either. So having done that I'm debating about doing a more open figure eight kind of pattern in that final white border in the next day or so.

Still, its usable now and I have all those lovely reminders of quilts I've made in the past - lovely to glance at it as I go by!
One of my goals for August completed, so on to the next one I go - unless of course I get distracted along the way.
Until next time,
Lynn

August goal(s)

Yes, August, the eighth month of the year is actually here. I have posted various quilts along the way, but haven't always managed to post the goal and then the completed quilt in a timely way to link up with Red Letter Quilts, so here goes for August.
I have several quilts on the go (what else is new?) and as to what order they will get completed in I'm not entirely sure. First of all there's the 2 and half inch squares that began as me cutting scraps rather than putting them away - well, we know how addictive that can be! So I have quite a few all sewn up, but having made a 2 inch one of these - (likely to be given away as a baby gift) I realised I might want to keep a reminder of a number of quilts I've made and given away in the past and this could be a nice way to do it. So it may continue to grow yet.
Project number 1 - (for now).

Then there are these Amish type rolling stars that I've actually done half of - just need to stay focused and complete the other ones in varying colours. I like how they meet and create more space - Hmm, how will I quilt that? Oh yes, and I've remembered I was going to try another quilt as you go with a very narrow pale grey sashing on this one. Project number 2. 

Then I was making up a sample block for a friend who wanted to try a star and wasn't sure of the dimensions. Well, that led to me adding some more and then an alternate block to go with it. Not sure about sashing or quite what to do yet.... Project number 3:

And then I had some half square triangles that just didn't quite seem to be going together. I realised the one that I'd chosen as a feature and then tried to get others in the various colours, was the key one that was not really fitting in. Then as often happens, as I was tidying some corner where fabric was lurking, I found something that just made sense. Here's what I mean: 

The 'balloon' fabric - if you look closely you'll see that multi-coloured fabric is actually little hot air balloons, the one I was trying to match with blue, orange etc fabrics. Well, the one I found is the corners with 'rope' - how fitting is that for a hot air balloon? Needs to be tied down at some point, a bit like Project number 4!

Well, I could go on, Stretched Stars (Project Number 5) and I'd really like to make a Bookcase quilt for a friend (number 6) but I'd better not start anything else really had I.....

Until next time,

Lynn

Hexie Dilemma

I wonder how many people are given 'leftovers' from others? I was recently given some hexagons, or more precisely half hexagons that the maker hadn't managed to co-ordinate together into a quilt. So I bravely (foolishly?) said, sure I'll take them on.

The fabrics were not at all my style and the colours were very varied. The maker had tried them in rows - but as I began to work with them I could see why that didn't work - there was just too much range in the colours. 

So I thought perhaps if there is a dark unifying colour around and between them, that might help, so I gave that an audition. (Ignore the beige carpet)

While that seemed to work for some, for others (particularly that purple in the corner) it didn't gel them together. 

Friends to the rescue! I asked a couple of my quilting buddies to help me play around with potential background fabrics. As is often the way, laying around was a soft colour that just seemed to work. So I used the soft fossil fern grey and then quilted with a loop all over. 

Here is the quilt laying in the back garden among the vegetables - of course.  It seems to work now - thanks friends. 

Here is a close up of the loops (we ditched the purple by the way):

And then I did a little peeping white with the grey for the binding and had fun putting a decorative stitch to help keep the white in place rather than just a straight line: 

But I still think I prefer the back, which doesn't show up all that well here, but is a soft white with a tiny blue flower - something I've had in my stash for so long I've forgotten when and where I got it but it just seemed right for this quilt. 

I showed the original maker when I was almost finished the quilting - she seemed pretty pleased with it. So, a win. Something I would never have taken on myself, I don't think hexagons are my thing, but I'm pleased that with the help of friends, we were able to take something that was likely to stay tucked away doing nothing to a quilt that I hope will bring pleasure for quite a while. 

Until next time,

Lynn 

Scrap Jar Quilting

Its been a little while since I posted, well, last month anyway. But I have been busy making a bag for a friend,

putting together some hexagon blocks that aren't my style (from my mother in law) but have come together Ok - I'll post once I've done some quilting on them.
But for today I'm pretty happy with the progress I'm making on my scrap jars quilt.

I knew the stars would stand out for themselves because of their colour, so I wanted to quilt in the negative spaces, but how to do that? I also tend to use my scrap quilts as a place to practice some free-motion quilting that I haven't done before, so here I thought I'd try match-stick quilting. 

I liked the corners of the block where the four colours came together and so thought I'd give that a go.  I'm pretty happy with the result, but not quite sure that the location I chose to do it was necessarily the best. In the other squares where the star points came together, the quilting I've done has tended to keep the four triangles apparent, rather than making it one whole square. Not sure that I'd do that next time either but I enjoyed doing the six 'finger' type arrangement. 

 

I've also done a little bit of quilting in the cream border between the blue ones. So now, on to complete those fingers and those match stick bits on the edge and then binding - hurrah. I'm enjoying this but as is often the case, there are others coming along that I'm keen to get to as well. But this is a great way to use up scraps and kind of put me in the mood for more 2 and half inch squares, crazy I know but they do look effective as a postage stamp - but that's for next time!

Until then, 

Linking up to my favourite blogs,

Lynn

Once Upon A Time

It feels like something of a relief to say I'm almost finished this quilt. Almost at least means its likely to happen in the next couple of days, only binding to attach, the bulk of the quilting is done. While this has been a great project in many ways, I don't think its something I'm going to repeat in a hurry. There are a few photos of the quilt here, but I feel like celebrating!

The pattern is one from Kids Quilts (www.kidsquilts.com) a New Zealand based company that had a display at our Craft and Quilt show in 2015. At that time, three of us went in to buy the pattern together, then met regularly to encourage each other in our progress. Two of us hadn't done much at all in the way of applique, so that was a challenge for us. The sample was in pinks, but I had lemon, turquoise and greys in mind, so went with my own choice of colour palette. 

I put some of the blocks together in a timely way, keeping up with the others, but then seemed to fall in a bit of a hole (other quilts came along) and didn't get to piece this together or begin the quilting. Initially I thought I might complete it in November (we began in May 2015) when my niece was born, but that didn't happen. 

 

Then I sold my quilting machine, so felt I needed to wait until I bought another to even get to the flimsy stage. I did get it together though and hoped to quilt in April - that also came and went. I did, however, buy a new machine, a Brother that I'm very happy with, well mostly, but more of that in a moment. 

The final push to complete the quilt came with the realisation that the 2016 show was coming along, so 12 months and I hadn't finished my quilt! My two friends had done theirs, one residing on a guest bed for grandchildren and others to enjoy, the other sent interstate for a little girl to love and snuggle with. 

As the date of the show came closer (May 18) I continued to quilt and realised while I wouldn't quite make it, I was going to be very close. My new machine was proving to be wonderful, except the last little part of the needle threading process prior to using the automatic needle threader and perhaps the space wasn't quite as large as I'd hoped as I wrangled the quilt through the 'neck' of it.

 

Anyway, I went along to the show with a group of wonderful enthusiastic women, what fun! And I saw a Janome S3, a machine I'd had quite a thorough look at before I purchased my Brother (on which I got a great deal I have to say). And before I knew it, I had sat down, tried some free-motion quilting, oohed and aahed at the deal (included a hard cary case, a mannequin, dressmaking scissors, more bobbins than I know what to do with AND a fit for the purpose sewing table, as well as the Australian dollar price of $1299! What a deal!!)

So I now have another new machine. Am I crazy? Maybe I'll just be able to do even more patchwork and quilting? Maybe I'll sell the mannequin and hard case? Who knows, but I'm almost finished this quilt that had a lot to do with it in some ways, so I'm celebrating!

 

I think the elements of dragon, princesses, frogs and mushrooms are very cute. And I did enjoy the quilting. I think when I first saw it I was lulled along with the 2 and half inch squares, which I always like. The quilting looked pretty OK (it was fun) but I suspect I underestimated the applique process and assembling it all. Like most quilts though, once the hours are put in and the end product is there, you know it will likely last for a few years and so that makes it all worthwhile. 

My niece's first birthday is coming up in November, so I'm well and truly ready ahead of time!

Until next time,

Lynn

Two finishes

I am very pleased to be able to show a couple of finishes that are on my 2016 list. The first is a scrap quilt I began in early March, my cross string quilt. But here it is all quilted up!

The legs and hand belong to my 'man about the house' (thanks for the help). Its not that big as you can tell, but good for a lap size and since it is going to my local hospice, that will work out fine. I have a friend who works there and she delights in seeing the bright quilts on the bed bringing cheer where it's needed.  That makes the work more than worthwhile, as well as the sheer delight I get from making things from scrap - and from my stash. 

A close up of some of those loops I did on my domestic machine - my new Brother Innovis NV410.  I used a water soluble pen to draw a line, then measured 5" from the top of the loop to the next row. My new machine is just lovely - I can quilt and not have any tension issues.  The Superior Bottom Line thread is a dream. 

I also built what I call my quilting table, up around my machine using foam. I then wrapped it in fabric, taped it on the back with heavy duty tape and then also put a thick plastic over the top. Its a much cheaper, easier option than cutting a hole in my table to drop the machine and make everything level. It fits right up next to the extension part that came with the machine, but goes to the edge of my table and also in front of the machine so my quilt is all on one level, no drag. So I'm really happy with that too. The photo gives you a bit of an idea. 

And a final one of the backing with all that loopy goodness on it. 

My second finish is one I began in November 2015 and got the flimsy finished but with the weather here over summer being too hot to quilt a large (ish) heavy quilt, I only began the centre around January. But finally winter is here and so I've been having fun with the borders in particular. Here it is, 'What colour is Indigo?'

Looking at that blue and white fluffy cloud sky you wouldn't think it was winter here would you? Nice how we picked a sunny spot and didn't realise the pool was there to enhance the blues! This one is for the man himself, who asked the question about the colour Indigo. This was my reply, based on a Moda Indigo charm pack. I added in a few more blues and beiges for the border of squares and I'm pleased with how the white with its blue swirls really helps it all hang together. Speaking of the swirls, here's a close up:

They make me smile when I see them. I haven't tried them that small or close before and I'm happy with the result.

And the backing, I like that too - and it does show the quilting off too. Best of all its lovely to snuggle under and my man is happy with it - only three days after his birthday, win all round. 

Until next time,

Lynn