I finally finished this quilt for Miss P.
I free-motion quilted the borders and sashing, stitched in the ditch around each block and did straight line quilting on the diagonals of each block (skipping the applique).
I managed to make this quilt entirely from my stash – I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not (at least it’s getting smaller).
I’m now looking around for a new project and I have a few ideas – one involves this fabric …
Filed under Applique, Machine Embroidery, Quilting
I’m quilting my alphabet quilt – it’s almost done. The above is a bit of the free motion quilting I’ve been doing in the sashing and borders.My new sewing machine is lovely… I have lots of new projects in mind.
While quilting I have been listening to Vilette (a novel by Charlotte Bronte) on my Ipod – I have to say it does make the whole process a bit easier.
Filed under Quilting
I made each of the grand mothers quilted coasters from Last Minute Patchwork Gifts (and here is her blog). They were easy to do and are a good way to use up fabric and wadding scraps.
I did slightly alter the instructions. First I ironed a hem on the two shorter sides of the rectangle (just 6mm). Second I folded it right-sides together and placed the wadding on the outside (wrong side) and then when I stitched the sides together the wadding was (just) caught in the stitches (see below). This made it easier to get the wadding nice and flat when I turned it the right-side out,
I then turned it right-side out and quilted it.
I’ve been wanting this sewing machine for a while (and the Mothers Day sale made it possible). My MC9000 (Janome) while good was a bit old, the touch screen was a bit dodgy and it didn’t have the built in thread cutter (which I’ve come to really like on my 1600p) and it was quite tricky to manoeuvre a quilt around it.
This new one is fabulous – I bought the table as well. The table is fabulous; it makes such a difference to be working at the right height.
The acufeed system is marvellous; my in the ditch quilting is almost perfect. I’ve also done a bit of free motion quilting and that is great too (all errors due to me rather than the machine).
I’m really tempted to try applique on this machine – there seems to be several stitches that might work. I bought two cushion patterns from Hot Possum (one a dinosaur and one a fairy) to test it out.
Filed under Sewing Machine
Filed under Knitting
I’ve started quilting the alphabet quilt. I’ve decided to ‘stitch in the ditch’ around the blocks and free-motion the sashing and borders. I think it will be quite a while before I get this finished.
Filed under Applique, Machine Embroidery, Quilting
I’ve been away on holiday. I needed to take something portable so I started another scarf – this one for Miss P. This does mean that I have 4 knitting projects on the go at once!
I found the pattern here (although I halved it – instead of a width of 40 stitches I used 20 because I didn’t think I would have enough yarn otherwise). The above image is the front and here is the back …
It’s designed to be reversible – although the cables are slightly different on each side. I’ve never done a cable before and I always thought it would be very tricky – it is a bit fiddly, but not too hard. Now I just need to practise so I don’t feel so awkward.
The yarn is Cleakheaton Nautica in shade 0008 and I’m using 7.5 mm needles.
I finished the Alphabet Quilt top. In one of those bizarre quilting incidences it is bigger than I expected (bizarre because I know how big each individual bit is so I shouldn’t be surprised by the size of the top!).
I’m piecing the backing and I think I’m even going to piece the batting (this way I will not have bought anything for the this quilt).
Filed under Applique, Machine Embroidery, Quilting
I’ve made another baby present.
This time I stitched the hearts to the bodysuit by using a straight stitch and the same embroidery cotton as the satin stitch edging. In the past I have used an invisible thread and zigzagged, but I never really liked the invisible thread.
Filed under Applique, Machine Embroidery
I finished the Pre-Primary quilt. It was a lot of work, but I think it will lovely reminder of her class.
I was also amazed at how much I could achieve in one week (not much else got done).
Filed under Quilting
