Sunday 1 November 2015

Sunday Stash #25

Phew it's been a busy few weeks which haven't left much time for sewing or blogging. I have at least cut out and labelled the pieces for Lella Boutique's Social Butterfly but haven't got any farther than this.


My first stash purchase was an extra fat quarter of the navy floral pattern from Melly and Me's Flutterberry as I stupidly miscut the original fat quarter. My miscut meant I couldn't get the 4 4.5" x 6.5" pieces i needed, hence the extra fat quarter. Still the remainder goes in the stash!



Also delivered this week was a fat eighth bundle of Canyon by Kate Spain for Moda. 


I haven't worked with fat eighths before but whenever I use a fat quarter bundle I always seem to have loads left over. Hopefully that won't happen with a fat eighth. 

I also received a fat quarter bundle of Handcrafted 2 by Alison Glass from Massdrop. 

I purchased two extra panels in black and white to go with and I'm not sure I could cut into them.

They may languish in my Alison Glass drawer for some time. Speaking of which, the drawer is now very full.


I'm  off to Vermont at the end of this week and Naomi the Janome is off for a service at the same time. Is that the sewing machine equivalent of a spa? If so, she deserves it! 

Happy Sunday sewing!

Friday 16 October 2015

Gravity is catching up with me

Or rather, I'm catching up with the Gravity quilt. In all other aspects I think gravity is winning...gulp.

I've powered my way through the two Eclipe blocks, which come in blue and yellow/ochre colour ways. Here's the yellow one.




Although there are two partial seams in each block, the blocks come together fairly quickly and easily provided that you leave a big enough "gap" for finishing off the seam. I think Julie from Jaybird Quilts recommends leaving a 1/2" gap; I confess I left at least 1" if not more.

I've found that the big risk with partial seams is that the two parts of the seam don't match up and lay flat. Maybe this problem is exaccerbated by the larger gap I leave but I'd rather have too much wiggle room rather than too little.

When I come to complete the seam at the end, if I sew from the edge of the pieces back in towards the partial seam (i.e. I'm heading back towards the point where I left off the seam when I first sewed it) I risk not meeting the end of my partial seam exactly and creating a buckle in the fabric. I've found that starting the partial seam from the middle and sewing out to the edge works better for me but you lot probably do that, right?! I'm so slow.

Voyage comes in blue and orange colour ways, of which I've only completed the blue so far. 



No partial seams in this one, just lots of points to match! As usual I'm using a long basting stitch to sew the seam and check that my points match perfectly. If they don't, I pull the basting stitches out, adjust, rebaste and then check again. Once everything matches up perfectly, I sew the seam again using a 2.0 stitch length and then pull out the superfluous basting stitch.

Once I've finished the orange version of Voyage, I still have to cut and piece the monochrome setting triangles which finish off the quilt and piece the top. And then there's the bonus cushion...

So much to do, so little time!

Finally, my usual October plea to any quilters from Vermont who may be able to recommend quilt shops for me to visit in October. No one had been able to recommend any so far so I'm wondering if maybe there aren't any? I'm conscious that Vermont is a relatively small state and maybe everyone crosses state lines to shop? Ah well, more time for the Ben and Jerry's factory tour!


Sunday 11 October 2015

Sunday Stash #24

Just a couple of deliveries this week and no purchases! I'm being good in advance of Vermont. It doesn't come naturally...

First up, the rest of the Make Modern block of the month kit appeared.


I seem to be all about the solids at the moment.

Now I've got the fabric I can make the block from last months magazine. Already behind, eek!

Also arriving was the binding and backing to go with.


Both are from Moda's new low volume collection called Modern Background:Ink by Zen Chic. The small print is going to be the binding, the text is going to be the backing.

Finally, my usual October plea to any quilters from Vermont who may be able to recommend quilt shops for me to visit in October. No one had been able to recommend any so far so I'm wondering if maybe there aren't any? I'm conscious that Vermont is a relatively small state and maybe everyone crosses state lines to shop? Ah well, more time for the Ben and Jerry's factory tour!

Friday 9 October 2015

Putting on my shoes

Next on my list of "oh good grief, I'm so ridiculously behind" projects were the September and October blocks from the GenX Quilter's Moccasin block of the month project.

Although these blocks are 9.5" square, I seem to wizz through the cutting of them a lot quicker than some of the smaller 6" blocks from the Moda Building Blocks and Farm Girl Vintage projects. Perhaps because there's only 7 or 8 fabrics in total in Moccasin?

Here's the September blocks.


And then the October blocks (a bit cropped).



I love the neat, bright contrast of these blocks and am a little sad that, after next month, we're all done!

Finally, I'm adding a plea to all my October blog posts this month and it's aimed at any quilting Vermonters (Vermontees? People of Vermont?) out there. As you may know, I'm gradually visiting all 50 states and this November I'm visiting Vermont. As well as visiting various tourist attractions I'm also hoping to do a bit of quilt shopping. Can anyone recommend a quilt shop? Or anything else for that matter!?

Just in case anyone is about to say I'm missing the awesome fall colours by not visiting now (and I'm sure they are absolutely gorgeous) - this is the view I see out of my bedroom window every day.


I live in Sherwood Forest (alleged home of Robin Hood) so have beautiful woodland views every day.

Sunday 4 October 2015

Sunday Stash #23 and an appeal to any Vermonters

I'm almost embarrassed about the amount of fabric that I've added to my stash over the past two weeks. Almost.

First up is a bundle of Kona solids to be used in Don't Call Me Betsy's Epic Sampler BOM.


The teal and white dots are hopefully going to be the backing when everything is finished. Anyone else sewing along?

Next a fat quarter bundle of Rhoda Ruth by Elizabeth Hartman for Robert Kaufman. 


I've got a fancy for some scrappy Hazel Hedgehogs.

Next were some purchases from Fat Quarter Shop when they had their flash 20% off sale. Well, it would have been rude not to right?

A fat quarter bundle of Shimmer 2 by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman, an anonymous bolt end of shimmery silver disco balls on black and a layer cake of Lucky Star by Zoe Pearn for Riley Blake fell into by electronic basket. 





The fat quarter bundle of Flutterberry by Melly and Me for Riley Blake finally appeared. Along with the yardage I posted about last time, this is going to be turned into a Social Butterfly quilt using Lella Boutique's pattern.



And finally the first part of the Make it Modern BOM kit turned out. The rest is still in the post but i find it funny that the one bit of the kit that I probably didn't need turned up first. I must have almost a bolt of Kona Snow in my stash, albeit in several cuts. So I probably need another few yards like a hole in the head but oh well!  



Finally, I'm adding a plea to all my October blog posts this month and it's aimed at any quilting Vermonters (Vermontees? People of Vermont?) out there. As you may know, I'm gradually visiting all 50 states and this November I'm visiting Vermont. As well as visiting various tourist attractions I'm also hoping to do a bit of quilt shopping. Can anyone recommend a quilt shop? Or anything else for that matter!?

Just in case anyone is about to say I'm missing the awesome fall colours by not visiting now - this is the view I see out of my bedroom window every day.



I live in Sherwood forest (where Robin Hood allegedly lived) so have the beauty of Autumn colours from the comfort of my own home. Aren't I lucky?





Friday 2 October 2015

Moda Building Blocks: done!

After a year of piecing the beautiful Moda building blocks quilt top is done!


It's so big I had to cut the corners off the picture to get it to fit on screen! 

I pieced this quilt as part of the Simply Solids block of the month project and slowly but surely it's been coming together. 

This was one of the better block of the month projects I was doing this year: it had a good variety of blocks (although no curves, foundation or paper piecing, inset seams etc.) and definitely forced me out of my comfort zone for piecing. Having initially cursed Moda's technique for cutting and piecing flying geese and half square triangles (bias anyone?!) it's now my favourite way to piece these units. No more flippy corners for me! 

For the backing I've chosen a very simple monochrome text. As front is so colourful and busy, I didn't want the back to fight with or detract from the front. I love that the names of some of the fabrics used in the top are listed on the back.



The added bonus with this project is the sheer volume of fabric I have left over. At the beginning of the project Simply Solids warned us to retain our scraps as we'd need them later on. So over the course of the year I've been retaining and re-using any scraps over 1". Which means at the end of the year I've ended up with this stash 


That's at least 15 fat quarters or half yards of white and numerous fat quarters of half yards of colours from across the Kona range. I've set aside the colours to make the Elizabeth Hartman Patchwork City quilt, perhaps supplementing from my print scraps. 

The white is going to be used for another project coming up. 

But as soon as one door closes, another opens. Starting this month is Don't Call Me Betsy's Epic Sampler Block of the Month project and I've got my fabric all ready to go! 


Friday 25 September 2015

Stars, bicycles and cats

I've still got a long way to go to catch up on all my overdue block of the month projects so there was no time to waste this weekend.

Firstly, the left over Sunday Morning Block from the Lori Holt Farm Girl Vintage project plus the two blocks for this week, Sunny Sunflower and Tumbleweed.


I'm ridiculously amused with how wavy the borders on the Sunday Morning block are. Note to self - never use horizontal prints for narrow borders!

Onwards and upwards though with the Like Riding a Bike block (from August) and the Quilty Cat block (from September) for the Fat Quarter Shop Snapshots quilt along. 


Both came together fairly quickly but can I just say - there's an awful lot of pieces in that bicycle! It took me almost an entire afternoon to make just that one block.

I did just manage to squeeze in one block of the Moda Building Blocks project (which is next on my list)


Plus I also managed to whip up some chocolate cupcakes with raspberry buttercream because cupcake season is now back in full swing.


Nom.

Sunday 20 September 2015

Sunday Stash #22

There may have been one or two purchases this week. Ahem.

First up, my next Frivol tin had arrived and its Paisley and Polka Dots by Minick and Simpson. 

Whilst I'm a big fan of red, blue and white colour schemes and polka dots, the busy paisley prints would normally have dissuaded me form buying this so its good I've been pushed out of my comfort zone.

Next, some yardage of Flutterberry by Melly and Me for Riley Blake. 



This, along with more fabric yet to arrive, is going to be a Bella Boutique "Social Butterfly" quilt for a little newborn girl. Not much I can do until the rest of the fabric turns up! The cream is the backing and the pink is the border and binding.

Next a quick trip to Oz for Jen Kingwell's Steam Punk pattern and some awesome templates from Sunset Seams that arrived super fast. Just over a week for something that travelled half way around the world. Wow!


More patterns, this time by Elizabeth Hartwell and Kate Spain.


Back to fabric and a fat quarter bundle of Pie Making Day by Brenda Ratliffe for RJR. This will go nicely with the Lacuna modern sampler pattern I have (which I think is also by Brenda?).


A layer cake of Modern Background by Zen Chic for Moda


And fat quarter bundles of Imprint by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics finishes things off. 

I was thinking about using the Imprint for the Hazel Hedgehog pattern but I'm now worried that the spikes of Hazel might get lost in the print. Ah well, I'll just have to buy more fabric!

My motto is: if you're good all the time, people aren't impressed when you behave. 

Friday 18 September 2015

Farm Girl Vintage on fast forward

With Big Momma and Moda Love out of the way, it's time to start catching up with all those block of the month/week projects that I've fallen behind with.

I was more than a month behind with the Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage sewalong so some speed sewing was required!

First up, Peas and Carrots Block and then Pie Cherries Block. I love the spinning element of Peas and Carrots and then juicy roundness of Pie Cherries. I wish I had a darker brown for the stem but ah well! 


The cherries also look a bit asymmetrical with the 1/4" seam allowance round the outside edge but this will soon disappear once it's sewn into the top.

Next, Pinwheels Block and Postage Stamp Block. These are oh so simple in their construction which is awesome. 


Then Scrappy Maple Leaf Block and Scrappy Strawberry Block. The strawberry block called for 10 different greens and 22 different pinks. I don think I have that many fabrics in my entire stash let alone the bundle allocated to this project so I had to recycle a few fabrics.


Then Simple Star Block and Spring Star Block. I love star blocks - they have such an impact with just a few pieces. 


And finally Summer Star Block - this is a little late for the weather which feels positively autumnal here. 


I didn't get a chance to finish Sunday Morning Block so that will have to go on the list for this weekend. But at least I'm a lot further on now. Just a few more projects to catch up so (sewing) pedal to the metal...

Friday 11 September 2015

Three types of love in one quilt

Whilst in the midst of binding Big Momma last week, I had a horrible moment of realisation - a colleague at work was getting married this weekend and I hadn't finished her quilt. I hadn't even started it. Oops.

Normally when doing a wedding quilt I would focus on bright colours, brilliant whites etc. But this bride is a little different - she's the epitome of quiet, understated style and elegance. Neon colours and over complicated patterns wouldn't work here. 

Instead I turned to my stash and unearthed a layer cake of Little Black Dress 2 by Basic Grey for a Moda. A bit more digging unearthed some grey quilt backing, a few additional monochrome fat quarters from my Leah Day quilt along of last year. I even had some grey Isacord thread. I was ready to go.

They combined with the Moda Love quilt pattern and I have to confess I think it looks great. 






I quilted an all over feather and swirl pattern on the quilt but three quarters of the way through - disaster struck.


Oh sugar. It was Saturday afternoon and none of my local stores were both (a) open and (b) sold Isacord. Panic! The quilt had to be finished by Friday lunchtime. 

Happily I found a local store that was open on the Tuesday. TC Threads (tcthreads.ltd.uk) in Hucknall sells embroidery threads to both commercial and retail and sold me two new 1000m spools for £2.58. That's $3.98. Not each, but for both.  Wow! I know where I'm getting my thread from in the future! 



Hopefully the bride will love her Little Black Dress inspired Moda Love quilt as much as she loves her fiancé. And I'm suffering from new thread shop love! I know, it's cupboard love I know but I love my thread cupboard...