Some weeks.....

 

.....you seem to run just to stand still!

However, after a week where I lost more time to tooth ache than I thought would be possible (even after my lovely dentist had fixed the cracked filling!), I finally got this quilt top basted.

At 60" square, as you can see, it's the largest size that I can baste without having to move a sofa as well as the table and chairs!

Hoping to find time (and energy!) to quilt it later this week.

It's that time again.....

 .....it's the time for the #the100dayproject !  I'm ten days in, and once again exploring a topic with small sewn replicas.

This time I've chosen 'plantlife' for my subject.  Leaves, trees and a few flowers is what I have in mind.

It's fun to have a daily practice, whatever form it takes.  Hope that you can find something that you'd enjoy everyday too!

Tiny Teether Project

Just as I'm about to meet my great nephew for the first time, Love Patchwork and Quilting published a 'whale' set - including this whale tale teether pattern.

Isn't it cute?

I think that it will be lovely for little hands to grip, and for mum and dad to be able to easily wash it when it gets grubby.

I used the same sort of colours that I used on his quilt, so that they will match.

A very fast project, but still fun and satisfying!
 

Another Quilt Made

The internet is a great source of patterns and inspiration - and this is a quilt that is one of the results of browsing one day.  I'm sorry, but I can't find the original source for this pattern - if you want to claim it, let me know!

It's an easy make - just two types of blocks - but I love how it looks!

One of those 'made from stash' quilts that can be so satisfying.

This was how it looked when it was just a pile of 2 x 10 blocks.

Put together, backed from stash as well.

You can see on this shot that I went for a loose all over meander quilting pattern.

Finally, this is the pattern that I had created on EQ8, so that I could check what size to cut my fabrics to.

I added this so you can see how different it looks in a different colour way!  I think that I might make another one with different colours!

My final quilt was 54" x 42".  A fun lap quilt size.
 

Cute Little Things

 Slightly hard to tell what these are, but we have a 'through the window' challenge in my Miniature Quilt Group - so these little lovelies are just 5" square!

I framed them all with wood effect fabric for the window frame.  And further linked the set with three birds in each view.

And my machine stitched scenes?  They are all from places that DH and I have recently enjoyed a night away, or where we hope to spend a night away in the not too distant future!

Wakehurst, Bournemouth, Windsor, Bath, Hove and Farnham.

I'm mostly quite pleased with how they have turned out.

Now I just need to decide how I'm going to hang them, and where (and actually knowing where I hang them will inform how I hang them, no doubt!).

Project Pouch

Do you like making things for yourself, just now and then, using 'special' fabrics?

The outer of this project pouch is made from a fabric that I bought on my trip to Australia last year.  Isn't it pretty?

The inside fabric was one of a set of three that my DD2 bought me for Christmas - just my sort of colour!

I sewed in two clear vinyl pockets, but didn't add a zip as the original pattern suggested.  

I based what I was making on this free 'peek a boo pouch' pattern by Caroline Fairbanks-Critchfield.

In fact, I made several changes.  I adjusted the width (to fit my sashiko stencils), I changed where the gap for turning through was, I didn't add a snap closure.

Once it was made, I started filling it up.

It turns out that it can hold quite a lot, and still look neat!

Supplies and examples all stored together.  I pleased with it!

In fact, I was so pleased, that I went on and made two more as gifts.  Unfortunately I sent them off to DD2 and my BiL before I thought to take photos!

The main difference (apart from the fabrics that I used) was that I added a button and button hole as a closure.

Very satisfying small projects!
 

Two memory quilts

On their sides (you can tell by the sailing boats!), but these are two different but similar 'quilts' (technically coverlets, as they are only two layers) made with 'memory' fabrics of shirts and boxers.

They are backed by a fabulous welsh blanket.

In fact, the scariest part of the project was cutting the beautifully woven blanket in half, in order to make two lap quilt sized blankets.  Of course, once it was cut, I needed to finish the edge as quickly as possible so that it didn't fray.  It was quite tough to sew through all the layers, but my machine did well!

It's always fun to make two of something, where they are nearly the same, but subtly different!

I

Once the tops were pieced, I turned a seam allowance under and then had to place each of them centrally on the blankets, and sew them onto each one.  

I'm pleased to say that it went OK, with no tucks or troubles, so I was able to go ahead and complete the quilting with a meander stitch.  Loose enough that the quilts stay flexible, close enough to catch as many of the pieces as possible to stabilise the piece, and help to give it longevity when it's being used.

I quilted it in navy, so it doesn't stand out on the reverse, which is mostly navy.

 You can see how the two sides work together here.

I'm pleased to say that the collaborator with me (who made all the nine patches and had the concept for the projects) is delighted with all three of the finished items!  It's a great outcome!

Sailing ship Cushion

 It's always a little daunting to be helping someone else with their projects - but also fun to be challenged to produce your best work on their behalf!

This is the start of a project that I was invited to participate in, where the boxers and shirts where to be made in to several projects, to be handed down, but enjoyed for now.

This was the first item I completed - a set of different sailing boats, using as many different fabrics as possible.

Approximately 22" square.

I'll show you more outcomes from this collaboration next week!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

But first, lets finish off showing you Christmas decorations!

This is the mini forest of cinnamon stick Christmas trees that I made.  Good fun, even if my cinnamon sticks weren't very easy!  But fun to make, share and give. (and to pose in the shape of a Christmas tree - I do like to entertain myself!).

 And there were non-textile decorative wreaths too - or at least, with just a little cotton twill tape (where is my red ribbon?!?) to complete them.  Such a pretty way of packaging a few chocolates, with just a little cellophane, string and twill tape or ribbon.

So, all the decks cleared of Christmas makes now.  The study is tidy, all ready for the next projects to be made.

I hope that you are looking forward to 2025, and I wish you good health and happiness.