These were the next three blocks that I made.
Now I've got a spare block, but also, from photographing them like this, an idea of how a full quilt of these blocks would look, which might well be something that I come back to!
As I said, very relaxing!
When I'd been working through my stash of blue fabrics, finding which one's I could cut out a 10" square from, I ended up with this (rather untidy) pile of fabrics. Almost all had started life as Fat Quarters, most had parts missing already.
Rather than put them back into the FQ stack, I decided that it was time to cut them into my 'scrap storage' sizes, ready to use.
So, that's what I'm planning to do!
I still have the quilt to make that I was originally cutting 10" squares for, of course, but also I run this project alongside it, and later decide whether it remains an 'as and when' project that's easy to pick up and put down, or whether it gets some dedicated time.
I'm so pleased that I thought of doing this before either putting the fabrics away or cutting them up any further!
Here are the first three blocks - they start simple, and I'm expecting them to get slightly more complex.
I have, however, been spending my pocket money on a couple of books that I thought I'd share.
They only arrived yesterday, so no reviews on them from me yet....
This first one is one that I'm going to use as a regular 'palette cleanser' - where I will use some of my scraps, a coherent background, and time between projects to make a block or two until I've worked through the book. Or at least, that's what I'm thinking I'll do.
Some of them are fast to do - the freehand machine one are very fast once you have the idea - but sometimes the paper pieced ones seem to take a while, but perhaps that's because my brain is on a bit of a go slow when I'm doing things in reverse!
Let's see what I come up with for the final 30 blocks!
These are blocks 51 to 60. Over half way!
I'm still enjoying these! It's nice having a good stack of these 3" blocks!
As you can see, I chose my favourite African animals.
I started with the centre roundel, but decided that it needed a vulture, and then added a tortoise to balance the bottom binding.
It's been a fun make!
I went for randomly placed circles (the giraffe head was the first one, which was a deliberate placement), in a thread colour slightly darker than the fabric..
The colours are more true in the photo above than in this detail photo.
Still having fun choosing from my fabric scraps and embroidery flosses!
The first eight show case plant life as shown on different fabrics in my stash. I'm not sure about including all of these. Time will tell!
But stay tuned, as there are more of these 3" blocks coming down the road!
It's 60" square - lovely for wrapping up in, not quite the right shape for a bed - which is a nice size for me to quilt.
Here are blocks 11 - 20.
The cross stitch ones will be mounted on to fabric squares - but I haven't done that yet! Too busy creating them!
Did you notice that one of the patches of grass is round the wrong way? I did, but not until after I'd trimmed the block to size, so I decided to leave it (after all, who has a lawn that is the same colour all the way across it?).
Fun sewing at the weekend!
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.
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!
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.
A very fast project, but still fun and satisfying!
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.
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.
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!).
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?
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
