January to March 2022

An update for this year so far. A left over since my last post from 2021 is a set of crocheted Christmas trees with a metallic sequin thread and yarn. They are not yet made up into bunting but that's the plan.

You can just about see the sparkly yarn

I used a pastel rainbow yarn to make a Fronds scarf, by Joanne Scrace from The Crochet Project, as a present for a friend. I have made several of these using different yarns. It's a lovely pattern to crochet, looks complicated but is very easy to follow. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture. I also made her a pair of Dragonfly beaded earring's from a kit by Totally Beads, no picture for those either! 

I finished another T-shirt quilt for project Linus. I started this one Oct/Nov last year and hoped to get it finished by Christmas, but life got in the way.

In January I finally started a BOM from Little Patchpockets called Bamboozled, these are foundation pieced 3D blocks. In the past I have found foundation piecing trying, as 'thinking backwards' seemed to be required. The instructions for these blocks are brilliant and I find myself enjoying the process and am very pleased with the results so far. I did decide to cut the strips 1/4 inch wider as some of my seam allowances at the beginning were a bit scant.

Bamboozled progress so far

I came across a Stitch Witch pattern, shadow appliqué Dahlia, that I had started July 2020 and thought it wouldn't take much to finish it. I made it into a small wall hanging, echo quilted around the dahlia and added a rainbow coloured binding and some beads. I have a couple of pieced dahlias that are from a Paula Doyle workshop, these also need finishing, but I can't decide what to make with them.

I came across a picture of a felt chicken ornament on Pinterest when looking for Christmas inspiration. There was no pattern so I made one up as it seemed simple enough. This is the result.

Through the end of January to the end of February I made three Project Linus quilts. The first was from a pattern on the PL website. It's called Lancashire Linus Double Cut Scramble. Pink and red are not my favourite colours, but I liked this quilt and most of the fabrics have been used in previous projects usually with other colours. I normally choose a dark or bright colour for borders, sashing and bindings, this one has cream and I think it goes well with the pinks and reds, a bit girly. It is backed with cream fleece and quilted in the ditch.

The second one was made with a 'Split second' ruler, it cuts curves into two fabric squares, you then make up two four patch blocks with alternating fabrics. I have made several different sizes with this ruler from table runner to lap quilt size. This one I managed to cut one of the curves in the wrong direction. Fortunately I noticed the mistake in the first pair of blocks I cut, and made the same cut in the rest of the pairs. I doubt anyone else would notice and it didn't make a difference when sewing it together. These are my favourite colours blue, green and turquoise. It is backed with pale blue fleece and quilted in the ditch.

The third quilt was from a pattern my quilting group (Quilters of Sutton) are using to make a group quilt for Linus. I liked the block so much I decided to use up some of my scrap box to make one myself. This block probably has a name, but I have no idea what it might be and I could not find it on a Google search. It starts with one 5 inch square of background fabric and two 3 inch squares from scraps. You stitch the 3 inch squares to two adjacent corners and end up with a house shape in the background fabric. You can then sew the squares together to make different patterns. I didn't have enough of any of the border fabrics used to do all four borders, so I made each one a different colour which fitted nicely with the multi-coloured scraps. It was backed with cream fleece and quilted 1/4 inch from the scrap triangles. The binding is navy with multi coloured stars.

Here is a small crochet bag with a beaded strap. I lined it and added a zip.

Crochet bag 8 x 5 inches

I have also made some bunting for Jubilee party's. I am not entirely happy with the choice of fabric, but it is OK. I do like the bunting panel fabric.

I made some Sashiko samples for a demonstration I did for my quilting group. I think my my stitches are a bit on the large side. I will make the dark blue 4 inch squares into coasters and the 6 inch purple ones into a table runner.

I also started a crochet along from Lucy at Attic24, the Harbour Blanket it is nearly finished. I thought I had used a larger crochet hook to make my foundation chain, but the bottom edge is several inches smaller than the top one, so maybe I didn't!

I have bought some dress making patterns, a jumpsuit, dress and top. I have seen some nice fabric for the jumpsuit but have not yet ordered it. Hope I can make the time sew them.

October to December 2021

 Although I seem to have been busy there has not been much crafting going on. In October I made two rainbow pincushion pots from Debbie Shore's Half Yard Vintage book. This is my favourite pattern in the book, the bucket bag is also a lovely pattern.

 I also started on Christmas decorations for my quilt group (who am I kidding, mostly myself!). I do like making Christmas decorations. Most of these were adapted from pictures on Pinterest, the gingerbread houses were my own design.

I also made two more beaded hearts from miracle beads. These I gave to my sisters, but I forgot to take photos. I finished the 6 inch Patchsmith Blocks that I started in June. They are stitched together and waiting to be layered and quilted.

In November I started a T-shirt quilt for Linus I, once again it is waiting to be layered and quilted. I made a few crocheted baubles for the Christmas tree and finished two round crochet cushions for a Secret Santa gift.

In December I made some more Christmas Decorations, this time for friends - beaded angels (find kits here, these were made from individual bead packs, they also come in white) and a stuffed Christmas tree complete with decorations and working lights. These all went down well with the recipients.

Lights off and lights on

I also received a lovely Secret Santa present from HT.

I crocheted a Fortunes Wrap, it is a lacy corner to corner shawl from a free pattern and tutorial video with this link (NOTE - it uses US terms)

https://www.mooglyblog.com/fortunes-wrap-tutorial/

I think there is a mistake in the pattern for the Trim. I think row 3 should read "*ch3, skip 2ch space, etc", rather than "*ch2, skip 2ch space,". That looks more like the pattern than mine. I also made a mistake in row 2 - didn't do 2tr in ch2 space only 1! You can just make out the metallic thread I included.

My last project so far this year, has been a wall hanging that I designed several years ago but never got around to working out how to make it up. Being at a loose end, and not feeling motivated enough to finish either of the two quilts needing layering and quilting, I thought I would take another look at it. I decided the simplest way to tackle it's construction was to foundation piece it. Not my favourite technique but necessary here. It went together very quickly and I managed to finish it in just over a week. I am pleased with the result. Personally I like yellow, handy as that was the first colour I came across with 3 tones. The darker one has a little bit of silver sparkle, adds a bit of bling. It may need a bit more quilting in the negative spaces, I think this would best be done by hand.

January to September update

January update

I have now finished all the Project Linus quilts I have been working on since the start of the year.

'Let's Go' with Chickens
The colours are a bit dull in this picture

Scrap rainbow quilt 2

I have also made several of these Kismet pyramid pouches from a pattern by AitchBee at Little Patch Pockets, well worth a look at her website. Helen is a Modern Quilter along with her friend Helen Howes at Helen Howes Textiles, another inspirational website to look at. They both have patterns and techniques, some free some paid for, and also produce a joint news letter 'Modern Art Quilters' that you can sign up for on either website. 

Kismet pyramid pouches, top - front, bottom - back 

These are numbers 2 and 3, I have already given the first one as a present containing a face mask and small bottle of hand sanitiser.

February update

Next two Linus quilts are 10 inch dress blocks. I used up some fabric I bought from Aldi that I had already used to make a Linus quilt. I used calico for the background with pink Flutter fabric for sashing and borders on one and lilac Spraytime with orchid Flutter borders, backed with cream fleece. Both turned out very pretty.

This month I also cut out 55 x 60 degree 1 inch diamonds to make a Moravian star, something I have been meaning to have a go at for a while. I sewed 5 diamonds together in 11 different colours and stitched a contrasting 2mm Miracle bead in the centre of each. I bought the miracle beads from Totally Beads, a lovely website for beads an beaded projects.

Moravian star

April update

I made two more Kismet bags to give as birthday presents, unfortunately I did not take pictures of them.

May update

For my birthday I was given two fat quarters of fabric with bees on it. The background colours were turquoise and blue, the bees were yellow black and white. I decided to make a Linus quilt using Creative Quilting's 'Simple Take 5 Fabrics' block, adding fabrics that were black with turquoise dots, turquoise with white dots, yellow with white stars and a turquoise batik with dots. It was backed with beige fleece and given a blue binding. 

'Simple Take 5 Fabrics' 

June to August update

Last year I bought a book called The Patchsmith's Sampler Quilt Blocks by Amanda Weatherill. It contains fifty 6 inch sampler blocks. I tested some out making mug rugs, which I gave as presents. I started making them in June with the aim of making a quilt. By the end of August I had made the first 30 and started cutting out the rest. I liked the look of the blocks, but was not sure if I would find making 6 inch blocks a bit too fiddly. I am enjoying making these much more than I anticipated and don't find them at all fiddly. Being small they are very good for using up scraps.

30 x 6 inch blocks

I also made some Rainbow Heart decorations from a kit using Miracle beads from Totally Beads. These will also be given as presents, including one for myself.

Beaded hearts from kit from Totally Beads

January 2021

New Year and back into a National Lockdown. A least the miserable weather provided an opportunity to sew and crochet. I finished the crochet wreath that needed lots of small units blocking, a tedious process but worth the effort. This project comes from a book called 'Crocheted Wreaths for the Home' by Anna Nikipirowicz from Search Press. It has lots of lovely projects of which this is the fourth I have made.

Succulents wreath

I made a T-shirt quilt and a third rainbow scrap quilt for Project Linus using 10 inch blocks. Previously I have made these quilts using 16 and 12 inch blocks respectively.

10 inch T-shirt quilt

Rainbow scrap quilt 3 (number 2 needs binding hemmed)

I have two more Linus quilts to finish, I am a bit behind as I ran out of fleece to back them with. I did not remain idle as I made some Morsbags and crocheted some hats and neck warmers in response to local requests.

I also finished a small picture that I started as a workshop demo for the quilting group, after looking at a suitcase collection from the QGBI several years ago. The collection was entitled 'Whatever the Weather' and several of the techniques used were of interest to the group, so I had a go at demonstrating one of them and got started on a second, this one, but never gave the demo. The original quilt 'Whatever the Weather' was made by Caryll Baldwin, mine is not an exact copy but is very similar, particularly the red plant as it was my favourite bit on the quilt.

Fields - fabric collage with embroidery

December 2020

This year has been a strange one, not a lot of socialising, only one trip away from home that was not local. We have been keeping in touch with friends and relatives by phone and over the computer. All this means I have done a lot more sewing, and online shopping when I run out of supplies. Most of us may have a hard time with the Covid-19 restrictions without technology.

List of Sewing projects for 2020

11 Linus quilt (one using an over-locker)

2 tea cosies for the Bowls club

5 birthday presents

2 Secret Santa's

6 bags

1 table runner

2 T shirts

4 pairs trousers

2 tunics

1 shirt for my husband

5 wall hangings

Baby quilt for a friend

Finished 2 UFO quilts

1 shadow quilted panel (not made up into anything as I can't decide what to do with it)

Lots of facemasks

Several scrubs caps, bags and tabards for NHS

Lots of Christmas decorations using felt, fabric and/or beads

12 Christmas cards

These are the latest two Linus quilts, both very quick makes so I got both done over the last fortnight. 

Let's Go - Quick and Easy Quilts for Kids by Connie Ewbank

Take 5 Fabrics - Lockdown project from Creative Quilting

This is the pink one from a previous post finished with a beige binding. 

The last two quilts are not wonky on one side, I  skewed the pictures in Photoshop to try and make them straighter!

I have also crocheted a few more scarfs and a couple of wreaths, one not yet finished as it has a lot of units that need blocking!

Winter wreath

Secret Santa present

Cute Robin Christmas card - quilting group project

Today I sorted my scrap boxes into colours. This should make using them easier, as I usually end up tipping them onto the floor to sort out the colours I want. Makes a bit of mess to clear up too.

I have had an enjoyable year sewing and crafting. It has been useful having a hobby to while a way the days during the Covid restrictions, particularly lately when it has been so wet and miserable. I am now looking forward to starting an Attic 24 crochet along in the New Year, a nice way to spend a winter evening in front of the telly.

November 2020

 Back into lockdown, so no golf and plenty of sewing. I made some mug rugs as birthday gifts for friends.

Mug rugs from The Patchsmith's Sampler Quilt Blocks
Amanda Weatherill

Patchsmith Patterns Rainbow mug rugs 
Amanda Weatherill

As our monthly quilting group have not had a meeting since the beginning of March, we (the Committee) thought it would be nice to set some challenges to keep our members engaged as a group. I love making Christmas decorations and wrote some patterns for a few. I did get a bit carried away with sampling them, here are the results. I have written patterns for all but two of them. Ideas came from looking  at pictures on Pinterest. I have a few more ideas for next year, if needed. 

I have also crocheted these baskets from a book with lots of lovely Christmas projects, it is called Christmas Stitchery by Jenny Chippendale and Kate Thorp. I have made lots of projects from this book, I don't think there is anything in this book I wouldn't want to make. The book appears to have been published in 1990, which is possibly how long I have had it.

 I have put several layers of wadding, a piece of beige felt and a Christmas present topper with added beads and frosted felt balls in each basket. I have made three of each and they will look lovely hanging on the tree. I also used a hot glue gun for the first time on this project.

While on the subject of Christmas. A friend gave me a Gail Lawther pattern as a present a couple of years ago. I have looked at it several times and never got around to making it up until now. I really enjoyed making this, it was a lot of sewing for the bias binding, but it went really well.

Bethlehem (25 inches square)

One of my friends had to clear her Mum's sewing room recently and asked me if I would like a box of pink fabric, some of which had been cut into squares. I said 'Yes please' even though pink is a colour I am not keen on. I like a challenge and working out of your comfort zone can be exactly that. This is the result, largely pink with a bit of beige (not a keen colour either). I am very pleased with the result and will be backing it with a pink and cream fleece with hearts on it, a very pretty quilt.

October 2020

Over the last 3 months I don't seem to have been so productive with my sewing, playing much more golf as the weather has been so nice. I have made another pair of trousers and a pull on top. I also came across a pattern I bought years ago for a Star Flower Bag by Lee Brown. This was all hand sewing so useful as a Saturday quilting group project. I was pleased with the finished bag, but felt it was a bit tedious to make, may just have been my frame of mind.

I also took on a commission to make a baby quilt for a friend. This was a very simple pattern that took me a while to complete due to circumstances beyond my control. I then decided to get my sewing machine serviced before embarking on the quilting as the tension had needed altering too regularly lately. I have used it a lot this year so it deserved a little TLC.

With the left over fabric I made a bag to keep it in.

I took a trip with a friend to Creative Quilting in Molesey and bought some fabric (a Nickel pack and strip roll) to make a small quilt I saw on Pinterest and liked the look of, it was called Round and Round by croskelly. I added the pale star in the middle and will add a 2.5 inch borders of the coloured stars and white. I should have enough coloured fabric to make a binding. 

September saw me doing a lot of crochet, as I bought a book for making crocheted wreaths. I am finding suitable wreath sizes difficult to source, so have not finished one yet. I have made this one using a stick from one of my garden shrubs, I found it in the greenhouse so it was nicely dried out.

Crocheted Wreaths for the Home
Anna Nikipirowicz

Most recently I have been working on Christmas decorations for our monthly quilting group. We have not had a meeting together since March, as it does not look like we will be having any before next year we thought it would be a good idea to try and get members involved in group and Christmas projects, via email and the blog.

I have made several of these trees over the years, most as presents. I have the original one but thought it would be nice to make myself another. The pattern came from Creative Quilting as a kit with fabric and instructions. you then add embellishments to suit, the fun bit. Now you can buy mouldable battery operated string lights you can easily incorporate real lights on them too. 

I recently bought a second hand over locker and made this scrappy Linus quilt using it. As it over locks the seam allowance as you sew, I used less quilting to attach it to the backing, as the seam allowances should not fray when washed.

Another useful project are face masks. I have made some for friends and family using these two styles.