I turned out to be a nice quick little project. For the quilting, I simply quilted in the sashings 1/4" from each side; worked a diagonal cross in the little squares; and then quilted 1/4" in the borders.
The binding fabric is the same black print I used in the little squares in the sashing.
The finished size of the quilt is 22" x 10" and I'm going to use it as a tablerunner. I'm really pleased with it!
So glad I thought to make a dolly quilt I had forgotten how much satisfaction I get from making them. Will have to get back to making them more often.
Comfort and Joy...
I have been busy sorting out my patterns and changing them to pdf.
Comfort and Joy is another Christmas pattern now available in both printed and pdf format on my website and as a pdf pattern in my Etsy shop.
Continuing with the quilt-as-you-go floormat, I cut the cotton batting to measure 20" x 28" and pinned it to the backing which I had pieced from pieces of the Noteworthy fabric.
I started by laying a fabric strip face up, down the centre of the batting. With right sides together, I pinned another strip, on top of the centre strip matching the raw edges on one side. I sewed it down 1/4" from the raw edge through all layers; then flipped it over to the right side and pressed it.
I then pinned another strip right sides together, to the other edge of the centre strip; sewed it down 1/4" from the raw edge through all layers; flipped it over to the right side and pressed it.
I kept adding strips in the same way alternating the sides - this is important to avoid distorting the shape - until the batting was covered.
I gave it a final press and trimmed the edges so that they were nice and even. Then, because all of the quilting was done, there was just the binding to do.
The binding was done in the same way as the applique floor mat - cut 3"; folded in half. Starting with the sides it was pinned to the wrong side; sewn with 1/4" seam; folded over to the front; and sewn around close to the edge.
Sewing down the applique pieces on my new floormat turned out to be a quick and easy job. After that it was just a matter of adding the binding.
I wanted to use the pinkish fabric for the binding which meant that the width was pretty much determined by how much fabric I had left.
I ended up cutting it 3" wide and used two different prints. I then folded it in half and pinned it to the side edges first.
I did it differently than a quilt and pinned it to the back of the mat and stitched it with a 1/4" seam. I applied the binding to the and bottom edges in the same way. Then starting at the sides I turned the binding over to the front and machine stitched it down close to the folded edges. I repeated that for the top and bottom binding.
The telltale folds in the fabric gives a clue to how long it's been sitting in my basket! It's since been washed and the folds have disappeared. It just made me even more pleased with myself that I have made something out of this beautiful fabric instead of it wasting away in my stash.
I'm pleased to say that my Makeshift Garden quilt is now finished.
The finished size is 41" x 41". I'm glad I 'found' enough fabric to add borders because I think they really frame the smaller pieces well. The same applies to the binding; I'm glad I only used the darker pieces of fabric.
But, I'm especially pleased to see this lovely Anni Downs fabric in a quilt instead of in my basket. That was my real motivation.
It's inspired me to make something with a pile of Noteworthy fabric by Sweetwater as well as a pile of School Days fabric by American Jane. At the moment, both of these fabrics are living in the same basket that Anni Downs' Love to Garden resided in.
Last time I mentioned that I've been thinking about floor mats and I've decided that the Noteworthy Fabric will be perfect. Will see how that transpires.
W for Wasted....
Really enjoyed this latest instalment ( W is for Wasted) of the Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton. I can't tell you too much about the story without spoiling it so will have to just say there are a couple of different stories happening at once which come together in a suprising way. I'm pleased that the stories in this series haven't lost their interest as we march quickly towards the end of the alphabet.
In this novel there is an appearance of characters from Kinsey's past and it was like catching up with old friends and seeing what they've been up to. I keep wondering how much longer Henry and his siblings can last but at the same time dreading the day when they go. The same goes for Kinsey herself; I'm not sure what Sue Grafton has in mind for Z is for....? but I hope it's not 'bad'.
I really enjoy my art journalling and have started collecting quite a few different pens. I wanted to make a zippered pouch to use as a pencil/pen case but really hesitated because of my reluctance to sew in a zipper. But, there are lots of tutorials and books on the subject so one day I took the plunge.
I liked the zippered purse in Anni Downs' book The Simple Life so thought that was a good place to start. I liked her purse for the size and the fact that she uses a little tab over the zipper which makes it look neater. I also find her instructions are always easy to follow and this was no exception.
Her purse has a lovely stitchery and applique design but I took the easy option and just used some 2 1/2" squares from my scrap basket.
In no time I had this lovely pouch (5 1/2" x 10") which is perfect for my pens/pencils.
But the only problem I had with this one is that the lining is hand stitched onto the zipper. I was a bit concerned about how strong that would be considering that I will be pulling pens in and out.
I found a good tutorial on Clover and Violet's blog that used the tab on the zipper but it's all machine stitched. I made one as a sample and it turned out well.
This little one is from Noodlehead's blog and it doesn't have the tab over the zipper. It was very easy to make except I should have sewn closer to the teeth when I was applying the zipper. I think that would have made the it less prominent. On her blog she makes these for gifts and I think that's a great idea.
Anyway, I'm glad I took the plunge and learned something new. I will definitely be making more.
It was a miserable day here yesterday (still is today) and being confined indoors, I was looking for a small project to fill in the time.
I then remembered this key. It's the key to my shed (studio) and this is how the builder gave it to me approx three years ago on the day he finished - attached to a tag with our names on it. I've always intended to make some sort of key ring for it but never got around to it. Yesterday was the day.
In Marg Low's book, Things I love to Make, there's a little Birdie Trinket and I thought that would be perfect for my shed key.
I had some of the Anni Downs' fabric left over from my Flyaway project which I thought would be perfect. I have to confess that my choice of fabric was influenced by the wool felt I had in my stash - rather than the other way round. I made a twisted cord in a matching thread as a substitute for the ribbon and I also substituted template plastic for the cardboard listed in the pattern.
It is a very quick project and is done entirely by hand which was just what I wanted.
My key now looks much more respectable hanging on the key holder in the shed next to a doll I made years ago and my Welcome hanger.
Thanks Marg for a lovely design.
Until next time
Lyn
PS We had a big sporting weekend here. First there was a great game of rugby (union) with the Reds playing the British and Irish Lions. Can't wait for the test matches!
Then Nadal won the French Open for the 8th time. What a legend.
But the best part - Serena Williams won the French Open. What a star.
Once I finished the machine quilting on the Sweet Pea Dolly Quilt, it was then over to my favourite part which is the hand quilting with Perle 8 thread.
As planned, I machine quilted in the ditch of the blocks and borders and then handquilted diagonally through the blocks and 1/4" away from the borders. I left the light blue border without quilting because it made it stand out a bit more.
I always use the 1/4" quilters tape to mark my quilting lines. I find it easy to move around and it doesn't leave any marks.
I find hand quilting to be very relaxing and because the dolly quilts are small, it doesn't take very long. It always adds something special to the quilts as well.
For the binding, I chose a pink stripe fabric.
Finished size is 18" x 18". Another lovely addition to my large pile of dolly quilts. I know this one will be well used and cherished.
The next quilt of the month from Kathleen Tracey is Flowerpot Applique Wall Quilt from her book Remembering Adelia. I'm definitely going to make this one - it's been on my to-do list since the book came out. I just needed a bit of a push to get started on it.
I'm so glad that I pulled those left over blocks from my stash and decided to turn them into a quilt. It really was a quick little project and I'm delighted that it turned out so well.
I've also managed to use up all of the Vintage Modern and Ruby ranges that were in my stash. The finished size of the quilt is 31" x 31".
For a while now, I've been thinking about starting a 'gift cupboard' in my studio so that I'm always prepared ahead of time for Christmas and birthdays. The idea is that I will make things throughout the year instead of rushing around at the last minute or not having the time to make something.
This little quilt will be the first 'gift' that will be put away in my cupboard. In fact, I've already decided who to give it to.
Sweet Pea Doll Quilt....
This month's little quilt from Kathleen Tracy is a little quilt called Sweet Pea. The colours used by Kathleen are pink, blue, cream and tan.
It uses predominantly 1.5" squares so my ample supply of 2.5" squares came in very handy. I had almost enough 2.5" squares that I cut down into 1.5" squares and only had to add some tan squares.
I'm going to use the blue fabric in the front corner and the cream fabric behind it for the half-square triangle blocks.
Once I had finished the blocks for my Summer Days quilt, the assembly was really quick.
The blocks are rotated on alternate rows and this makes an interesting pattern. It makes the quilt look really scrappy which I like.
I managed to get it all layered for quilting before I went away last weekend and I left it sitting on my sewing machine until yesterday afternoon when I finally had time to quilt it.
I did my usual machine quilting in an all over stipple design and it was surprisingly quick to do. For the binding, I chose a green print - I tried some reds and blues but found they dominated too much and took away from the blocks themselves. I think the green was better.
And this is how it ended up. Finished size is 24" x 28".
My niece hasn't had the baby yet - she won't tell us if it's going to be a boy or girl - but I think this quilt will fit either outcome.
I'm pleased with it and it was a really quick and easy project. I'll keep this pattern in mind next time I need a quilt in a hurry.
Until next time
Lyn
P.S. To all those people in Boston or affected in some way by the bombings yesterday, my heart goes out to you. I'm still trying to get my head around why someone would do that?
I feel a bit guilty about calling my dolly quilt 'Ugly Squares' because I think it turned out anything but ugly.
I think it has a really 'sparkle' about it.
For the hand quilting, I did as was suggested in the pattern - quilting a diagonal line through each of the blocks. I didn't add any quilting to the border. It's only narrow and I didn't really think it needed it.
Finished size of the quilt is 13.5" x 18". A very nice addition to my collection of Dolly Quilts.
Kathleen Tracey hasn't posted a new quilt for April yet, and I'm waiting to see if she will be doing one before I start on another little quilt.
I really enjoy the projects she suggests because it helps me see the quilt designs in a new light. I had already made this Strippy Triangles quilt in totally different colours and if I put this latest one next to the original one I made, you wouldn't believe that they are the same pattern. I certainly wouldn't have thought to use these fabrics in that quilt design. I think it's a winner!
Each month you receive a pattern and some fusible labels to use in the pattern. For March, the pattern is a tablerunner with applique flowerpots on the edges. The sample is made from their lovely Noteworthy fabric.
I have some of that fabric left over from my I Pouches design - but not enough to make the pattern as suggested so I think I will be a bit creative and make mine a bit different.
I'm looking forward to receiving this month's instalment. The pattern is for some placemats.
I have a free monthly newsletter featuring a stitchery block of the month; exclusive specials on my patterns; and an inspiration column which includes a word of encouragement from the Bible.
In 2012 we did the quilt called I am... based on the I am statements Jesus made in the book of John. If you would like more information please email me.