Wednesday, May 22, 2013

On a cold Autumn Day

It's good to sit under a quilt and sew. This week I've finished the first block of Coxcombs and Stars and
 
 

started on the Top border. This shows half of it. So many berries.



 
 
and then I got out the next block from the Marriage quilt I started last year and got the shapes cut out and attached to the wool ready to be cut out and placed on the background.


 
and then this arrived back from being basted so that I can quilt the stems on the vines. This has now become a long time project as I find quilting very hard on the fingers and I will only be sewing it in small quantities.

 
 I also got my Grand daughter's quilt back from the quilter and it requires the binding to be sewn down. Just the thing to sit on one's knee and stitch when it has been so cold. When we got up this morning it was 3C Brrrrrr! How long do I have to wait for Summer, I'm not a Winter person. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Looking at my UFO's

I've been going through my baskets of projects started and trying to decide whither I will continue, finish it where it is or put it back in the cupboard for another week, month, year.
Why did it end up like this? Did I just find a nicer quilt to make? Were the fabrics the wrong choice? and will I ever get around to completing it? I'd love to hear what you do with your UFO's. 
At last year's Symposium, run by my guild, I started a Red and Green quilt being designed by Sandra Boyle. I had a Moda Layer Cake of fabric I decided would be fine with a few greens added. I decided last week to finish it where it was and cut the remaining fabric into squares to be the sashing.  




 
I have nearly finished the applique on the 1st block of Coxcombs and Stars. I now need to prepare the top border as this is the next piece of the pattern and it will be nice to have it ready to go. 



Sunday, May 5, 2013

This weeks meanderings

It's been a little of this and a little of that, this week. First picture is Lori's little quilt from her blog, Humble Quilts. This was fun to make.

 
 
and this is the centre of her latest quilt. If you go to her blog the patterns are available.  I've still to stitch it.

 
and a little bit more of Coxcombs and Stars. I showed you a while ago and then it got put on the back burner. I took the freezer paper off the front and ironed it on the back of the cut pieces and tried the technique of folding over the seam allowance with starch and not glue. This method worked well as the starch doesn't stick like the glue pen does and the paper came out soo easily. Paint the liquid starch on with a small brush, fold over the seam allowance with the fingers and iron as you go. The edges are crisp and ready to sew. I will use this method again. It's a great way to get a nice point at the end of the leaves. The stars were a bit trick-ier [?] as they are a brushed cotton and a very soft fabric. I'll straighten them as I sew them.