Christmas plans

My daughter, Lizzie dropped a very unsubtle hint last week about what she'd like for Christmas - table mats and a table runner. I made four mats for Matt last Christmas as we celebrated at his home, but this year we will be going to Lizzie's home in Bradford.

I have purchased this pattern from Primrose Cottage here. Had I looked at the other options, I could have bought the cheaper table runner pattern instead. Never mind, I'm ready to stash dive into my blues, greens and teals to cut this out tomorrow. I will probably start with the larger presents as I only need to make to blocks.

Stash bee ladder quilt

 

I finished my ladder quilt using some of the stash bee quilt blocks. Had I done some preplanning I would have asked for 9" and 6" blocks instead of 12" blocks! However, it does mean that when the last two blocks arrive, I will have sufficient 12" blocks to make a sunny quilt for Quilts for care leavers.

I used a Karlee Porter star design to do the quilting with a variegated yellow thread from Superior Threads. However, I did lose at thread chicken, so I have a finished cone and substituted a Glide thread for half a row. I am 

October stash bee

 

This morning I retrieved my scrap basket from the cupboard. Lisa had asked for blocks using blues and low volumes. Fortunately, she wanted a scrappy look so I managed to cut all of the pieces from the scrap bags. Very satisfying!

The instructions were very clear and apart from some mistakes that I made in cutting out the thin strips it was an easy make. I could wait until the November retreat to give these blocks to Lisa, however I think I will get them in the post next week.

Next on my to-do list is to quilt my stash bee ladder quilt.

Barbara Ana seasons

 

Delighted to collect this finished piece from the framer this week. My favourite is still summer with the strawberry headdress.

Liminal quilt BOM 4

 

I have had a very productive day and finished month four of the Liminal quilt by Jo Avery. I have had a week of disturbed sleep, but last night I had a full night's sleep and feel much more energised.We have one more pieced border before to applique borders. Those will be slower to complete!

I had to pivot for the corner block as I have no more left of the lighter grey so I substituted the darker grey.

The magazine hasn't given instructions on putting the quilt together yet, but I know that I am better to do that as I go along. All of the blocks are already sashed so have worked it out for myself.

Spooky

 

My daughter, Lizzie, left this quilt behind for me to quilt. Hubby is visiting Matt and Lizzie next Friday in the UK so will be delivering it back to her. I am sure she'll have it bound ready for Halloween. Lizzie has drafted many of the blocks herself and I particularly like the potion bottles and the cauldron.

The backing is from a duvet cover. The quilt is quilted with a digital design called Nightmare by Anne bright in a dark grey thread.

Time to make some plans

 

It is fair to say that the time to plan the size of blocks needed for my ladder quilt would have been before requesting the blocks. I now realise I can only fit a few 12" blocks into the ladder quilt.

I now have a plan and have made two 6" woven stars to add to the blocks sewn by friends, and I need to make four 9" star blocks to complete the project. My plan is to make two Ohio stars and two other stars.

I also have sufficient blocks to make a quilt to donate to Quilts for Care leavers. I have two blocks still to come, and I made one further star to make a 4 by 6 block quilt which fits the charity's guidelines. It would be nice to finish these over the next week, as my next customer quilt is delayed and I'm currently quilting a Halloween quilt for my daughter. Then I might have time to quilt these next. I need to look through my stash of backing fabrics to see if I have anything suitable.