Monday missions

 

Yesterday after another lovely meal in Aberdeen, this time at Brewdogs, we headed to the airport by taxi as the roads were still icy. We eventually got home just before 10pm, after worrying about missing our connecting flight at Heathrow. However that flight was also delayed so we had plenty of time to spare.

My mission this morning was to have a CT scan at 8.45am, made more challenging as I slept through to 7.40am and there are about seven schools and colleges in a one mile radius of our home. I was five minutes late but all was good and I offered my profuse apologies.

Second mission of the day was to retrieve my Patchwork Rabbit advent calendar from the main Post Office. Delivery had been attempted last Monday and it could have been returned to sender today so that was a top priority.

My advent calendar is now being displayed on my design wall in my sewing room. It is deliberately not in numerical order to add to the fun and I plan to spend ten minutes tidying each morning before I open each day's envelope. Let's see how long that lasts.

Before lunch yesterday we returned to both Hobbycraft and TK Maxx. We each bought something in Hobbycraft:

I have a hole punch for thread drops, some murano fabric and a box for my Janome bobbins

Nick has a new black ink pad and a Happy Christmas stamp

Lizzie has Star Wars fabrics for more masks for friends.

A treat for Friday was an escape room called "Into the Amazon". Matt did not see it as a treat and was not happy, but we played well as a team and completed the task in 40 minutes and escaped. Lizzie thought it was her favourite escape room so far. This was only my third escape room.

Jobs on my to do list are:

Reconcile my credit card

Make last week's Freebie Friday block

Play canasta this afternoon, but I must do a LFT first to protect others.

Friday finish - Tiilda hat

We are in Aberdeen this week for Lizzie’s graduation from Aberdeen University with a masters in medical physics. The ceremony was mainly in Latin and there was a bagpiper around to pipe in the faculty.

Matt has also joined us and we are eating very well. Today we are doing an escape room which Matt is not happy about. We are also viewing a flat to get her out of the dump she’s in.

Lizzie asked me to knit a purple hat for her friend. I knit it before leaving Jersey and we bought the Pom poms from a lovely local shop.

I also knit Lizzie a baby blue version with a white Pom Pom 

                                    

Now I’m knitting a version from wool we purchased from hobbycraft and another friend wants a purple one. I think that will be my limit. The pattern is the Tiilda Hat by Inese Sang free from ravelry.com 

WIP Wednesday - free block Friday

I am enjoying the free block Friday with Gnomeangel. We have already stitched half of the big blocks. I am pleased with my colour choices and swapping pain white or the quietplay print has worked very well.

I am in Aberdeen for my daughter's graduation so this Friday's block will have to wait until Monday.

 

Monday Make - 2013 Prairie Schooler Santa

I have now finished stitching the Prairie Schooler Santa for 2013. This was another of my planned finishes for November. I also finally finished writing a quilt pattern last week too. I need to take a look at my list and see what else I had planned to finish this month as e are off to Aberdeen tomorrow for Lizzie's graduation

My son purchased this pattern along with some others from Stitchers Paradise in Las Vegas. He went to California with a friend for a week in March 2020. My husband thought a week wasn’t long enough however when he was waiting for his flight back to the UK it was announced that the US borders were closing due to Covid. We feel very fortunate that he only went for a week and was able to fly straight home.

Friday Finish - tumbler table runner

One customer quilt finished and an almost empty spool of Superior Threads Canaan and it seemed like a good idea to finish this little project and perhaps finish the spool of thread. I used a double layer of wadding from my bag of wadding scraps and it's ready to be gifted at Christmas.

 

Details:

Die - Accuquilt 3.5" tumbler die

Fabric - Art Gallery Fabrics

Thread -  Superior Threads Canaan

Pantograph - Japanese Clouds

Make Modern Issue 43

I am working on writing a pattern for issue 44, but issue 43 is now out with lots of inspiring projects and articles. If you're not yet a subscriber, here's a flavour of what's in the magazine and a link to subscribe (affiliate link).

Also in Issue 43 is a fabulous collection of modern quilt patterns and projects to fill your creative cup – we MAKE quick quilts and cushions which would make great gifts, a modern applique quilt, a postage stamp quilt, and something a little trickier for those of us who like a challenge. There’s also a handy project travel bag to hold your quilt blocks flat and notions to quilt on the go. We MEET makers Troy Murrah who makes quilts from wood, Sharon Burgess from Lilabelle Lane, and Annie Hudnut. Our regular columnists discuss making plans, fabric substrates, HSTs, and we chat with Jess Zeigler of The Longarm League. We focus on Sewing Room Ergonomics and how you can make quilting less of a pain in the neck! And we MOTIVATE you to try fussy cutting with tips from Ange Wilson and a whole gallery of fussy cut inspiration.This issue begins with our Editor telling an age-old tale of coffee, blue jeans, and too many WIPs - the overwhelm of which is paralysing her desire to quilt. Jane shares a recent epiphany which has resulted in her tackling some of her oldest unfinished projects, and she shares tips to help us whip our own WIP list into shape ready for the new year.

Included Patterns:

• Deviate Quilt by Rachelle Craig (@rachelle_handmade)

• Diamond Lily Quilt by Lynett Muhaso (@lynsavenue)

• Interconnected Quilt by Brooke Shankland (@eudaimoniastudious)

• Naturale Quilt by Heather Cartmel (@hcartmel)

• All In Quilt by Jane Kelly (@janekellyquilts)

• East Coast Star Cushion by Mercedes Rose (@somethingfromnothing_nl)

• Separate Ways Quilt by Shereece Spain (@sewhookedontreasures)

• Twisted Path Quilt by Cindy Pieters (@stitchinathome)

• Aunt Baby’s Project Travel Bag by Geraldine Wilkins (@livingwaterquilter)

• Sunshine is for Everyone Quilt by Ronni Chavez (@roadhomequiltn)

Featured Articles:

• Tips + Techniques by Alyce Blyth (@blossomheartquilts): 2, 4, 6, 8, HSTs we appreciate!

• DIY Design by Tara Glastonbury (@stitchandyarn): Making Plans

• Cloth Confidential by Wendy Wild (@thenextstitch): Know Your Substrates

• Quilt Like a Rock Star by HollyAnne Knight (@stringandstory): Let’s Talk Longarming with Jess Zeigler of The Longarm League

• Sewing Room Ergonomics by Rose Parr (@healthyquilting)

• Smash That Stash: Quilts Charming (@janekellyquilts)

• Meet the Maker: Troy Murrah (@troy.murrah)

• Meet the Maker: Sharon Burgess (@lilabellelanecreations)

• Meet the Maker: Annie Hudnut (@anniehudnut)

• Whip those WIPs by Jane Kelly (@janekellyquilts)

• Introduction to Fussy Cutting by Ange Wilson (@gnomeangel)

• Gallery: Fussy Cut Quilts by Ange Wilson (@gnomeangel)

​

You can purchase single issues and the whole back catalogue, if you're not yet a subscriber, here's a  link to subscribe (affiliate link).

Monday Make - skull cushion

 

I purchased this kit from Helen Steele at Modern Club Quilt retreat in October. Before going on the JMQG retreat I prepped the hexagons by gluing down the seam allowances with a glue stick.

 

At last week’s retreat I pinned the prepared hexagons to a Essex yarn-dyed linen fabric in Fog from Robert Kaufman. I used a silver 80 weight thread from Aurifil which matched the background fabric well and isn’t over powering on the hexagons. I quilted the whole panel so as to secure the seam allowances down. I hadn’t taken my large 20.5 inch ruler to retreat so I was only able to trim the panel to 18.5 inches once I was home.

I finished the back of the cushion with five cam snaps in Aqua. They are so much easier to set than the metal prim snaps for me. I overlapped the back by an inch and stitched around the whole cushion, trimmed the corners and turned the project inside out.

There were a lot of quilt tops finished at retreat so I need to start doing some customer quilts this week to stay on top of the ones that are due to be dropped off for long arming.

Sunday stash - arrived during retreat

Why is it, that I was away for two days and four parcels arrived which elicited a comment from my husband!!

I received my 2022 Quilters Planner which was a preorder from Sew Hot

A tumbler die to make a table runner from Quilt Direct

DMC for my Prairie School Santas

Glue stick refills from Barnyarns via Amazon.

I would say I'm not going to buy anything more in November, but that would be a lie!!

Retreat Round up - Jersey Modern Quilt Group (JMQG)

 

Last weekend was our local group's retreat at a youth activity centre. Thirteen of us enjoyed sewing all day without having to cook or answer the phone. The accomodation is not luxurious but everyone had their own bunk room as some ladies prefer to go home and sleep in their own bed.

After unloading our cars and setting up the classroom as our studio for the weekend, the first task was to open our goodie bags which contained delights from Aurifil, Sew Hot, Empress Mills and Hantex. I used some of the new Bosal wadding and a fat quarter of fabric on a retreat project.

I started the easiest project first which was to stitch together the fourth Free Block Friday by @gnomeangel which I had time to cut out last Friday before heading to retreat.

My next project was to attach and quilt my hexagon skulls from a kit by Helen Steele. I used an Aurifil 80 weight thread which matched the Essex Dyed linen background (from Sew Hot) perfectly. I hadn't taken my large square ruler so packed the panel away to finish later.

If it's Friday night, it must be bingo night. I won four small prizes on Friday including a very useful colour wheel. we had two games of Kerplunk on Saturday night which wasn't popular so we reverted to Bingo again.

My Saturday project was to finish the block for the Spooky Sampler by Melissa Mortenson. I had appliqued the spiders and bat the previous week, so only had two broom blocks to piece.

By dinner time on Saturday I had a completed quilt top, which was packed away ready to quilt in December probably. I have some orange backing still left which will be perfect.

On Sunday, I worked on foundation paper piecing the Taj Mahal block for the ATW BOM. I made some progress and finished the piecing on Tuesday. I was too tired on Monday to do much at all!! A brilliant weekend with lovely food from Laura and very productive. I think I have three quilts which will be coming to me to be long armed including one which has already been delivered.

The tickets for the next Modern Quilt Club in June 2022 go on sale on Sunday evening so I will have something to look forward to as we can't yet book Crabbe for 2022 for a local retreat.

Retreat round up - Modern Quilt Club

It had been over two years since the last retreat at Gomersal Park near Leeds with Modern Quilt Club and everyone was so giddy with excitement. I did a lateral flow test before leaving Jersey as I didn't want to get stuck in the UK in isolation but we weren't asked to show them when we arrived. I did get a PCR test when arriving back in Jersey and was negative which was a great relief.

On arrival we were given a goody project bag which included very generous donations from Hantex, Helen Steele and Jane Egan Cresswell

And there was a second goody back from Vislene on our chair. I left the gridded interfacing with my friend Gill H, as she regularly uses that.

 

Over the Saturday and Sunday we played with a Cricut and screen printed under Helen Steele's watchful eye. My daughter loves the skulls that I printed so will keep that for her.

There was the usual hilarious Aurifil bingo on Saturday night and I won two spools of floss for a line and a Lori Holt book from the Sunday raffle. 

I did plenty of sewing over the weekend but wasn't my usual productive self, probably too busy chatting. I started the two minimalist wallets on Friday but soon gave up as the snaps weren't cooperating. Late Saturday night I realised I'd used the wrong fabric for the front pocket but substituted something from our goody bag and finished them both on Sunday.

On Friday night and Saturday I pieced two more ugly sweaters - pattern by Kid Giddy. Someone else was suing the same pattern but it didn't go well for Anne. The four blocks will be made into a tub and will be on my 2022 UFO list.

I also foundation pieced the October Seattle block from the ATW BOM. I ran out of fabric but managed to get enough from the selvedge of a screen printed panel from Helen. Disappointingly, the Kona Peacock had flaws which I noticed after I'd finished so I need to purchase another fat quarter and rectify the block.

There were two anonymous swaps over the weekend and I received a heart pinchushion from Chris and a cushion from Donna. I totally chose Donna's package because there was no cushion inner to fit in my suitcase.

I was lucky enough to receive some lovely gifts, in no particular order:

Neal's Yard travel set from Gill H for quilting two quilts

Aurifil thread from Gill R for Lizzie's overlocker, won in the raffle and I had totally forgotten I planned to choose that prize.

Two empty Aurifil boxes from Amy. One has been put into use already to store my Janome feet

Fabric from Chris' and Jackie's destashes

Roll on the 2022 retreats.

Free block Friday

 

I have enjoyed @gnomeangels previous sewalongs and know how well they are organised so decided to sign up for this FREE sewalong. Details here. I ordered my fabric from Sew Hot and added in the Quietplay print on white rather than using Kona white. The fabrics are inspired by Angie's Jumping Jacks version and are as follows:

Kona baby pink for background

Libs Elliott phosphor

Kristy Lea Dream

I don't have the required Marti Mitchell templates but decided to use my Accuquilt instead. For the first block, I couldn't find the square on point in my Mix and Match blocks. I have them in 6", 8", 9" and 12". I have just spotted they also have a 4" Qube.

The second block looked fiddly but came together well and I think that every block may have a fussy cut element.

By the third block, I had found the triangles and on point square for the centre so this was all cut on the Accuquilt including the fussy cut square on point. There are four blocks to look forward to in November and I might sneak my Accuquilt into my retreat packing for this weekend.

November 2021 plans

I have a retreat coming up this weekend and I have finished all of my 2021 UFOs, so now I need to finish up some projects and write the pattern for the magazine.

1. Spooky Sampler. This is prepped for retreat and only needs two broomsticks and three applique blocks to be stitched.

2. 2013 Prairie Schooler Santa.

3. Write Go Big Baby Bear pattern

4. November block for ATW BOM

5. Freebie Friday blocks

6. One branch of Christmas Tree by Barbara Ana. Kit by Nitka Moscow.

October 2021 achievements

I had two trips this month - one week in France which involved no crafting and a retreat at which I didn't feel like I achieved much.

1. Two minimalist wallets for friends and one for me.

2. 2016 Prairie Schooler Santa.

3. La Fin du Monde by Libs Elliott

4. ATW BOM - Seattle - just two more months to go.

5. Coney Island Quilt - pattern test using the fabrics left over from Spooky Sampler. 

I also finished piecing the Fractured Skull by Helen Creasey.