Friday finish - coco dress

 

I made another Coco dress using the pattern from Tilly and the Buttons. It was quick to cut out as I had made a first version. Thus version is 4 inches longer than the pattern as drafted. The neckline still gapes and I’m not sure how to fix that? Perhaps lift the front shoulders and drop the neckline.

Next I will try out the unseasonal Jarrah sweater. It has a relaxed fit so I might drop down a size or two. The Cielo dress is also calling my name.

WIP Wednesday -Havana Quilt

 I am currently quilting my other WIP - Double Crossed Quilt by Angela Pingel Designs so I have laid out the Havana Quilt by Paula Steele on my deign wall. This is made using a kit from Modern Quilt Club so no waste. Unfortunately there were four large turquoise triangles missing from the kit so I am at the mercy of Royal Mail and Jersey Post to deliver the missing pieces which Lisa has posted to me. I hope the pieces arrive soon and I can get the top sewn together before the end of the month. I doubt it will be finished in July.

The fabrics are all Tula Pink solids from Freespirit and are cut by Lisa using a Sissix die cutting machine.

Monday Make - Dreaming in the Seashore

 

I am delighted with this piece by Barbara Ana Designs from the Summer 2022 issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher. I am subscribed to the digital magazine and the subscription   entitles you to access to all of the back issues. 

I used the called for DMC threads with a leftover piece of linen from the Little Dove Designs piece that BumbleStitches gifted to me to finish. 

I am now going to work on the 1992 Prairie Schooler Santa.

Fabric Friday

 

It’s not often that I have many fabric purchases to share with you but this week I've received two parcels from online sales.

When I saw that Sew Hot had 20% off fabric last weekend, I decided the time was right to purchase backings for both my Havana quilt an Double crossed quilt. After browsing online I selected this print for both quilts which I have used before and I had earmarked some scraps for the scrappy Double Crossed quilt.

Details : 

Just Color Navy Swirl 108″ Wide from Studio E

By Graziela also had a sale and an extra 10% off for new subscribers to their newsletter so I purchased two metres for another Coco dress by Tilly and the Buttons.

Details:

Heart Me jersey / berry

I plan to finish the Double Crossed quilt top (pattern by Angela Pingel Designs) this weekend and hopefully get it quilted before a customer quilt needs to go on my long arm.

WIP Wednesday - Dreaming beach

 

I have made good progress on Dreaming in the Seashore from the Summer 2022 edition of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitching. There’s a lot of small areas of colour so it is slower to stitch.

Monday Make - double crossed

I am testing the #DoubleCrossedQuilt by Angela Pingel Designs. I am impressed with the draft we've been given which is so professional with just a few typos. I have tested patterns that were a long way from being ready to be released, but this pattern is so well drafted.

This quilt has gone from zero to hero in less than two weeks. I set myself the task of making one large or four small blocks each day. Even when I haven't been able to stitch, I've prepped the units ready for the following day. I have gone for a red, white and blue theme with the addition of pinks and turquoises. 

My next task is to layout the blocks in their final positions and check for clashes or matching fabrics next to each other. Then I'll be ready to stitch the blocks into a quilt top.

Friday finish - Christmas Tree

 

I have finished another branch on Christmas Tree by Barbara Anna from Nitka Moscow. I have three deep branches to finish but I think it will be finished for Xmas 2022. 

Now that both of my July cross stitch projects have been completed, I started a new project also by Barbara Ana from the current issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine. I subscribe to the digital version and print only the patterns that I want to stitch. You can see the project on the cover of the magazine.

WIP Wednesday - Havana again

 

Last week I completed all of the HSTs for this precut kit - kit from Modern Quilt Club and pattern by Paula Steel. All of the HSTs along with some squares are made up into four blocks and then there are flying geese units to make. I have been working on this every morning for no more than an hour and so far, I have achieved:

* All of the HST blocks have been laid out on my design boards

* I have stitched all of the HST blocks together

* There are eight permutations of flying geese and I have paired all of the combinations together and put them into individual bags.

* I have stitched five of the flying geese units

Somewhere on the internet I picked up the idea of making a decision once. The idea was illustrated with the example of those with children buying ten of the same present at the beginning of each year. I have utilised this idea with my Prairie Schooler Santas and I am now stitching them in chronological order. I have now decided to stitch the flying geese and block in the order they're shown in the pattern. Much simpler.

I have realised another benefit of the precut kit is no leftovers or scraps. I have also started a scrap project (more about that quilt next week) and the mess is phenomenal as I don't like to cut out all of the pieces before starting to sew.

Monday make - Coco Dress

When we visited Rosenbergs in London last December, Lizzie spent so much money that we were offered a free gift and I have about three yard of this jersey by John Kaldor. I also found the perfect Aurifil thread to do the top stitching which picks out the purple in the fabric.

I picked up a brand new copy of Coco by Tilly and the Buttons at a local charity shop for £1. I lengthened the dress by four inches so it was below the knee. No one needs to see my tree trunks legs!! I am pleased with how it's turned out but need to alter the neck slightly on my next version as it gapes a little. However it's a perfect summer dress for me.

 

Friday finish - 1991 Santa

 

The 1991 Prairie Schooler Santa was more complicated than most of the other Santas as there's a design on the coat, so no large areas of red to stitch. I am pleased to have another finished and my next Santa is kitted up and ready to pick up once I have finished one branch of the Christmas Tree by Barbara Ana.

Once I get loser to having them all stitched I will need to source some fabric and ribbonsto turn them into hanging ornaments.

WIP Wednesday - Havana

 

The pattern for this quilt is from Paula Steele and I love the modernity and navy background.

I bought a kit for this quilt from Modern Quilt Club and all of the pieces are precut and come in labelled sweet bags. I am sewing on this project for 15 to 30 minutes each morning and I have already finished all of the HSTs and no trimming necessary.

The flying geese are next and I may start sewing some of the sub blocks together using the HSTs.

June 2022 achievements

I did well at retreat and bound the Just My Type quilt, pieced the Happy Stripes quilt top and the rows of the Freebie Friday quilt top.

1. 1989 Prairie Schooler Santa. I am now completing these in date order to keep me on the straight and narrow, no need to decide each month which to work on.

2. One more branch on Christmas Tree by Barbara Ana.

3. Free block Friday completed.

4. A new start and finish - scrappy Happy Stripes Quilt Along with Emily Dennis. 

5. Just My Type by Pen + Paper Patterns is complete. I completed it at the retreat on the Friday as planned with a machine stitched binding.

6. Twice as Nice pouch by Aneela Hoey.

7. UFO challenge - improv fish 

July 2022 plans

No trips planned this month, so I should be productive but I have been more realistic about what I can achieve this month

1. 1990 Prairie Schooler Santa.

2. One more branch on Christmas Tree by Barbara Ana. It feels achievable now to complete this in 2022.

3. Summer dress in some John Kaldor fabric and I'm going to try the Coco dress by Tilly and the Buttons. 

4. Group challenge UFO. Could I be lucky and one I've already completed is chosen? I hope so.