December 2022 plans

 I was productive in November but December will be different to say the least!!

1. 2000 Prairie Schooler Santa, including this one there are just five to complete for a full set

2. At the framer

3. Sewology BOM - stitched together already and applique complete but there are a few glitches to iron out and then it will be ready to quilt. Backing has been ordered from Sew Hot in their Black Friday sale and it has already been dispatched.

4. I have made a small start on Christmas Window by Barbara Ana from Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher - winter 2022 edition

5. I want to stitch two more Christmas blocks from the sewalong with A Quilting Life. I think this will end up being a UFO for later in 2023.

6. I have some grey Jersey that would make another nice Jarrah sweater.

7. Project for Make Modern needs to be stitched and pattern written this week.

Monday make - Jarrah sweater

I finished my November UFO which was the Jarrah sweater. It's a little short but I can wear it over my denim pinafore dress as an extra layer.

I am planning another version and I will be changing:

Shorten sleeves by at least an inch

lengthen body by two inches

not use pre made cuffing

The Gutermann maraflex thread worked very well for this project so I need to pop out and buy another reel in mid grey.

I used fabric from Truro fabrics, the cuffing by Poppy in a claret colour came from them too. The cuffing is very clever and comes refolded or so I thought, but it's actually knit as one piece so the seams in the cuffs and neckband are visible. I have some ribbing in various colours so will use that for my next project. I used Gutermann maraflex thread in navy (colour 13) paired with an Aurifil matching thread. I used both my Janome airthread overlocker and Atelier 7 to make this.

The pattern is Jarrah Sweater by Megan Nielsen

Friday finish - It's Trashion!

I paired the kit for It's Trashion ...darling with Essex Speckle Yarn Dyed Linen in Aqua from Sew Hot. The kit was from the Sew Quirky mystery box which was themed on "Aussie Quirks". I may have already ordered the latest box which is themed on an Aussie Summer.

Provided was all the chenille and vegan leather needed to make the project. The chenille shred a lot so is a bit delicate and patched and I substituted the bondaweb style webbing for Steam a Seam 2. I cut everything out in advance and gathered matching threads to take to retreat. I managed to complete the blanket stitching at the Jersey retreat. I added a layer of wadding behind the piece before I started the stitching, 

I have then made it into a cushion with more of the aqua linen and yellow cam snaps to close the back. I am pleased with how it turned out and will now put it aside for the Jersey Eisteddfod next year

WIP Wednesday - A Quilting Life SAL

 

This is week 6 of Home for the Holidays SAL with Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life and Chelsie Stratton. Block 7 will be released later today. 

I had stitched half of block five at the Jersey retreat but couldn’t finish the block as I hadn’t cut enough of four of the fabrics. I had used my Accuquilt 6” qube. The cute penguin fabrics came from Gather Here in Boston.

I decided to use more penguin fabric for block 6 and I’m pleased with how it turned out.

The finished size of the blocks is 18” so I think a square quilt of 3 x 3 blocks will look great.

Monday make - mini series SAL 2022 finish

By the end of the Jersey retreat I had decided on a simple layout for my mini series SAL of twelve blocks and four bonus blocks. I started stitching my version of the 2022 bonus block but the logs were too big. I redrafted the block with 1/2” wide logs.

I finished sashing the blocks and did simple quilting. I then added a 1” flange folded in half and added a 1 3/4” binding. I stitched the binding by hand at our Group meeting on Saturday. 

Patterns by Guicy Guice

Patterned fabrics by Alison Glass 

Background fabrics from Oakshott

 

Friday finish - floral dreams mystery SAL

 

I didn’t have much still left to stitch on this pattern by Barbara Ana from Creative Poppy. The yellow is a rayon thread which is very slippery and not as easy to work with as regular DMC. I now need to find a frame from a charity shop to finish this project.

The fabric is linen from Picture this Plus and is an opalescent.

WIP Wednesday - mini series SAL

 

At retreat I started to add sashing to my blocks. The adaptation of the bonus block I was stitching too chunky so on Monday I redrafted the block with half inch strips on the log cabin and made it into a bear’s paw block. I used masking tape to map out the area that I needed to cover.

I have now stitched the two bonus blocks and sashed the piece. Today we are having a quick trip to Kings College Hospital in London, so I have packed my piece, tweezers and a tin for the foundation papers. Then I will press it again and hope to quilt it on Friday. I can then hand stitch down the binding at our Jersey Modern Quilt Group on Saturday 

Rainbow Retreat 8 review

 Rubbish

Last weekend it was retreat time again but more locally in Jersey. We were fewer attendees this time which made for a quieter classroom and earlier bedtimes. Waiting for us on our table when we arrived was an Aurifil bag with goodies inside including a magazine, Aurifil thread, Art Gallery Fabrics from Hantex, a scrap bag from Sew Hot and Bosal from Empress Mills. 

We're very lucky to be able to use the facilities at Crabbe which are usually used by youth groups and schools. Although accommodation is in bunk rooms, there's only one person sleeping in each room as some attendees choose not to sleepover. We definitely aren't slumming it as Laura makes fabulous home cooked meals for us. Tarte tatin anyone? There's underfloor heating to keep us warm but the sun was shining the whole weekend. We welcomed a new attendee this time - Roy the Rooster!! 

I only completed half of my first project - last week's block for the Quilting Life sewalong as I hadn't cut out enough pieces. This was definitely the theme of my weekend, but I did get two blocks of a four-patch block stitched. I plan to finish this week's and last week's block on Thursday to keep on track.

Next, I worked on my Sewology sewalong and again hadn't cut enough of two fabrics. I had tidied my Ruby Star fabric on my desk on Friday, so hubby located the fabric and passed it to the hubby of another attendee, so I finished the sewing machine block on Saturday. So I just have half a block left to stitch with a bias tape thread and then I can piece the blocks together. I might swap the sewing machine and scissors block as the aquas are too close in colour and tone.

On Sunday I worked on my "It's Trashion" applique by Sewquirky from my recent mystery box. I disliked the bondaweb supplied in the kit so swapped it out for Steam a Seam 2, the chenille also shed a lot of fibres so I have patched some places on the ibis' body. This will become a cushion, so I've ordered some more of the Aqua speckled Essex dyed linen to complete the back.

The last project that I worked on was coming up with a plan for my #miniseriessal2022 blocks. I am going to make two extra blocks for the middle row and then use a 1-inch sashing. Then I'll make the top into the size that I need with borders of the Oakshott cotton in silver. First, I need to redraft my bonus blocks as they were too chunky to fit in with the other blocks.

It was all over too soon. The raffle was held after our Sunday lunch, and I was delighted to win an empty Aurifil box which I can probably fill with the large spools I have around my sewing room.

Friday finish - 1997 Santa

 I finished the 1998 Prairie Schooler Santa yesterday on 32 count Belfast vintage stormy night. I have just six more patterns in this series to stitch. They are prepped ready to take to London at the end of the month to stitch whilst I’m in hospital.

WIP Wednesday - Sewology

 

I prepped three blocks to take to the Modern Quilt Club (MQC) retreat - tomato, buttons and scissors.  I was out of sorts for the first two days of the retreat and I stitched some of the pieces of the buttons block wrongly. I spent two hours blanket stitching around the BUTTONS applique. I prefer the look of blanket stitch on raw edged applique. My friend had lent me a set of alphabet dies to cut the letters but they were too big. Problem solved when I found a brand new Accuquilt die at the back of my cupboard and they were almost the perfect size.

Now that I'm home I have my extra fabric and have finished the button card block.

I did get one block finished at the MQC retreat and that was the tomato pin cushion and pins block. I had drafted a foundation paper pieced pattern for the top of the pincushion which went together quickly.

I am off on a local retreat on Friday so plan to kit up the final three blocks to stitch at the retreat. If I accomplish that it will be a quick job to put the quilt together. I'm not looking forward to the bias applique and that will probably be the last block that I put together!!

I have counted eight finished blocks, one kitted up ready to stitch and three more blocks to prep.

Monday review - MQC retreat

 

A week ago, I returned home from the Modern Quilt Club retreat in Cleckheaton at the Gomersal Park Hotel. Lisa has developed a successful formula for the twice-yearly events. My friend Gill and I have also developed a working plan too. I fly to Liverpool and Gill picks me up and drops me off at the Premier Inn on the Thursday afternoon. we have dinner together on Thursday night (my treat). Then at about 10.30am on Friday Gill texts me that she's on her way and I know to check out and she lives only a few miles away. We aim to arrive just before the start time of 12 but got caught up in motorway traffic this time so Yorkshire Gill and my daughter Lizzie bagged us our usual spot.

First thing to do is then check in with Lisa and pick up our lovely goody bag with gifts from Janome, Soak, Aurifil and Art Gallery Fabric. Time to catch up with stitchy friends before a buffet sandwich lunch at 1.

On our table were Helen, Yorkshire Gill, Liverpool Gill, Carol, my daughter Lizzie and me. Lisa was kind enough to loan Lizzie an overlocker so she stitched up multiple outfits and thoroughly enjoyed herself. She was a bit of a table hog though.

My brain was not in the right place on Friday and Saturday, so two projects were brought out and then shelved as I made mistakes. However, I did finish three blocks for the A Quilting Life sewalong and I've now finished the fourth so I'm up to date.

And I finished the tomato pin cushion block for the Sewology sewalong. I had drafted a FPP pattern for the leaf section of the tomato which worked well.

I also worked on my Mini series SAL with Alison Glass and Guicy Guice so I was able to post my photo of the completed blocks for the week by the Sunday midnight deadline.

I may have made a few purchases of Ruby Star Society from Olive & Flo Handcraft, one of which has been cut into for a sewology block.

On Saturday evening we played Aurifil bingo and Lizzie won a sample box of threads for being the first to get a line. On Sunday before lunch, we also had the raffle in which everyone wins a prize. This time there were lots of Fat Quarter Shop cross stitch prizes. My number was drawn before Lizzie's so she used my ticket to pick a pack of three Tula Pink fat quarters which were given to me to make something for her!! Later my ticket was drawn and the prize I wanted was still available, so I picked up two Lori Holt cross stitch patterns. The Sew Happy pattern has been kitted up ready for a hospital stay at the end of the month.

It was lovely to catch up with stitchy friends and be fed for the weekend. On Sunday we made the journey back to Liverpool and Gill dropped me off at the Premier Inn again. Lizzie was lucky t get flights to / from Aberdeen to Manchester on Friday morning and Sunday evening so no she didn't need to stay extra nights. I think Lizzie is now hooked. I doubt that I will be able to go to the March retreat but we are hoping that the October retreat will be achievable. It's good to have something to look forward to. 

Friday finish - rice bag

Yes, I know this wasn't on my to do list for November, but the optician at my appointment on Wednesday suggested a microwaveable compress for my dry eyes. Applied several times a day. I have been using reusable make up pads under a very hot tap, so this sounded like a good swap.

I made this in the same way I would a large rice bag for knees or shoulders. I stitched a pouch using scrap fabric, stitched it into two compartments, filled with brown rice (40g each side) and stitched down the ends. Then I made an outer layer using my newest Ruby Star fabric. Why not cut into your best fabric?

The inner pouch was made with two rectangles of white fabric - 8.25" by 3.25"

The outer pouch is on 1/4" bigger at 8.5" by 3.5"

Then microwave the pouch for no more than 20 seconds, test the temperature before applying to eyes. Times will vary depending on the strength of your microwave.

November 2022 plans

I have big plans for November to complete many of my SALs and UFOs.

1998 Prairie School Santa is kitted up and ready to go.

My Sewology BOM blocks are coming along nicely. I need to prep three more and stitch three other blocks at retreat.

Four more blocks and some bonus blocks to be completed on the MINI series SAL with Alison Glass and Guicy Guice.

Floral Dreams Mystery SAL from Barbara Ana came out of my UFO cupboard last month and there's not a lot of work left to finish. Mainly the yellow rayon thread which I'm not enjoying - too slippery.

I have fabric for several Jarrah sweaters so I just need to get on with it. I would expect it to be a quick stitch once I've chosen my size and traced out the pattern.

I'm exhausted just thinking of this to do list and I also have a pattern to write, stitch and photograph for Make Modern but at least I have drafted the Foundation Paper pattern in its final form.