Ginger's kitchen bench pillow

 

I am catching up with the sewalong for the bench pillow by Kimberbell Designs which is hosted in the Cristin Creates facebook group and Youtube channel.

I have sewn together sections 1 and 2 and love how they look, but I'm not happy with the alignment so will unpick this and redo the seam.

I need to catch up with section 3 and cut and quilt some filler blocks. I'm not happy with the position of the house next to the Gingerbread Bakery block so I will move the gingerbread house up to the top of the section.

I stitched the final gingerbread house yesterday and pieced section 4. The background for the house is not correctly orientated, but I don't mind. I still love the clamshell quilting I chose for the house blocks.

The video for the gingerbread man was released today and fortunately I had already made that block. We are nearing the end, and I can't quite believe how big this bench pillow is. This weekend I need to restitch sections 1 and 2, finish section 3 and probably finish section 5 as that's one embroidered block and two small filler blocks.

Tomorrow I am doing an escape room followed by afternoon tea at a friend's home. Then I can enjoy the Kimberbell day events and perhaps stitch up the free design. You can sign up for free here.

WIP Wednesday - BOO

 

This month's UFO challenge is to stitch Boo by Hello from Liz Mathews from Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine. It doesn't look like I've made much progress but watching a Flosstube video last winter, I found out that the colour key in the magazine was incorrect. So, on Saturday I made a start and completely unpicked the large pumpkin. I now have a week to finish this project and I am a slow stitcher.

Monday make - Strawberries for Wimbledon

 

Wimbledon may have finished a week ago, but I have only just finished Mouse's strawberry jam by Tiny Modernist. I used all of the called for overdyed flosses on 32 count Belfast Vintage stormy night. I deliberately omitted the backstitched scrolls on the label on the jam pot.

I have a finishing piece ready so in theory I could completely finish it this month, but I need to press on with Boo by Hello from Liz Matthews which is my UFO challenge piece for July for Jersey Modern Quilt Group.

The framer has done a lovely job framing Halloween Tiny Town by Heart in Hand and matched the bright orange on the stitched piece to the frame.

Friday Finish - Lucky Us

 

At retreat I worked on this Lucky Us cushion by Kimberbell Designs. The panel was already complete, so I added the borders, stitched in the ditch and made it into a cushion. I took my tools to install the Kam snaps but, in my haste, I installed one the wrong way around. On Monday morning I used my green machine and hole punch to remove the popper and install a new one. I also added a jolly label by Sew Anonymous.

It's good to have this project completed as I can now catch us up on Ginger's Kitchen bench pillow as a new video was released over the retreat weekend by Cristin Creates on YouTube.

WIP Wednesday - Folk Sampler 2024

 

The third project I worked on at the Modern Quilt Club retreat last weekend was the Folk Sampler by Art East Quilting. I precut three bee blocks and the mouse.

I stitched all four prepped blocks and before I left the retreat, I also cut out two thistle blocks. With the bee blocks finished, I was able to add the first row of blocks around the centre star. Still left to complete now are:

• Two thistle blocks
• Two birds
• Dachshund B
• Two flying geese fish blocks

I also need to alter the first dachshund block which is a little wonky and stitch another Ohio star block to replace the block in the top right.  Progress has been made and the end is in sight. I have a Jersey Modern Quilt Group all day stitching day on Saturday so perhaps I should try and cut out a couple of blocks ready to stitch.

Monday Make - crafter's tool bag

I returned from the Modern Quilt Club retreat near Leeds late yesterday evening and was very grateful for the lift to the airport as well as my security fast pass as the queues were long. I worked on the Crafter's Tool bag by Kandou Crafts on Friday and finished it early on Saturday morning.

At the retreat there is a buzzer that you press when you finish a project and at the last retreat I didn't get to press it. I did press it before everyone came down in the morning but pressed it again later. It is a great way to attract everyone's attention and then find out what the pattern is!

The tool bag has a few neat additions including this small notions' pouch which can be closed or snapped into place on the bag.

It also has a recessed zipper closure on the top and I had cut all of the correct pieces for the bag prior to the retreat apart from the placket inside the top of the bag but I had just enough spare of the pink fabric as well as some iron on interfacing.

I even remembered to add a small label on the back of the project. I used Decovil light to give body to the project and used denim paired with the Ruby Star sateen wide backing and pink splash print. A satisfying first project completed at the retreat.

Retreat starts today

Instead of flying to Liverpool, I foolishly decided to go via Manchester instead. Unfortunately there was a rail strike so I was forced to take a National Express coach to Leeds.

I have packed three projects plus an emergency spare. I am going to start with the Craft Tote by Kandou Crafts.

I have also packed the Lucky Us cushion from Kimberbell which needs borders to be added, stitch in the ditch and then made into a cushion.

I have also prepped five blocks for the Folk Sampler by Art East Quilting. I hope to pin these blocks this morning, ready to sew.