Multitasking

I always thought I could muti task but if I sewed leaders and enders, I always ended in a muddle. One place where I can multitask is on my long arm.  I loaded up a red and white backing with scraps of wadding and quilted five of the six place mats for Lizzie's Christmas present. It was tempting to also quilt the table runner at the same time, but I resisted. The scale of the quilting for the runner will be slightly smaller. I may take these to the November retreat to bind them.

Next on my machine will be my October Challenge UFO. Cutting it a little fine! I need to add some borders to the piece and then it can be stitched in the ditch. There are a few decorations to be embroidered but we have a storm threatened tomorrow so I can see a few days spent at home.

Q4CL star quilt

 

I now have all of my Stash Bee blocks and have made them into one ladder quilt and one quilt for Care leavers. I can donate the Q4CL at the retreat in two weeks' time. I used a digital pantograph called Malachite which is quick as there's no overstitching and I used Superior Threads in White Linen.

Net on machine will be some Christmas projects. I have started quilting the table runner and placemats for Lizzie and I will use the same backing to complete a Kimberbell project. First of all, I need to add borders to that quilt.

More Christmas preparations

I have been planning to make these cross-stitch ornaments for my daughter, Lizzie for two years. There are six pieces in the Polar Plunge series and I even have the wooden frames to mount the pieces onto. I made a fatal mistake last year and bought oil paint instead of quick drying acrylic paint.

I got the project out of storage two weeks ago to work on at my Wednesday morning group. I have Penguin Pair completely stitched but decided not to work on Whale Hello There as there were no big blocks of colour to work on, just lots of counting, which I know is not my strong point.

Instead, I started Polar Bear Peek and I have made good progress. I think my plan will be to finish stitching the two pieces that are nearing completion, pick up some scrapbooking paper either here or in Bradford in two weeks' time so that I can complete three to gift this Christmas.

That will leave me Wally the Walrus, Narwhal (PDF pattern) and Puffin Party to complete next year.

Christmas progress

 

Thrilled to have six place mats and one table runner sewn together. Lizzie likes greens, turquoise and blue so I use those colours for the presents.

My dilemma is whether to load this onto my long arm or to wait a few more days to see if my last two stash bee blocks turn up. I have the backing for these blocks already loaded. I know  that the day after I take the fabric off my machine, that the blocks will turn up. :)

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.