Friday finish - hex on the beach

I am doing the happy dance. I have finished the binding and I have even added a hanging sleeve. I love how it looks and that it's finished. 

I can now work on my own choice of project today until August's UFO is chosen tomorrow morning.

WIP Wednesday - Hex on the beach

I am shocked how far this project has come in just one month, especially as life was turned upside down last week when my Mum passed away suddenly. Dad has moved in with us temporarily and is returning to their flat each morning to start tidying and donating stuff. Mum had a good last day socialising with her friends at bowls in the morning, lunch at a smart local hotel, a nap and then a paddle in the sea where she was taken ill. There are worse ways to go and despite Mum's many underlying medical conditions, it was a shock for my Dad especially. So at 92, Dad is going to have to learn to work the microwave and other tech. We are now just waiting for the path lab to finish their tests so we can make arrangements.

I had great plans to custom quilt this piece but instead I chose a digital pantograph. I have bored IG friends with my dithering over binding choices but in the end I went with a classic black and white stripe which I could buy locally. Today I sewed the binding down to the front ready to hand sew it to the back today and tomorrow whilst Dad reminisces.

I will have this finished by the end of the month and then I hope that Kim chooses an easy project for us to work on for August.

Monday make - Love

I took a break from hexagons over the weekend and stitched up the August / September block for the Tattoo Quilt by @happysewlucky. I only have a metre and one fat quarter of the background fabric so I am not adding the borders at this point. I mistakenly used the orange for lettering and it should have been white but I had almost finished the letters so I decided to roll with it and there is more contrast in real life.

I was driving myself mad looking for the one metre piece to finish the block and searched high and low in my sewing room. I enlisted the help of my daughter and she found it downstairs next to my PC. What a relief and I was very grateful for her efforts.

That makes two blocks out of 11 so far. If I our local retreat happens in November and a UK based retreat in September, I will probably take these blocks to work on instead of the half a dozen simpler projects as I would normally do.

WIP Wednesday - Hex on the Beach II

Last Wednesday my Hex on the Beach quilt by Tula Pink looked like this.  A few blocks still to be pieced or fixed and the rows have been sewn down to the bright green hexagons. Yesterday I hit a milestone and all of the blocks are now pieced and fixed. I had to take out four hexagons that I had pieced in the wrong shade of blue but I was on a roll and got on with it.

You can now see much more clearly how the final quilt will look. This morning I have sewn two rows together. The last row I added to the top portion took four hours to stitch, but I got these two rows done in under two hours. Going forward my plan is to piece two rows together on quiet days and on busy days I have two rows that need the blocks to be stitched into a row. 

I haven't run out of steam yet and should get the top pieced, if not quilted by the end of the month. I have a piece of Tula Pink handmade for the backing but I need to choose and order some binding now. I'm off to google which Tula stripe others have used.

Monday Make - Truth

Truth is block one of the Tattoo quilt by @happysewlucky. I purchased the solids kit from Sewhot and it arrived about a month ago, however I decided I wanted to step it up by including a Tula Pink fairy dust background and some Tula Pink True Colours.

I ordered a fat quarter bundle ten day ago from Sew Hot and it arrived on Friday. I had already printed off all of the foundation pieces so I dived into the first block. I am so pleased with how it came together. The fussy cutting of the heart is almost perfect which is good enough for me!!

There are some borders to go on this block which I will add when I start block 2 - Hope. In the mean time, back to my Tula Pink Hex on the Beach EPP.

Sunday Stash - Make Modern issue 35

The newest issue was released on Friday and is full of stash busting projects and interesting articles delivered direct to your in box. If you're not yet a subscriber, here's a flavour of what's in the magazine and a link to subscribe (affiliate link).

Beautiful fabrics and quilts are meant to be shown off and enjoyed. Agree? We certainly do, and in this issue, we encourage you to use your quilts, with ways to get them out of your cupboards, on display and in rotation. And if you’ve got special fabric that you can’t quite bring yourself to cut up into a quilt yet, we continue the theme and MOTIVATE you to use that precious fabric!

We MEET two talented quilters, Jo Avery and Velda Roy. And we MAKE rainbows as we cheer on our Creative Director (and self-confessed rainbow addict) Kristy Lea who makes her fabric debut with her new Create line, featured in the Rainbow Bright quilt pattern, just one of the ten beautiful patterns featured in Issue 35. Be inspired by our incredible line up of international quilters and makers to prise that precious coveted fabric out of your stash and under your machine, pronto!

MEET Jo Avery and Velda Roy, MAKE rainbows and micro mini quilts, and be MOTIVATED to display your quilts and use that precious fabric!

Included Patterns:

• Rainbow Banner Quilt by Amanda McCabe 
• (@jamesandgraciehandmade)
• Victorian Tiles Quilt by Monika Henry (@pennyspoolquilts)
• Busted Fence Quilt by Rachel Julia (@kohatupatterns)
• Rainbow Bright Quilt by Kristy Lea (@quietplay)
• Walkie Talkie Wristlet by Brianna Roberts (@briannaroberts71)
• Good Measure Quilt by Geraldine Wilkins (@livingwaterquilter)
• Intersections Quilt or Cushion by Angie Wilson (@gnomeangel)
• Skull Squared Quilt by Velda Roy (@freckledfoxquiltery)
• Dresden On Point Quilt by Rebecca Cottongim (@aquilterschaos)
• Gorby Baby Quilt by Sam Joseph (@rnbwtrout)

Featured Articles:

• Smash That Stash: Use That Precious Fabric! by Jane Kelly (@janekellyquilts)
• Great Makes Using Simple Shapes by Velda Roy
• Quilts on Display by Jane Kelly (@janekellyquilts)
• Gallery: #microminiSAL hosted by Lesley Chaisson (@berry_birdy) by Kristy Lea (@quietplay)
• Meet the Maker: Jo Avery (@joaverystitch)
• Meet the Maker: Velda Roy (@freckledfoxquiltery)
• Tips + Techniques by Alyce Blyth (@blossomheartquilts): Better Basting
• The Hustle by Angie Wilson (@gnomeangel): Pressured Change
• Quilt Like a Rock Star by HollyAnne Knight (@stringandstory): A Quilting Plan
• Fabric Love by Chelsea O’Hayre (@pinkdoorfabrics): Sew in Colour

Library: Color, Thread and Free Motion Quilting by Teri Lucas, Adorable Animal Quilting by Ingrid Alteneder, Love Your Creative Space by Lilo Bowman, and Beyond the Tee – Innovative T-Shirt Quilts by Mary & Jen Cannizzaro 

Friday finish - Rainbow Dreams

The #rainbowdreamssal has been a perfect lockdown project - rainbows and a simple but striking pattern.

Some of the fabrics that I chose for this project had barely enough yardage to make the 13 rainbow blocks, but in the end, I only had to seam one square together and it is barely visible. It is good to use up scraps and remember earlier projects that they were used in.

With strip piecing and only three different blocks to the project, the blocks were simple to put together.

I dived into my recently organised stash of backings and this vintage Ikea print was the perfect size. I even changed the label with the measurements of the smaller piece left.

The grey Carolyn Friedlander fabric is a favourite backing of which I have oodles of scraps so again it was good to find sufficient for blocks and borders.

I used a blocky pantograph called Circuits to long arm quilt this baby quilt and as it is a baby quilt, I machine stitched the binding on for longevity when washed.

A pleasing finish. I must have a look at more of the projects in the book.

WIP Wednesday - Hex on the Beach

This is the WIP chosen for us to work on in July and I fear that WIP Wednesday is going to be a bit repetitive this month. The end of this project is in sight but I'm having to work on it for about 2 to 4 hours each day to either make a block or sew a row onto the main piece. That doesn't leave much spare time for working on anything else.

As of this morning I have just three complete blocks to piece and two blocks on which I need to fix some mistakes. Over half of the quilt is sewn together. I have even started looking at photo of how Angela Walters quilt Tula Pink's quilt with a thought to free motion quilting it. Eek.

You can see from today's photo that there are fewer gaps to fill. I have written a 20 stage plan to finish the quilt top and have finished 7 of the stages by just doing one item per day. It may seem like overkill but it's working so far but I am worried that I will burn out before the end of the month.

In other news I have ordered some Tula Pink True Colours for my Tattoo Quilt and if that arrives this week, I may have a block to show you next week!!

Monday Make Patterntrace foundation paper review

One change that I hoped would come out of the current state of the world is a reduction in the reliance on other countries for manufactured items. So I was excited to hear that patterntrace were starting to produce foundation paper in Devon. Look, no plastic packaging either. The glue holding the flap down on the back of the envelope is powerful so slit or cut the packet across the top to open.

This is what Clare & Fiona had to say about their new product:

We are very excited to introduce you to our new product - foundation paper! Our bestselling product, Patterntrace, is a paper based product. We are returning to our roots with this new paper - ideal for foundation paper piecing.  Along with quilting author and blogger Kerry Green from Very Kerry Berry we have extensively tested this paper to make sure it does everything you need it to do.  Our British made foundation paper is semi-transparent so you can easily see through it to place your fabrics.  It feeds perfectly through inkjet and laser printers, plus it has a rough texture to ensure glue easily sticks to it. It is thin and easily tearable ensuring you have no problems tearing it off the back of your work when you have finished piecing. You can cut it with scissors. a rotary cutter or score it. It does not scorch or curl up from the heat of the iron nor does the heat transfer any of the ink onto your fabric.

 

Part of why we decided to make our own foundation paper is that we found you could only buy American foundation paper which had been imported into the UK. Obviously at both an environmental and financial cost. We have used a local paper mill in Devon to produce our paper so you are supporting small British businesses twice over by purchasing!  We've also launched a new quilting bundle combining our new quilting workbook and foundation paper, plus the option to add in quilting clips too. 

20% launch discount!

To celebrate the launch of these exciting new products we are offering 20% off both the foundation paper and our new quilting bundle for the first 2 weeks (offer ends 20th July). Use the code foundationpaper to get your discount.

A top tip for FPP is to keep your scraps of the paper and use these along with your glue stick to patch up any areas that have torn due to having to unpick. Much better than sellotape.  

I had already printed off all of my Tattoo quilt patterns so printed off the bonus block for future use as a label. it went through the printer beautifully, no need for fiddling as it is already A4 as I often buy the cheapest size from amazon which is usually legal size. I selected a 1.2 stitch length and away I went. It is translucent which is a bonus and tore away nicely. The paper has the feel of a leave in product so I have suggested that the packaging reflects that it's a tear out product.

It's British made, translucent and no plastic packaging, what's not to like. I almost forgot, it irons better than any other similar product that I've used before.

Friday finish - Stitch on banner

Whilst waiting impatiently for my Tattoo quilt from Sew Hot, I decided to make this Stitch On banner, also by @happysewlucky. It turned out very well and highlighted once again what a good pattern designer Berene is. She puts a star next to any points that have to match up which is a feature I haven't seen in other patterns. I used a knitting needle from which to hang my banner. I love the background and fortunately purchased a couple of yards from Gather Here in Boston.

My Tattoo kit did arrive and I have now printed all of the patterns ready to start sewing. However I am going to wait for UK shops to receive their Tula Pink All Stars delivery and add some into the mix with the Kona solids. I have put the patterns in a folder along with the fabric ready to go in a couple of weeks time. The start date of the sewalong has been moved to 1 July, so I should be able to get the first block finished by 1 August in time to sew block 2 with everyone else.

But the best news of last week was our daughter was given permission to fly on a Government repatriation flight from the UK to come home. She was tested at the airport for Covid and we had to self isolate until Saturday afternoon when her negative test result came through within 30 hours. She was then able to enjoy her birthday on Sunday with lunch out, a visit to see her grandparents and a Google Hangout superheroes quiz with her friends. This is her costume that she made with some of my stash for the Red R and covered buttons for earrings to become Jessie of Team Rocket (Pokemon).

Q3 2020 FAL

I didn't make as much progress in June as in April and May, but I ended the quarter with 11 UFOs instead of 27. I have added four new projects to take me to 15 and I plan to get down to under ten by the end of the quarter. I also made a few diversions for other pretty projects. I have only included projects that I can finish this quarter and so the list doesn't include the Tattoo quilt with @happyewlucky, Chinese Zodiac SAL with @thefrostedpumpkinstitchery nor my Bonnie and Camille stars. 

2. My small world from 2016 which is pieced and partly quilted. 

3. Tate Modern quilt which was our challenge March project which is now ready for quilting.

4. Tula Pink Hex on the beach - about 2/3 of the blocks are finished and all of the blocks are either complete or basted and bagged by unit. I am now concentrating on sewing strips of blocks together.

5. Hoffman Dream Big Panel - I have started this and took it off the machine to work on customer quilts.

6. Bits and bob blanket - pattern by Kay Jones - The I-cord edging is almost finished and then I need to sew in lots and lots of ends.

7. Linen dress

8. Libs Elliott sewalong - quilted and bound but it just needs some ends sewn in.

10. 1985 Prairie Schooler annual Santa

11. The light by Barbara Ana designs

12. 1987 Prairie Schooler Santa

13. Spellville by Barbara Ana

14. Paula Steel's book sewalong

15. Spring sampler by Durene Jones

Disappointingly my Tula Pink Hex on the beach has been chosen as our group's UFO to work on for July and that's probably the one that needs the most work but I have made progress already over the year.