September 2022 plans

Another busy month ahead with a trip to Cornwall in the middle of the month for ten days and then a da trip to London which is yet to be finalised.

1. 1995 Prairie Schooler Santa which is prepped but not started.

2. The Tree by Barbara Ana designs. Five branches have been finished and three more to go. No progress made in July 2022

3. September UFO for our Guild Challenge which will be picked tomorrow. Just four projects remain - Spellville by Barbara Ana, Jarrah sweater, blue linen purchased at Festival of Quilts in 2021 and 2006 Prairie Schooler Santa which is already finished.

Monday mystery box

 This was my first #sewquirkymysterybox which arrived whilst I was at Festival of Quilts.

The contents were Aussie quirks themed so included a Vegemite sample and a fairy bread candle and chocolate. 

First out of the box was the vegan croc leather, love the purple which coordinates nicely with the striped zipper.

Then out came the variegated Madeira thread and a limited edition pin, so cute. Then zipper pulls and a pink ruler 2.5” x 8.5” - such a useful size.

What I thought were earrings turned out to be two limited edition zipper pulls (also purple).

Then, leaving the best until last, an Ibis @sewquirky pattern with a fabric kit to make it. A perfect retreat project ready to go.

Overall I think the mystery box was good value and the only thing I probably might not use is the brown vegan leather.

Fabric Friday

There's not much stitching going on here so I thought I'd share my purchases from Festival of Quilts and a side trip to Guthrie & Ghani.

I bought the floral linen and red circles from Rosenbergs at Festival of Quilts and the other three items were from Guthrie and Ghani. It's lovely to be able to see and touch the fabrics in real life. These are all dressmaking fabrics and as I'm a beginner garment sewer, I need help choosing. I also purchased a copy of the Stevie by Tilly & the Buttons. I plan to make this with the purple fabric which is made from nettles.

I bought some sparkly linen for cross stitch from Sparklies at FoQ, not that I've used the piece I bought last year yet.

At FoQ I collected some Tula Pink solid for the binding of my Havana quilt and some striped fabric from Purple Stitches - who doesn't love a striped binding? Hand printed fabric came from both Helen Steele and Colette Moscrop. I also treated myself to three metres of a navy Ruby Star Society for a future project and some £2 RSS from Me & My Fabric.

As there were train strikes on both the Thursday and Saturday with chaos on Sunday due to trains being in the wrong place, Lizzie and I did a shot trip into Birmingham for dinner and a side stop to TK Maxx which is next to Birmingham New Street Station where I bought two seasonal Rae Dunn Candles. We also stopped at Comptoir Libannais for dinner.

WIP Wednesday- Light

This project is a free pattern from Barbara Ana and I thought I hadn't made much progress but I can now see how wrong I am. I am focusing on completing the dress and then I'll continue with the garland. This is my Guild UFO challenge for August and it's touch and go whether I will finish it.

We have been at Festival of Quilts in Birmingham and returned late Monday night. Both of our children flew back with me as we're having a fancy afternoon tea on Saturday at a local hotel to celebrate my 60th birthday. The celebration is lasting the whole month. 

We spent Monday in Birmingham shopping, eating and visiting the temporary home of the Commonwealth Games bull. We had booked on the  Monday night flight home due to a lack of communication but with hindsight it was a fortuitous move as Laura's flight on Sunday night was cancelled.

I will share our purchases with you later in the week. At the moment our dressmaking fabrics have been prewashed and are drying.

WIP Wednesday - Havana Quilt

I am off to the Festival of Quilts on Wednesday for all four days of the show. On Thursday I am stewarding and we have two classes on Friday. We are staying at the Moxy within walking distance of the show but as there is a train strike from Thursday to Saturday, I have been sure to make restaurant reservations so we have guaranteed food. That's as far as the planning goes!!

I have quilted my Havana Quilt (pattern by Paula Steel and kit from Modern Quilt Club) It is now trimmed and ready for binding. The reason I'm mentioning Festival of Quilts is that I am picking up half a metre of the Tula Pink solid in Celestial from Lisa of Modern Quilt Club at the Festival. 

Monday make -1993 Santa

 

The 1993 Prairie Schooler Santa has been finished and put away. Next I need to work on The Light by Barbara Ana.

It’s Friday!!!

 

Not much going on here. It is hot and I have had three hospital appointments this week and a four hour blood transfusion today. Not painful but just boring as you can’t do much.

I have been dithering about which project to work on this week and I have made good progress on the 1993 Prairie School Santa but I need to get the Barbara Ana fox finished for our group UFO challenge. A concerted effort on this piece should see it finished this weekend as I have no commitments.

I needed just one extra skein of DMC for this project so on Monday I went to a LNS to purchase it. By the time I got home, I'd lost it!! In more ways than one. So Tuesday another hospital appointment so I went back to the shop to purchase another skein which is now safely on my floss ring having been put on  floss drop.

WIP Wednesday - marine stars

 

My customer requested Sally by the Seashore for this marine themed star quilt. Pantograph from Christy Dillon of My Creative Stitches. As there is a lot of white / white on white background, a contrast thread was requested and we chose Superior Threads' Angel Teal which isn't too much of a stark contrast.

This was collected yesterday and will be bound and gifted next week to the daughter of a marine biologist, hence all of the marine themed fabrics and digital pantograph. It has a fabulous Australia themed backing too.

Monday make - 1992 santa

 I love the lobster on the 1992 Prairie Schooler sampler. Not so keen on the gold coat, I do prefer a mainly red Santa. Time now to work on the 1993 Santa.

I have just ten more to stitch for a full set. Very achievable 

Friday finish- double crossed quilt

I am very pleased with this finish. I used red, white and blue fabrics and added in pink and turquoise to the mix. The pattern is by Angela Pingel and should be released this month. Angela's pattern is one of the best laid out patterns I've seen with beautiful photography.

I quilted the quilt on my HQ Avante using the Urban Elementz pattern called Malachite and using a baby pink thread from Superior Threads.

I found the perfect Aurifil thread to match the binding which was made from leftovers of the backing.

I then stitched the binding down using a foot with a guide on my Janome Atelier 7 and my Clover wonder clips.

July 2022 achievements

I had already finished the July UFO challenge piece which freed my brain up to work on some other items. 

1. My first finish was the 1991 Prairie Schooler Santa

2. One more branch on Christmas Tree by Barbara Ana. It feels achievable now to complete this in 2022 as I have three branches only left to complete, though the area increases as you go down the tree.

3.  Coco dress by Tilly and the Buttons in John Kaldor fabric 

4. Another Coco dress in jersey from ByGraziela.

5. Test quilt of Double crossed Quilt by Angela Pingel Designs.

That was a more productive month than I expected but August is going to be light on finishes.

August 2022 plans

A busy month ahead celebrating my 60th birthday, a trip to the Festival of Quilts and Matt and Lizzie are coming home for a week's holiday.

1. 1992 Prairie Schooler Santa which is about half complete already. This isn't one of my favourite Santas as there are no big blocks of red to stitch. I think I've completed 28 out of the 38 patterns so far.

2. The Tree by Barbara Ana designs. Five branches have been finished and three more to go.

3. Finish Havana Quilt which is almost pieced together.

4. August UFO for our Guild Challenge which is The Light by Barbara Ana so portable and achievable. First I have to find it though.

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.