Ta-Dah!

Finished! With washing and drying and everything!

Here's the whole quilt, in not brilliant detail, because the camera has decided it is not long for this world. Hmph.

Really chuffed with it though (the quilt, that is). Have taken the Irish Chain to the corners and placed the hearts in between, 7 blocks x 7 blocks, so 49 in all - 24 Heart and 25 Chain. Plus a 4 inch border and pieced striped binding, which I love.

 This one on the right shows the backing. I pieced a colourful strip down the centre of the quilt to make the back a bit more interesting. Duck egg sheeting. All over stipple quilted.

The whole thing shrank by about 3 inches after washing, which is ideal really - the quilt looks textured without being too crinkled. Finished size 89" square.

I dried it indoors - this is a Scottish summer after all - and it took a couple of days laid out on a sheet on the floor.
Even managed to keep the cat off it :)

Detail of the quilting, and a heart. I love the wee owl print here, though I can't remember where it came from.

Note the wee label sewn into the binding - Handmade by Fankle. That's me!












So...what do you think?

Light at the end of the tunnel

The heart chain quilt is lying in a crumpled heap at the end of the sofa. Looking for all the world like a neglected unloved pile of fabric. But this incarnation is a good thing, actually, because this means it is nearly at the end of the journey; the binding is about 1/3 sewn on with a little more being done each time I sit down to watch telly. Once I get the cat off it, and persuade my daughter she really doesnt want to use it as a tent.

The Union Jack bedpsread is languishing upstairs, however, although it will also be finished soon (honest, guvnor). Future plans involve making little things for a craft stall in Stair, Ayrshire in August and starting the Swoon quilt, which I am really excited about! Have also seen a gorgeous and ridiculously easy quilt in the latest issue of American Patchwork and Quilting

by Malka Dubrawsky of A Stitch In Dye, which I have fallen in love with, despite not usually liking the block. Who knew something could appeal so much with a simple change of scale?

Anyway. Going to wend my weary way to bed having not done any sewing, oops, but have got the shopping, put it away, and been totally engrossed by the last book in Celia Friedman Magister Trilogy. Good stuff.

99% success!

Only 99% because after I'd finished quilting the mammoth, I turned it over to discover a couple of wee puckers in the back. Rats. But they'll hopefully be all but unnoticed after it's been washed, so it will all work out ok. Apart from that, grrr, it looks really good. The binding has been machine stitched on too, so just the sewing in of the ends and stitching the back of the binding. Yeah, that's all (ha!)

This is my next project for us, using some darker colours I have been saving for my hubby. Cant recall where the photo came from, many apologies, but the Swoon block is from here.

Cool, eh? And only 2 years after everyone else :)



 

Have discovered a few things about me and my sewing:

1.  Use good quality thread for quilting. I used my piecing thread, in a fit of inattention, and it kept breaking. I hope there is enough goodwill in the quilt to counterbalance the loud swearing as it was being worked on.

2.  I can quilt better during the day, when I am less tired. Even though I am a night person.

3.  Quilting is more relaxing listening to Ken Bruce than to Jeremy Vine. (I wonder why?!)

4.  You use more thread than you think when stippling. I went through 15 bobbins on that baby, all 92" square, or thereabouts. Phew!

4 hours of quilting so far

That post title first came up as 'wilting', and after 4 hours I reckon I have had enough for just now. Going well so far, no puckers or folds (touch wood, cross fingers, chuck salt over shoulder, kiss the cat, etc) and the stipple effect is looking good.

I'm quite happy to stay stippling for now, although I do have an occasional foray into straight lines. I like the overall background effect of the stipple, how it looks like a scribble but doesn't detract from the main theme which, for me, is the colour. I LOVE the colours in quilting. The richness, depth, bouyancy and life of a mix of colours is what it's all about, I reckon.

And here's some shots to document the process:

Light slightly blue on this one, not sure why, but work going on. The machine was red hot by the time I'd finished today!











My sewing machine feet :)




I like to sew barefoot.
It seems I can work the pedal better.














More of the quilting. I use ordinary rubber gloves to move the quilt around, they have good grip and are inexpensive. Only trouble is, they give your hands a horrible rubbery smell. How we suffer for our art!

I've used 7 bobbins, with less than half of the quilting done. Stippling is heavy on the thread, but worth it in the end. I should have some more bobbins really, but find that by doing 3 at a time, I can have a good break when winding some more on.

I also sit on a gym ball when at the sewing machine, which really helps during a long session. When you start ot stiffen, just lean back and roll around for a bit, it really helps :)

More later then, peeps....

How do I grow my blog?

How do I grow my blog?

Just found this fantastic blogging entry on Lily's Quilts, an amazing and colourful blog I read. Ideal advice and relates to anything you blog about, not just quilting. 

For example: Do it because you love it, do it because you have something to share, and dont be afraid to tell people about it.

Sounds like common sense, but for those of us just starting to dip a toe in the water, invaluable.


Thanks Lily!

Really am still here...

Plugging away at loads of stuff - brother and family down for the Jubilee weekend, where we did absolutely nothing relating to the queen at all. We did go to Blair Drummond Safari Park on the Monday, and had a great day - maybe the lions would be considered Royal?
Spent the week before gutting, cleaning and sewing, spent this week cleaning and organising my month. Honestly, why do so many people have events in June? Plus making two cakes for the wee one's party tommorow, shopping for the load of people we have staying over, trying not to think about the wedding next month that the quilt HAS TO BE READY FOR...

But it is basted and just needs some quality quilty time, which is next week. Am looking forward to it actually.

Here's a wee something to keep you going till the finished pics: