Laziness

Or should I call it, slow living? Whatever it is, I've not felt the need to post anything for a while. Its probably Facebook's fault, or Pinterest, or the fact that as soon as I think I should do something, its then the last thing I want to do. I'm twisted like that.

On the other hand, it does mean a plethora of things to put in one post. Or several. Maybe I should take it easy and see how it goes?

I've been working away at my usual stuff: bit of knitting -

  



...bit of crochet -

   

...and a bit of quilting -

   

...and these are just the things I've taken pictures of! Loads more works in progress. I've been enjoying a lot of reading, baking and generally chilling out, as well as my part-time wool shop work and general mooching about. And looking after the family, of course.

This year, though, we're all about trying something new/. Not too much all at once, though, I couldnt cope :) But we're letting out our house for the Open Golf this year in Troon, which means a great deadline to get all those jobs done that we've  been meaning to do.

I'm going to be leaving my part-time job before the summer holidays so I have the summer with the family and the chance to try something new - teaching classes in crafts at my own house. I have years of knitting experience, much crochet experience, and have taught a few classes already, so I think I can put it to good use without leaving the comfort of my own home. I'd like to offer the participants a good atmosphere as well, with tea and coffee, home baking and comfortable surroundings without distractions (does the cat count?) I have plans.....

Watch this space.

(I'm talking to myself here, am a great one for planning and talking and never getting round to doing)

Commission in progress :)

Here's a wee sneak peek of the commission quilt I'm working on at the minute....

Client wanted a modern style in blue, black, white, grey, brown and gold. I think this is working out ok. Trying to think how to quilt it - am wondering about a grid effect? The way the top is coming together I'll be having to decide v soon!

LOVE chain piecing :D

Swoon blocks - surfing the Zeitgeist...

I know, everyone in the WORLD has made these, and I am just getting to grips with my first few blocks. 

But that's ok. I like taking time over something, getting my head around it, deciding what I like and what I dont like. 

So here are some Swoon blocks, making me almost half way through the top:

I'm using a dark teal for the background, a fabric I bought a few yards of ages ago and this is finally the right project for it. A few FQ of rich reds, ambers, forest greens, browns and navy. 
Its a surprise for my folks, I know my stepmum really likes these autumnal colours so I hope they like it when I eventually finish it. Its their anniversary in June, but if its not finished then, I'll definitely have it done by Christmas.

4 down, 5 to go then!

Hmmmmm.

Am quilting the Arrows Quilt. It is going------ well, it's going. I tried a loop stitch, and that was silly. 3 hours of unpicking ensued. I started outlining the arrows on the white, which went well except for my tension issues, which meant another hour of unpicking. So third time lucky - have outlined all the arrows in white.

Now I'm wondering what to do next.

1) Should I quilt inside the arrows with colour?

2) Should I do another smaller design in the white areas?

3) Should I fill in the gaps with stippling or other patterns?

4) Should I just leave well alone and bind it?

All help appreciated! Linking to Crazy Mom's Finish it Friday for some help!


PS My hubby has a vomiting bug. Oh yay. We're all treating him like a leper. Yay for another bathroom. Not yay for him feeling even more ill than he has been already :(

Game of Thrones - continued...

Another few blocks made, which makes 5 so far, and 4 to go. Working on Tyrell at the minute (well, when I'm not typing) and still trying to get Baratheon right.

Whatcha think?

From top middle going clockwise :

Stark - Lannister - Arryn - Martell - Greyjoy

(am very proud of the last one, Greyjoy, it was some job going round all those tentacles). Here's a close up - the mottling is deliberate, don't worry:

And I also really like Stark:

It is grey on white, but this is Scotland in winter, so the light is pish. Technical term there, for all the non-Scots in the audience ;)

Pointing the way

Yay! Work is going well on the Arrows quilt, after a zillion hours of sewing squares together (possible slight exaggeration) and half a gabillion hours at the ironing board (hyperbole merely for effect), I have an almost finished quilt top!

Arrows Quilt top

 I love that it looks like there are slight furrows in the bed, even though it is absolutely flat - that's the design kicking in. Cool!

Detail of patchwork

Detail of the patchwork -  the piecing is pretty accurate for me, which is essential on this project, as the HST have to align to get the effect. I haven't decided on quilting yet, but have picked out a scrappy binding, unless I see something amazing instead. It looks like it'll be a double bed size too, which is handy. I'll be adding a small border round the edges, which might include arrow points too depending on what I can manage.

I will work out a pattern for this if anyone is interested, and will be selling the completed item at one of the Craft Fairs this autumn, or in my Etsy shop. Keep an eye out!

Cutting a rug

or at least a ton of fabric. I'm working on my mystery quilt, and have cut :- *ahem* (clears throat)

13 each of big squares in purple, red, blue, yellow, green for 26 each HST (65 total so far)
30 same size squares white (95) with another 35 to go
60 each small squares purple, red, blue, yellow, green (395)
over 150 white pieces of various size,

which means I have cut over 550 pieces of fabric, for a quilt which so far only exists on paper. Crikey.

So far so good. Now all I have to do is finish the white, and do a mammoth amount of sewing, making sure that all the squares are sewn together in the right rows, that all the HST work out to the right size, and find a floor big enough to lay out all the rows in the right order (gulp) without the cat or the offspring climbing all over it.

No small task then :)

Here's some nice colours and a really cool idea!

ummmmmmmm......

I have finished the bedspread, which is as good as its going to get. I am annoyed that I made some rookie mistakes,

    (Image from sodahead.com)              











and that I had so much extra work to do on it, but it is finished, it looks pretty good overall, and hopefully its recipients will think its ok.

Now I am wondering what to do next.

(image from imageenvision.com)

I'm away from my fabric stash right now, on holiday, and have some knitting with me, which is great but sore on the elbows. Stupid, stupid tennis elbow. Knitter's elbow. And am I the only person to have sprained an index finger from too much knitting? I remember one Xmas my hubby was away and I knitted loads with all my spare time, and when I was at work I coudn't pick up things because my index finger was so tender. Hmmmm. Just me?

Anyway. While I wait for the last bit of wool for my throw to be delivered (lovely, lovely internet shopping!) I am pondering the next quilt. I have a blue and white square one to quilt, its been basted, but I need a start of something new.

Baby quilt?
Throw?
Double bed size?
Table mats?

Am going to be at the Stair Community Fete in August (date??) and will need some little things for that, so I may indulge my need for quick, easy projects and make some table mats and doll quilts. Yes, sounds good.

Now for some inspiration:

Check out Hillary Lang's wall on Flickr :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hillarylang/531878280/

Lovely!

Siblings Together

Lily's Quilts is showing an example of some small thing that can change people's lives. I've never been in care, never been anywhere near The System, grew up on a small island with loving parents and a cheeky annoying fantastic younger brother. The idea that you can grow up without parental love, sibling affection, or even a home to call your own is mind blowing in its awfulness. Was I inconsiderate in that it never crossed my mind when I was young, that I took it entirely for granted that I was loved, cared for, had food, clothes, games, education, friends, stability and the feeling of being part of something bigger?

I dont suppose I ever needed to worry about that. I was, and still am, very very lucky. My daughter is growing up as part of a family who loves her,  watch over her and help keep her safe. She is also very very lucky. There are some children in our society who dont have the luxury of a community, family, parent, sibling; who grow up, or at least grow older, all by themselves. That is one of the saddest things I have ever heard.

So I would like to declare myself part of this initiative; to help a child by giving him or her something of their very own. To wrap them in comfort if not love, to help them cope with the hardships of their life. I dont want this to be patronising, although I know very little about the difficulties they face daily, but if I can give some crumb of comfort to another human being then thank you. Let that person thrive just a bit, knowing they have been brought a little bit closer to another living being.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.swimbikequilt.com/p/100-quilts-for-kids.html" title="Swim, Bike, Quilt"><img src="http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z420/swimbikequilt/100quiltsbutton2011.jpg" alt="Swim, Bike, Quilt" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

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.

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....

Phase I finished. Prepare for Phase II...

Last block of the wedding commission finished tonight. Phew.

Now all I have to do is sew the top together, layer and pin baste, quilt and bind.

So not much left to do then :)

Raindrops on roses...

Well, no rain here at all, actually, which makes a change, but my favourite thing at the minute is the basted and almost finished huuuuuuuuuuge Union Jack bedspread, languishing on the sewing room floor upstairs. So close, I can imagine it gracing the bed it's bound for, putting all other room decorations to shame.

I really should get off here and finish it! Have restarted the heart and Irish chain blocks, and they've picked up again nicely. Good to have stuff on the go. Off to do some sewing - the housework has just been pushed even lower on the priority list....

Final Stages....

Have sewn the backing together.

The finished top looks like this:

And the backing will be reddish, and also the binding. I think it looks really cool.

heehee!

Chuffed face :D

See? I am doing something!

Here's a wee peek of the work-in-progress bedspread - which is really real, not just a blether :)

Its coming on well, and should hopefully be done by end April; although now that I have seen the date on my laptop, it may be later....

But the top is in it's final stages, and as there's no wadding, the basting should be fairly easy. Will be quilting along the line just to define the pattern.

Details to follow when I finish, I've been noting the process and will hopefully have enough to make another one, should it work out that way. Always easier to follow instructions.

More soon!