Basket Table runner

I had high hopes of a needle turn applique project this year.  I have wanted to make a basket pattern for a long time.  In fact I was steering clear of pieced basket patterns, they looked too hard!  So once I got hooked on what is now going to be a big pieced basket quilt, I thought I really must tackle the appliqued basket block that I found HERE by the lovely Christine from Once Upon a Quilt who kindly sent me her pattern (you might need to check that she is still prepared to send her original design). 

I use to needle turn applique, not sure what happened over the intervening years, but my skills were lost, try as I might I could not get it to work.  I gave up, this was only going to be a table runner and made from my stash, so I let visions of needle turn go, got out the visafix and switched the machine on.

 I haven't used the buttonhole stitch on my machine as much as I had anticipated.  However it is very handy to have.  This is the "double" or thick version, which I used.  Not sure I love it, but I am hoping it means less fraying after a few washes.  However as you can see I missed one inside edge, it pays to be patient...I was in a hurry, not sure why!

 

The layout is my design.  I wanted a rectangle table runner that wasn't too long or too wide.  I have a long standing hatred of table runners with pointy ends...mainly because of the binding.  But I didn't think WHY the designers go with pointy ends...now I know!  OK so it looks a little weird, but we are going to call that "part of the learning process"and 13 years along my patchwork journey I am still learning!

So while all the applique and piecing happened last weekend, this morning I have completed the quilting.  Just simple straight quilting, using the edge of my foot, going either side of the seams.  I didn't want to over quilt it, another one of my pet hates - over quilted table runners.  So now some binding and I am done.  Hmmm I know I should label, but that's what the blog is for...keeping a record of the little things I make!
Happy quilting, Sue SA.

Summer Basket Quilt - block progress

These are the basket blocks that I worked on last weekend.  I am as yet undecided on the basket handles.  They are a bit thinner then the pattern ones (which I like) but I machine stitched them on...with a straight stitch down both sides...not your standard applique method!  I ended up doing it that way as I was completely frustrated with my prior attempts.  I made just the two handles (cut on bias) and then went back to completing the basket bases, so I didn't get really wild and give up.  Some straight forward piecing soothed me, but I think I am going to ponder these a  bit longer before I tackle the next step. 



Before I could get back to the baskets I got a little distracted. Firstly it started with a small purchase, because although I don't NEED this fabric (with the writing on it), at $10 p/m it was a bargain and I WANTED it......then I WON three cute blue fat quarters - which were donated from the shop Heart and Soul Patchwork.    Let it be said that since I have been attending my local Guilds meetings I have become very lucky!  Isn't it ironic that my purchase matches my freebies?

After all that free/cheap fabric I wasn't looking for more...promise!  Then I ventured out to brave the big chain store that carry patchwork fabric (whom I normally avoid), because I wanted to buy some newspaper print fabric and some foam board to make a design board...but no I got very distracted and brought this loot instead!

I think I might just have to give in and admit that I am a country/reproduction kind of girl.  I love looking and other peoples modern fresh white and crisp colours but when I go to buy that colour palette...well I am not sure what happens but my husband and the credit card breath a sigh of relief!

Happy quilting Sue SA.

A Wood Post

I love wood, but I am happy to admire and appreciate...I would mostly likely cause some bodily harm to myself if I worked with it.  I admire people who can build things in wood - surely it is much hard to "fudge" then fabric, which has some give?!!  I deliver the appropriate sounds of appreciation, when I see something beautiful - because as a creative person, I admire others who create in different mediums. 

My darling Dad is a modest man and quietly goes about making me beautiful things, all in wood.  This is a fairly new hobby to him, but his father took up wood turning in his retirement, so even as children we would troop off to the workshop to see what Grandpa had made.  Now we take our children into Papa's shed to see what he is making...its a bit like Santa's cave though because he
also makes toys!

My most recent gift from my father as this quilt hanger/towel rail for the sewing room/guest bedroom, which I absolutely love.  It was a requested piece, but I was expecting it for Christmas, so it is early!  Hmmm, yep not turned.  Dad didn't have a pattern to work off, so he worked out how high it needed to be (so the guest's towels don't drag on then floor) and that measurement was too long for his equipment.  He used Black wood, but from two different trees, so you can see the lighter wood in the horizontal rails compared to the sides.  I know nothing about wood, so found that interesting - same variety, but different tree = variation in colour, bit like different dye lots with fabric I guess!

We don't have many painted walls in our house, so apologies for the wood backdrop.  Here is my quilt hanger - with a quilt on board!

In September my Uncle (Dad's brother) came for a visit and he brought me this handmade rolling pin, which you can see we put into good use during the school holidays making gingerbread men. 

I love the fancy pattern...it is inlaid in the wood - not painted on, clever huh!  So you can see that I been a very luck girl of late, with two beautiful presents...months before Christmas!
Happy quilting, Sue SA.

Ohio Star Papillon lap quilt

This was the completed Ohio Star quilt, binding all ready for stitching down.  I really wanted a pink for the binding but the dusky shade of pink was too hard to match, so we settled for the brown/grey print purchased at Hettie's Patch. 

I started sewing and hated it...I had purpose purchased this fabric for this quilt... these are not my colours, its a gift for someone else...I still couldn't do it.  I reverse sewed.

Later in the same day, in between loads of washing, cooking and avoiding cleaning ...I found the left overs of the border fabric in my stash....amazingly stupidly I had forgotten that I had purchased enough fabric for the binding too...and put it away .....does anyone else do this?! 

So now its machine stitched on, hand stitched down, label attached and ready to be gifted.    

Happy Quilting, Sue SA.

PS just realised now that DH has his own camera I can turn the date stamp off...cos this camera is MINE!

From little things, big things grow

This cushion was made on a whim, so the end size didnt fit any of the inserts I had. So I made up the back, stuck the too small insert in it, pinned around the pillow shape, too it out and stitched on that line...presto a flange edged cushion!

 Yesterday I finally got around to making up this pattern for a bin for the car...its a lot longer then I expected, but that's what happens when you don't read the dimensions first!  I might make a shorter one for DH car, it was very quick to make, took me more time to choose fabric from my stash then anything!  This pattern is by A Ditchin Time Quilts blog and her Car Trash bag tutorial can be found HERE. Please note that I found the pellon insert to be a tad too small/narrow...you make a tube of stiff pellon insert (I used interfacing) that sits inside then you can tuck a plastic bag into it - hence it doesn't poke out over the top, but you have a disposable bin liner......very practical!

 I finally got around to finishing these oven mitts for my Dad...I had quilted the fabric up, but hadn't sewn the binding on.  Yesterday I decided I really needed to do that, but wanted to use the left over backing from my Flange cushion and there wasn't enough to make it bias...so the corners are a bit rough...would have looked nicer curved.  Still they are MAN sized and long  so the backs of his hands are protected...his major complaint about store purchased oven mitts. 

 I endeavoured to squeeze in as much stitching as possible yesterday plus tick a few things off my to do list.  So I FINALLY made a Once A Month themed project....this is a wall hanging for Spring/September!!  It is nearly finished, just need some hanging loops on the back.  This cute free pattern "Hello Spring" is by Charise of Charise Creates blog and can be found HERE.  I went a bit overboard with the quilting, very out of practise with my free motion, but I am happy with the results.

Charise creates her own foundation pieced patterns and has a awesome FREE vintage sewing machine pattern and another with a dressmakers model in it.  I have printed that out for another day...today I hope to stitch some more basket blocks for our new summer quilt....and perhaps watch some of the AFL grand final.....DH is a Hawthorn supporter so "Go Hawks!"
Happy quilting Sue SA.

Some work in progress shots

Wow Explorer wants to play nice and do a post, yipee!  I was using Goggle Chrome, but then it was playing up while I was trying to read blogs...would get stuck and you couldnt scroll, so could only read the first few lines of peoples post...or just their header if was a big one, all very frustrating.  So after considerable thinking I decided to read in Explorer and post using Chrome...now Explorer is messing with my mind and being super nice so I am going to use it for both..... fingers crossed!

Before our visitors arrived last weekend I scrounged through the left over strips and managed to find enough to piece the extra 12 blocks I needed to make this top longer.  The piecing resulted in another 6 spool blocks, but they are from the same fabric as the others, so no picture.   I am happy with the size of this quilt now and think it justifies a shopping trip to purchase fabric for a border.  Everything else came out of my stash, so I dont have much left in the purple and green department, in fact so little they fit in a standard draw along with my neutrals!

I had a lovely few hours in the garden last weekend, working to uncover the clivias hidden under a jungle of jasmine.  I also discovered this abondoned blackbirds nest complete with eggs and a tree that we didnt know was growing!  Its a decidious tree and just starting to bud, so now we have to wait and see if we can work out what sort of tree it is - when the leaves appear.  

After my parents arrived my mother expressed a wish for a trip to Hetties Patch....I needed little encouraging, as I have not been for a long time.  My expressed purpose was to find binding for my little Ohio star quilt, which was found and purchased - sorry no pictures as it has been cut and stitched on the quilt...just waiting to hand sew down.  These neutrals with white backgrounds and bright colours were also purchased, perfect for the background of my newly started basket quilt.
Happy quilting, Sue SA.

Sunday turned out to be a very productive day for me in terms of sewing...hmmm Sat was pretty good too!  Mainly because my two little men were so good at entertaining themselves.  Here they are "fishing" in our swimming pool.  The conversation was very entertaining as they bragged about how many fish they were catching!

I decided that I needed to start our new quilt, its going to be a summer quilt, although I doubt it will be ready for summer.   We only have one quilt for our bed...shock horror gasp!  It is a dark blue and cream snail trail (you can view it HERE), I still love it, but the colours and wool wadding make it most suitable for use in winter.  The basket quilt that I fell in love with HERE uses a fresh bright colour palette that deviates from my usual warm/country tones. 

 But when I had a look in my stash there were sufficient fat quarters to help add to the scrappiness and I got some yardage on sale, super special sale!  As you can see I made a start on seven blocks.  I need 9 with the triangle pattern and 4 with the square.  I did a fair amount of cutting in preparation, but then decided I still needed more colour/fabric mix before I make any more, so I can achieve that real scrappy look I love.  I also need to get to work on hand sewing the handles down, which is something I am putting off - the instructions are to use your favorite method - and I am not sure what that is!  I love the look of needle turn appliqué but after many years of not doing any I no longer seem to get the method I learned to work well for me.  Which is something I have to address soon, given that the next lot of blocks all have appliquéd fruit in the baskets!The leaders and enders worked well with piecing the baskets as it was slow and steady work, as I sorted colours and patterns.  I finished another 10 spool blocks, so my total count is up to 31....just bragging cos I notice that Bonnie is only at 19.  Hmmm but we wont mention how I cheat when it comes to putting the final three pieces together, I might slip two through at a time!  Definitely need some more colour though, will have to remember when I kit the next lot up.  

Happy quilting, Sue SA.