A Very Productive Day

 Last Sunday was one of those lovely days when you have no real chores or DIY tasks planned (Saturday was a whole different case). So as I sat sipping my tea I decided that I should really have a look at some of the crafty chores I'd been putting off.

Having finished my crochet wrap (more of that in another post) I was left with a few ends to sew in.

In reality my end sewing in pile looked exactly like the photo above. A wrap and a shawl that can't be blocked until the (surprisingly low number of) ends are sewn in and a pair of socks that will be able to go in the sock drawer. Miracle of miracles the ends were sewn in well before midday so I was inspired to look at what else needed a little bit of work to keep it progressing.

Next candidate for my attention was my temperature project which was languishing around late March. I have to admit this didn't get as far as Friday (last date for which reliable temperature figures were available) but it did move on a little and this is definitely a project which benefits from little and often.

I then worked my second mitten to the start of the thumb gusset, only a handful of rows were ended but this now means that the mitten knitting is back to a relatively low attention section which means it's ideal for listen in work calls, or gripping tv episodes.

This ideal day of crafting was then interrupted by my going for a run. Sunday is generally the day I try and go for my longest run of the week, it's not always a happy experience but I always feel great afterwards. To fit in with the success of the rest of my Sunday I'm pleased to say that my run was very enjoyable, i made my route up as I ran and got quite a way around the town,  and I managed slightly further than I hoped to go and didn't feel completely worn out by it. To cap it all off the weather decided to remain almost perfect for a run while I was out (random snow showers have been a feature of our weather over the last week).

Usually this would signal the end of any chance of Sunday productivity but my partner took part in a online quiz after dinner so I had some more time to myself which I put to use pressing the fabrics for my next two planned sewing projects.

It's recommended that you was fabrics before using them for garment sewing but what no one ever mentions is that after washing you have to refold the fabric and press it ready for the cutting out. I had hoped to progress onto cutting out some of the top fabric but achy muscles after my run persuaded me otherwise.

And as the online quiz developed into an epically long session I had just enough time before bed to cast on for my first Xmas present of the year.

I don't think I've ever achieved so much during a lazy Sunday afternoon before!

Pondering

During the post Xmas sales I got hooked on fabrics with bird prints.

I'm not sure why as real life birds mostly scare me. Anyway the reason for the pondering is that I would like to make these into something quilted, fussy cutting to focus on the images but I can't decide on the design. I'm leaning towards EPP but I do have another EPP project, a millefiori quilt, ready to start. But other than a vague preference towards EPP and trying for a single bird on any pieces with birds on I'm still a little stumped. All suggestions gratefully received.

And while I continue pondering I might just have a look to see if there are anymore bird prints I like!

Oops!

I'd been doing so well avoiding the January sales, several times I have deleted the carefully constructed cart of sale bargains destined for a future project.

Then I decided I needed a thickish backing fabric for some cushions I have planned and it all went slightly wrong!

The top left cream fabric is velvet for cushion backing, all good so far. The green and cream are for an EPP  project which I am collecting bits for...fairly acceptable. And the bottom three fabrics are Lewis and Irene fabrics which I thought would fussy cut well or make cute somethings!

Ah well, the fabrics are gorgeous, and I have a half formed plan for their use...I just need some coordinating fabric!!

365 Challenge...the delayed start

I found out about the 365 Challenge midway through January and what with sourcing fabric, general life and finishing the baby quilt I've only just managed to start.

The 365 Challenge is a sampler quilt that aims for you to make either a 3.5 or 6.5 inch block a day - full details at the 365 Challenge website. I'm not entirely sure I'll manage a block a day but I'll give it a go.

A large quantity of fabric is required, as is expected with a 90 inch square quilt. I've decided to go for black, white and grey and have bought an initial 5 metres (I think) of fabrics.

I'm probably going to buy a few more fat quarters as I go, the quilt relies on tonality a lot so I probably need to broaden my range a bit. I'm also toying with including an accent fabric at some point, not sure when or what colour yet.

I've made the first two blocks tonight...

I'm starting from 1st January as the blocks seem to get progressively more complex and build on previously learned techniques...so far so good I think.

Shopping Spree

Luckily with my recent house moved I've left behind one good local quilt shop and now live between two good quilt shops which stock different fabric lines.

This afternoon I paid a visit to Midsomer Quilting. As they seem to stock a wide range of coloured fabrics, mostly sort of patterned coloured fabrics, I knew they'd have the fabrics I had in mind for a quilt I'm making for my brother and his fiancée.

This is usually the point I'd add a link to the intended pattern, however, that isn't going to happen this time as they've asked me to make them a bespoke quilt to commemorate their wedding. I have the bare bones of an idea sketched out on graph paper, the basic plan is appliquéd words and a fancy border. I'm quite nervous about this not ending up as what the had in mind but as they've haven't given me much direction this shouldn't be the case. I have a feeling I'm going to need quite a bit more coloured fabric before the end...I'm having difficulty figuring out how much the border will need. This is not helped by my not being sure which border to use!

Fantastic Fabric

Browsing the internet is excellent inspiration and education for my quilting, it does mean that I have a long wishlist of what I want to make. I do try to keep my fabric purchases (nowadays) purely to my current project, and once that is underway for the next one.


My most recent purchase of fabric was a little pre-emptive but I knew which design I wanted to make (Elizabeth Hartman's Sparkle Punch Quilt if you were wondering) and I was keeping an eye out for the perfect fabric.


After a lot of looking and discussing with the intended recipient, it was decided that a scrappy, turquoise/aqua based collection would work.


A bit more keeping a look out online and...

...the following selection was gathered.  It's definitely turquoise and its definitely scrappy.  And it's definitely a fairly large pile of fabric to store!  Now all I need to do is finish the batik wave quilt.

Random Fabric Collection

Whilst visiting family and friends in North Wales I took the opportunity to pop into Aberkhan Fabrics - a fabric mill which sell seconds fabrics by the kilo.  This usually works out fairly cheap as long as you don't want a specific fabric and in the sales the reductions can be excellent...but anyway what did I get this time?

The green fabric and button are destined to be parts of Xmas presents for sometime readers of this blog so I can't say more yet (although there is plenty of the green so expect it to make repeated appearances!); the blue is winter themed with snowflakes and stars and should be perfect for the back of a Xmas themed quilt I want to make; the white isn't actually white but this was the best my camera could manage today - its off white and covered in gold glitter (I have a piece of its silver glitter twin) and is also destined for the Xmas quilt; The black and which is for the back of my sister's quilt which is not a surprise but considering the amount of questions I've been asking about designs and fabrics I bet my sister wishes it was!

Unfortunately non of these fabrics are to finish off any of the items on my WIPs list but are destined to add to that list!

The Postman Calls...

And left...

 A very bright, somewhat squishy and fairly heavy parcel.  Looked like my fabric order from Hancocks had finally arrived.

I'd spotted Julie Paschkis' Catkin range (to the left of the picture) ealier in the year and had fallen in love with it.  But I patiently waited until free shipping appeared at Hancocks and pounced.  I've treated myself to pretty much half a yard each of the whole range (although I'm sill waiting for three back ordered fabrics with crossed fingers).  I haven't quite decided what to make with the fabric (so possibly I shouldn't have bought it) but it'll definitely be a quilt for me.   To make up the minimum spend amount for the free shipping I added the red fabrics (to the right of the photo) to the order.  These are eventually destined for a scrappy red and cream Farmer's Wife Quilt. I was amazed, even taking into account exchange rate and the commission for using me credit card on an overseas purchase how cheap the fabcric worked out compared to uk prices.  Add in the pretty quick service and I think I'll be taking advantage of this fabric shop again.

(Apologies for the slightly poor photo quality - I've had to use my I Pod as I don't have my camera with me.  Though I do think it makes a fair substitute)

Another Quilting Course

It's a dangerous thing paying a visit to my LQS, I'd only popped in to get details for the Debbie Abrahams knitting course when I found myself signing up to the raggy quilt course the weekend after.

This is actually a course I've wanted to do since I started quilting but the classes and my free time have never coincided.  It looked like that was going to be the case with this course but I was, just that morning, informed that my family wouldn't be arriving at my house the Saturday of the course until 4pm at the earliest (that probably actually means 6pm). It seemed to be fate so I signed up for the course, and then realised I wasn't supposed to be buying any more fabric after spending a small fortune at Hancocks (with free international shipping and cat themed fabric I couldn't say no).

A little browsing of various shops' discount lines and I think I've found the, in my opinion, most perfect raggy quilt fabric ever...

Beautiful Paddington Bear fabric courtesy of Doughty's (who managed an inspired bit of fabric subbing via a phonecall - the top right hand turquoise fabric was selected by their staff)

This quilt is all for me; I love Padddington bear - I fondly remember my Paddington bed covers and curtains, I enjoyed the stories, and marmalade sanwiches have been a lunchtime staple for years.  I am really looking forward to this quilt.

A Random (But Essential) Collection

I have now found out it takes a lot longer than I thought to bind a quilt, sew in all the ends and sew on a label.  Must remember in future!

Anyway one of the, minor, reasons for visiting my sister this weekend was to visit the chain of fabric shops near her.  To date I have not tracked down many fabric shops near where I live, although I have to say the ones near me do sell some very inspirational/tempting fabrics.  But near where I grew up there is a chain of fabric mill shops- known as Abakhan fabrics - which sells wool, trimmings, crafting equipment, bridal trimmings and has recently branched into household goods (that branch is a little too large in my opinion in the main store it has severely impacted on the fabric sales spaces, but anyway...) It has a bewildering range of fabrics on the roll, not a huge amount of crafting fabric but if you need dresss or home fabrics or wool tartan then this is your shop.  But what is most special about it, even more so than the price of most of the goods, is the range of fabric they sell by the kilo.  Mostly seconds or roll ends but still lovely stuff - many curtains and bed covers have been created from thses fabrics.  And this weekend I got to visit two of the stores...and couldn't resist.

And yes the pink and white fabric and the grey fabric ARE glittery.  The pink tartan and blue lining are my sister's purchase for an item she is trusting me to make for her - these were off the roll and cost less than £4.50 and £2.70 a metre respectively.  The 8 fat quarters in the roll weren't too bad either and are just what I wanted for a gift for a friend.  The other three fabrics (approx 6 metres of cotton with only minor flaws) were less than £18.  I am ridiculously pleased with these purchases (my sister even more so with hers - as all the shop assistants she bumped into can confirm!) and all have definite projects in mind, even if some are very vague projects and will be making further appearances on here in the next few months.  All I will say is they're not all for quilts. 

So Cute!!

On being told that a second cousin was expecting a baby I decided I had to make a quilt for that baby too (any excuse!).  And so the serch commenced for uni-sex baby fabric which didn't offend my sensibilities.  Luckily I found something very quickly and then umm-ed, ahhh-ed and bothered my sister about it for a few weeks.  I eventually bought it and am glad I did.

Isn't it cute.

And One More Makes Twelve

As mentioned in my last post I've tracked down one more print in the Wee Woodland range in the turquoise colourway in the UK.  And here it is...

And now to put all these lovely fabrics away until probably the New Year when I will have finished the log cabins and hopefully one or two other unfinished items.

I'm Not Addicted to Fabric...Not At All...

Well I had been doing a bit of browsing to find some fabric to make a quilt for a baby, gender as yet unknown.  Found a lovely tutorial on A Quilt is Nice and then had to find some suitably quirky fabric.  I came across Keiki's Wee Woodland for Moda and I think it's perfect and so gorgeous.

I may have bought another small piece of the range in turquoise too.  Must resist starting this as have some more urgent ones to do.  Have now got all the fabrics for Ganny's quilt so I will hopefully have chance to work on both log cabins on my next free weekend.

And just so you can see a complete contrast here is my first ever machine sewn quilt top.

Sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it, it's definitely unique.  Finishing it would probably help and it would be really good if I could bind int in the brights but I'm not sure I have enough scraps and I haven't seen these sold as yardage.