FNSI Results for June

So I haven't taken part in a FNSI in forever, but last night I came back with a vengeance, although, as is almost always the case, I didn't achieve as much as I planned.

I was home alone last night so I started at 5pm and went through till 11pm with breaks for dinner and teas. 

The main aim of the night was to layer up and quilt my Christmas quilt. This was achieved, unfortunately I couldn't do the binding as it turned out I didn't have the fabric for it. Off to buy that today.

I seem to have forgotten how to layer a quilt and this is evident from the back, it's annoying but as it's a seasonal quilt and for me I will live with it.

How did everyone get on?

365 Challenge - Week One

So I'm about seven weeks behind the sew along but I have finally finished the first seven days of the 365 Challenge.

So far so doable, starting with simple squares and rectangles. Each block is 3.5 inches and supposed to be the darker side of the spectrum.

I am going to try topost seven blocks a week, I'm not sure I'll make it and I'm certain I won't be able to make a block a day. First steps are to try and catch up.

If you want to see what the colourways the other challenge members are using and what the current blocks look like there is a Facebook page - 365 Challenge Quilt Blocks

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.

First finish of 2017

I have finally finished the baby quilt that I started at the end of last year. A bad run of colds and Christmas really slowed me down but at least the recipient isn't yet three months old so it's not that late.

The fabric is Vintage Circus by Lewis and Irene

and the pattern is the zig zag quilt from a quilt is nice blog. Found it a little tricky to get the seams to meet up but otherwise I'm really pleased with this quilt, especially the binding corners.

Getting my festive on

Obviously it's the time of year for Xmas decorations.  Whilst digging out my tree and baubles I discovered a table runner which I finished last year but forgot to blog about.

It's made from a Christmassy charm pack using the Santa's Cookie Mat design from Ruby Blue Quilting Studio.  Good fun, a little fiddly, but definitely a design I'll use again.

I think I used a heat proof wadding but have never actually put anything hot on it. I did a swirly free motion quilting pattern and used different colour threads top and bottom.

Really love how this worked out.

Sewing on a school night

Progress is actually happening on the baby quilt, I've managed to squeeze in some sewing time on a weeknight and, bar some pressing, have now got the component blocks completed.  This will eventually become a zig zag quilt from A Quilt is Nice. I've made two previously and forgot how quickly they come together.

Wedding Banner Quilt...the saga continues

I think part of my problem with finishing things off is that I keep on starting new things.

Anyway over two years ago I made a quilt top for my brother and sister-in-law, which was used as a banner at their wedding (see post 5 Sep 14).  The plan was that it would be quilted and then used by them.  Like all the best laid plans this didn't actually happen, the quilt top is around 3m square and I've been somewhat challenged about how to baste it as I couldn't find a flat area large enough to accommodate the quilt and have space for me to move round it.  Well this weekend I've bitten the bullet, so to speak, and using a double bed as a work surface I've basted the quilt.

Even pressing the top was tricky.

I'm somewhat concerned that this method of basting is going to result in pleats in the backing, but it's the best I can come up with and I think a usable quilt on a bed with a couple of pleats is better than the component parts sitting in a bag in my house.

Back in the groove

Nothing like the impending arrival of a friend's baby to persuade you into starting a quilt! Hopefully I'll actually manage to finish this one before his 18th birthday.

It's taken me quite a while to find some baby fabric suitable for a little boy, hopefully my friend agrees.

Once this one's done I must really look into finishing all my half done projects and then thinking about tackling some of the kits, patterns and, if I'm feeling really brave, books I've bought over the years.

Mission UFOs

Not the little green men version, but unfinished objects.  In the process of finally tidying my sewing room, as I come to the end of the long task of making my house mine, I discovered plenty of half done craft projects. Much as I'm itching to start many new things I've realised that I need to make an effort to finish a good proportion of the unfinished, if only to create a bit of space for new projects!

The first project that came to hand was my Olympics mystery blanket...it seemed very appropriate (although it does commemorate 2012 not 2016). It also takes about a evening to complete each square...13 to go and then the Swiss darning an blanket construction can begin.  Just got to continue fighting the urge to hop projects or start something new!

Stir Up Sunday

Traditionally the last Sunday before advent is known as stir up Sunday when xmas puddings and the like are made. Now having no oven I didn't think I'd be able to cook anything for Xmas but I then realised puddings were boiled (for hours and hours and hours it turns out) and I have a working hob so a perfect excuse to make Xmas pudding.

I would love to be able to say they tasted fantastic, but I'll have to wait a while before I get to try them out! Though I haven't met a Xmas pudding I didn't like!

Frustrating Friday Night Sew In

Well I had a plan for this evening to work on some cushions for my lounge, this would involve me trying to learn how to sew in a zip (zipper).  So I set up my sewing space, cut up the first squares of fabric and then found out that not only did I not have a zip foot I didn't have a normal foot either.  This seemed a little odd and was destined to end my sewing before it started when I finally remembered a little drawer...feet found.

Next step was to baste together the zip opening ( as explained in the wonderful tutorial courtesy of Grace Bonney at Design Sponge), at which point my machine started skipping stitches and unthreading itself in a most annoying fashion.  A serious cleaning session and some perseverance later I finally got round to sewing in the zip...

That actually wasn't too tricky (maybe the luck of the uninformed) and the rest of the project passed off uneventfully (ignoring the point where I realised why the zip opening was unbasted prior to sewing up the sides!).

Just a couple of little threads to tidy up, but otherwise I'm really pleased with the outcome and have another to make (and possibly a good few more in my future!).

Hope everyone else had a good FNSI.

Renovating...up-cycling...whatever

In the midst of my disjointed house renovations I find myself left with a surplus chest of drawers.  It a cheap chest but very handy as it has lots of drawers so I think I'll move it to my teeny, tiny sewing room. Unfortunately I'm no longer keen on the waxed pine look and I think it won't be great in my dark, teeny, tiny sewing room (I'm just glad to have one!).  So what's a girl to do but get out the paint brushes...

From this

Via this

To this...

Hopefully I've made it so that I can use the top of the drawers as a pressing surface eventually. I'm really pleased with this and it has worked out as I planned.  I'm also going to paint the matching large bookcase to match, but this time I'm going to use a roller!

Malvern Autumn Show

Last weekend saw my first ever visit to the Malvern Autumn Show organised by the Royal Horticultural Society.  Unfortunately the specific exhibitor I wanted to see didn't turn up but I had a lovely day anyway.  I browsed all the commercial stands, watched the dog agility competition and entertained my inner engineer with the steam powered engines.  I even strayed into the flower and competition pavilion.

There were beautiful growers' displays...

Exquisite floral competition entries...

And amazing produce entries...

These were the entries for the largest in the class, the woman sneaking into the bottom is an adult.  I don't know if growing over large and probably inedible veg is a British thing?