Old and new things

So here is the first of the unfinished quilts that I want to complete before starting anything new. This is a split ninepatch that I love because of the dark, warm jewel colours and its rich cream/tan background. I wanted a very simple border pattern and went with this Amish pumpkin seed design - it is so elegantly simple and a real pleasure to sew.

And here is the first block of our group's friendship quilt. We are all making ten blocks and will give them to each other for Christmas. I chose Dresden Plate because I had never done it. Our colour theme is blue and cream (much harder to find fabrics than blue and white) and I had problems getting a pattern the right size. Our blocks were decided to be 9 inches finished and I could only find a 9 inch pattern. I didn't want the plate to fill the block from edge to edge so I cut down the pattern and redrew the curved edges. What a pleasure these blocks are going to be to sew while listening to the radio or watching tv and good to take along to quilt group as well. This one is my first sample and will probably be mine as I want to make one the same for the four corners of my quilt. I'm not fond of sampler quilts and a friend said she was going to make the same block for the four corners to give it a bit of symmetry (I always need symmetry in my quilts - a substitute for an ordered mind, I think). Right - off to do some more.

Labelled - what now?

I don't usually label my quilts but realise now that it would have been a good idea, so am going to go back and do them when I have time. But I have embroidered one for my daughter's quilt and am quite pleased with it. The only Aida fabric I had that had the right number of holes per inch was thicker than I would have liked and I must look out for something thinner because the corners were a bit clumsy when I'd turned them under. I know I could have left it flat but didn't want to risk it fraying over the years. I had to reinforce the corners which also took away from the delicacy but I love the alphabet I found - I have used it on embroidered samplers I've given as gifts and it always looks elegant. We're making a friendship quilt in our group; blocks to be exchanged at Christmas. I've said I will do Dresden Plates so I could start them now. Or I could (and really should) put binding on a quilt which I love to bits but have never finished, put binding on a quilt that will really look good on our bedroom wall if I finish it, finish a Halloween table topper that I had to put aside when I was ill or start a new quilt. We all know which is most tempting from those choices and I do want to get into my new pile of Civil War reproductions. On the other hand, my new sewing machine is lovely to use and those two bindings would make me feel really good. We'll see... Hummph! Irritated; I always write in paragraphs and this has come out as one block - I hate the new Blogger setup.

Finished!

Finished the quilt for my daughter and just need to embroider a label on the back. In the end I decided to do quarter inch quilting in the corners and a quilted pink heart done with embroidery floss. Of course, when I went to photograph it, someone got there before me - what is it with cats and dogs and quilts?

Feeling good - have just booked a country house in Normandy for a week's holiday at the end of June and my daughters and one boyfriend are coming to join us; I don't care about the weather that much because I just love those Norman beaches but I hope it's good for the others' sake. Still, there are all the World War II landing beaches to visit, loads of places from 'Band of Brothers' to see and we have a view of Mont St. Michel. Looking forward to some great seafood. Promised myself 'moules et frites' as soon as we arrive...

It's been a while.

Just thought I would show progress on the quilt and the cross-stitch I've been doing. First, the teacup and saucer kit is coming along nicely - I need to do some mauve flowers under the cup and I've already started the pale blue border which goes around the frame (not visible on this photo). It needs pressing but I just grabbed it from the ring for a quick photo.

And here's the quilt with borders done - they are all done although the nearest in the photo just looks wrinkled because of the way the light has caught it. I have left the corners unquilted because I can't make up my mind what to do there - no inspiration. My eldest daughter wants the quilt when finished so I was thinking of a monogram on each corner but I decided it would spoil the simplicity of this quilt. I plan to bind it first and then decide when I see how big the corner spaces are - I do not quilt tightly so it won't matter doing it after the quilt is bound. I also might do a pieced binding as I have some of the fabrics left over from the layer cake.

Progress!

I have always hated putting a quilt sandwich together; hated being on my knees on the floor, hated the pinning and most of all hated the basting. I just haven't felt strong enough to get this quilt put together, although I was longing to sit and hand-quilt it with my quilting friends and make my life feel more normal again. So yesterday I just got angry with myself and made a decision to Get It Done. I have never cut backing nor trimmed up batting so quickly. Instead of kneeling, I sat cross-legged in the middle and quickly pinned everything. I hate basting so I decided not to baste. And here it is, ready for quilting, although the borders are still in need of squaring up and are only roughly pinned - the perfectionist has decided to let this go - I will do them later.

And here is the teacup and saucer embroidery that a friend sent me - it is very intricate and lots of the blue shades look like each other, so it needs lots of concentration, but it is looking very pretty.

No photo day

No photos today but I have finished the cheat's hexagon quilt top - just need to put the borders on and get the whole lot sandwiched for the first weekend in March when four of us from our quilting group are going to our friend Renate's house for a quilting weekend. Sadly, one of our American members (there are only nine members altogether) is returning to Seattle at the end of March and we will be very sorry to see her go. Renate had the idea for a repeat of our lovely quilting weekend when she lived in Bremen last year - we had such a lovely time that she thought we could repeat the idea so we could have sewing fun with Nancy before she and her husband leave Bonn. Although it is a ladies' weekend, my husband has been invited because Renate's husband does not want to be alone in a sea of quilts and they both love to discuss business ideas together, so they will be happy.

I am also working on a little something that I cannnot show just now - I think photos will have to wait as it is a secret. but eventually....

Progress

So, here again are the blocks before the little squares were added:





And here is a bigger area with the hexagon effect. I must say, doing the applique little squares is addictive. To make it easier, I have only made up half the quilt and when I finish adding the little squares I will then make the other half of the quilt. Otherwise, the top would be a bit clumsy and awkward to handle if I were doing the applique on the whole thing. I shall then join the two halves together and start hunting for border/binding fabrics. It feels really good to be making a quilt again after all that embroidery.