Weekender bag started

Eeek this week has been so hectic I am the last to blog about our fab day with the East Midlands Modern Quilting Guild last Saturday.  You may have already seen some great blog posts by some of the others here, here and here.





What a brilliant day.... before going I told myself, there is no way I am going to even attempt a weekender bag - that is totally beyond me... so I took along all my fabric and some other things to work on.   But somehow the excitement of the others merrily QAYG-ing, and the sight of Di's bag almost finished (stunning and glorious photos here) meant that I did indeed start to make my own.

here is the efforts of my day with the EMMQG.  Although in my defense I did cut out all my wadding and canvas panels too.  And obviously I made the most of being in the company of people who were keen to show fabric and quilts they had made, and talk about sewing for ages without glazing over.... and I just loved wondering round the room seeing other people's fabric choices and panels taking shape.

That evening I ordered my extra supplies from Jaycotts.  Thanks so much to Mandy for the canvas and cord as that meant I didn't need to buy those.

I can definately feel some more QAYG-ing coming along this weekend.... and I am looking forward to the next meet up.

x

I made a quilt

Do you ever write blog posts in your head as you are making something???

Well, this post has been written in my head on numerous occasions in numerous ways. 

Over a year ago, I won a jelly roll of fabric from Jodi at Tickle and Hide.  This inspired me to hunt through the library for a book with a suitable quilting pattern in it.  Good old 'Jelly Roll Quilts' was made for the job.

So picking one of the easiest patterns I ordered lots of White fabric and off I went.

The cutting out and sewing together of the strips happened quite quickly.  Although I soon learnt that my cutting skills left a lot to be desired, my accuracy at sewing 1/4 inch seams also left a lot to be desired, and the overall effect was therefore not geometrically accurate.  In fact 'extremely wonky' was more the order of the day.

The buying of wadding caused another delay.......  but I got that fab bamboo type stuff, and that sorted that.

Then the decision of what to back the quilt with (by this time the price was mounting up, and I was unsure if this would ever be finished, and if it indeed did get finished, whether it would ever be allowed to see the light of day).  The lovely Tracy solved that problem, and gave me a purple sheet which was just right.

With quite a lot of excitement I started to quilt the layers together (ooooo forgot to say that I didn't really know how to stick the layers together properly - I have since been informed about spray basting - so it was a few pins and some bulldog clips borrowed from work.  This had limited success, so I sort of repinned as I went along).  I must clarify these are not techniques I am advocating - and nor will I be using these methods again.

So, once again I am starting to quilt......  with a turqoise colour - because it seemed to match the front - I now know you have to also consider the effect on the back of the quilt.  Turquoise is not looking so good against the purple backing, and is also very unforgiving - so every mistake is very obvious.

Can I remind you at this point that this is my sewing machine.  It is old, temperamental, and has a tendency to do it's own thing, go at whatever speed it likes and and alter the tension whenever it fancies.  This old lady (although I love her dearly) was not impressed at being asked to undertake this task.

This lead to a lengthy pause - almost a year............

Until recently I got fed up of the heap of half-quilt at the bottom of the wardrobe and decided to just tackle it once and for all and get it done.  Two left over annual leave days before the new leave year did the trick, and I set to.  I cannot say it was an altogether pleasing experience, but along the way I learnt a lot about quilting, sewing in general, and a fair amount about myself.

I decided to quilt in straight lines.  Sort of following the pattern of the quilt - so it made sense to me to quilt squares...... until I started and it soon became clear that the squares would pucker up and there are folds all over the quilt top as a result of this.  But having started it seemed there was no going back.

By the time of choosing the binding, my enthusiasm was fading, however I like making bias binding, so got a renewed sense of umph and soldiered on (this thing was not going to beat me).  I like the hand sewing on of the binding, and during several children's DVDs and then this weeks episode of Broadchurch the binding was completed.

Hey - check me out, I have only made my first ever quilt.

Things I have learnt:-

1) Buy spray baste
2) Quilt in a colour that blends in and cannot be seen so clearly
3) Make thinner bias binding
4) I am not a perfectionist
5) That I am in absolute awe of you guys out there who make the amazing quilts I see on your blogs
6) That I love my quilt, with all it's hundreds of flaws.

It's only two days old and we have played under it, I watched the Sewing Bee programme snug and warm under it, and it is going to take it's place in the lounge

 

 

Fresh sewing day

So, it feels like I haven't blogged for ages, and actually when I look at the number of times I've blogged so far this year it's a bit of a poor show.....  so let's try and do something about that!

I'm linking up with Lily's fresh sewing day, so what did I make in March??

Mainly it was a month of bee blocks and birthday presents (cushions and aprons).  Plus some QAYG.

 

There were two things that I almost didn't show as I was so unhappy with them!  My bee block for Rachel, which had all the points cut off.

And this oval zippy box - which looked so fab in the pattern, was such a git to make, and ended up looking dreadful - won't be making one of those again.

In non-sewing related news...... our Easter day out was to Twycross Zoo - where I was spat at by a Dinosaur!!

Tanya x

more quilt as you go!

Those of you who regularly read this blog will know that I have something of an addictive personality...........  in my sewing this seems to manifest itself in me learning to make something, and then wanting to immediately make another one, and another one... you get the picture.

My current favourite is my newly acquired quilt as you go technique..... which I have now combined with my obsession with making cushions for presents for everyone.

Hard to see the quilting, but I think my lines are getting straigher.

This is a birthday present for the 12 year old girl next door......  her room has a pink and white theme, so I am hoping this cushion will fit right in. 

The back..............

There is also another birthday coming up soon, for a 5 year old...

I have also been practicing for my apron swap, and taking the opportunity to use some of my vintage sheets to do so..........

It's reversible............  I think I prefer the bright green print as the front

I'm not so sure about the pockets, but they are tea towel material so they are good for wiping hands on!

The pattern I used is here.  It was good to make, but I might try another more shaped apron style for my partner.

It's finished

Just nipping in quick to show you my finished zippy pouch using my newly aquired quilt-as-you-go skills.

Massive thanks to Di for showing me how to do this, and to Trudi for the fabrics.... Trudi you will recognise the gorgeous grey around the edge, and if you peek closely lots of the scraps may remind you of quilts you have previously made!!!

I hope those of you who are off to the first meet up of the East Midlands Quilting Guild tomorrow have a fantastic time.  I am sad not to be able to come along (I shall be abseiling, climbing and zip wiring with 40 Brownies - although hopefully one of them will be scared of heights and I will have to sit with them at the bottom!) So I look forward to hearing all about it, perhaps see you there next time.

This week

Last night four of us met for 'Stitching It Together' (although I am thinking of re-naming this 'Nattering Together'!!)

Di Showed me how to QAYG, and there are pics of her examples here.

So today I have been having a go myself

It's hard to see the stitching in these photos..... but I'm pleased with the general effect, and I like this technique.  I think these are destined to be a zippy pouch.

One of my favourite things about meeting up with other bloggers is 'show and tell' time, and last night Trudi had the most amazing things to show us.  It's also learning new things from other people.  So my two new tips which I am enjoying putting into practice are hanging my mini scissors on a lanyard round my neck when I sew so I am not always losing them, and sticking a 1/4 inch guide on my sewing machine to mark where I should sew.

There won't be a Stitching It Together in April because of the Easter holidays - but hopefully there will be more chatter, cake and maybe even some sewing on Weds 8th May.

Things I am not so pleased about this month is my hipbees block for Rachel.  I am not sure what happened, I think I got confused when I followed the tutorial, anyway, look -  I completely lost every point in this block. There is nothing sharp about any of the corners.  Gutted.  Rachel has been very kind about it all, and I sent her a little something to say sorry when I sent my block off to her.  Perhaps I will be put in the remedial class.

Something new I have signed up for is the apron swap.  There are still a few places if you fancy it - doesn't everyone need a sassy apron when they're in the kitchen!!

 

The Pippi's are coming home

It's been very exciting this month as I was queen bee in the stash bee during February...... 

I asked for this little girl block, as I hope to make a quilt for me eldest daughter's bed.  I first saw these blocks made in the Bee Blessed bee, and knew instantly that I wanted to make a quilt like this myself.  She is called Pippi Longstocking after the red headed character in the children's story book.

So the usually mundane activity of checking the post every day, has been super exciting, as little parcels keep dropping through the door.

Here are some of the Pippi blocks I have received so far.

This one has an adventurous story to tell.  The package was mangled by the post office, and arrived in a plastic bag, which said 'SORRY' on the front, and Pippi's legs were sticking out.  Luckily when we retrieved her, she was fine, just a little dirty from splashing in puddles!

 

Then there was a great surprise when I received this one, as it was made by Tracy my lovely sister 'not-in-law', she follows my blog, and so made a block for me..... I was thrilled to bits,

 

There are a few more blocks still to be made, and several that I know of are still en route....  but it will be very exciting when I can finally put this quilt top together.   Massive thanks to everyone who has made a block for me, I love each and everyone of of them, and the colours and fabrics are so varied. It's going to be lovely.