Monday 20 November 2023

Stitching News

I have quite a few pictures to show you in this post. Given a whole week has flown by.
I'm having new computer problems, the damn thing keeps updating and adding things that slow it down, A LOT! For example, gaming?
I don't even play, Xbox! I only play JUKI !!

I told you we have had a sandwich run, the finished quilts are starting to roll in now.
Trumpets ready...

Tooting first of all for Princess Jackie's fabulous and finished quilt. This design has many names in different books but for us it's a circle quilt! Circles made from straight lines.
Jackie had a few blocks left over, she must have gotten carried away making them? or ? I cut her too many bits and she sewed until they were all done, which ever, they came in handy for this rather splendid backing. toot toot toot Jackie
Judy's splendid Christmas quilt. Technically, it's not finished as the binding needs a bit of stitching but Judy won't be able to bring it in again for us to see. She had it long arm quilted by Amanda in Stone, who's done a fabulous job, of course aided by the clever computer machine.  Judy chose a perfect festive stitch design. Toot, tiny-toot, ha ha ha!

This is Judy's fabulous Christmas table topper. Obviously it co-ordinates perfectly with the lap quilt above. Judy quilted this all by her very own self and it too, needs the binding hand stitching to be both fabulous and finished.

Princess Jackie spied opportunity to make a farm animal quilt sandwich. If you remember, this is one quarter of the whole quilt, all four quarters will be joined together after quilting, apartment-ly.

All Day Di was very relieved to be able to find space for sandwiching one of her Scandinavian Tomte quilts. Time is ticking very quickly and both quilts are needed for festive gifting, thank goodness she will have 3 lovely long days on the retreat, no cooking, no cleaning, just sewing! 

Bev has been watching people on T'Internet make this Highland Cow. She succumbed to temptation and ordered the pattern and brought it to class. And, after a few fun minutes with Heat & Bond (yes it does matter which side we stick it to) he was done. This smart fellow will be made into a cushion as soon as he's quilted.

All the planning done by Shirley worked out. She had very random Railfence blocks. Can we call them random when they are mathematically mixed up? Better still, does it matter? Absolutely not, if order is your thing, you can order your randomness!

After playing with the layout for a short while, this was Shirley's chosen design. I must say I do love a Railfence quilt. It's a very easy design that never looks out of place, whether modern or contemporary is your thing or more traditional style, it bridges all sorts.
I've managed a little sewing recently as I've stopped that second job that was eating all of my time and energy. But lookie what I did here!! 4 of my triangles got sew in the wrong direction and I didn't notice until I was quilting, grrrrrr. It's staying as it is, but I am a bit miffed!

Only one week to go before we get to relax on the sewing retreat. If only I could decide what to work on. There are a few of us that haven't decided yet. We all have so many things we want to sew, the problem is choosing which 'one' to take. Unlike Our Pam who just takes them all, ha ha ha!

Please remember that my shop will not be open next week, 27th November but will be open on Saturday 2nd. All day and it's a sewing Saturday in my classroom too.

Monday 13 November 2023

Catching Up

Catching up with what? I don't seem to be catching up with anything, ha! What a whirlwind time it's been since I last wrote anything. The classroom is busy, very busy at the moment. Sandwich making is on the rise and they are jumbo size sandwiches too. I do have a few pictures for you...

Christabelle has just about done all of the walking foot quilting in the sashing strips and has started on her free-motion doodling quilting in those main blocks. This quilt design is brilliant for showing off beautiful fabrics if you don't want to cut them up, especially floral ones.

Rose finished her Log Cabin gifting quilt top with the addition of a 10" wide border. We could hardly get it up high enough let alone fit the width in shot, this is one huuuuge quilt. The sandwich will be made very soon, Friday I think, then Rose will quilt it, all by her very own self.

Jackie spent her day quilting this lovely gifting quilt. 
So clever how straight lines make those circles. 
Wait till you see the splendid backing!

These two pieces are also Jackie's. Aren't they the cutest thing!! Such perfect fabric choices for the creatures. These are two of the four quarters that Jackie will sandwich and quilt individually before joining them together apartment-ly.

It's almost time for our retreat in Lickey Hills. It's a huge venue so if you decided at this last minute that you would like to treat yourself to a little, selfish, sewing time, just let me know.

Out of time for today folks, but I will be back!

There seems to be a problem with my virtual tour thing so I will try to sort that for you.

Wednesday 1 November 2023

Stitching News

Norma finished her quilt top. It's probably one of the easiest designs to make of all the ones I've helped with over the years. Considering Norma found almost all of the 14 Fat Quarters in her stash, I think we did a great job on the whole thing. The back is complete, Amanda in stone better watch out!

Di had all the 4 blocks of her Tomte finished but she couldn't settle on the layout. As she's making 2 quilts, of the same design, for gifting, I suggested she not stitch these first ones together until the next 4 blocks are finished, then she will be able to mix and match a bit more, genius eh! HOPEFULLY she'll be able to make her decision easier with 8 blocks.

While making the 3 tree blocks you get a lot of 6 inch triangles left over. When I made my first Scandinavian Tomte Quilt I used them for the borders, it was a bit tricky though. This time I sliced then in half to make these stars to use on the backing.

My top is now a sandwich, cute! 
He will have to wait to be stitched as I made 3 sandwiches that day

My Ocean Waves quilt is under the needle first, only because it is easier to do, at least I thought it would be. I'll post the story soon.

My shop will be closed for the last week of November.
From Monday 27th Opening on Saturday 2nd December. No apologies for that folks!!

I've made a few bookings for next year, 2024.
Checkley Sunday Sewday dates to note are:-
January 28th
February 25th
June 30th
August 4th. The Festival Of Quilts Pilgrimage coach is booked. 
September 29th
October 27th
November 24th
That's another year gone!!!!!