Class Sewing at Beales

I have had such a busy weekend, working hard on the garden, I love tinkering with the positions of plants and nurturing them into flowering, but with such a big garden the watering and deadheading becomes a lengthy task.

Today I am busily trying to get my list of chores out of the way so that I can focus on my hand sewing class which is tomorrow. I have some lovely pictures of things that the ladies have made but I'm going to focus just now on our current project together.

Needle Turn Applique

I have used my trusty quilting software and produced two patterns for my students to choose from. They are all very good hand stitchers with varied experience so we have one simpler project and one with a little more fiddle! So here is the fiddly one today!

I've put a rail fence block design for the background. I really like this traditional style of applique block. This would be so nice if we had four blocks together for a hanging.

Here are my fine nosed micro serrated appliquick scissors! You can see them here next to my normal Olfa small snip scissors. These smaller ones make a very accurate tiny snip in those little valleys created by a flower shape petal - just seen behind. If I had one complaint ( my husband would say "Only one?") It would be that they should make the finger holes larger and more comfortable. I would recommend these scissors if you fancy a treat, but they will set you back about £22.00. Thank goodness for birthdays!

This is as far as I have got. I hope to have done a little more by the end of the day, ready for class tomorrow. I will need to write up Part Two of the instructions today too so I better had get cracking! I am really enjoying hand stitching this little block and actually I am really enjoying teaching the class. Everyone is enthusiastic and we all have a different preference with colours which is so refreshing. I love that about sewing with other people, seeing how one person puts colours together. It's very easy to keep sewing in your favourite palette, so I am very conscious to keep switching about. I have a tendency towards blue if you hadn't noticed!

New Project: Happy Dance Quilt

Hello, hello!

It's been my birthday and among other lovely things I have received some very nice new fabric, printable, dissolving freezer and the most divine fine nosed micro serrated scissors! My world is very happy and very small!

But before I show any sewing stuff, here is a picture of my garden by the conservatory. I have planted it for Spring time so we can enjoy the flowers even on a rainy day. The pictures don't do it justice. If only I could include the sweet scent of the honeysuckle and all the flittering birds.

So I have been preparing my next project! First, print the templates and cut and stick together..

Look at that, this will be the centre part and then there are free downloads for all the following blocks. I really like this simple design. Here are my chosen fabrics, Ambleside by Moda. I'll throw in some extra colours too as these greens may not be "green enough" when cut into leaves.

Making Circular Flower Middles

Applique: Mylar circle templates

The designer of this quilt has a different method for circular flower middles to the one I usually use. I like to use Mylar heat resistant plastic circles and a circle of fabric cut a little larger. Stitch gathering stitches around the fabric with the mylar glued in the middle. Draw up the stitches, iron it with plastic inside, remove the plastic and you have a perfect circle.

Applique: Wadding circle templates

So I am trying out this method and I am not so sure about it yet, but maybe because this is such a large circle it's not such an accurate finish. So I am going to keep going. Here's what you do:

Bondaweb circle of the finished sized circle, ironed onto wadding, cut out. Now bond the wadding to the middle of a slightly larger fabric circle and run gathering stitches around. Draw up and press. Hmm, mine went a bit wobbly and the wadding didn't hold the shape so well. Maybe she uses different bonding glue. They are nice and puffy, just less crisp around the edges. Maybe once they are stitched down it all sorts itself out. We shall see. One draw back is though that, if you are like me and constantly change your mind you can't re-use a made up circle because it's bonded to wadding.

Here's what I've got so far

 And that's it for now, laundry calls ..

Blue Quilt Applique Done

Where have I been? Whatever have I been doing?! We've all been sewing away behind the scenes .So on the 2nd June with a chilly breeze outside and gusting winds howling across the top of my chimney pot there will be no gardening distractions for me today!

I have been sewing up my blue quilt with all the applique. Every border is different, which I thought would make it easier and more interesting but the only thing is they have to look balanced. Butterflies came to the rescue and filled up the gaps and I love them anyway. So here is a pic of the completed applique.

 I wanted some of the colours to fade in and out of the background, however this isn't the best picture I'm afraid. I have then added french knots to the flower middles. I'll be back with some detailed pictures later. This quilt has been a real challenge in letting go of perfectionism and I don't think I have worked on anything with such determination before! What follows are the quilting details and I will be back with less technical sewing updates later.

Quilting In the Ditch

Here I have ditched all of the blocks in the centre using a quilting needle 70 and a transparent polyester thread by Superior Threads which was definitely the best option as the colours vary from dark to light. The thread is very fine, like hair! and disappeared into the seams so there is no ugly plastic shine. It wasn't a problem to stitch with a slightly lower tension, however for starting and finishing I used micro length stitches forwards and then backwards instead of knots or having to tie and bury knots by hand. 
Machine set to:  normal stitch length, walking foot engaged.
In the bobbins I used Shade colour: Pearl, Brand: So Fine Thread by Superior Threads. Bobbin Genie plastic washer.
So with all the blocks in the middle stabilised I can take out the pins. I started out with the curved small basting safety pins but I do find that they can pucker up the back if I'm not careful enough, plus I don't have many. So I resorted to the following and would recommend it.

Basting the Sandwich

Long, fine Clover pins, flower head or glass headed. Then you can use Pinmoors to stick on the sharp ends. OR I tried cheap ear defenders which seemed to work just as well. These are much quicker to take off as you sew and perfect for the applique. I removed them once I had outlined the applique so the bulky ear defenders didn't get in the way.  I like the curved safety pins for stitching in the ditch of the blocks.

I taped the backing fabric to my large table and smoothed on the cotton batting and well pressed top. I thought I'd try not using the basting spray this time as I wonder if it causes more thread snags as I free motion. Now that It's done, I think my technique has vastly improved and so there were far less thread breaks!

Work Space

My best friend during this quilting bonanza has been Pledge Polish!! And its the only time I shall be polishing so regularly! Keeping lint and fluff from the work tables and machine area is key. A smooth slippery surface that the quilt can glide across as you work is much easier to work with and aids smooth stitching lines. Supreme Slider for the free motioning too.

I created an L-Shaped work station to support the quilt as I stitched and had this butted into the corner of the room so that the quilt didn't flop onto the floor creating weight and drag. I take my shoes off to operate the foot pedal. I also noticed it was far easier if I kept the quilt "fluffed and puffed up" rather than laying flat, immediately around my stitching bed. The advice is often to roll the quilt up into the harp of the machine, but I have repeatedly found this to make the quilt cumbersome to handle and hard work repeatedly re- rolling, so I don't bother with that anymore! Just stuff and puff it!

Machingers quilting gloves, even for the stitching in the ditch make the quilt so much easier to handle. I have a little table to my right with all my notions easily to hand but not easily knocked to the floor by the quilt or my elbows! I tape a plastic bag to the right of my sewing table for all the threads and fluff.

So, on a sunny day I'll take some nice pictures of the good bits!

Other updates will include the Class stitching updates, some shots of my garden and the stitching exploits of my cabin visitors, not to mention 2 more finished items and 2 new projects of mine! So, bye for now, I'm off for a blustery run with the dog!

Ditsy Blue Half Square Triangles

I have to tell you, I was not a cheerful soul this morning and nor was someone else!

So, I dug out these triangles from a failed and abandoned project, and put this together

Once together I added a border. In hindsight I think I should've made this more square, so I will have to fix that. But anyway, my favourite bit. I fiddled about with white paper until I had added some applique ideas. I wanted something simple and "modernish". Just made that word up! Yes, I know birds don't grow on stems but I like him there.

Once I looked through my stash I had nothing to show up on the blue background except these denimy moody blues. (I guess my mood was winning through!)

This is as far as I have got. Funny how taking a photo of a work in progress helps you spot things you want to adjust - things you can't see when you are staring at the darn thing. Those stems need to be shorter. I had to breach a fat quarter bale of fabrics from Moda, Laundry Basket. One of my favourite designers. This collection is Snowbird.

I'm going to use bondaweb but cut out the middle of it to reduce bulk on all the shapes, then blanket stitch on the machine. Going to need to buy some suitable thread tomorrow. I think I'll do a simple meander background for the quilting, using the machine, and echo quilt the applique. This is just going to be a nice little project to have fun with and get done. I've had such a lovely creative day today after all, funny how that happens.

Crikey, it's cold in here, looks like my next task is shovelling coal. Oh my glamorous life!

Half Square Triangles to beat the Winter Blues

What an utterly horrible day, it's cold, snowing and slushy and wet outside. And that is not very cheering! I am sat by my fire, my toes slowly thawing, wearing my warmest Aran cardigan (thanks mum!).

I woke up this morning, enthusiasm for sewing but none for anything I feel I should be stitching, so I have dug out an old project - another not on the "in progress slide show". Until 5 minutes ago! I'm going to do something with these summery little half square triangles...

And if I can tear myself away from compulsively updating my blog I will go and stitch them together and report back later! 

Sewing in Good Company

Another catch up with the ladies sewing projects in the Cabin and at Beales.

Jean finnished her special quilt for her friend, Margaret. Now that the quilt has been given to Margaret we can put some pictures up.

Here it is finished and laid out for basting to the wadding. Jean used Quilters dreampoly and a spray baste.

Quilted on the machine in straight lines using a gentle zig zag stitch with the walking foot. Jean used Aurifil thread and a quilting needle. The zig zag does add a nice little textural detail and helps with any uneven wrinkles between the layers. Margaret had a special pet dog and Jean wanted to make the quilt personal so I suggested an embroidery in a blank square. We used a design by Lynette Anderson from her book, Quilting Cats and Dogs Just back stitch and lazy daisy. Jean is so pleased that Margaret loved her quilt.

Now Jean is learning to Applique using needle turn and freezer paper techniques. Jean's making a table runner. It's got three panels and now she's on the third panel she's beginning to enjoy it!

Mum's been making a bird hanging with an embroidered heart for Wendy to celebrate her wedding Anniversary. I can't show the finished article because she has given it already!

Here's mum still working through the 9 patch quilts for Kofi and Oscar. We have enough for 1 quilt and I bet as I type Mum has made up the final squares for the second one. Oh gosh, another quilting project! An I have just noticed that Jean and Mum appear to dress to match their sewing projects!

I can't fit any more onto the deisgn wall but you can get the idea. I really like the blue jewel like colours. I think the quilting should be simple as the patterned fabric wont let intricate designs show up too well.

And here we are at Beales, this is Elizabeth and Rachel. Elizabeth has rich gold taupes and black and Rachel is working on hazy pinks and creams. It's been good fun sewing with so many different people on so many different projects. I'm looking forward to going back to Beales next Tuesday, 10 Feb and with Valentines Day around the corner, maybe I should think of a themed project...

Next up will be an update on my own sewing projects. I have 2 new starts and 1 and a half finishes!

Grandmothers Flower Garden Hexagon Quilt

2015 and new projects! My Mother-in-Law, Sue, has a hexagon quilt which she finished at the end of 2014 after 40 years of stitching! I think we can call it Vintage now!

These little Hexagons are 1inch and include fabrics from her daughter's dresses as well as other materials along the way. We laid them out some time ago and Sue has been diligently stitching in the white and cream filler hexes. This is an absolute classic example of a scrap quilt and I do love it. There is fussy cutting and an interesting use of striped fabrics to different effect. I think the light and dark colours add interest. You can see that some flowers have pale petals and so seem to disappear into the background. These elements make for an interesting quilt.

Here is the back, you can see the little stitches and tiny seam. The tacking is black, you can't see it from the front so I am going to leave it in and hope a quilting thread doesn't pull any through. (Eek). This tacking method works well on a small shape and does not pierce the papers so they are easy to take out.

Sue has washed this and some of the sneaky polyester cottons that are included have not shrunk at the same rate as the cotton, so I am mindful of this.

Free Motion Quilting

I have said I will quilt it, which now seems like a daunting task as I don't want to ruin the quilt. After much sketchbook doodling, here is one sample idea. I have left a hex flower shape unquilted in the middle to represent a flower to gauge the scale.

Thread: So Fine by Superior Threads. Ive chosen a blending colour and etched poly thread for strength, etched so it looks like cotton. Its 50 weight and so very fine. This is so that you see more of the design and less of the actual thread. I am using an 80/12 Topstitch needle and the same thread in the bobbin.

Ive decided to use a dense design for the background as it will add stability to the hand stitching plus if I only lightly quilt the flowers they will puff up with a more three dimensional effect. The trade off is that the amount of thread required is "lots" and the quilt will be stiffer than it would if it was lightly quilted, but more robust. Decisions, decisions.

Another option would be a simple Meander, but I just want this to be a little bit more special. I am still thinking about this and I think my swirls are a little bit wonky!