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!

Skirts and applique

What a roller coaster of a day in my tiny sewing world!

Yes, I have a finish! The skirt is complete and I am happy enough with it to wear it, so that's something. 

My mum joined me in my cabin today and we have had a giggle, the ups and downs of me not really knowing how to sew a blind hem but having a go anyway and wrestling with excess fabrics, dropping pins and thread reels running out. There has been a number of "it's going in a bag in a minute" threats...there were certainly tension issue's and I am not just talking about my machine! Slowly folding the hem back having stitched it, to see if it was any good, was like peeling back a plaster! Maybe I need to get out more..

I confess, I have spent a large part of the afternoon in just my tights and boots while I stitch and try on the skirt! NOT something for those with a delicate constitution! We have laughed.

So here is a pic. Yes, its not a great illustration of my work but Charlie dog stole the limelight. Conclusions are: 

• I would make another one (but not just yet)
• work more on getting a better fit through the side seams,
• needle cord would make a great fabric choice
• I am not as slim as I thought I was
• It would appear that I have inadvertently chosen to dress in the same colour as my dog!

Mum, here she is, Sally. She has been making a set of funky little birds as a gift, she uses beads from old necklaces for the strings between the birds and threads with fishing line so they are good and strong. The bells on the end are fun and also make them hang well. She made me a set for my birthday and used some beads from a necklace my dad gave her years ago. As he died some years ago I think that's a nice sentiment.

She finished them today, aren't they great!

 

I also finished stitching this little wool applique. It's from a Maggie Bonanomi design. The wools are from Canada. I used bondaweb just on the outer edge of each piece to stabilize the edges and then just whip stitched them to the background. It was really nice stitching through wool, satisfyingly soft and quick. Next time though I will use pellon lightweight fusible as its a bit more robust. I really like these colours, I love primitive folk quilts and applique. Maggie Bonanomi's designs really strike a chord with me.

I have several of her books. I think I'll make a cushion from the panel as is suggested in the book, Buttonwood Farm. But no one had better dare sit on it! I guess this isn't finished until its made into something, so can't tick this one off just yet.

It's been a nice day. Autumn is coming, the geese are noisily arriving in great flocks and although it's not too chilly the sunlight has changed. Soon be time to bring in the timber and light the fire...