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 ..

New Quilting Fabrics and Jan Patek Patterns

Hello Tuesday and Hello new fabric!!

I am a very lucky person indeed! I have received some of my long ago ordered fabric from America. But first these lovelies

These are my low volume fabric choices for my next quilt. I am really interested in working more with modern designs and fabrics and here is the beginning of my next project. It's going to be a tile layout with varied sizes of rectangles. These fabrics are all neutral ranging from grey through to beige and include some linen and Japanese weaves. I need to reduce this pile to around twelve and add one punchy contrast fabric. I am waiting for the shop sale in a couple of days time! So I will be back with my final piece, it's from Rowan so there's a clue. I can't wait to start this quilt. 

In other news I have received these fabrics from America. Ordered some time ago they wait until my husband can bring them back in his suitcase. He is allowed to take progressively less to wear in each trip, why can't he just keep clothes in his desk drawer in USA, then I could make use of a whole suitcase!

The bale is Kansas Troubles, Token of Friendship. What lovely earthy colours. The pattern book is from Jan Patek. I really like her applique style and love, love, love the quilt design on the back here! Why does it just take so long to make everything?! These fabrics were in a sale so I got a great deal but now I feel glutenous admitting what I have bought, some sort of compulsive fabric buying disorder I think!  There is, I am ashamed to say, more in someone elses case! So there will be a further update very soon!

But first these patterns

More Patek patterns, the top right little table runner is so nice. I have some linen and classic muted floral prints for that one.  Ha Ha Ha! I am rich!

Basting a Strip Quilt for Walking Foot Quilting

So just one more picture for today. I have this little Jelly roll quilt, made some time ago. Today I sandwiched it up. I will quilt this using my Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.2. Using the walking foot. My favourite wadding for this kind of quilting is by Quilters Dream, Select thickness. 

How different this quilt could look with an alternate colour value placement. When I quilt with the walking foot, which is my intention here, I like to use starch on the top and backing. A light spray with 505 adhesive spray and then a very light press. That produces a really smooth piece which stitches up with little trouble. I haven't decided on the thread yet, either Isocord or Aurifil.

I will be back with my quilt deign and a progress report.

I have lots more to tell, The ladies visited today and they have some progress to report and I have made progress with 2 projects. A great day, but I have run out of time so I will just have to report back!

Bye for now, and happy sewing

(at this point I shall slink back into the shadows to stroke my new fabric!)