Nearly a month since I last blogged but Christmas visitors have been and gone, my sewing room (converted over the holidays back to a dining room)
is back in use and I have been hand sewing for a change, making a small square of crazy quilting for the CQJP.
I had decided to base each month of the project on a different ecosystem and as I was given a selection of blue silk for a present, what could be better than to start with Seabed so here it is
I originally thought I would have lots of lovely little creatures on my seabed but quickly realised that there was not enough space so there are only two, a Cushion Star and an edible Sea Urchin.
Just as well, I think, as I have never embroidered on silk before and so thought it must need a stiff backing - not easy to sew, as I soon found out (the backing, not the silk!).
Now all I need to do is to pluck up the courage to send the photo. Such a selection of beautiful embroidery has already appeared on the CQJP site that it has made me feel more than a little uncertain as to whether my block meets the rules, even.
Well, in between doing 1001 little things in preparation for Christmas I have managed to make another couple of blocks for my granddaughter's quilt. The first was paper pieced:
I quite like the precision of paper piecing as well as the challenge and sure enough, this block was a bit of a challenge!!! I think my triangles must have been a little smaller than those in the book with the result that my plain lime pieces needed to be a bit bigger. The pattern tells you what sizes to cut in advance and so these were a bit smaller than I would have liked. If I were to make this block again I would cut the fabric as and when I needed it rather than rely on the shape and size suggested.
The other block is made out of one of my favourites - halfsquare triangles:
I was a bit worried that all those seams needed to be accurate so probably overcompensated and so it is a bit over the 12 1/2 inches. I now need to decide which points will be noticed least if they are missing after I trim it but shhh, don't tell anyone!
As I am fairly new to quilting I still can't believe how quickly these blocks can be sewn. Over the years I have spent many hours crocheting blankets for myself, my children and my grandchildren and they take a long time, especially as the yarn is 4ply. The children love them as they are soft and cuddly. I have just finished the latest one which is 7feet by 5feet ready for my 5yearold grandson
The hexagons are easy to join together as you crochet and they give the blanket a lot of stability in that it doesn't stretch like squares would do.
Two grandchildren left to make a blanket for but hey, I think I may have said that once before and more grandchildren came on the scene. I can but hope!
Well, having sorted out some of the teething problems in setting up my blog (and thanks for all the helpful comments which were gratefully received) I finally got round to some sewing. At the last Quilt Fair I treated myself to Modern Blocks by Susanne Woods
I knew I really had to make one of these striking blocks when I realised just how many bookmarks I had in the book and here it is
I really enjoyed sewing this but then came the inevitable question, "What shall I do with it". A bag. . maybe? I know, a quilt! So three more lovely patterns later and I havethe beginnings of a very girlie quilt for my very girlie five-year old granddaughter
Then I decided that I must be choosing the easy patterns so decided on a paper-pieced block with triangles for a bit more of a challenge. I drew the block on my computer and printed out four copies on really cheap photocopy paper ready for sewing
Added a few construction lines and and order number for sewing and hey presto. . . I'm ready to sew the next block.
I must admit to already having a book on making a sampler quilt together with a lovely selection of black, white, grey and red fabric but I just can't seem to start it. Mental block I suppose. Oh well, maybe I'll end up with a thoroughly modern sampler quilt, lol.
