Free motion quilting

I've been patchworking and quilting (I use the word loosely) for just on four years now and I'm ashamed to admit that I had my first go at free motion quilting at my Wednesday classes only two weeks ago....

I had to borrow a friend's free motion foot as I realised my Janome did not come with the required footer. Next stop: Art of Sewing, Riccarton, to put in an order for one! I had no idea what the term "dogs" were until now, duh!

So, for my appliqued chickens on my lap quilt I have ironed on a few, but they will have to wait for my purchased footer. I took up sizing up my scraps at last week's session. You know, that really boring task you know you need to do, but for the life of you, you can't be bothered until it's too late.... and you really need 152 strips of blue or whatever!

Little black hen

Little brown hens, legs yet to be stitched

 My latest fabric purchases

Purchased at Away with the Fairys, Cust

 

Purchased at Cottonfields, Christchurch

The beautiful Hurunui - my home

State Highway 1 leaving Amberley

 

Back of Culverden, Kaiwara Road

Follows a long, winding metal road

Past the Greta Valley

 

Homeward bound through the Waipara vineyards

New fabric + my home town

I couldn't resist buying this interesting fabric... I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I couldn't leave it in the shop!!

Now for some un-quilting stuff. Christchurch as it was in November 2011.

This building is no more...

Shipping containers come in handy

People are walking where buildings used to be

Re: Start Mall, Cashel Street

Time stood still... 12.51

Day trip to.... Ashburton lakes

Yes, it is hard to imagine that there is more to life than quilting, but...

Day trips are wonderful things. Here are some shots to inspire you to visit the Ashburton Lakes.

At the turnoff heading towards the lakes

Metal roads

Lake Clearwater

These sailboarders were speeding along at about 70km...

Chicken run

Finally I began my chicken quilt. The first sewing group of the year was Wednesday 22 January and thus I began to sew again after the lovely Christmas/New Year break. Sometimes it is nice to have a break away from patching just to come back with a fresh mind and sewing fingers!

Chicken wire sewed on ready for rows

I chose a dark brown chicken wire fabric for my sashing inbetween the blocks, very simple, but that is what I wanted. Basically my plan is in my head and I am stitching as I go along. I firstly made a plan in my book to see how the general layout would be like and away I went.

I have sewed all the blocks together and the sashings. Thus the next step is to sew the rows together.

Placement for sewing

Back in the saddle

I actually haven't been out of the saddle, but haven't been blogging for a very long time... Shame on me. How am I supposed to keep a record of my patchwork quilting if I don't actually enter my creations.

Its been such a long time I can hardly remember what I have finished.

LOG CABIN: I finally got it quilted by a professional. There was no way on earth I could do my 85" bedspread in my machine.

Corner detail

Love that professional quilting look

The complete package

Rolled log cabin quilt with some visitors

PILLOWCASES: One of the ladies in my Wednesday session went to a class on making pillowcases. Now the whole group are making them in their sleep! It consists of three fabrics, 65cm, 25cm and 10cm.

My first pillows

MY NEW CUTTING TABLE: My bestie's bestie made me a cutting table to order!!! Gotta love ya mates! It stands approximately 90cm and at present has one shelf (which roll out), but have requested a second. It comes complete with an expandable extra length for when I need to pin a large quilt. I am so impressed and get so motivated when standing before it, it's almost like a shrine!!

TEAPOT SET: My first attempt at making small objects. The photo below shows my excitement at beginning it and the wading for the teapot to the left. I have nearly finished the set, but the cup and saucer do not resemble the photo, ha! Once finished I will upload the finished project.

The set includes teapot, 2 x cups, 2 x saucers

CHICKEN QUILT: My best intentions are there! I thought after finishing the log cabin I would tackle something easier, so I cut some 10" squares for readiness. I will link the blocks with some interesting chicken wire fabric, which I have yet to choose, thus the reason the blocks are still on the design wall (i.e., hallway!).

Chicken blocks on the wall and toy mouse in the hallway...

BARGELLO: I finally located the extra batch of fabric required to finish off my bargello, but as yet have not cut and attached it to the finished top. It came all the way from the United States, so thank you very much America!! Will load piccie as and when I complete the top.

That's all for now, happy stitching!

That Mystery quilt, part 6

At last I have finally finished the top of that mystery quilt I started last March. I tackled the remaining fourth elephant and then begun to add all the bits I hadn't added; eyes, mouths and legs! This included drawing an eye for each, blanket stitch for the mouths and leg detail. Now they are complete I think I might add some extra decorative bling to them.

The first one

Along came number two

Number three plods along

Lucky last

Part 2

Now to sew all the parts together

Beginning to take shape

The final strips

After adding all the other parts together I stood back and thought, mmmm, not really my cup of tea. Not sure if I would ever tackle a mystery quilt again in a hurry. The elephant applique took a lot of work doing, it might grow on me once it is quilted, maybe...

All ready to quilt

Those last touches to uncompleted projects

You know how you get real excited by starting a quilt and then the momentum slowly fizzes out...? Well last weekend I completed my odd backing for my log cabin and sent it away to be quilted on Wednesday. I said to my quilter, "I have no idea what I want quilted". She is going to look at my top design and come up with ideas.

I sewed two backs on my cushions, sewed one set of buttons on only. One of the cats saw the shiny buttons and thought they looked nice to chew. I still have two more cushions to do the backings and stuff them all with inserts.

I started a gift for a friend two weeks ago and have just the binding to hand sew; a very small project, but one with a message. I am actually deciding what to take to this week's sewing group...

I completed my third elephant at the weekend on my mystery quilt which I begun last March. It was supposed to be six month project, but hey! The final part I hope to begin soon, perhaps I could begin it at my sewing group, what a great idea! I realise it involves making a fourth and final elephant... I will have to take some snap shots to give you an idea on how it is progressing.

I managed to sign up for Broadband, but I have yet to connect to it. Hopefully then loading photos will not be such a chore.

It took two big efforts to tidy up my sewing room, plus the fact that I had to buy another trolley to put all my "stuff" into. Lordly, lordly, I guess I should stop buying fabrics....