My Great Quilting Expedition

I've had a difficult few weeks without much progress to speak of.  Instead of concerted effort at one project, I have flitted between them. I have plenty of WIPs: making a second version of my Hearts and Flowers design - this time in reproduction fabrics a jewel quilt top that still needs an outer border my Hertfordshire quilt has another border half done started a Pine Valley Rambling Ways quilt - 2 blocks appliqued restarted Phebe quilt by Di Ford with some painted appliques for the centre medallion

I had fun with this one...using scraps from the Dashing Hearts quilt. I love applique, so drew out the motif for the medallion centre and looked to carry on with plenty more applique in the melons border and the floral border. I decided to add some piping between a couple of borders.  The jury is out.  I'm not sure if I like the piping or not.  It was tricky to FMQ up to each side of the piping. I decided to embroider the stems instead of making bias stems. I have always liked the Ohio Star block, but never pieced it before.  I used foundation paper piecing to ensure the blocks were as perfect as possible.  Using left over jelly roll strips made them straightforward and quick to make. Adding yo yos and buttons added to the fun.  I found some perfect buttons on eBay.  I really like the way they look in the centre of the Ohio Star blocks. The quilt finished at 42" square.   It would be easy to make a much larger quilt from this d...

After receiving positive feedback for my 'Dashing Hearts' quilt, I have put together a pattern that will be available on Craftsy . IIt may look complicated, but it is a fairly quick project.  I completed the quilt, including the quilting in about a week. I am excited, but a little anxious, as this is completely outside my experience and comfort zone.  Below are a few photos. The quilt finishes at 36 inches square. It incorporates some of my favourite things - Churn Dash blocks, yo yos, and applique.   I was able to incorporate an on-point central block.  This is something I haven't tried before. Making the quilt was such fun!  I used Moda Fig Tree fabrics.

I am happy to have finished my Summer Wall hanging.  The quilting on this is a little boring with crosshatch in the centre and stippling in the outer border, but I wanted the applique to be the star.  I thinkthe effect is what I was after, but it was a big yawn to quilt.  I have an idea for an autumn coloured wall hanging and I hope the quilting will be more interesting on this one.  I'm not sure when I'll be able to start it...not for three weeks at least.  Happy quilting!

Making slow progress. Lots of embroidery to do - tendrils, bird feet and bird eyes...but the sun is shining, so no contest! It is looking a little sorry for itself, as I've handled it so much while hand appliqueing. Once embroidery is done, I will launder it before adding the wadding and backing. Happy quilting, all!

A long time ago, I attempted to make the Flowering Urn Quilt by Rosemary Makhan.  Unfortunately, I did not have the skills and I gave up.  It isn't like me to give up on a quilt, but at the time, it was easier to put it in the bottom of a storage box and forget it. I want to have a different wall hanging for each season of the year - to hang in my sitting room.  I have a Spring and a Christmas wall hanging, so summer and autumn to go.  I love the Flowering Urn pattern, but don't have room on my wall for the whole quilt, so will just add two borders to the centre block and it should fit just great. I decided I would hand applique the quilt.  Sometimes it is nice to be able to sit and be sociable while sewing.  Although I have done some hand applique over the past two years, I had never appliqued onto a piece 30 inches square before.  I didn't realise it would be tricky to sew on such a large piece of fabric.  I think in future, I will think t...

I have finally managed to finish a couple of quilts over the last couple of weeks. The first is an old embroidered tablecloth.  I started quilting this one last October.  Initially the quilting was done using a matching Wedgewood coloured thread.  I found that the quilting underwhelming and the motifs were very difficult to see, despite using two layers of batting - one layer of Hobbs Tuscany wool and Hobbs Polydown.  What did I learn?  I should have used trapunto!  The two layers did not allow the quilting to 'pop'.  I used a dense scribble stitch as background quilting.  I found that the coarse weave of the linen top made it difficult to get the effect I wanted.  I put the quilt away for 5 months, but I HATE giving up on a project.  I finished the quilting and used Jacquard Fabric Paint and Derwent Inktense pencils to colour the motifs. I used a different finish at the edges.  I folded the backing cotton to give a quarter inch h...

I managed to get Sutton Grange sandwiched with Hobbs Tuscan Wool and a white on cream cotton backing.  All the stitch in the ditch is done, so now the fun starts.  FMQ is my favourite part of making a quilt.  I haven't managed to get too far, as yet, but have started adding feathers to the melon pieces.  Happy quilting, all!

Despite still suffering with a hacking cough, I have managed to get the last border on my Sutton Grange quilt.  I am not adding the final cable border, as the quilt would be too big to fit in my hanging space.  62 inches is the maximum size I have for hanging - between two wall lights. It has been so much fun.  Hand applique is SO relaxing and portable.  Now I need to think about how I am going to quilt this.  It is a 'busy' quilt, so there isn't enough room for large quilting motifs. Lots to think about! Happy quilting, all!

I am making slow progress with Di Ford's Sutton Grange.  I haven't had the greatest start to 2016.  I lost my beloved little dog in January.  Sewing has been slow due to decorating and more recently two weeks of flu.  I managed to finish the drunkard's path border. I'm really enjoying appliqueing melons for the next border.  One side is done...three to go. Happy quilting, all!

My dear little dog, Monty passed away last Friday.  He was 13 and a half years old and had been on medication for his heart for the past two years.  I don't feel like sewing at the moment.  Here is a little thread painting I did of him a year ago, followed by a couple of photos of him taken when he was in his prime.   He was a real character and is very much missed.

I bought the Sutton Grange pattern from the Petra Prins stand at the Festival of Quilts last August, but have only now started working on it.  I have decided to try not to buy and new quilting cotton in 2016 - or more realistically, I will only buy a metre when I have used 5 metres.  That's the plan. Di Ford's pattern calls for broderie perse in the centre of the medallion and around the dresden plate.  I did try a couple of motifs from my stash, but wasn't happy.  In the end, I painted a stylised rose onto white cotton, using Derwent Inktense and Jacquard gold metallic textile paint.  I repeated a smaller version in each of the four corners of the second border.  Once the paint was set permanently, I appliqued the roses to the quilt.  I used some half inch hexagons to replace the broderie perse around the dresden plate.I've had fun adding some beads and French knots to the flowers. I haven't really done much needle turn applique in the past ye...