My latest finish and how i made it

I’m going away for the weekend (tell you more later) and needed a thread catcher, this is what I made.

Like it?  I made it from scraps, the blue fabric with the flowers and insects is one of the first fabrics I ever bought in 2001.  I love those buttons.

It was quilted with concentric circles.

But I’m going with my friend Jan and she hasn’t got time to make one……………

Number 2, again made from scraps, this one with fabric given to me by Jan, so her choices really.  This is how I made this one.

I layered two 12 inch squares, right sides together, on a piece of wadding and stitched around the edges with a 1/4 inch seam leaving a 3-4 inch gap for turning. 

  I like to make my gap generous so it’s easier to turn but before I did I trimmed the edges level and snipped the corners.

After stitching closed the gap and pressing flat I was ready for the quilting.  I did this one with a 1/2 inch grid, nothing fancy, just up and down, side to side.  But I forgot to take a pic, sorry.

All I did to stitch it together was to fold each side in half and measure 2 1/2 inches up and across from fold, mark and stitch.

Here it is now.   When it is made up the quilting appears on the diagonal. 

Flatten those corner pockets and stitch them down, you can turn it either way if you would prefer pockets on the outside.   Turn down the points and secure with a button. 

 I found these buttons in my sewing box which are miniature coloured cotton reels.

Easy, and quick to make, but remember that 1/2 inch grid?  Well it was about 23 lines up and another 23 lines across, 46 starts and 46 stops, 92 in total and each having a top and a bottom thread, 184 threads to bury.  I do them all individually and it took well over 2 hours, so you may want to quilt it differently.  Looks good though.
There is a tutorial at Seaside Stitches, at  Freemotion By The River, Connie makes hers slightly differently.   Someone at a class I attended last year had one and told me how to make it.  It seems to be one of those patterns that get passed around, no one knows where they come from or who made the first one and they vary slightly, mine has pockets which can be on the inside or the outside.

I won’t be around from Friday lunchtime, I am going to Higham Hall in the beautiful Lake District in North-west England.  Built in around 1800 it was a stately home and later on a youth hostle, then a girls residential school.  It has been an adult residential college for over 30 years and does all different kinds of courses from history to jazz.  This weekend I am doing embroidery.  I have been here several times, I will continuing my ongoing project.

I made a cover which goes around the sides to stop it getting dirty from my hands, it leaves the back uncovered too.

 This is the pic I took of my teachers, she had just finished it.  It speaks for itself.

 Closer details.

This is by a classmate.

I am so looking forward to a great weekend.  I hope you enjoy yours, whatever you will be doing.

Linking up with Freemotion by the River, Let's Bee Social, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict, My Quilt Infatuation Quilting is more fun than Housework (TGIFF) Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? , Crazy Mom Quilts

Until next time

Smiles from

Kate

Binding tools, wadding, and a favourite quilt

I’m not sure if I can do the linky thing next Friday as I am away for the weekend, I can't give you a hint as I need to take a pic but I'll  post about it next time.  If you want to find out about it just come visit next week, or, follow me, that way you won’t miss it.  I’d love it if you did, although I get a lot (to me) of hits linking up I’ve only a few followers (so sad) and it would be great to think I wasn’t just throwing my words into the universe (as wonderful as it is).

It would help if I had buttons like Bloglovin but I haven’t worked out how to add them, and I would so love to, if anyone has an idiots guide I would be very grateful, and it would make the linky thing easier too.

BUT…… what I wanted to share was, I got a free gift with I Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine issue 31, a binding tool.  I hadn’t used one before, so I searched on You tube and found a video, as you do.  So, I watched it a couple of times and gave it a go.   

Stopping and starting the demo, careful I did it right, I cut it…… and it was too short!!!  Disaster, I had to unpick some of my binding and add some more, awkward as it was attached to the quilt.  Not to be beat I tried again, this time following the, brief, instructions on the binding tool, success!  It was easier to use too as the instructions were the same for both ends.  

So I wanted to warn you all, there may be different types of binding tools out there, which may work differently, follow the instructions, not You Tube unless you know it is the same one.  It was great by the way, and I’ll definitely use it again, but next time maybe remember to take some pics (blush).

I used a different wadding for the group quilt I just posted about on Finish Number 3, Quilters Dream Cotton Natural Request,  It was ok in that the finished quilt looks good, and it seemed ok as I was using it, EXCEPT, I started to notice little bits of fluff on the surface of the quilt.  These increased in number, and there was more around the needle, my machine is so dirty, and I had cleaned it just before I started the quilting when I changed the needle over.  

I’ve never had this before, so I wanted to ask has anyone else had this happen?  I don't really like to judge a wadding with just one use, and I know lots of quilters like it.   I usually use Warm and Natural which I love for machine quilting, but I haven’t experienced others which may be better, or more suitable for other projects.  What is your favourite wadding, and why?

The other thing I wanted you to check out is a tutorial by Chris on fixing broken stitches in your quilts, she has a theory which makes total sense, check it out on her blog madebychrissied.

Sorry for the lack of pics, to rectify this Here is my single bed sampler quilt which I am giving to my sister to go with the bed I’m giving her.  I won’t have any further need of it as I won’t have any single beds, and I love the colours on this quilt.

More advancde than my first sampler quilt which you can see on How my journey began.

Love this block

This was the one that drove me mad, I think it’s called Night and Day

Forgot to tell you, the quilting was done by Aileen at Border Quilts at Eyemouth on the Scottish borders on her longarm.  You didn't really think I'd done it did you?

Thank you for reading me, and remember to follow me, you can find me on a Bloglovin search, smilesfromkate.

If not I will be here next week, shouting my words to the universe.

Lining up with  TGIFF (Celtic Stitches),  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts.

Smiles and giggles, 

Kate

Edit  Just to let you know Blogger changed my settings turning me into a no reply blogger.  Sorry if you have tried to contact me in the past, it has now been changed.

Finish Number 3 and progress update

Yes!  It’s finished, my group quilt for which I made two blocks, trimmed, fudged, and stitched the blocks together, sashed, layered, quilted and bound.  As I did so much of the work I am claiming at as a finish.  What do you think?

Circle of Friends made for Paula, 50 x 40 inches, quilted with concentric circles, half inch quilting in the borders.  The backing was chosen by the group as it is one of Paula’s favourite colours and it was also used in the borders.  It is 567 Hearts, The Henley Studio Makower UK.  Jan from the group made a lovely matching label, which reads: 

For Paula

Made with Love

By the “Special Smarties”

2016

xxx

We were originally two groups, the ‘Smarties’ and the ‘Special Needs’ but as numbers dwindled we joined together as the ‘Special Smarties”

And this is where I spent the morning hand stitching the binding, and some of the, what seemed like hundreds, of threads to be buried. If I'd finished it yesterday I would have taken the pics earlier when it was bright but now it's cloudy.

I thought it might be fun to make a list of my WIP and UFO, too.  In my book a WIP is something you are working on now and a UFO is something which has been temporarily abandoned, temporarily as in not worked on for up to X many years but something you mean to finish one day.

Work in Progress

Sticks and Stones - needs quilting

Little House in the Woods (log cabin) — needs layered and quilting

City Lights - needs layered and quilting

Ugly Christmas Sweaters - needs almost everything done barely started

Elephant and I - Cut out, needs the background strips stitched together and paper piecing finished

Several mug rugs and coasters in various stages of completion

UFO’s

Wedding ring quilt, some of the rings are made but needs a LOT of work.  I don’t like the background fabric and as I’m making it by hand it takes forever.

Lanterns Quilt - the blocks are in various stages of completion.  I was seduced by a layer cake, I am now luke warm about it and dislike the other fabrics included.

Baltimore - I think it was a case of too much hand appliqué and going through an iffy stage in my quilting journey.  

I am sure there are more, as I am changing and reorganising my sewing room they will be unearthed named and shamed, or discarded.

To everyone who asked after Indi she is down to five tablets a day from tomorrow and is improving, much more like her old self.  She is due to see the neurologist in a few days for blood tests.  I’ll let you know how she gets on.

Ella has been cut, I forgot how small she is without all the hair.  I think she likes it as she thinks she’s a puppy again.

Linking up with Freemotion by the River,  Lets Bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, TGIFF (Celtic Stitches), Confessions of a Fabric Addict,  and Crazy mom quilts

Until next time

Smiles from

Kate 

Edit  Just to let you know Blogger changed my settings turning me into a no reply blogger.  Sorry if you have tried to contact me in the past, it has now been changed.

Progress has been made…….

Yes, a definite improvement on last week.  Although I desperately wanted to start quilting my sticks and stones quilt which is already layered what I HAD to do is finish the quilt top for the group quilt.   As it was my suggestion to make it, it was taken as read I would be the one to put the blocks together, do the borders, layer, quilt, and bind it.

The lovely Jan has made the label, stitched by hand and decorated with two appliqué hearts.  Jan does wonderful hand appliqué, I must try and show you a pic sometime.

This is my progress so far.  The process reminded me how difficult it is to make a quilt from the blocks of several different people.  It seems we all have different ideas of a 1/4 inch seam and the blocks ranged from 12 inches, to 13 1/4 inches.  I admit I took out a  ‘couple’ or so seams and redid them and I had to fudge it a bit, but the end product is fine and the most important thing is we all contributed.  I had a bit of trouble with the circular quilting and so am taking some out but it should be finished next week for our group meeting when I will hand it over for a couple of the other girls to deliver.

On a good note my little Indi is recovering from her recent illness.  She does love my rocking chair.  This was taken before she took ill, you can tell how stressed she gets.

Indi is down from 13 tablets a day to 7, and in another week it will be 5.  The treatment for meningitis in dogs is antibiotics for two weeks and steroids for about 6 months so it will be quite a while yet but at least she is doing well and more like her normal self.

My other dog Ella is being cut today and we just found out the lady who we booked is the owner of the dog who won Cruffts this year (the most prestigious dog show in the UK), most impressive, hope she has a magic wand.  This shows Ella quite nicely but in reality she has and extremely thick long coat which tats up, and does she moult!

Linking up with Freemotion by the River,  Lets Bee Social, My Quilt Infatuation, Anja Quilts, Can I get a Whoop Whoop, and Crazy Mom Quilts

Until next time

Smiles from

Kate 

It’s been one of those weeks.

Do you ever have weeks when you want to sew, you even need to sew, but somehow your head and your body seem disconnected, and somehow very little gets done (if anything at all)?

Well, thats the kind of week I’ve had.  I thought about it a lot, I knew what I wanted to do, but very little has actually been done.

The blocks from the group quilt I have been organising as a gift to one of our members who is unwell are waiting to be stitched together, layered, quilted, and bound ( I need it finished in just over two weeks).

Just one Ugly Christmas Sweater made, but I changed the bottom and it hasn’t worked so I have to redo it……….sigh……

The Sticks and Stones quilt is layered, but as yet unquilted.

All I can show you is my Antique Flower Garden quilt.  This was a block a month quilt I made a few years ago, and I must say it was great fun.  The anticipation of waiting for the envelope to come through the door, the excitement of seeing what blocks I was making that month, all the different fabrics, lots that I wouldn’t normally buy.

As you can see there is roughly a 50/50 split of appliqué and pieced blocks, and a small number of appliqué flowers in the borders which takes the plainness away without being overpowering. 

Although the pieced blocks are mainly simple enough for a beginner the challenge was often accuracy with seam allowances with so many seams to be out a couple of threads could mean being out up to a 1/4 inch in the finished block.

There were some very small pieces for needle turn appliqué although it could have been done with heat and bond.

Although I enjoyed it very much I am unlikely to do another block a month, (unless it was Jen Kingwell).  Why?  Well, I found the company to be very mean with the fabric they sent, I had very few scraps left, which of course meant if I made a mistake I would have had to request more fabric.  Twice the appliqué background hadn’t been cut square, it was only about an inch bigger than the block size so I wouldn’t have been able to square it up myself.  Both times I had to send back the complete kit at my expense so they could change the piece of fabric concerned, they didn’t seem very happy about it either.  

However the main reason is my quilting style has changed so much over the years.  I've done traditional, I’ve done Baltimore, I used to LOVE japenese taupes, but now I love COLOUR, I love BRIGHTS and I am still searching in my quest to find my own quilting style, be it modern or traditional or a mix of both, it just needs to be a reflection of me, and where I am in my life in this moment.

How has your style changed over the years?  Have you found your own style, and is there any advice you can give me on finding mine?

Linking up with Freemotion by the River and  Let's Bee Social,  My Quilt Infatuation,  Crazy Mom Quilts,  Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? and TGIFF

Until next time,

Smiles from

Kate

  

City Lights from Oakshott

Quilting is like waiting for a bus, you wait for ages and then THREE finished quilt tops all at once.  Yes, I kid you not they are as follows:

1  Little House in the Woods 

Thank you so much to everyone who gave me advice on the quilting, I really appreciate it.  I think I replied to everyone but if I missed you please accept my apologies.  I have decided to hold off on the quilting until I have done…….

2 Sticks and stones

I made two extra blocks and added another row.  As you can see there are lots and lots of blocks of all shapes and sizes, great for practicing on before I tackle the Christmas quilt above, which I love.  The only thing is I haven’t quilted with sunglasses on before………

3 City Lights

This is the most lovely quilt, and I know the pics don’t do it justice.  The fabric is Oakshott 100% mercerised shot cottons, Lipari fat eighths  with a colourshott charm pack for the centres.  

It is the most beautiful fabric.  The lipari appears a little heavier than normal quilting fabric, and it seems to shine and shimmer, changing colour with the light and the warp  and weft are different colours.   It is expensive fabric although Oakshott fabrics are widder than normal at 54 inches. To give some perspective in the UK I pay about £12 per metre for Moda, for Oakshott fabrics the price varies but Lipari is £21. 95 per metre, although this appears to be their most expensive range.  I purchased a kit about four years ago, to buy it now would be £75, a lot for a quilt only 47 inches square.  Is it worth it? 

Oh yes, but only for something, or someone special.  This quilt is to be a gift to a special person in my life.

Yes, I’m on a roll.  I have also cut out the first five blocks for the Ugly Christmas Sweaters quilt along at Sew Fresh Quilts.  

As some of my sweaters will be plain Christmas fabric I am making these first.  I do need more fabric but haven’t found the right ones yet but this will make a good start for the 16 block version.  

Do you ever have those weeks when everything conspires against you?  Well I’m not just having a bad week, I’m having a bad year.  Do you ever loose things?  I do, now and again, but here is my list since Christmas:

1 Dovo scissors

2 6 inch ruler

3 My favourite thimble, silver and a gift from a friend.

4 Not one, not two, but today makes three unpickers

5 The battery from my camera, this has turned up today, where? In the charger, even though it was obviously the first place I checked as I’d just charged it.

6 The memory card reader

I am hoping the thimble turns up, that’s the one that makes me sad, but, I’m sure I heard something fall behind the bookcase a few weeks ago, I just need several hours and a bit more energy to remove all the books and move it.  Other than that I’m seriously going senile.

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts  Freemotion by the River, Quilter in the Closet, My Quilt Infatuation,  Crazy Mom Quilts,  Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? and TGIFF

Smiling and laughing to myself (yes, it’s another sign I know)

Kate

Challenge update

It's time for the second check in for the 100 Day Challenge set by Jen at Quilter in the Closet.  We were asked to pick 3 specific quilt/craft goals to complete in the timescale so to recap, my items were:

1. Stop procrastinating and start a blog.  
2. Quilt and finish my Sugar and Spice quilt.
3. Finish the piecing, quilt and bind my Sticks and Stones quilt.

So, how did I get on?

Well, as to the first you are reading me today.  The blog went live on the 25th of January and this is post number 8.  I’m posting once a week or so just now and will post more often if I have something to say, like today.  It's good fun, and I have a few followers already, on Google and Bloglovin Whoopee !!!

The second is done, the FMQ was challenging to say the least and just now the only real pattern in my repertoire  is my loopy swirls.  I make no apologies, remember where FMQ is concerned I work on the “blind man and galloping horse’ principle and so it looks great.  I posted a pic last week but just in case you missed it………..

If you would like to see more detail check out last weeks post.

Number three, well I sorted it out and here comes the but, I  have somehow lost a couple of blocks, however the good news is I have enough scraps to make more.  It was going to have borders but I think the fabrics are too busy so it will end up 40 x 50.  This is what I have so far.  Bright, yes, colourful, I would agree with that, but I just went off it while making it, probably because it's not the kind of patterned fabrics I would normally use.  However, it makes a great quilt for practicing FMQ, Yes?

It's  Mother's Day this Sunday in the UK but my daughter Caryne lives about five hours away and my son who normally lives and works in London (so I wouldn't see him anyway) as a fraud manager is at a big conference in Vegas so I doubt I will even get a phone call.  If anyone is there and sees a tall handsome man called Chris with sapphire blue eyes please give him a hug from me.

However, this is what came in the post this week.

Haven’t I got lovely children?  And doesn’t Amazons wish list come in handy?  Works better for me than flowers by post.

Linking up with Quilter in the Closet, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Crazy Mom Quilts

Until next time

Smiles from

Kate