... and still I stitch... (in praise of letting projects languish)

A few weeks ago I pulled my " Labour of Love" hexagon quilt out of hibernation to take to a Quilt Along at my LQS. I was looking for some ideas as to how I could start transitioning to the borders on my quilt. I had kicked a few ideas around before, but this time I came to the conclusion that this was indeed going to require more hexagons (ohhhh! nooo!)

So I've cut 48 more templates from freezer paper,ironed them on, basted and resumed whip stitching. And you know what? I'm enjoying myself! Which just goes to show - when good projects get stalled - just let them hibernate - percolate and lo and behold - they rejuvenate!

... and still I stitch... (in praise of letting projects languish)

A few weeks ago I pulled my " Labour of Love" hexagon quilt out of hibernation to take to a Quilt Along at my LQS. I was looking for some ideas as to how I could start transitioning to the borders on my quilt. I had kicked a few ideas around before, but this time I came to the conclusion that this was indeed going to require more hexagons (ohhhh! nooo!)

So I've cut 48 more templates from freezer paper,ironed them on, basted and resumed whip stitching. And you know what? I'm enjoying myself! Which just goes to show - when good projects get stalled - just let them hibernate - percolate and lo and behold - they rejuvenate!

My Hometown...

This quilt is from Quiltmania Magazine Summer Special 2012. It's rated as a 1 spool project and has 2 basic blocks - one of which includes applique which I am currently learning. The applique consists of 4 petals - so I can work on my curves and points. I am doing them by hand. The quilt also has some basic stitching around the petals with embroidery floss.

For fabrics I did have to purchase a few fat eights to add to my stash (which I think is growing at an alarming rate considering I only have 2 finished quilts under my belt and I am a "newbie").

Thus far I think this is a great project for me because of the portable applique aspect (for both travelling and watching TV) as well as speed of the machine for doing other blocks.

Everyone has an opinion or idea or tip on ways to make the process easier or more precise. Because there are 25 blocks consisting of 4 petals each, I've been exploring different techniques. I originally had the freezer paper petals ironed on top of the fabric. The advantage was they were easy to peel off when done - the disadvantage was they were usually half peeled off before I was done. I have now reapplied them to the wrong side of the fabric and this makes for a crisper edge for my needle turning. I'm also adding a wee swipe of Elmer's glue at the petal point to help make a sharp point. This works great - but the downside is trying to pull out the freezer paper! This book Applique 12 Easy Ways by Elly Sienkiewicz is a great primer with lots of clear easy to understand directions - and lots of how to pictures. My third technique may be the marking technique described below - I just need to ensure the marker comes off...

I'm also watching lots of You Tube videos. There are a few by the Piece O' Cake duo Becky Goldsmith and  Linda Jenkins. Here's a fairly lengthy one - there are shorter ones on YouTube as well.

In the meantime I've also cut my squares and rectangles for the other block and border. I've been taking this project to my LQS Quilt Alongs which I am enjoying immensely. I get my own big table, it's nice and bright and everyone is friendly. I like the social aspect and since I'm a bit of a social butterfly and distract easily - a basic easy sew - no math project is a good choice.

Happy Stitching!

My Hometown...

This quilt is from Quiltmania Magazine Summer Special 2012. It's rated as a 1 spool project and has 2 basic blocks - one of which includes applique which I am currently learning. The applique consists of 4 petals - so I can work on my curves and points. I am doing them by hand. The quilt also has some basic stitching around the petals with embroidery floss.

For fabrics I did have to purchase a few fat eights to add to my stash (which I think is growing at an alarming rate considering I only have 2 finished quilts under my belt and I am a "newbie").

Thus far I think this is a great project for me because of the portable applique aspect (for both travelling and watching TV) as well as speed of the machine for doing other blocks.

Everyone has an opinion or idea or tip on ways to make the process easier or more precise. Because there are 25 blocks consisting of 4 petals each, I've been exploring different techniques. I originally had the freezer paper petals ironed on top of the fabric. The advantage was they were easy to peel off when done - the disadvantage was they were usually half peeled off before I was done. I have now reapplied them to the wrong side of the fabric and this makes for a crisper edge for my needle turning. I'm also adding a wee swipe of Elmer's glue at the petal point to help make a sharp point. This works great - but the downside is trying to pull out the freezer paper! This book Applique 12 Easy Ways by Elly Sienkiewicz is a great primer with lots of clear easy to understand directions - and lots of how to pictures. My third technique may be the marking technique described below - I just need to ensure the marker comes off...

I'm also watching lots of You Tube videos. There are a few by the Piece O' Cake duo Becky Goldsmith and  Linda Jenkins. Here's a fairly lengthy one - there are shorter ones on YouTube as well.

In the meantime I've also cut my squares and rectangles for the other block and border. I've been taking this project to my LQS Quilt Alongs which I am enjoying immensely. I get my own big table, it's nice and bright and everyone is friendly. I like the social aspect and since I'm a bit of a social butterfly and distract easily - a basic easy sew - no math project is a good choice.

Happy Stitching!

Basting is done...

Good morning! I've been hard at work with my hexagons. I have basted the edges of 112 in all. I'm not sure if I want this project to be much larger than a lap sized throw and I didn't have a clue how many hexxies I required so I decided to lay them out to get an idea of where I was at.

I trialed the actual "daisy hex" look (above) which I thought might be a nice way to highlight the little motifs, but after looking at the pictures I thought it looked a bit cheesy so I reconsidered.

I also had thought about adding another colour to the mix to punch it up a bit - but the red flattened it out instead.  I think the black gives it the just the right amount of depth / contrast I need.  In looking at this now I think it might be great option for making an "I Spy" type quilt - hmmmm - future plans?

It took about 1 and a 1/2 hours (plus one beer) to get things where I wanted them.  I've labelled and re-bagged my hexxies and will start to whip stitch them into strips...

This weekend I'm off to a quilt festival for a bit of "walk & awe" inspiration. Day 1: I'm going with my mom. Day 2: with some friends. It's been raining and cloudy off and on all week - but the skies are clear and blue this morning. The goddess of quilty goodness is smiling down on all of us!

Basting is done...

Good morning! I've been hard at work with my hexagons. I have basted the edges of 112 in all. I'm not sure if I want this project to be much larger than a lap sized throw and I didn't have a clue how many hexxies I required so I decided to lay them out to get an idea of where I was at.

I trialed the actual "daisy hex" look (above) which I thought might be a nice way to highlight the little motifs, but after looking at the pictures I thought it looked a bit cheesy so I reconsidered.

I also had thought about adding another colour to the mix to punch it up a bit - but the red flattened it out instead.  I think the black gives it the just the right amount of depth / contrast I need.  In looking at this now I think it might be great option for making an "I Spy" type quilt - hmmmm - future plans?

It took about 1 and a 1/2 hours (plus one beer) to get things where I wanted them.  I've labelled and re-bagged my hexxies and will start to whip stitch them into strips...

This weekend I'm off to a quilt festival for a bit of "walk & awe" inspiration. Day 1: I'm going with my mom. Day 2: with some friends. It's been raining and cloudy off and on all week - but the skies are clear and blue this morning. The goddess of quilty goodness is smiling down on all of us!

The Hex- athon...

I've been making loads of these little hexagons (actually by some standards I think they're pretty big - 2 inch sides) and I've got quite a stack building. I'm impressed at how quickly the basting is going now that I've developed a bit of a "production line".

Because I do most of my sewing in the evening - I find it a bit daunting to thread the wee size 9 sharps I'm using. I had read somewhere that it was handy to pre-thread a number of needles onto a single thread and then pull them off as needed.

I was quite delighted to discover that I can thread 16 of these little beggars lickety split in natural light (I'm talking a minute or two).

I then wind them back onto the spool of thread and secure them. And there we go. I pull them off individually with a length of thread ( one arm's length bastes 2 hexagons). Since I usually make 6 - 8 hexagons per night - there's no need to worry about threading needles!

 I'm using a Royale Hare brass support spindle to hold the spool. It's heavy and the thread spins off nicely. 

Last but not least - everything packs up in a couple of decorative tins and sits nicely ready for use at anytime...

The Hex- athon...

I've been making loads of these little hexagons (actually by some standards I think they're pretty big - 2 inch sides) and I've got quite a stack building. I'm impressed at how quickly the basting is going now that I've developed a bit of a "production line".

Because I do most of my sewing in the evening - I find it a bit daunting to thread the wee size 9 sharps I'm using. I had read somewhere that it was handy to pre-thread a number of needles onto a single thread and then pull them off as needed.

I was quite delighted to discover that I can thread 16 of these little beggars lickety split in natural light (I'm talking a minute or two).

I then wind them back onto the spool of thread and secure them. And there we go. I pull them off individually with a length of thread ( one arm's length bastes 2 hexagons). Since I usually make 6 - 8 hexagons per night - there's no need to worry about threading needles!

 I'm using a Royale Hare brass support spindle to hold the spool. It's heavy and the thread spins off nicely. 

Last but not least - everything packs up in a couple of decorative tins and sits nicely ready for use at anytime...

A new project in process...

Okay - so my last quilting "gift" (in which I try to bring the kids over to the "traditional Christmas Stocking darkside") was a complete bust. Being somewhat miffed (understatement all around) I went into quilt hibernation for the rest of the winter.

But now with spring coming up - and my interest in woolly projects on the wane - I've started to look for a portable cotton sewing project that I can work on in front of the boob tube. In need of a little stash enhancement I headed to my LQS (? is that what they call local quilt stores?) for some inspiration. I had planned on actually going to find a magazine and returned with some great fat quarters instead! (surprise surprise!)

This fat quarter bundle isn't traditionally my colour palette - somewhat subdued, but the little fabric piece with pictures caught my attention and I was suddenly transported back to a really comfy memory in my childhood.

My mom has always been a sewist (for more on this controversial term go here). Long rolls of fabric spread out across the floor and kitchen table, pins tucked into her shirt or pursed between lips as she places pattern pieces on the fold line. Checking the bias. Removing - re-pinning - reexamining. Huge black-handled metal sheers. Always reminded to "step back" as she prepared the first cut. Deep breath. The cut. And now we are committed.

Sewing while children nap. Sewing after we went to bed. Sewing pants, and skirts and shirts. A baby blue cape for Easter, dance recital outfits with sequins and fringe. Halloween costumes. The annual flannel pj's for Christmas day. Raggedy Ann & Andy. Paddington Bear. And now she makes quilts.

So back to my little packet of fat eights. The good news? When I went to pay for it I was told "50% off"... OOOOO! Yippee! The bad news? "50% off" means "no more anywhere  -aka - discontinued." That put a damper on things. Checked online - Ebay - you name it nothing. So then I headed down the "okay how do I use this to my advantage?" trail...

Ta - da! I'm making a lap quilt. And I plan on learning how to paper piece it. I'm think of a hexagon daisy type pattern - whereby the centre of each large daisy will showcase one of the little vignettes in the panel piece.

One of the wonders of the internet is pretty much anything I need to know - I can find it. (I know - tell you something don't already know... right?)

But I did go to YouTube and found out that I'd like to try paper piecing. I went to Selfsewn to learn how to do Basic English paper piecing. I've joined the Big Hexagons QAL  and I'm busily printing out hexagons on freezer paper  (I got the template online from The Sometimes Quilter ).

(Note: Luckily after I did this picture I realized I needed the hexagons on the wrong side of the fabric).

(More to come shortly)

A new project in process...

Okay - so my last quilting "gift" (in which I try to bring the kids over to the "traditional Christmas Stocking darkside") was a complete bust. Being somewhat miffed (understatement all around) I went into quilt hibernation for the rest of the winter.

But now with spring coming up - and my interest in woolly projects on the wane - I've started to look for a portable cotton sewing project that I can work on in front of the boob tube. In need of a little stash enhancement I headed to my LQS (? is that what they call local quilt stores?) for some inspiration. I had planned on actually going to find a magazine and returned with some great fat quarters instead! (surprise surprise!)

This fat quarter bundle isn't traditionally my colour palette - somewhat subdued, but the little fabric piece with pictures caught my attention and I was suddenly transported back to a really comfy memory in my childhood.

My mom has always been a sewist (for more on this controversial term go here). Long rolls of fabric spread out across the floor and kitchen table, pins tucked into her shirt or pursed between lips as she places pattern pieces on the fold line. Checking the bias. Removing - re-pinning - reexamining. Huge black-handled metal sheers. Always reminded to "step back" as she prepared the first cut. Deep breath. The cut. And now we are committed.

Sewing while children nap. Sewing after we went to bed. Sewing pants, and skirts and shirts. A baby blue cape for Easter, dance recital outfits with sequins and fringe. Halloween costumes. The annual flannel pj's for Christmas day. Raggedy Ann & Andy. Paddington Bear. And now she makes quilts.

So back to my little packet of fat eights. The good news? When I went to pay for it I was told "50% off"... OOOOO! Yippee! The bad news? "50% off" means "no more anywhere  -aka - discontinued." That put a damper on things. Checked online - Ebay - you name it nothing. So then I headed down the "okay how do I use this to my advantage?" trail...

Ta - da! I'm making a lap quilt. And I plan on learning how to paper piece it. I'm think of a hexagon daisy type pattern - whereby the centre of each large daisy will showcase one of the little vignettes in the panel piece.

One of the wonders of the internet is pretty much anything I need to know - I can find it. (I know - tell you something don't already know... right?)

But I did go to YouTube and found out that I'd like to try paper piecing. I went to Selfsewn to learn how to do Basic English paper piecing. I've joined the Big Hexagons QAL  and I'm busily printing out hexagons on freezer paper  (I got the template online from The Sometimes Quilter ).

(Note: Luckily after I did this picture I realized I needed the hexagons on the wrong side of the fabric).

(More to come shortly)