Patchwork and Crochet!

Posted on 22 May, 2015 by patchworkfairy

Finally finished binding the new baby quilt I posted about last week so I can now return to making blocks for the quilt I am doing at my patchwork course on Mondays. So far I’ve only done a Dresden plate and half of along cabin! If you are not a quilter you won’t know what I mean so next week I will be including some pictures of the finished blocks and their names! The other project I am making is a cotton crochet blanket for the baby. I loved the colours in my vintage rose bouquet so much I thought I would crochet a blanket based on the Japanese Flower pattern I used for my mum’s scarf in this post. Here below is a pic of the flowers and the first two flower motifs.

My mothers’ day flower bouquet

First two motifs

The motifs won’t sew up into straight lines but as it will be used in July it should be ok to be a ‘ holey’ sort of blanket!

As well as making things I am still mulling over the course I recently completed – the same one Vicky did – as yet I am unsure as to which direction I want to go forward with my Folksy and Etsy shops – in terms of what I make so I am not adding anything yo them until I make my decision. It does make my shops look rather forlorn though with only a few items for sale. However it’s worth taking time to get things right and I do have a new granddaughter on the way so need to make things for her!!

link up with handmade Monday

Using a Seam Ripper – aka Frogging!

Posted on 10 May, 2015 by patchworkfairy

I’ve really enjoyed making the ’round the world’ pram quilt and am finally at the binding stage. I had to look at a you tube video again to remind myself about making mitred corners – can’t seem to retain any information on how to do things like that any more! I also made a lot of use of my seam ripper – aka frogging! Rip it Rip it Rip it! Here is the quilt just before binding.

Round the World Pram Quilt

I decided not to over quilt it and just do some heart shaped lines in the middle with straight lines round the outside. The centre heart is made using variegated quilting thread and an embroidery stitch, whilst the overlapping hearts are in delicate Aurifil thread.

Despite using the seam ripper rather a lot I still have some points not matching! The worst thing though was sewing a whole strip of pink spotty border on wrong way up! And of course it was the last one and so just when I was about to stop for the night grrrrr. This is why it’s often better to stop when you’re tired rather than keep going to try and finnish things! Whilst I was frogging away I remembered the blog post I read somewhere about using seam rippers correctly and how amazed the writer was that they had used it incorrectly for years. It was quite funny because I had inadvertently realised there was a better way to use them only a few months before I read the blog post but I thought it was just me being silly – never thought other people might be using it the wrong way too!

So, how do you use yours? If you pick at the seam, breaking the thread every few stitches, and pulling out sections bit by bit, as I used to do, you will be amazed to find there is a much faster way to frog! I have tried to take a picture of how it should be used but it was quite hard to get it to clearly show the action. Basically you hold the seam vertically in your two hands and then run the ripper downwards between the two pieces of fabric, – parting the seam easily and quickly. It can be tricky to hold the fabric and use the ripper, but once you get in position it’s fab!

Pushing the ripper vertically down the seam

If you’ve never tried it like this you’ll be so excited you’ll be hoping you make a mistake just to hear the satisfying riiiippppppyyyyy noise!😃

I’m linking up with Handmade Monday again at Lucy a Blossom Crafts now!

April 2015 ATC Swap – “Home”

Posted on 3 May, 2015 by patchworkfairy

April has been a mixed month! I’ve been trying to complete things for my new granddaughter’s arrival whilst also taking part in the Very Berry Handmade April 2015 ATC swap – “Home”. It’s too late to join in this one but if you fancy the idea just keep a look out on the blog for the next one, probably in about 2-3 months. April is my birthday month and we went to South Wales for a few days which rather slowed me up completing my ATC, especially as after a fabulous few days I went and tripped full length on the car park during a rest stop on the way home! My arms took most of the fall and luckily I don’t seem to have set my sciatica off again but – honestly – I am a danger to myself!!

Firstly let me show you my ATC – the theme was “Home” and so quite open to interpretation. After a ~~short~~ ridiculously long ‘think’ I decided that I am very happy at home when sitting in front of the window in my craft room, sewing, with a large mug of tea at my side! I hope my swap partner likes it!

my ideal day at home!

As I said, it was also my birthday at the end of this month and so I enjoyed myself whilst watching Create and Craft one day by spending some birthday money (thanks Mum!) on this lovely book by Janet Clare. All the quilts and embroidery pieces are inspired by nature and it’s a very interesting read as well as really making me want to start one of the projects RIGHT NOW!!

Birthday Book

The book has all the information for making your own mixed media art pieces as well as quilts. There are plenty of instructions, such as for ageing fabric and for applique work and also lots of templates to use as you wish. Two of the quilts which I really want to attempt first are the “Joys of Spring” and “Nature’s Beauties

Joys of Spring Quilt

I thought I would make my own version of the nature quilt and this spring season is a good time to start taking some photos for my ideas. The garden has bluebells growing just now so I think they would make a lovely pretty applique!

Well now I am linking up with Handmade Monday at Lucy Blossom Crafts and I’ve just remembered that I need to finish my HM ATC and send it to Lucy, I wonder how many she has received yet?!!