Hello Everybody

We are still sweltering under the heatwave and it is just too hot to quilt. Even sewing can get sticky, and to that end, I have been sewing in the evening only so output has slowed a little. However, I have sewn some of my new quilt which is a design by Lynne Goldsworthy and was presented in Todays Quilter Magazine, it is called Best In Show but I think mine might be called Tranquil Palette or Migration (reference the Flying Geese). What do you think?

Anyhow let me show you my progress, here is where I was last time

Still proud of my geese!

Here is where I am now

One of the things that may have gone wrong is on the brown diamond border. I had the fabric doubled when I cut them out and I think that caused the design to lean either to the left or right. I am hoping to have enough of each to angle them around the border in some sort of uniform pattern. I haven’t sewn then in strips yet so we will have to wait and see..

Well that is all, so please take a peek at the other members of our group who all work on individual projects.

Oh just thought I would send a cheery picture of the rose I bought my husband when we were courting or stepping out. It is called Friendship. Do not you love the colour saturation of its petals and yes it is a very large flower. Not abundant with flowers but seven spectacular ones. It now deserves some food when this last bud wanes.

Bye for now

Daisy

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Deb, Karrin, Margaret and Daisy

Hello Everyone

Happy Litha to those who celebrate the Solstice. I’m not keen on large crowded spaces nowadays so you will not catch me at Stonehenge on such an occasion. I’ve visited Stonehenge twice but for other reasons, once when I was studying Archea0logy and the other time was just a holiday visit. I do love our history.

Anyhow I have been trying to push some boundaries with my sewing journey and have just made my first lot of “Flying Geese” blocks (56 in total) Here is a photo of the centrepiece surrounded by the geese. Also I paper pieced the centre and appliqued it to the backing fabric whilst keeping the papers in and then trimmed the backing fabric from the rear of the centre piece and removed the paper pieces.

This is not my design I am following a pattern that was in Todays Quilter Magazine and designed by Lynne Goldsworthy. from Lily’s Quilts. I have limited my colour pallet to cream brown and turquoise. I may have to change the design slightly as I might be short on some material but I can compromise. The border after the geese is plain cream on Lynne’s version but I wanted to use the patterned fabric as shown but not stitched yet (it will be 3″ wide

The stars are supposed to be foundation paper pieced (not attempted this yet either), but I have paper pieced them. I have also chosen to paper piece the diamond border and I might have to use a corner stone if my calculations are wrong as this is the one I’m short of fabric!!! A corner stone wouldn’t look out of place but it is not on the original design. I guess that a lot of people do change a design when they are making their quilt to put their stamp on it, so to speak. As long as it gives inspiration. Keeps the mojo going.

This is a photo of the ideas I have

Do you think that I need to put a thin 1 1/2″ border between the stars and diamonds or will the cream fabric already indicated be enough? I’m thinking border but i’m not totally convinced yet! Ideas welcome.

I was going to show you my quilted sewing machine cover but we have another heatwave in Old Blighty (UK) so quilting is a no-go, much better playing aound with small block pieces.

Well that is me, please take a peek at the other members projects

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Deb, Sharon, Karrin, Margaret and Daisy

Hi Everyone

A warm welcome back to Margaret.

Well what can I say, the wheels are well and truly off the bus. I have been diverted from the project I should be working on, and it is all down to my love of nature and a desire to expand my knowledge and try new things. I am definitely a Jack of All Trades and a Master of Nothing. What better definition of a young quilter (not in age but new to quilting – only 5 years max)

I should be working on, let me check the list for April’s selection ahh! Finish the Bag, Blanket and Book Sleeve Trio. Well not a stitch has flown that way. Instead I put the binding on the Mowgli Quilt which was on the list and then diverted my attention to this quilt = The Log Cabin Small Animals Quilt. It’s not my fault it just called to me. Well it is done now I have the backing and just need to choose how I am going to bind it.

And then this project jumped forward. A Raggedy Ruff Design. It is supposed to be a Christmas Tree Skirt but I just want it to be a wall hanging.

Okay so with a little imagination, the upper section is the christmas tree area, and then from left to right there will be two squirrels, badger, hare, and a fox all dressed in their Christmas Finery and decorating the tree.. I have just ironed the drawings on the freezer paper to the fabric which you then cut out, layering fabrics as required by the design. They are great designs for using up scraps. Detail is done by free motion quilting and therein lies my drawback, does anyone know whether the Old Singer 99K machine is able to drop its feed dogs. I don’t have a booklet with my machine.

That’s me for now,

Daisy

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Deb, Sharon, Karrin, Margaret and Daisy

Hi Everyone

How are we half way through February already!

Having sewn the Quilt top for the Red work Basket Quilt and I know that it is yet to be quilted, I have looked to other projects and whilst working on the chosen project which was finish or make progress with the Heartstrings Quilt by Natalie Bird and Create the “Sewing Machine Cover”, I started quilting one of the smaller lap quilts made using the tube method (as demonstrated by Kate of the Last Homely House).

Here are some photos to remind you …

I have quilted around the white star shape and then in the central box shapes and then around the outer edge. The backing fabric is from the same range but not being quite long enough I have added some of the pale fabric at either end. Now I have to decide whether to turn front to back and sew down or back to front and sew down as I do not have any more fabric from this range to make a binding. Bit of a cheat binding but it still looks nice and as this quilt has some imperfections i.e. points not meeting, etc etc, I like the imperfect perfect. And besides the quilt is just for me it is not a show quilt. I do not imagine at any stage of my quilting journey will I be a Show Quilt person. I try my best and learn from mistakes but mistakes are not the end of the world. I can work with them.

Anyhows, next 3 weeks I shall try and dedicate my time to Heartstrings and move her closer the finish line. !!!

Please now grab a beverage and pop along to the other members to see how they have fared these past 3 weeks.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Deb, Sharon, Karrin, and Daisy

Daisy

Hello Everyone

I thought I would catchup with you after the New Year etc. I have been quite industrious and for me a little bit organised. I actively didn’t make any promises or resolutions, I just made a list of all the projects I have started, half finished and ones not started but I would like to do very soon. It numbered 45. A lot, I know but I have them all numbered and put numbers in a cup and choose 2 projects per month to try and work systematically, not necessary complete but improve there status.

So the first item out of the pot was My Patchwork of the crosses lap quilt which I am happy to say is now quilted and awaiting me to sew the binding.

The corner blocks are some designs that I liked and had done first so I just added them in and sized the rest of the quilt to fit. I enjoyed this a lot.

The second item for January was my Knitted Scarf which is now finished. It is made with King Cole Fjord DK fair isle effect self patterning yarn in Tysse a sage green colour. I added a fringe to both ends. It’s very warm and can be used as a shawl over the shoulders. Wasn’t following any pattern just cast on a fair number of stitches (not sure how many) and knitted to desired length. Easy and relaxing whilst watching tv in the evenings with Hubby.

Here is a photo

So I am on track at the moment, I’m sure it will be derailed sometime. We quilters love starting something new..

February’s choice are No. 11 and No 32, Finish the Sewing Machine Cover and Finish the top of the Natilie Bird Quilt which I started September 23rd in 2023

I have done the Dresden blocks and sewed most of the small hexagons, so basically working on the centre design and the next two borders. I drew out all the designs with an iron transfer pen but some are faded now, and the pen doesn’t work anymore. Will have to use the Frixion Pen on these now.

If I remember correctly I am going to put pink circle in Dresden’s instead of an embroidery and just do the squares with embroideries. I always change something, do you alter a pattern to your taste?

Anyhow that is me done typing.

Bye for now

Daisy x

Hello

I have been busy sewing many different quilts as you all know if you have been reading my posts for a while now, I am one of those people who have lots of projects on the go at the same time. It’s just who I am.

Firstly and bit of a happy dance I have finished the quilt top for my Liberty Quilt. It did not come about with out some trauma. Here is a photo taken on my phone at my mothers house (mainly as I don’t have somewhere large enough to lay it out flat). Spot the obvious problem. (Yes one sashing row is up the wrong way.) Now a lot of sewing had been inputted in getting this far, nevertheless I gently cut the offending sashing blocks out(just the coloured ones), turned them around and resewed the line.

This is my first time using Liberty fabric and I love it – everything gels together nicely. I have some Liberty fabric for the backing which is going to be a pieced back and the batting is just waiting to be cut. Might have to do this down Mum’s.

The next item is going to a temperature quilt, and my intention is to use up some scraps as I am trying not to buy new material this year, and also to finish some of the quilts in my awaiting quilting pile.

The colours for the temperature quilt are purple, lilac, aqua, blue, green, yellow and orange if we get some super hot weather – not likely. I am doing half square triangles – one for the high temperature and one for the low. I have also decided to put special moons as a circle on top embroidered with the name i.e Wolf Moon Jan 13. Might also include mine and husband’s Birthday. It will help identify time of year without putting the actual month.

Well that is all for now

Daisy

Hello Everyone

I have been sewing some Christmas Projects, using the leftover fabric from my Christmas Quilt and a little bit from the quilting side of the Red Work Basket Quilt.

Here is my table topper – I quilted around the squares of the snowmen and around the star shape. I also went around the border twice.

This is the first time that I have done the binding the traditional way and I was beyond happy at how my corners turned out. You know small things and all that!

and here is the Table Runner – the binding is from the Red Work Quilt fabric.

This looks a little uneven at the bottom but I think it is just the photo.

Not much material left now – just some scraps – brilliant!

Well once again good wishes for the season.

Daisy

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Daisy, and Connie