...making links

When I posted about my vision for the May do. Good Stitches quilt by the cherish circle I was thinking the block would be a good scrap buster for the bees in the circle, would make a decent sized quilt and the blocks would look like little chain links, hence the name. 

When I went to think of a title for this post I also though - hey, it links us all as well. I'm not too quick with things like that sometimes. 

The top came together really quickly thanks to the 12 oversized blocks it is made up of and basting was completed over the weekend when I scrounged enough basting pins from the already quilted sections of the other 4 I am currently quilting (3 hand, 1 machine - yes I know, I'm crazy). 

I've been working on practising my free motion quilting for a little while now, mostly on smaller pieces and I felt ready to tackle a larger project. In the centre of the links I FMQed some lines, Amanda Jean style, and then in the larger white squares went back and made some spirals to soften some of the lines. I'm pretty darn pleased for a beginning effort. I'd like the spirals to be a little more round and a little less egg shaped but I can't draw that well with paper and pencil so I don't think I can expect miracles with thread and fabric. 

I used a Gutterman Sulky 30wt in white cotton and I found it really good to use with only a few breakages (which I really think was down to my technique and not the machine). 

It's bound in a white solid from my stash which I think frames it nicely and blends well with the Little Things fabric used on the back. 

It measures about 59"x 78" so it is a good size and it will be off to Needy Stitches later in the week when I head down that way for work. 

...crafty time

While I'm not a teacher I work in schools and with students so when school holidays come around I don't have to leave for work so early in the morning or work quite so last. This weekend marks the beginning of two weeks of this quieter, less frantic work time and in just my style I have a long, long list of crafty plans.

This weekend saw me have a very crafty themed weekend with a fun Sit and Sew evening on Friday night (with the start of my Hexy MF after my papers arrived and I finally decided on my fabrics - but more on that later), a very sad craft show on Saturday with some not sad at all company and lots of sewing and other things. Let's hope I haven't burnt myself out too early!

Top of the list was the blocks for June for the Cherish circle of do. Good Stitches. Melissa had asked for Granny Squares with and extra rounds and pink as the last one (she had sent us the spots to be used for one of them). Given the larger size someone had dubbed them Great Granny squares - a good name I think!
It was good to be able to put some of the 2.5" scrap stash I cut up ages ago to good use.

She has asked they be sent back untrimmed but I folded some of the sawtooth edges over to see how the pinks will look together - OK, I think and I love the concept - looks much more like a 'real' Granny Square!

The other was also to get the top together for the May do. Good Stitches Cherish quilt - for which I was responsible for the design. I posted about my plan here and I am so please it has come together a lot like what I had in my mind. I have the backing and the batting ready to go - I just need to do the next thing on the list and finish quilting one of the quilts I have on the go to gather enough basting pins for the basting and quilting!

I hope to have this one quilted and bound in the next couple of weeks!

...fine for ducks...and quilting

When I was 15 my family and I went on our first (and to date, only) overseas trip as a family travelled the massive distance to New Zealand. Come to think of it it wasn't such a short trip, we were coming from Perth and had top stop over in Sydney making the travel time quite awhile.

But I digress, sort of. At the time my brother must have been about 11 and had a little travel diary that he filled in. At the top of the page were spaces for a whole lot of information that the printers of the diary though essential for the traveller to record but the only stat I remember specifically is where you had to record the weather. I can't remember all the descriptions now but the one for rain was described as 'fine for ducks'. There were a lot of days that little box was ticked.

Today in Melbourne has been wonderful for ducks....and sewing.

So I have made my November blocks for do. Good Stitches Cherish circle. We had free rain this month on the block design but an aqua, orange and grey palette.

This block is Potager by Yvonne and featured in Modern Blocks.

The second is a Cracker Jack rip-off. The centre section of the block is actually a quarter of a block designed by Angela in this tutorial. I was all set to make the whole block until I came to the part where you trim the quarter and confirmed my suspicion that what I had was too big to be trimmed to 6.5". Note to self, read through the whole tutorial before starting in future.

I added the border to my 10" unit and am still quite pleased with it, and also quite sure I might put this tutorial to use for a quilt in the not too distant future.

...do. Good Stitches - the local connection

Last year sometime I joined do.good Stitches, it was/is another Flickr based bee but instead of participants requesting blocks to be made into a quilt for themselves the resulting quilts donated to various charities or to individuals who are going through difficult times.

Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to form part of an Australian based circle, I jumped at the chance, charity beginning at home and all that.

The second month with this new circle was my chance to design a quilt, or the second time. I had previously been given special dispensation to make this quilt for Claire after the floods in Queensland but prior to the beginning of the interbational circle all the quilters (and quilt donations) were made in the US.

I had been inspired by blocks published here, here, here and here on the Lark crafts blog and after gaining permission to trace and send the templates for various blocks I went out and bought the book, spent a lot more time than I expected would be necessary tracing them and then sent them off to my other bee mates.

I asked that all blocks be made in solids or nearly solids and that the animal blocks that finished at various sizes accoring to the templates, be sashed in primary or secondary colours to a 12.5" unfinished block.

The blocks were not 'easy', when I originally planned the quilt I thought they were paper pieced and I wasn't until I was fully committed to the theme I realised they were all cut from templates. I came to realise many of the bee mates were not so familiar with pieces of fabric that small cut with templates and embroidery or with the applique that about half the blocks included - but without fail everyone gave the challenge a try and the blocks all turned out wonderfully!! I appreciate their effort all the more with the little added challenge.

Sewing the top together was ver straight forward. The sizing borders on each of the block meant their was no need for sashing and I think the whole exercise only took about 20 minutes!

Backing was 2/3 Lizzy House Red Letter Day ducks that I found in the cupboard having bought for a steal at spotlight and a Spotlight Solid in yello mustard colour.

Quilting was 1/4 inch inside each of the frames and 14inch outside the animal blocks. This seems to have kept the whole thing stong enough without needing to sew all over everyone careful piecing.

It has been delivered to Needy Stitches and will soon been delivered to a little girl who is jest beginning her chemotherapy journey. Hopefully this will add a little brightness to a drab time.

'Faith' May string blocks

'Faith' May string blocks, a photo by HandmadeRetro on Flickr.

Some sewing has been done - and I'm slowly climbing out from the the unfinished project pile!

do. Good Stitches April Rainbow block-with a Perth fabric secret

So after a 5am wake-up time, a frantic trip tp the airport and a cross country flight with a lot of toddlers I have arrived in Perth for a quick visit before my flight to Bali tomorrow. As is often the way I had a long list of things to do before I went and I didnt get to the all. One that didnt happen was my April block for do. Good Stitches, and while I would probably have time to get it done on my return without being late but when I have a free day why risk it?


It also givs me a chance to introduce you to a little Perth secret – Textile Traders. It is a fabric chain store- in that there are several around WA but they only exist in Western Australia as far as I can tell. Lead by Benny (and I have it on good autority that his advert persona is not an act) they stock some designer quilting weight fabrics for about $12-$15 in Australia! It seems that excess stock is sold at auction and Benny buys it for the stores so nowhere gets a whole line. That being said I have found several Amy Butler Lotus prints in one store in the past as well as heaps of Prints Charming. A great place to happen upon Out of Print or had to find fabric at a reasonable price but I think it really comes down to the luck of the find.

So when I wanted to get some fabric this morning off I went.

Rachel asked for Rainbow blocks in saturated colours, in any size or design and I couldn't go past piecing an actual rainbow!

Using the free-cutting technique Kerry asked for a few months ago in Bee {a little} bit Japanese I cut the centre half circle and then each of the rainbow bands in turn, sewing and pressing to the centre as went.

The final outside white area was cut and attached in the same way.

Off to Rachel now -she explains she would like to make a BIG  quilt so this is a BIG block- 20 inches by 24 inches.

Sometimes all it takes in an hour....

I really enjoyed making Claire's quilt for her and I have mentioned many times on my blog and earlier on my facebook page that I enjoy crafting for others and I find completing charity projects or collaborative quilts to be enjoyable and personally satisfying way of doing this.

But as you can see on the RHS of the blog I have a VERY long list of things that I have started, have planned or would like to try and there are only so many hours in the day and big projects can get left unfinished.

But sometimes all it takes is an hour (or just over if you keep ducking into the other room at the end to watch the beginning of City Homicide) and a little bit of mess.

These first two blocks were made for Abi from the Bee Seam Piecing Downunder. She very sweetly asked the other members of the bee and I a few weeks ago if we would be willing to make some quilt as you go blocks based on sewtakeahike's tutorial.

She will be adding these to those she receives from another bee she is involved with after forgoing her month and asking for these blocks in return. Of course they went right on the list.

This block is to be included in a playmat quilt for another member of this bee, Kelly, and her yet to be born second child.

Nicole had the wonderful idea and suggested stars of various styles from this tutorial from Silly BooDilly based on a concept by Gwen Maston from Liberated Quiltmaking - the first one.

A Quilt for Claire - do. Good Stitches {a Charity Bee}, the Queensland Edition

I have been turning the block I received from the Faith circle members of the do. Good Stitches {a Charity Bee} into a quilt top ready to have it finished and on the way to Claire by the end of the month.

I asked for disappearing nine patch blocks in spring colours and wrote up a very quick tutorial in this post. I have been adding the white borders over the last couple of days and sewing the rows together.

At the beginning I was going for a double sided 3x3 grid. With each of the boarded blocks being 18.5" finished this would have ended up about 55" square, and double sided. But too small I think.

The other option in mind was to make the front in a 3x4 grid and have a single row on the back, or maybe two if I made two extra blocks (or the two in the mail turn up*). The quilt would end up more of a single bed size then and still be reversible but different on both sides. But I was still worried it would be just too narrow or too short.

In the end I went with a 3x5 layout, meaing the quilt will finish at 55.5"x92.5".

With the two most common single mattress sizes in Australia being 36"x74" or 42"x80" I'm hoping it will serve a purpose in this layout.

The plan is to quilt it in grid style with organic straight lines about 6" apart, I just need to get a backing first. I am thinking an IKEA cotton fabric. I really don't want seams in the back and I think the aesthetic in some of the Scandinavian prints might be just right.

*Note: I want to, for clarity, make it very clear I am not having a jab at anyone in my bee for blocks not arriving but Australia Post. In the last 2 months 3 items I am aware of have simply not arrived, two to my home and one to the post office box. This includes a Registered Post parcel that I am told I signed for, except at the time I was 50km away in a meeting at work.

It's a plane, it's a Quilt Block - No it is both

Maybe it is because I like to get real mail in the letterbox or maybe because it forces me to try things that I wouldn't ordinarily have a go at I keep joining bees and swaps. I expect it is a little of both.


I do this even right after I have decided that enough is enough and I'll never have any time to bring to life the ideas I have in my head if I keep making things for other and putting them in envelopes.


That said, I love them, I enjoy making the blocks and I am always really excited to see the finished product and I can ususally make them at night after work which makes a great weekday stand alone project.


I think I'll probably keep ignoring my own little rules for myself but that is OK.


The most recent bee I joined was one hosed by the online Etsy fabric store Sew Fresh Fabrics. As they explained in this post on their blog they end up with a lot of scraps and thought a bee was a great way to use them with the final quilt being donated to charity, in this case Project Linus.


I thought I had missed out on the first round but apparently due to some counting errors they ended up one short in the boy group for this round and I was happy to jump in. Yesterday I got an envelope in the mail (yay!) with some Kaffe Fasset, Lizzy House and other great fabrics and from nowhere came the idea to make a aeroplane block.


I have never, ever, had the slightest inclination to make such a block before but as soon as it popped into my head I couldn't think of any other style I wanted to make. So, by the power of google I went looking for some tutorials and used this one from Badskirt as my main inspiration but generally made it up as I went along within the confines of the fabric strips I had.

I love how the tail and wings stand out from the body and nose and how the busy-ness of the background print hides the seams. And the lighter fabric on the border gives the eye a place to rest (and makes the block to the requested size!). Genrally for an hour or so at the sewing machine a few hours after the envelope arrived I'm pretty happy.

Check out the Flickr group for some of the other great blocks appearing for the boy and the girl quilt made by the other circle.

do Good Stitches {a Charity Bee} - The Queensland Edition - Claire's Quilt Blocks

This first quilt will be for Claire, and is inspired by this quilt. I am tossing around a few size and layout options but the final decision on this will be made when I have all the blocks here.


The Block: The block is a Disappearing 9-patch, there is a short tutorial below because the block is not difficult but it can be used in many different ways to make very different looking quilts. I'm on a bit of a kick with them lately.


The Size: I have asked for blocks anywhere between 10-16" unfinished (or 9.5-15.5" when sewn into the quilt). I will then sash them with Kona Bone to make blocks up to 18-20" when I get them back. The effect will have the blocks floating.


The colours/fabrics: I have asked for the centre of the initial 9 patch to be made from Kona Bone Snow or white quilters cotton (the reason for this will become clear below) For the other 8 squares I'd like fresh coloured/tone fabric. As an idea I am thinking Nicey Jane from Heather Bailey, Kate Spain's Central Park, Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow, Camille Roskelly's Bliss, Sweetwater Sunkissed. The value of these fabrics will matter more than the colours, think spring. Of course you don't need to use the specific ones mentioned, that is just to give you an idea of the look I am going for. My samples below use one or two of these fabric only but give the same effect.

The execution:
Make a standard 9 patch block. When cutting and planning please remember to place your Kona Bone Snow or white quilters cotton square in the centre. When calculating size for these initial squares know that your completed block will be 1.5" less than 3x(you starting square size).


For example I made one sample block that was 15" unfinished when completed. I started with squares 5.5".


So 5.5"x3 = 16.5"
16.5"-1.5" = 15"


Step 1
Cut 1 square from Kona Bone Snow or white quilters cotton
Cut 8 squares from a variety of print fabric.

To make the size blocks requested these squares can be anywhere from 4" - 5.75" (all your square need to be the same size.


Step 2
Arrange your fabric with the Kona Bone Snow or white quilters cotton  in the centre and the prints around the outside. The squares in the corner will remain uncut in the final block.

Step 3
Sew the squares together, I sew the middle and left squares together from top to bottom by chain piecing and then the right most square to the other side of the centre square.

Step 4
Press the seams to the sides, alternating these left and right so you can nest the seams together when you sew the rows together.

Sew the rows together. Press the seams to one side (I usually do these in the same direction.


Step 5
Cut the block in half vertically then horizontally.


To work out where to cut measure the centre block and divide by 2.

This centre block measures 3.5"

so I measure 1.75" lining up the grid on the ruler with the side seam and the top and bottom seam to keep it square.

Cut vertically

And horizontally, one at a time. 

You will end up with 4 squares.

Step 6:
Arrange these four squares in the layout of the block. The small bone squares should meet in the centres on two square and on opposite top and bottom corners as pictured.

Sew the vertical seams, press seams left and right away from the bone centre, nestle and sew the horizontal seam.
Done!

Sashed the outer Bone square will disappear  into the sashing.

do Good Stitches {a Charity Bee} - The Queensland Edition

I have been a member of the do. Good Stiches {a Charity Bee} on Flicker for several months now.

 There are several circles in the bee regularly making quilts for different charities and individuals, some for recognised charities and some for individuals in the local community. As it is run from the US most of the charities and all the individual recipients are from the US also but I am a firm believer at charity beginning (but not ending) at home. And this month I have the opportunity to put that into practice.


My circle, makes quilts for individuals in the Quilters local community (all circles have quilters and stitches - check out the link above for more explanation) but this February my circle has agreed to change the structure slightly and make a quilt for a recipient outside of the US, in my local (or local-ish) community as a result of the unusual and tragic circumstances in the Queensland surrounding the recent floods.


As we make quilts for individuals I was scratching my head to be able to identify an individual for the finished quilt to be donated to, not being from Queensland and not having family directly impacted who could point me in the right direction and knowing that there are many people who have suffered loss and none are more deserving than any other.


I contacted two people I thought might be able to help. The first was Julie, she was the generous bidder who won the auction for the quilt I auction off during the recent Flood Auctions spearheaded by Toni from Make it Perfect and her sister Carli. I thought she might be in a position to identify a recipient as she had shared with me she was intending to donate the purchased quilt to a person who had lost a great deal in the flood, and to make many more quilts herself and donate them as well.


I also contacted Jan, the person who inspired the auctions in the first place when she emailed Toni. And again she has offered to put me in touch with a family that has lost a great deal.


So this month I will be collecting blocks for two quilts, one each for two different people from two different families and areas of Queensland, with the other members of the bee making one block for both of the quilts.


The story of the recipients is shared with the other bee members but I don’t feel it is right to share a family’s story so publicly here.

Over the next couple of days I will post the designs for each of these quilts and share with you the construction and delivery over the next two months. I am so looking forward to these projects!

do. Good Stitches {a Charity Bee} - October Pinwheel blocks

The two blocks for this month was the second started and completed project in the new sewing room.

These blocks are going towards a quilt to be made for a young boy who has a serious medical condition.

Alicia from Beauty in the Deatils requested blocks in teal/lime-kiwi and orange and yellow combinations.

It was a request I was more than happy to fulfil and seemed a great challenge for my novelty stash and as the blocks were reasonably easy to construct I was happy enough to start them about 10:30pm.

Aside: I seem to spend a heap of time and money shopping for novelty fabric, particularly fabric that would appeal to boys. I know that there is the pervasive opinion that most fabric and craft projects are girl target but I seem to end up buying and completing in an opposite trend. I'm a fan of the underdog so perhaps it is my unconscious way of evening the playing field.  

The first block was the hardest in terms of fabric choices, the colours are so varied when described that way, and even although Alicia had given some direction and examples in terms of what she meant I am still a little nervous and hope I have chosen the right colours. This black makes use of some Kona Solid and Amy Bultler from the Love range.

The second is my favourite, I think. Again it uses a Kona Solid but I was so excited to be able to use the Linework Rockets in orange from the Robots collection by David Walker.

They are winging their way to Alicia now.

Crafting for a Cause - The Gracie Jane Project

For those one or two of you that read my somewhat random and infrequent posts on my, now sadly neglected, Facebook page you might remember the series of quilty projects I completed for organizations based in the Quilting for Peace book. The last, the project for Binky Patrol was featured on one of my first blog posts but the size really did not make for one of the prettiest quilts ever. It was, however, really warmly recieved.

Since then I have bought the Craft Hope book that grew out of the blog of the same name with the idea of making some of the projects and donating to some more local charities.

In the meantime I came across the Gracie Jane Project, as a result of a post on Quiltstory.


So with some charm packs in the overflowing cupbaord, some Kona solid without a specific purpose and only some flannel needed to buy for the backing it seemed like a great, quick, cheaper to post project that would have the double benefit of being of benefit to someone and making the amount needed to pack and unpack just that little bit smaller.


I have used the Lollipop range by Sandy Gervais for Moda, and because of the small size needed for the quilts and the solid already used for the backgroud I have omitted most of the plain/solid squares in the charm pack and well as the red colourway.

As per the the common pattern to be used for the project the quilt is straight line quilted on one direction about 3/4" apart and backed in cream flannel.

I made these two over two nights and machine stitched the Kona solid binging by machine yesterday morning. They have crinked up beautifully in the wash. A quick satisfying project. These will be winging their way to Canada in the next few days....