Block 7 of "Down In The Garden" has been prepped and is ready for the stitchery. It's so much easier tracing the stitchery designs before the complete block is pieced together. I've used a Schmetz Microtex needle size 60 for all the piecing, and a smaller than usual stitch length, together with a neutral coloured Mettler fine embroidery thread. I used a very fine Micron Pigma pen to trace the stitchery patterns, and then ironed a very soft fusible interfacing onto the back (my favorite interfacing for stitchery is Vilene H180)... ...this is one of my favourite projects (and my quilting friends know that I've made several designs by Leanne Beasley) as I really enjoy the relaxing time spent on the hand embroidery. These mini-blocks piece together very quickly, and these churn dash blocks were made last year when I first started this project. My friends Linda and Helen persuaded me to make a start on it, as it had been sitting in a box for simply ages, and I can't think why I hadn't started it earlier! Well I'm off to make a nice cup of tea, then I might just make a start on this block!
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As you can see, I really have been as busy as a busy bee!! Each morning I've spent an hour stitching with a cuppa, enjoying the peace and quiet before the hustle and bustle of getting ready for work. This was a BOM that I bought 4 years ago, and is designed by Leanne Beasley. It included lots of beautiful Lecien fabrics, and I've added one or two scraps of my own too. This is Block 6 (only 3 more blocks to go!) and I'm enjoying spending time with this "garden" almost as much as I enjoy spending time in my own garden... ...this block shows off several techniques, including stitchery - back stitch, chain stitch and satin stitch using mostly DMC embroidery threads. A beautiful Cottage Garden Thread in "Larkspur" was included with this BOM and it really is beautiful. Machine-appliqued butterflies decorate this block too... ...there's a fussy cutting using the feature fabric "Grandmother's Flower Garden" by Rosalie Quinlan, and I love these cute mini-9 patch blocks. The final stitch was hand sewing around the edge of this appliqued heart (I used a soft fusible interfacing on the back of the heart, and turned it inside out as my needle-turn applique isn't very neat!) using a neutral coloured silk thread, and then I was finished. Over the weekend I'm hoping to get Block 7 prepped and ready for stitching.
I've been busy preparing Block 6 of "Down In The Garden" (designed by Leanne Beasley) and I've been SO glad that I bought an A3 sized light box a few weeks ago. It really is so much easier to use, and much better than having to tape my patterns and fabric onto the conservatory windows. I've used a pale brown coloured Pigma Micron pen to trace the designs onto the fabric... ......I used a pale grey Mettler fine embroidery thread for machine piecing the mini blocks and a Schmetz Microtex size 60 needle, and used a smaller stitch than usual as the block will be put under some tension when it's in the embroidery hoop. One all the mini blocks were pieced together, and all the loose threads trimmed away, I fused a thin piece of stabiliser (Vilene H180) to the back of the block, and now I'm ready to start stitching.
Here are the results of my early morning stitching. This is Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" (pattern is by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley). The other blocks in this quilt have a combination of piecing and applique and stitchery, but this is the centre block and is very stitchery intensive! I just need to trim this to size, and stitch it to Block 4, then I can make a start on Block 6.
All that early morning stitching means the floral border for Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" (designed by Leanne Beasley) has finally been completed, and now I just need to stitch the verse. This may take a little longer as I seem to have used all the skein of thread in that colour, so need to wait until the weekend before I can buy another one!
"Down In The Garden (designed by Leanne Beasley) is my current project. Block 5 is really coming along nicely, and this hand sewing is really relaxing. I love to stitch early in the morning before everyone else is awake and being able to enjoy some peace and tranquility before everyone is rushing around getting ready for work. Sitting with a cuppa, listening to the birds singing - and Mr F snoring. What a perfect way to start my day!!
Early each morning when everyone else is asleep, I've stitched a few flowers and enjoyed a cup of tea before I get ready to start my day. This is Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley, and I think stitching this is almost as relaxing as spending time in Mr F's garden!
Well I've made a start on Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" (a beautiful quilt designed by Leanne Beasley). This is a very stitchery-intensive block, and I'm having a very relaxing time . I prepped this block yesterday, and then made a start with the stitchery early this morning while everyone else was asleep - before I had to do boring things like cooking and cleaning!
Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" (designed by Leanne Beasley) is much more stitchery-intensive and was waiting to be prepped. As I usually tape both the pattern and fabric with masking tape onto my conservatory windows, my arms were going to be killing me by the time I'd traced this design! I've got a small A5 size light-box which is ok for small projects, but I really NEEDED a bigger one! I decided that I really needed to invest in a super large light-box. As I hadn't spent ANY money on fabric while I was on holiday I deserved a little treat, so this morning I went on a little jaunt to Felixstowe, and bought this super A3 sized light-box, which is just perfect for tracing stitchery and applique designs. It uses a low energy light bulb, so didn't get too hot when I was busy tracing... ...I always use a Pigma Micron pen, to trace the designs, and I prefer the brown colour. The ink is permanent so you do need a very steady hand. 2 strands of embroidery thread will cover the traced lines perfectly. Now this just needs a thin fusible interfacing fused to the back of the fabric, and I'll be ready to start the stitching this evening while Mr F is watching football on TV!! I'd better hide this light-box, as my youngest daughter (the very crafty one) has already cast an envious eye over it. And if I'm not careful it might be "borrowed" and I'll never see it again!
Well I'm getting there at last! This is a BOM "Down In The Garden" by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley, and was initially started last summer. During the winter months I put it to one side to concentrate on other projects. I've finally finished block 4, and this one has only taken me 3 weeks from tracing the stitchery, piecing the mini-blocks and putting the final stitches into place. As you can see from the picture below, the stitchery was completed before the applique... ...again there is a combination of appliqued butterflies fluttering across the block, and an appliqued heart... ...and the centre piece is a beautiful stitchery watering can filled with flowers. Several of my blog followers have asked me where they can purchase these patterns. I initially bought mine from an online shop her in the UK (that has sadly closed down) that used to stock lots of beautiful Australian patterns. There are links on Leanne Beasley's website detailing where these patterns can be bought. Block 5 is much more stitchery-intensive and needs to be prepped. I really need to invest in a super large lightbox as my arms are going to be killing me by the time I've traced only a quarter of block 5 if I carry on taping my patterns onto my conservatory window! I've got a small A5 size lightbox which is ok for small projects, but I really NEED a bigger one!
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About me...Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! Archives
July 2023
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