Nicola Foreman Quilts - BLOG

The Little Things Pencil Case

16/10/2021

Over the past few weeks, I've been sorting through several boxes of kits, looking for smaller projects to make. This one is The Little Things Pencil Case by Hatched and Patched that I'd bought ages ago from Cross Patch. Included with the pattern was a pre-printed linen panel - this can be used for either the applique version or the stitchery version. The kit included a selection of woolfelt for the applique, the lining fabric and a zipper. Rather than use the woolfelt that was included in the kit, I decided to make the embroidered version, using a selection of my own Cosmo embroidery threads...

...the pattern requirements include Polyfuse, which is a fusible water soluble tearaway. It softens when washed and does not leave any bulk to your design but leaves a thin layer of polyester fibre which helps reduce shadowing in applique and pads the shapes. As I couldn't source this in the UK, I substituted this for Hugs n' Kisses applique paper that had I had already cut to size by tracing around the templates included in the pattern. Once all of the hand embroidery was completed, I fused the applique paper onto the wrong side of the front, back and sides of both the linen and the lining fabrics. Using a fabric gluepen along the free edges of the fabrics, then folded the edges over onto the applique paper, and pressed the edges into place...

...this project is completely hand sewn. Using a fine needle and a 60wt polyester thread in a neutral colour, the pencil case was constructed with ladder stitch. The lining was constructed in exactly the same way, then put inside the pencil case, wrong sides together. The pattern suggested using an embroidery thread and blanket stitch around the top edges to attach the case to the lining, however I preferred to just use ladder stitch, again with a fine 60wt polyester thread...

...I love these cute little satin stitch hearts on the back of the pencil case! The zipper is also secured in place by hand, with tiny slip stitches along the edge of the zipper tape onto the lining...

...the ends of the zipper are neatened with 2 fabric tabs. I like adding my own twist on the projects that I make, so I've embroidered a flower and a ladybird on the tabs...

...my pencil case has been filled with pencils ready for doodling a few of my own project ideas. The applique paper gives this pencil case a bit of structure, and will soften the more it is used.

Lecien Floral iPad Case

5/10/2021

I'd recently made an iPad case for myself and one for my husband. My sister-in-law admired them, so I thought stabiliser, I quilted I'd make one for her too. I chose a selection of Lecian floral fabrics for the iPad case outer, lining, pocket lining and binding. Once I'd layered the fabrics with ByAnnie Soft and Stable, I quilted a very simple design using a dark pink Gutermann thread shade 02779...

...the back of the iPad case has a zippered pocket (I used the ByAnnie method for inserting the zipper - there's a really useful video tutorial for inserting zippers on the ByAnnie website). As usual, I used zipper by the metre from Zipper Station. Rather than using another layer of Soft anfd Stable for the back pocket, I used a piece of H630 wadding, to reduce bulk. A strip of bias binding made from one of the floral fabrics was used to cover the raw edges around the case...

...the front of the iPad case case closes with a strip of velcro. The ByAnnie iCases pattern has instructions for making 2 different sizes but is easily adapted to make it smaller of larger than these if needed. I'd bought the pattern a few weeks ago from Plush Addict - there is a great selection of ByAnnie patterns and accessories on their website.

Poppy Patch Posse Stitching

30/9/2021

I've made a start on my second Poppy Patch Posse project, supplied by Poppy Patch. This is the embroidered tag for the Roses and Ruching Pincushion, designed by One Day In May, Creations by Melissa Grant and has been hand embroidered using a skein of Cottage Garden Threads variegated stranded embroidery thread...

...these Cottage Garden Threads really are lovely for hand embroidery and this pink one, Katie's Blush, is particularly pretty. Now the embroidery is completed, I can make a start on the patchwork for the top of the pincushion.
#poppypatchposse

Yorkshire Beauty

22/9/2021

Here it is - my New York Beauty quilt is finally on display in my sewing studio! I'd pieced these blocks together back in March 2019 when I was on a residential quilting course with Philippa Naylor. I've been going on these courses for several years, although unfortunately last year due to Covid it had to be cancelled, which scuppered my plans to finish this quilt then. Thankfully I was able to return this year, managing to complete all the machine quilting using a selection of Aurifil 40wt and 50wt threads. I've added a facing rather than a binding and I'm absolutely thrilled to bits with it. I've decided to call this one my Yorkshire Beauty as I'd started the blocks, pieced them together, completed the quilting and added the facing all on my quilting trips to Yorkshire...

...all of the pictures below show close ups of the linework quilting, using a walking foot. I picked out colours of thread to both contrast and blend with the colours of the fabrics, which resulted in lots of changes of threads and lots of ends to knot and sew in...

...as you can see, the quilting designs that I used also show up really well on the back of the quilt too. I'm now planning another New York Beauty quilt, ready for my return to Yorkshire in 2022.
The patterns that I used for these NYB blocks are available here on Ulas Quiltpage as free PDF downloads. Once I'd downloaded them, I pinted them onto bankpaper, which is very thin and is ideal for foundation paper piecing as it tears away easily.

I'm Back From Yorkshire!

18/9/2021

I've had a fantastic week away in Yorkshire under the expert eye of Philippa Naylor and my New York Beauty quilt is almost complete! After a week of lots of linework quilting, and adding a facing to neaten the edges, I just need to add a quilt sleeve. I'm absolutely thrilled to bits with it and can't wait to hang it up in my sewing studio.

Off To Yorkshire at Last

11/9/2021

I'm busy packing my sewing bag, as tomorrow I'm off to Yorkshire at last, on a very special quilting trip, with some very special friends. While I'm away I'm going to free motion quilt this New York Beauty quilt top, which hasn't been touched since it was pieced together back in March 2019, the last time I was in Yorkshire.

The Write Stuff

10/9/2021

Another ByAnnie pattern and another gift! As you know, I enjoy mkaking journal covers, and have made several for myself and friends. However this one is on a whole new level, with a zippered front pocket, an inside pocket and a bookmark. This pattern is The Write Stuff and was purchased on line from Sew Hot - they have a great selection of ByAnnie products and patterns. I've used a combination of batik fabrics and Moda grunge by Basic Grey for this journal cover, all bought a couple of years ago at Sew and So's in Bungay (they have a super selection of batiks there) and teamed it up with a gorgeous variagated KingTut quilting thread, also bought from Sew and So's...

...this quilted journal cover has a zippered pocket on the front (I've added a fabric zipper pull) and a slip pocket on the inside of the back cover...

...I used a button sew-on magnet for the tab closure and added a vintage button from my huge collection in a matching colour...

...The pattern has instructions for making the journal in 3 different sizes, however it can easily be adapted to make other sizes. This is the large size and I've used an A4 sized spiral bound notebook...

...this was a gift for my daughter - she loves teals and turquoises and batiks, so I knew I couldn't go wrong with these fabrics. And there are plenty of pages for her to fill it up with her hopes and dreams!

Simple Pencil Case

7/9/2021

I've used a few left over scraps of fabric from the recent Zip it Up case that I made to make a very simple project. These fabrics from the Bugs and Critters collection by Nutex, were leftovers from the recent Zip it Up case that I'd made for a special little boy's birthday. I found a pattern online for a simple pencil case on the Folk Art Factory blog. I've altered the construction slightly, so the front and back of the pencil case are quilted very simply rather than having a seperate lining...

...as I'd altered the way the pencil case was constructed, I had to change the way the zipper was put in, so I've used the ByAnnie method of zipper insertion - there are some great video tutorials for this on the ByAnnie website...

...the stripey binding was cut on the bias and machined in place a quarter of an inch around both sides and the lower edge of the pencil case, then folded over and machined again to enclose all the raw edges. I've also added a zipper pull with a piece of leftover stripey binding. This case can be adapted to whatever size you want, depending on the size zipper and fabrics that you have. This one is the size of the orihginal instructions, and the box of pencils fits inside perfectly!

Poppy Patch Posse - Project 2

6/9/2021

Being a member of the Poppy Patch Posse is so exciting! My second kit arrived in the post at the weekend from Poppy Patch and is a pattern by One Day In May, Creations by Melissa Grant. This pretty kit includes the pattern, all fabrics including embroidery stabilizer and wadding, and 2 skeins of beautiful Cottage Garden Threads hand-dyed embroidery thread. My due date for this is towards the end of November so I've got plenty of time to catch up with a few other projects first!

Zip it Up

5/9/2021

This project was made as a birthday present for a very special little boy. As soon as I saw these fabrics from the Bugs and Critters collection, I just knew they'd be perfect for what I had planned. A quick order was made to The Galloway Crafts & Outback Yarns - this stripey fabric s going to look super cut on the bias for binding! The pattern I'd chosen is "Zip it Up" by Pattern ByAnnie.com and Patterns By Annie and purchased from Plush Addict. Last year I discovered Zipper Station - a super assortment of zippers in an array of colours and sizes. I decided to buy zipper by the yard with some extra zipper pulls in a few bright colours for this one and future projects...

...well I do think that stripey binding looks fabulous, but the trickiest part of using stripey binding cut on the bias is joining the ends so the stripes match! The reason the Bugs and Critters fabrics were so appropriate was because I'd already bought some bug-related gifts - a super book by Matt Robertson called Do You Love Bugs, a bugs and insects colouring book, and a large box of colouring pencils. Plenty to keep an inquisitive young man occupied for hours!...

...the Zip it Up case wasn't TOO tricky - the instructions on ByAnnie patterns are very clear. Although this pattern didn't have an add-on video tutorial, there are lots of ByAnnie video tutorials on her website and on YouTube which are super helpful, especially for putting in that zipper and attaching the zipper sliders! The front of the bag has a large zippered pocket and there's a smart handle on the top. If you wanted to adapt the pattern the back of the case could easily have another pocket added on...

...inside there are 2 large pockets - one is made with mesh, the other made with vinyl. I already had some leftover mesh from another project, which I'd bought from Sew Hot (the ByAnnie brand comes in lots of different colours) and I decided to try the ByAnnie clear vinyl which was bought from Oh Sew Sweet. I must say, although the vinyl was more expensive than ones I'd used previously, the quality is so much better, so I'll definitely be ordering more. Both pockets are zippered and I really love the pop of turquoise. For any zipperphobics, the zipper sliders went on really easily...

...well the birthday boy was absolutely thrilled to bits with it! I'll definitely make more of these as I have a few young neices and a young nephew that I think will like them, especially if I can match my fabrics to suit the contents!