Nicola Foreman Quilts - BLOG

Homespun Infinity Scarf

22/1/2022

Last week I received this charm pack (Homemade Homespuns by Kansas Troubles Quilters) from Cross Patch. Initially I wasn't sure what to make with it, then a very cold and frosty orning gave me an idea! These brushed cotton fabrics would make a very cosy infinity scarf! Using a free PDF download from the Six Penny Memories website, (thanks Kim, it's such a simple pattern) I was able to make this super scarf in about a couple of hours. It will keep me warm when I'm walking my dog, and these colours go perfectly with my waxed jacket.

A List of The Rest!

15/1/2022

Here's the list of the rest of the kits that I've purchased in the past and still need to be stitched! I've recorded the year it was purchased, the name of the kit, the designer and the shop they were purchased from. You can click on the pictures below to enlarge them - now I just need to decide which one to tackle first!
2005 - Many Thanks - Nancy Halvorsen - Quilters Haven
2005 - Boo - Sandy Gervais - Quilters Haven

2010 - Luna Notte - 3 Sisters - Quilters Haven
2011 - Fowl Play II - Bramblepatch - Bramblepatch

2012 - Blitzen - Basic Grey - Quilters Haven
2014 - Amelia Bag - Monkey Buttons - Monkey Buttons

2015 - Run Rabbit Run - Jo Colwill - Cowslip Workshops
2016 - Bouquet Cushion - Jo Colwill - Cowslip Workshops
2017 - Daisy and Lavender Cushion - Jo Colwill - Cowslip Workshops

2016 - Vintage Bouquet - Jo Colwill - Cowslip Workshops

2019 - Rosewood - 3 Sisters - KIS Quilting Ltd
2019 - Thimble Blossom - Buttermilk Basin - KIS Quilting Ltd

2017 - Celebrate Christmas Advent Calendar - Sarah Edgar - Pretty Fabrics and Trims
2020 - Gingerbread Biscuits - Sarah Edgar - Pretty Fabrics and Trims
2020 - Christmas Tree - Sarah Edgar - Pretty Fabrics and Trims

2019 - Merry Merry Snow Days - Bunny Hill Designs - Six Penny Memories
2019 - 12 Days of Christmas - Corinne Lapierre - Corinne Lapierre

2020 - Bali Bag - Two Aunties - Little Quilt Store
2021 - Kismet Pouches - Little Patch Pockets - Little Patch Pockets

A List of Norwegian Kits

13/1/2022

Here's the list of kits that I've purchased in the past that feature Norwegian designers and still need to be stitched! I've recorded the year it was purchased, the name of the kit, the designer and the shop they were purchased from. You can click on the pictures below to enlarge them...

2010 - Høytidsengler - AnnAKa - Lappelåven
2011 - Britt-Lisa’s Blomsterkurver - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2011 - Anna’s Lille Veggteppe - AnnAKa - Lappedilla

2011 - Fruktsalat - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2011 - Enkel Sommerløper - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2011 - Sommerblomster - AnnAKa - Lappedilla

2011 - Lilla Fristeler - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2011 - Helårspynt - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2011 - Søt enkel sminkepung - AnnAKa - Lappedilla

2011 - Roseveska - Kari Renolen - MyQuilt
2011 - Toalettveske - Elin R. Roland - Gift
2011 - Rosa på shopping hverdagsveske - Kari Renolen - Lappedilla

2011 - Varlige tulipanhus - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2011 - Stjernedilla - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2011 - Nissefar med rensdyr - Tilda - Gift

2012 - Kloke Ord - AnnAKa - Lappedilla
2012 - Kaffeslabberas - AnnAKa - Lapp-Elisa
2013 - Ugler - AnnAKa - Lappedilla

2020 - Spis Fisk - AnnAKa - Lapp-Elisa

List of Australian Kits

11/1/2022

Here's the list of kits that I've purchased in the past that feature Australian designers and still need to be stitched! I've recorded the year it was purchased, the name of the pattern, the pattern designer and the shop they were purchased from. You can click on the pictures below to enlarge them...

2016 - Flying Santa - Lynette Anderson Designs - Little Quilt Store
2016 - Friends For Christmas - Lynette Anderson Designs - Puddleducks
2017 - Forest Floor - Lynette Anderson Designs - Little Quilt Store

2017 - In Full Bloom - Lynette Anderson Designs - this was a gift
2017 - Wonky Santa - Lynette Anderson Designs - this was a gift
2018 - Winter Playground - Lynette Anderson Designs - Little Quilt Store

2018 - Woodland Secrets - Lynette Anderson Designs - Cross Patch
2019 - Tree of Life - Lynette Anderson Designs - Cross Patch

2020 - The 1618 Cottage Bag - Lynette Anderson Designs - Little Quilt Store
2020 - Festive Forest Table Topper - Lynette Anderson Designs - Little Quilt Store
2020 - Bird in a Basket - Lynette Anderson Designs - Little Quilt Store

2020 - Let There Be Joy - One Day in May Creations - Poppy Patch
2009 - Hanging for Christmas - Rosalie Quinlan - The Fat Quarters
2020 - Stitched Treasures - Marg Low - Poppy Patch

2014 - Wartime Sweetheart - Faeries in my Garden - Faeries in my Garden
2020 - Rambling Stitches - Hares Nest - Poppy Patch
2020 - Christmas Tree - Hatched and Patched - Coast and Ciuntry Crafts and Quilts

2021 - We Are Family - Susan Smith - Pincushion Pantiles
2021 - Hearts Desire - The Birdhouse Patchwork Designs - Poppy Patch

2021 - All For Christmas - Hatched and Patched - Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts
2021 - Together at Christmas - Hatched and Patched - Poppy Patch

New Year - New Project

8/1/2022

My first project for this year is this quilted journal cover. These fabrics from the One Stitch at a Time collection by Lynette Anderson Designs were PERFECT for this one! The pattern is The Write Stuff by ByAnnie which I'd purchased last year from Sew Hot here in the UK. The pattern includes instructions for making a journal cover in 3 different sizes, and is easily adaptable to make it fit whatever size journal you have...

...the front of the journal cover has a fully lined quilted zippered pocket, which I've trimmed with a little bit of vintage lace trimming. I used a piece of continuous zipper (bought online from Zipper Station a few weeks ago) in a smart grey shade that works well with the muted tones of the fabrics. The journal cover fastens with a magnetic snap - I've used a Prym sew-in magnetic button and added a vintage button from my button tin, again in a grey colour, which is secured to the flap...

...these sew-in button magnets are really easy to use, and aren't too strong - there's nothing worse than putting a magnet in place and it's so strong that it tears the fabric! The flap is attached to the back of the journal cover, all raw edges are enclosed. I drafted my own pattern for the flap as the journal cover is smaller than the ones in the original pattern, and I didn't want to cover too much of the pretty feature fabric...

...both the front and back covers have smart slip pockets where the journal is stored, and can also be used for keeping other documents and lists. There is an extra slip pocket inside the back cover too. The journal can easily be removed when it's full...

...I'd altered the dimentions from the original pattern to accomodate an A5 journal which was quite thick due to having alot of pages and dividers with tabs. The original pattern also has instructions for adding a bookmark, however due to this particular style of journal having dividers, I left the bookmark off. I'm really pleased with this journal cover, it's such a super pattern and teaming it with this sewing-themed fabric means it's pretty AND practical. I'm going to use this one to keep a record of all of the kits that I've bought over the years ready for my retirement, that are currently packed away in boxes ready for me to make a start! Well I'd better make a start with that list - just a word of warning, it's going to be a VERY long list!

Back in My Sewing Studio

7/1/2022

After a busy few weeks I've finally managed to retreat into my sewing studio for a sewing day! This gorgeous feature fabric is from the One Stitch at a Time collection by the Australian designer Lynette Anderson and is absolutely perfect for a very important project. I've quilted this very simply using a Clover Hera Marker to mark a pattern incorporating both straight rows half an inch apart and a small crosshatch grid. I've used an off cut of ByAnnie Soft and Stable wadding which quilts really well and adds structure. Both have been machine quilted using a variegated King Tut thread in colours to compliment the pretty fabric. All will be revealed timorrow!

Completed Projects for 2021

31/12/2021

As usual I've had another VERY productive year, with lots of quiltystuff being produced in my sewing studio - bags and wallhangings, tablerunners and journal covers, Christmas stockings and fabric bowls - the list goes on and on! Now I need to blitz my sewing studio and make a list of the projects that have been tucked away waiting to get made - hopefully I'll have another fabric-fuelled year in 2022.

Charlie's Cushion

30/12/2021

Several weeks ago, a very special girl spent a day with me in my sewing studio making a cushion with her name appliqued on the front. She did a brilliant job, it was her first time using a sewing machine, her first time making raw edge applique and her first time inserting a zipper! Anyway, she decided she wanted to make one for her younger brother so we arranged another "sewing date" for her to make a start. She traced the letters onto a sheet of Lite Steam-a-Seam 2, fused them to the wrong side of these gorgeous batiks, cut them out and fused them onto a black batik background fabric...

...using a different colour thread for each letter, she carefully completed the raw edge applique using a straight stitch. The basic shape for the cushion had been fused onto a piece of Vliseline H630 wadding so the cushion front was quilted at the same time as the applique was completed. A concealed zipper was added to the back, and a plump foam pad was inserted...

...this was a surprise Christmas present for Charlie, so was hidden away until Boxing Day when they spent the day with us and he was absolutely thrilled to bits with it! I felt so proud that I've been able to teach these skills to such an enthusiastic young girl - she has really enjoyed our "sewing dates" and I'm sure there will be many more to come!

Piecekeeper Bags

27/12/2021

Now these have been gifted to one of my great-nephews and four of my great-neices, I can finally share a few photographs of these super bags! Thiese were all made using the Piecekeeper pattern which is a free PDF download from the ByAnnie website. As you can see, one was made with a clear viny front and the others were made with mesh, as in the origiginal instructions. The colourful zippers were from Zipper Station (I buy zipper by the metre with extra zipper pulls) and co-ordinated the colour of the zipper with the colour of the fabrics used for the bags. ...

...the bags were made with soft and stable wadding, and each one was quilted in a simple crosshatch design. I've used a selection of fabrics from my stash for these so each bag is different. Once the binding had been machined into place, they were filled with a selection of colouring books and colouring pencils, appropriate for each child. The youngest recipient is only a few months old, so I popped a couple of story books in her bag! These make great gifts and are perfect for storing all sorts of bits and bobs. The carrying handle means they're easy to transport, even for little people!

Just Sew - Tilda

23/12/2021

A couple of months ago I spent a very happy weekend in my sewing studio, piecing together a few scraps of Tilda fabrics. This pattern is "Just Sew" from the book Patchwork Loves Embroidery Too by the Australian designer Gail Pan Designs. The hand embroidery has been stitched with Valdani Threads perle threads purchased from Cross Patch, a super online shop based in Wales...

...inside there are 2 clear vinyl zippered pockets. I used "ByAnnie" vinyl for these - although it's a little bit more expensive than clear vinyl I've used in the past, the quality is really excellent. I've found a super shop Oh Sew Sweet which not only sells this at a great price, it comes rolled rather than folded...

...and here they are - gifted to 2 special friends, Julia and Deborah. I hope they enjoy using these as much as I enjoyed making them!