Nicola Foreman Quilts - BLOG

A Feathery Plume

22/5/2019

I haven't been able to share a picture of the completed project yet, as it's a gift for a colleague, but all can be revealed tomorrow once the new mum-to-be has opened the present! However I can share a glimpse of this feathery plume, which I am rather proud of! This was free motion quilted using Aurifil 40wt thread. I hardly dared breathe while I was quilting this in case I made any mistakes! The straight rows of quilting are just 0.5" apart - I just used the edge of the walking foot as a guide. Now I've taken some photographs, this can be carefully wrapped, ready for gifting tomorrow.

Cream and White Squares

21/5/2019

Here's a glimpse of project that has been keeping me busy over the past few weeks - I can't reveal too much yet, as it's a surprise for a work colleague! These cream and white fabrics really are very pretty, and lots of 2.5" squares have simply been machine pieced together using a neutral coloured Aurifil 50wt thread. Inner and outer borders have been added, ready for some machine quilting.

9 Blocks of Hearts and Happy Flowers

20/5/2019

It's not a very clear picture, but here's a photo grid of all 9 blocks of my Hearts and Happy Flowers quilt - pattern by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley, set of patterns and fabrics supplied by Cross Patch, an online shop based in Wales here in the UK. Just need to get these stitched together and add the borders!

Deconstruction of Block 1

19/5/2019

I really wasn't happy with the first block of my Hearts and Happy Flowers quilt, so it was completely deconstructed (sounds much better than being ripped apart). All those seams meant it was just so bulky (the following 8 blocks have been pieced together with all the seams being pressed open to solve that problem) so it just had to be done! Thankfully the linen stitchery block was saved from the rubbish bin, however the rest of the block was beyond help, so more fabrics were cut and pieced together and those teeny tiny stitchery hearts and teeny tiny bunting flags were all redone. Now the blocks are ready to be joined together, and the borders can be added while I deliberate over the quilting.

A Box of Delights

18/5/2019

I practically squealed with delight when I opened this parcel - an Instagram follower is having a de-stash and I was lucky enough to buy these goodies from her - 136 skeins of gorgeous Lecien Cosmo threads and a few spools of Perle too. I'm in thread heaven sorting through all these delightful colours!

Blossom Tree

17/5/2019

Another small wall hanging has been stitched and is hanging in my sewing studio! The pattern and hand painted wooden buttons for "Blossom Tree" (by Lynette Anderson Designs) was purchased from Cross Patch in Wales. The pattern included an iron on transfer for this stitchery design - it wasn't particularly easy transferring the design onto the fabric, even with a hot iron and a lot of patience, so I filled in the gaps free hand with a Micron Pigma pen! The centre panel is hand embroidered (I used DMC threads for this) and omitted the embroidered corner stones. A hand painted wooden button is used to embellish the centre panel...

...rather than follow the original pattern for the borders, I used some strips of assorted fabrics from my "Lynette" fabric box - and used the quilt-as-you-go method for attaching the strips. A narrow single fold binding was added, and a narrow quilt sleeve was hand stitched to the back so it's easy to display in my sewing studio on a decorative quilt hanger.

Hearts and Happy Flowers - Block 9

14/5/2019

The final block has been hand embroidered and hand appliqued, and just needs to have a final press, before it's stored away with the others, while I concentrate on sorting out block 1 again! This gorgeous design, by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley, has been a real labour of love over the past few months (the first block was started back in October) - it certainly has been a pleasure to stitch. These gorgeous fabrics were in a kit supplied by Cross Patch, an online quilt shop based in Wales, here in the UK, and are mostly from the Katie Jane collection by Makower UK. Lecien Cosmo embroidery threads were used for the hand embroidery, and they really have a lovely sheen to them.

Another Useful Sewing Kit

13/5/2019

While I've been busy stitching my Hearts and Happy Flowers quilt, I've been storing the pattern, needles, scissors and Cosmo embroidery threads in a beautiful "Couch Companion" that I'd made several years ago, also designed by Leanne Beasley. It's designed to hang over the arm of a sofa or armchair, and the centre pin cushion has been filled with some fine grade wire wool, to keep my pins and needles sharp. The couch companion is really useful, with lots of smaller pockets for storing packets of needles and threads, and larger pockets for patterns and an embroidery hoop...

...I've been using Tulip embroidery needles for the hand embroidery of these blocks, along with Cosmo embroidery threads. This final block is now finished, so I'll share a picture of this one tomorrow - although I won't stitch the blocks together just yes, as block 1 has been de-construted as I wasn't happy with all those bulky seams, so I've been busy with my reverse-sewing implement (AKA a seam ripper!)

Mini Stitchery Block

12/5/2019

Well I've almost finished the final block of this gorgeous quilt! Hearts and Happy Flowers, designed by Leanne Beasley is such a pretty quilt, with lots of hand embroidery and lots of appliqued hearts. I have absolutely loved stitching every part of this quilt - I shall almost be disappointed when it's finished, as I've enjoyed spending many months stitching this beauty.

Shopping for Border and Binding Fabric

11/5/2019

I've been getting ready for when the binding and optional borders will be added to my Hearts and Happy Flowers quilt! I found the perfect white tonal fabric yesterday at Sew and So's of Bungay (many thanks to the owner, Beryl, for helping me to decide which one to buy) and a simple Google search for the Katie Jane collection by Makower UK resulted in a cheeky little purchase from The Sewing Studio UK - now I just need to get block 9 finished!!
*I've been asked about fabric in the kit - there was plenty of fabric, however details about an optional border were included in the info in pattern number 10, and not in the original fabric requirements. The original quilt made by Leanne Beasley didn't have any borders. If I'd cut my red fabric differently, I would've had plenty for the binding, and have got enough fabric left for a scrappy red binding, but wanted to use just one fabric so needed a bit extra!