Blog Archives - Nicola Foreman Quilts

Christmas Fun - Block 5 The Tree

16/3/2017

Here's the next gorgeous block - "The Tree". This pattern is "Christmas Fun" by Lynette Anderson Designs, and I bought the pattern and the set of hand painted wooden buttons from Patchwork Chicks here in the UK. I'm really enjoying stitching this festive project! Weaveline (a soft woven interfacing) was fused to the background fabric first of all, and the design was traced using a Micron Pigma pen and a lightbox. The stitchery was all done by hand, using DMC threads and very simple stitches - backstitch, cross stitch, satin stitch and colonial knots. The applique has been completed using the applique paper and glue stick method with Apliquick tools. I use a few spots of Roxanne's basting glue to hold the applique shapes in place instead of applique pins, and hand stitch the applique shapes to the background fabric with Aurifil 80wt thread. The angel hand painted wooden button will be stitched into place once the quilt has been completed.

Shopping Update! Bernina 570QE

15/3/2017

Eeekkk!! Shopping update!! I had a phone call on Monday from Tysew Limited telling me the reboxed Bernina 550QE I'd ordered was no longer available... however would I be prepared to accept a brand new 570QE for the same price (the 550QE was a reboxed model so was already reduced) Well of course I said YES and this bad boy arrived today. I am the happiest woman in Suffolk, possibly the happiest woman in the whole of the UK. I am beyond giddy. Thank you thank you THANK YOU Tysew Limited for such excellent customer service.

Christmas Fun - Block 4 The Angels

13/3/2017

On Saturday evening I took part in the #saturdaynightcraftalong on Instagram and was busy prepping these TINY Suffolk Puffs ready to hand applique into place. The cut circles are 1.25" in diameter, so they were a bit fiddly to make. I'm glad there were only 5 of these to make for the faces of these cute angels! Once the panel for block 4 had been embroidered, appliqued, and trimmed to size, it was time to prepare a selection of 1.5" squares. I used 9 different festive fabrics, and machine pieced them using Aurifil 50wt thread. (I'm still using the same Superior Titanium Microtex needle that I used for piecing the 3" Ohio star blocks!)...

...do you want to see a little peek of block 4? There are 5 of these sweet angels on this block, but I couldn't show them all on this photograph! The stocking is a hand painted wooden button and will be stitched into place once the quilt is completed.

Eeekkk... I've Been Shopping!

12/3/2017

I'm a real Bernina Babe, and I absolutely LOVE my Bernina Activa 230PE (I've had her since 2006 and she is as good as the day I bought her thanks to a bit of TLC from me and lots of TLC from Mr Tim at Felixstowe Sewing School) but I've always yearned a bigger sewing machine. So after weeks of deliberating and researching, I've bought this beauty from Tysew. It's the Bernina 550QE and it will be delivered on Tuesday. I am quite giddy with excitement! I couldn't believe it when Mr F asked me if I was going to sell my 230PE - well, I had to give him one of "those" looks - what a stupid man!
*Just to let you know Tysew was recommended by a lady at a sewing group I go to, and I must say their website is fantastic and they were really helpful over the phone on Saturday. If you're looking for a new machine I'd definitely recommend them!

Aurifil Thread

11/3/2017

As you know, my absolute favourite threads for machine piecing and machine quilting are Aurifil - and they're now available at my friend Lynne's shop, Craft Den in Sheffield. The 1300 spools of 50wt thread are on introductory offer at £8.25 each or 10 spools for £78 - ohhhh how I wish this gorgeous display of threads was going to be in my new sewing studio when it's completed! I'd be in thread heaven :)

Christmas Fun - Block 3 The Pudding

10/3/2017

Here's block 3 "The Pudding" - this pattern is "Christmas Fun" by Lynette Anderson Designs. I've used a selection of festive fabrics designed by Lynette for this project. Once the fabrics had been picked out, weaveline (a soft fusible lightweight interfacing) was fused to the back of the background fabric then traced the stitchery design with the use of a Micron Pigma pen and a light box. The applique design was stitched into place with Aurifil 80wt thread (I used a neutral colour for this, Dove Grey) and used a few spots of Roxanne's basting glue to hold it in place so I didn't need to use pesky pins! The stitchery was all done by hand, using DMC threads and very simple stitches - backstitch, cross stitch, satin stitch and colonial knots. Aurifil 50wt thread and a Superior Titanium Microtex size 60 needle was used for the machine piecing. The cute Christmas hat button that is perched on top of the bear's head will be stitched into place once the quilt has been completed. I'd originally bought this pattern online from Patchwork Chicks, here in the UK together with the set of hand painted wooden buttons. The pattern is also available from Cross Patch, with the option of being supplied as a kit.

Friends For Christmas - The Border Fabrics

9/3/2017

These GORGEOUS fabrics for the borders and binding were also in the parcel from Puddleducks along with block 6. These are ready for making "Friends for Christmas" by the Australian Designer Lynette Anderson. This is moving up on my list of "must makes for Christmas 2017" - although goodness only knows when I'm going to have time to make it!

Friends for Christmas - Block 6 - The Sleigh

8/3/2017

Eeekkk!! Will I have time to make this quilt this year? My postman delivered this gorgeous package yesterday - it's block 6 "The Sleigh". This pattern is "Friends For Christmas" by the Australian designer Lynette Anderson, and was bought online as a BOM from Puddleducks after I'd seen it on display at theKnitting and Stitching show back in October. I really must get a move on with making this quilt otherwise it won't be ready in time for Christmas!

Christmas Fun - Block 2 Mr Snowman

7/3/2017

Here's block 2 "Mr Snowman" - this pattern is Christmas Fun by Lynette Anderson Designs. This was bought online at the end of December from Patchwork Chicks, and I've used a selection of festive fabrics from an assortment of Lynette's collections for this project. The applique design was stitched into place with Aurifil 80wt thread (I used a neutral colour for this, Dove Grey) and used a few spots of Roxanne's basting glue to hold it in place so I didn't need to use pesky pins! The stitchery was all done by hand, using DMC threads and very simple stitches - backstitch, cross stitch, satin stitch and colonial knots. There are 4 small appliqued heart blocks for this quilt - 2 for for this block and 2 that will be added to block 3...

...and here's the completed block "Mr Snowman". As you can see, I've used a selection of "background" prints for this block. The 3" Ohio star blocks were all pieced together a few days ago, using a Superior Titanium needle and Aurifil 5-wt thread. The needles had been recommended to me, and they really are lovely for machine piecing. The same needle has been used for all the star blocks, piecing block 1 and 2 together, and it's still going strong! I'd bought a couple of packets from Barnyarns, and I'll definitely be ordering some more! The cute bird button has just been laid onto the block for the photograph - it will be stitched into place properly once the quilt has been completed.

Needle Plates

5/3/2017

The benefits of a straight stitch needle plate:
A normal needle plate has a "slot" where the needle goes in (allowing for change of stitch width) so the needle can wiggle about a bit. The straight stitch needle plate has a tiny hole where the needle goes, so you get a more precise stitch formation. It's perfect for stitching the small Ohio Star blocks where you need to be very accurate. The single hole plate will help stabilize the fabric and keep your stitching lines straighter. Plus, it avoids "eating" up the beginning edges of your seams. I bought one of these plates a few years ago, and really noticed a difference, especially when machine stitching small blocks. Along with using a very fine machine sewing needle (such as a Microtex size 60) and a fine thread (my favourite is Aurifil 50wt for machine piecing) it all helps with accurate precise results! The Bernina needle plates are really easy t change over, and simply "pop" out by pressing on the upper right hand corner. Just remember to change back to a normal needle plate when you want to alter the needle position or the stitch width!