Here's the first block "Cookies" for my first proper quilting project for 2017 - this pattern is Christmas Fun by Lynette Anderson Designs. I bought this online at the end of December from Patchwork Chicks, after I'd seen a version of this that my friend Denise had made. I've used a selection of festive fabrics from an assortment of Lynette's collections for this project. I started by fusing weaveline (a soft fusible lightweight interfacing) to the back of the background fabric then traced the stitchery design with the use of a light box and 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... ...3" Ohio starts were machine pieced together using Aurifil 50wt thread, again in a neutral colour (I used a mid grey for this) and then pieced the block together. My new favourite needles are Superior Titanium Microtex size 60 needles that I bought from Barnyarns - they are really sharp, and so far they are lasting much longer than the Mircotex needles that I usually use for machine piecing. The hand painted wooden button will be stitched into place once the quilt has been completed, I've just laid it on here so you can see what it will look like. This is going to be a super quilt when it's finished - now onto the next block!
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I tend to use Schmetz Microtex size 60 for machine piecing, (especially for batiks) and had recently converted to using size 70 as I'd had issues with the needles breaking as soon as I got too near a pin. A couple of weeks ago, one of my FB page "likers" recommended these Superior Titanium Microtex needles. I'd already tried the same brand Topstitch needles and was really impressed with those, so didn't hesitate in ordering a few packs from Barnyarns. I had to wait for my machine to be serviced before I could try them out, and this morning I cut some fabrics ready for a few 3" Ohio star blocks... ...well so far so good! I was able to sew right up to the pin without the needle bending or breaking, and there were no holes left in the fabric when I had to do a little bit of unpicking (not exactly my favourite past-time). These small blocks are now ready to be stitched together. As usual, I used a straight stitch needle plate and Aurifil 50wt thread for the machine piecing. And in case you were wondering, my Bernina is purring like a kitten thanks to the superb servicing it received from Mr Tim at Felixstowe Sewing School.
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July 2023
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