| Day 12 is all about our sewing stations. I use another Ikea Malm desk as my sewing station, which my Bernina 570QE sits on along with a plexiglass extention table. Both the desk and the extension table are easy to keep clean, I just wipe over them with a damp cloth regularly. I keep my sewing machine feet in the Bernina toolbox that came with my machine, and that stands on the desk to the side of my machine. My "spare" machine is my Bernina 230PE that I use to take to classes - this is stored in a travelling case under my desk due to lack of space, and is regularly cleaned and kept in good condition. #declutterchallenge2025 #jgidqdeclutterchallenge2025 #reclaimingmyspace2025 |  |
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#jgidqdeclutterchallenge2025 #reclaimingmyspace2025 Another Norwegian project from my VERY long list of kits - and another set of placemats! This pattern - Spis Fisk (translates as Eat Fish) is also by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, and the kit which included the pattern and all the fabrics inclding the the backing and binding, was purchased from Lapp-Elisa, in Sweden. Although the instructions are written in Norwegian, the pattern is very well illustrated, and was simple to put together. The instructions are for raw edge applique, and I've used a small black button on the eye which will be stitched in place once the placemats are completed. This cute fish-themed fabric is from the Fish Tales collection by Annie Brady for Moda...
...the wadding that I've used is my favourite one for tablerunners and placemats - Vliseline H630, whith is a thin felted polyester fusible wadding which quilts very nicely. I tend to buy this by the metre from Cross Patch here in the UK. The machine quilting has been kept very simple, with lines of echo quilting around the fish heads and tails. The centr panel has been machine quilted in straight rows half an inch apart, using the edge of the walking foot as a guide...
...I've used the star print to bind the placemats with a single fold binding, machined to the front of the mat then folded over and hand stiched to the back. Two mats have this cute fish print for the backing, and two have the orange fabric. I've added a label to the back of one of the mats, stitching it in place diagonally across the corner...
...and here are the completed placemats, ready to be wrapped and gifted to a very special friend.  Another project that has been on my to-do list for a VERY long time is this set of 4 placemats - the pattern is Vårlige Tulipanhus (translates as Spring Tulip House) and is by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. This pattern was in issue 01/2011 of the Norwegian magazine Quiltemagasinet, and both the magazine and this super fabric kit was purchased from Lappedilla in Norway back in 2011. The pattern, although written in Norwegian, is relatively simple to make, as the instructions are well illustrated. I've used Lite Steam-a-seam 2 for fusible webbing. Once the shapes were traced onto the back of the webbing, the shapes were cut out with a small margin around the traced line, fused onto the back side of the fabric, then cut out exactly on the drawn line. The backing paper is peeled off, the shapes are pressed into place, then when everything is in the right place, a warm iron is used to fuse the shapes into place before machine stitching around the edge...
...there is a large picture in the magazine showing the layout of the windows, doors, tulips and leaves, so it is easy to replicate this with the fabric applique shapes. I machine stitched the appliqued shapes using a black Aurifil 40wt thread. I like to use a thin wadding for tablerunners and placemats, my favourite is a fusible felted polyested wadding, Vliseline H630, which I buy by the metre from Cross Patch - this wadding quilts nicely, and isn't too bulky. The placemats are made using the "birthing" method - the backing fabric is laid right side up on the wadding, the placemat is laid right side down. Once all layers have been pinned together, I've machined all around the "house" a quarter of an inch from the edge, leaving approx 5" opening for turning through. Once the placemat has been turned through, it is pressed, the gap is then hand stitched closed, and machine quilted...
...I'm really pleased with how these look, especially as they're a gift for a very special friend. I hope she enjoys using them as much as I enjoyed making them!  |
 About me...Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! 
 
 
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