Blog Archives - Nicola Foreman Quilts

Stitching a Garden

17/4/2020

While Mr F enjoys working in the garden I much prefer to stitch one! I've enjoyed the peace and quiet of stitching early in the mornings before work, and in the evenings when my working day is done. I've got a variety of projects on the go, and this one is particularly lovely...

...this pattern is "Green Thumb" and is a 5-part design by the Australian designer Lynette Anderson. I bought this as a kit from Cross Patch in Wales back in June 2019...

...this fabulous kit included the set of 5 patterns and all the fabrics for making the quillt top, including the backing fabric and binding fabrics too. All I needed to add were the embroidery threads...

...the hand embroidery has all been stitched using a selection of variegated Valdani stranded threads, in subtle tones to co-ordinate with Lynettes pretty fabrics from her Stonehouse Garden collection...

...there are lots of pretty flowers and busy buzzing bees in this design, and it's the perfect garden as it does't need any watering or weeding!

Wish You Well - Block 4

15/4/2020

Here's the fourth block of Wish You Well - it's the 2020 I Stitch Club design, which is a mystery block of the month, designed by the Australian designer Gail Pan Designs and is available from her website as a PDF download. This combines a mixture of hand embroidery and applique (you can use whatever method of applique you prefer). Gail uses a mix of vintage lace and doilies as trimmings, and I've added a piece of vintage lace to my block. I've used a GORGEOUS selection of fabrics for this project, that are from the Super Bloom collection by Edyta Sitar, which were purchased from Cross Patch an online shop based in Wales here in the UK. This block is the last one for the top row, although I'll probably wait until they're all done before I join the blocks together. Now I've finally caught up, I'll be waiting patiently for the pattern fir block 5 which will be released on 1st May. And I have one or two other stitching projects to keep me busy in the evenings after work!

A Peek at Block 4 of Wish You Well

14/4/2020

Here's a peek at the fourth block of Wish You Well, which is this year's mystery I Stitch Club, by Gail Pan Designs. The letters were stitched using a pretty variegated blue Valdani perle thread in backstitch. Once the stitchery was completed, the block was pieced together with these gorgeous fabrics from Edyta Sitar's Super Bloom collection, which were purchased from Cross Patch in Wales. This block has been embellished with some vintage lace, which was machined in place using a longer stitch length than usual. I've also used some broderie anglais fabric for one of the appliqued circles. I'll reveal the completed block tomorrow.

Wish You Well - Month 4 Stitchery

13/4/2020

The stitchery designs for month 4 of Wish You Well, the 2020 I Stitch Club by the Australian designer Gail Pan Designs have been hand embroidered using a variety of stranded cotton and perle embroidery threads. I've used a selection of threads by Valdani, Cosmo and DMC, both stranded cotton and perle thread, and a mixture of both plain and variegated colours to add a bit of interest. The 2 background fabrics that I've used here are from the Super Bloom collection by Edyta Sita, and I've fused a piece of lightweight interfacing onto the wrong side before stitching the hand embroidery.

Interwoven

10/4/2020

Here's my completed version of "Interwoven" which is an optical illusion design made by foundation paper piecing. This was designed and taught by Helen Butcher of Little Patch Pockets. Helen is a great tutor, and I'd been on a "Block Party" workshop with her at Kis Quilting Ltd last year, so when I saw that she was doing another workshop at Sew and So's I just couldn't resist siging up! Helen is a great tutor, and her geometric designs are brilliant. Helen has a great selection of patterns using her designs on her website. Her patterns are extremely well illustrated, with lots of detailed instructions, so after the workshop you're able to complete the design at home without too much difficulty. This was machine quilted very simply in straight lines (although some are a bit wobbly!) and I used a variegated green King Tut qiolting thread. Once the quilting was completed, I used a dark orange batik for the binding, and added a quilt sleeve to the back. I used a Moda grunge spot in green for the backing, and if you look carefully you'll see that was one of the fabrics used in the front too. When we're back to normal again, going on another one of Helen's workshops is definitely on the top of my list of quilty things to do.

Wish You Well - Block 3

8/4/2020

Here's the third block of Wish You Well - it's the 2020 I Stitch Club design, which is a mystery block of the month, designed by the Australian designer Gail Pan Designs and is available from her website as a PDF download. This combines a mixture of hand embroidery and applique (you can use whatever method of applique you prefer). Gail uses a mix of vintage lace and doilies as trimmings, and I've added a piece of a vintage linen napkin to my block. I've used a GORGEOUS selection of fabrics for this project, that are from the Super Bloom collection by Edyta Sitar, which were purchased from Cross Patch an online shop based in Wales here in the UK.

A Few Peeks at Block 3 of Wish You Well

7/4/2020

Here are a few peeks at the third block of the 2020 I Stitch Club called Wish You Well, designed by the Australian designer Gail Pan. It's available to purchase from Gail's website, as a PDF download so each month you're sent a pattern that included all the instructions, a full size traceable stitchery design and a bonus pattern. Below you can see one of the applique circles has been made with some broderie anglais fabric...

...I've used a selection of different embroidery threads, including perle cotton and stranded cotton, in both plain and variegated colours to match these gorgeous fabrics...

...some ric-rac trimming had been added, which was decorated with colonial knots in a variegated Valdani perle thread. And there's a hint of the corner of a linen napkin that was perfect for this project! This is a mystery block of the month, and I'm using fabrics from the Super Bloom collection by Edyta Sitar, that were purchased from Cross Patch, an online shop based in Wales, here in the UK. I'll share a picture of the complete block tomorrow!

Wish You Well - Month 3 Stitchery

6/4/2020

The stitchery designs for month 3 of Wish You Well, the 2020 I Stitch Club by the Australian designer Gail Pan Designs have been hand embroidered using a variety of stranded cotton and perle embroidery threads. I chose colours to co-ordinate with my fabrics, and used a mixture of both plain and variegated threads to add a bit of interest. The 2 background fabrics that I've used are from the Super Bloom collection by Edyta Sita, and I've fused a piece of lightweight interfacing onto the wrong side. I've also used a Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circle template for the circular applique. This will be appliqued into place once the block has been pieced together.

Quilting Interwoven

5/4/2020

Today I've spent most of my time shut away in my sewing studio, machine quilting "Interwoven" which is an optical illusion design. This was taught, and designed, by Helen Butcher of Little Patch Pockets, at a workshop held at Sew and So's in Bungay, several weeks ago. I've quilted it very simply in straight rows, using a variegated green King Tut quilting thread, with my walking foot against the edge of the seams as a guide.

Le Beau Papillon

4/4/2020

Ohhh just LOOK at these GORGEOUS fabrics! These are from Le Beau Papillon collection by French General for Moda, and arrived in the post this morning from Cross Patch. Julia thank you so much - these fabrics are beautiful. I've got several ideas about what I can use these for, so watch this space!