Blog Archives

Down In The Garden - Block 6

30/6/2014

I've been busy preparing Block 6 of "Down In The Garden" (designed by Leanne Beasley) and I've been SO glad that I bought an A3 sized light box a few weeks ago. It really is so much easier to use, and much better than having to tape my patterns and fabric onto the conservatory windows. I've used a pale brown coloured Pigma Micron pen to trace the designs onto the fabric...

......I used a pale grey Mettler fine embroidery thread for machine piecing the mini blocks and a Schmetz Microtex size 60 needle, and used a smaller stitch than usual as the block will be put under some tension when it's in the embroidery hoop. One all the mini blocks were pieced together, and all the loose threads trimmed away, I fused a thin piece of stabiliser (Vilene H180) to the back of the block, and now I'm ready to start stitching.

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More Sunday Stitching And Another Sminkepung

29/6/2014

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I don't like to waste time, and so as my machine was already set up this morning, it made sense to make another one of these small cosmetic bags. I used a selection of turquoise Lecien fabrics for the front, back and the binding, teamed with some turquoise lace, and used this Moda spot for the lining...

...and there's another project crossed off my list - one of my nieces has a very special birthday in September, and this will be a perfect gift for her! Now I'll give my Bernina a well deserved rest, and treat her to a good clean and oil and she'll be ready for another sewing project next weekend!

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Sunday Stitching

29/6/2014

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I've had a very productive day sewing, and this was the first project of the day - using a selection of Lecien fabrics and some orange velvet ribbon trimmed with lace. The plainer fabric is textured, and worked beautifully for the project that I was planning, and used a variegated Gutterman Sulky thrread for the quilting, and a plain Mettler thread in the bobbin. The lining fabric was the left over backing from my brown batik quilt, and is by Moda. It really was the perfect match. So - quilted and labelled...

...another cosmetic bag ready to use as a gift when I need one in a hurry! This pattern is by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa, and although the instructions are in Norwegian it is easy to make by following the diagrams. I have a few more Lecien fabric scraps and lace that I need to use up, and I'll show pictures of that project later on!

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Down In The Garden - Block 5 Complete

28/6/2014

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Here are the results of my early morning stitching. This is Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" (pattern is by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley). The other blocks in this quilt have a combination of piecing and applique and stitchery, but this is the centre block and is very stitchery intensive! I just need to trim this to size, and stitch it to Block 4, then I can make a start on Block 6.

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Block 5 Floral Border

22/6/2014

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All that early morning stitching means the floral border for Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" (designed by Leanne Beasley) has finally been completed, and now I just need to stitch the verse. This may take a little longer as I seem to have used all the skein of thread in that colour, so need to wait until the weekend before I can buy another one!

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Early Morning Stitches

20/6/2014

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"Down In The Garden (designed by Leanne Beasley) is my current project. Block 5 is really coming along nicely, and this hand sewing is really relaxing. I love to stitch early in the morning before everyone else is awake and being able to enjoy some peace and tranquility before everyone is rushing around getting ready for work. Sitting with a cuppa, listening to the birds singing - and Mr F snoring. What a perfect way to start my day!!

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Longarm Quilting Workshop

15/6/2014

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What a wonderful day I had yesterday! I attended a workshop with Janette, that involved playing on her longarm quilting machine. Janette is a superb tutor, and she was so very patient with us while we played with her "babies" (yes, Janette has TWO longarm quilting machines - "Lucy" and "Lennie"). Anyway, this shows my attempt at quilting using "Lucy", and Norah is using "Lennie" under Janette's expert tuition. We practiced pebbles and swirls, and flowers and feathers, and stipples and it really was great fun...

...the aim of the workshop was to make a sewing machine cover, which we quilted on the longarm machine, so it wasn't just the excitement of using these wonderful machines - we actually got to make something useful too. Norah was using some very pretty paisley fabric for her project, and Edwina was using some gorgeous grey and lime green fat quarters (she let slip that these were bought on a recent expedition to Sew and So's at Bungay, so I might need a shopping expedition there soon!)...

...I managed to get the main part of the cover constructed while I was at the workshop, and just had the binding to finish. As you can see I used this smart black and white stripe, which looks great cut on the diagonal. I cut 2.5" strips and stitched it into place 3/8" from the raw edges, sewing carefully around the curves. I used Clover "Wonder Clips" to hold the binding in place while I hand stitched it into place on the inside of the cover...

...this large cover slips onto the machine and is large enough to cover my Bernina 230PE even when the extension table is in place, so will be really useful to use when I've got my machine set up for a few days when I have a mammoth sewing session. It would be equally useful if I ever bought a larger Bernina too!...

...and here's my finished sewing machine cover - quilted and bound, and standing proudly on the matching sewing mat that I made a few weeks ago. I'm so pleased with how this turned out, I just might have to make another one for a friend, using my Bernina and trying some FMQ'ing.

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Block 5 - A Few More Stitches

13/6/2014

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Early each morning when everyone else is asleep, I've stitched a few flowers and enjoyed a cup of tea before I get ready to start my day. This is Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley, and I think stitching this is almost as relaxing as spending time in Mr F's garden!

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Block 5 - A Few Stitches

8/6/2014

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Well I've made a start on Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" (a beautiful quilt designed by Leanne Beasley). This is a very stitchery-intensive block, and I'm having a very relaxing time . I prepped this block yesterday, and then made a start with the stitchery early this morning while everyone else was asleep - before I had to do boring things like cooking and cleaning!

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Down In The Garden - Block 5 Prepared

7/6/2014

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Block 5 of "Down In The Garden" (designed by Leanne Beasley) is much more stitchery-intensive and was waiting to be prepped. As I usually tape both the pattern and fabric with masking tape onto my conservatory windows, my arms were going to be killing me by the time I'd traced this design! I've got a small A5 size light-box which is ok for small projects, but I really NEEDED a bigger one! I decided that I really needed to invest in a super large light-box. As I hadn't spent ANY money on fabric while I was on holiday I deserved a little treat, so this morning I went on a little jaunt to Felixstowe, and bought this super A3 sized light-box, which is just perfect for tracing stitchery and applique designs. It uses a low energy light bulb, so didn't get too hot when I was busy tracing...

...I always use a Pigma Micron pen, to trace the designs, and I prefer the brown colour. The ink is permanent so you do need a very steady hand. 2 strands of embroidery thread will cover the traced lines perfectly. Now this just needs a thin fusible interfacing fused to the back of the fabric, and I'll be ready to start the stitching this evening while Mr F is watching football on TV!! I'd better hide this light-box, as my youngest daughter (the very crafty one) has already cast an envious eye over it. And if I'm not careful it might be "borrowed" and I'll never see it again!

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Down In The Garden - Block 6

More Sunday Stitching And Another Sminkepung

Sunday Stitching

Down In The Garden - Block 5 Complete

Block 5 Floral Border

Early Morning Stitches

Longarm Quilting Workshop

Block 5 - A Few More Stitches

Block 5 - A Few Stitches

Down In The Garden - Block 5 Prepared

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