Nicola Foreman Quilts
  • BLOG
  • BAGS
  • CUSHIONS
  • QUILTYSTUFF
  • QUILTS
  • TABLERUNNERS
  • WALL HANGINGS
  • CONTACT ME

In Full Bloom - Stitchery and Applique

30/7/2023

0 Comments

 
Another kit that has been on that very long list is In Full Bloom - purchased many years ago, this had been carefully stored away, waiting for "just the right time" to stitch it - and it was finally that time! The kit included the set of patterns, (this was originally a block of the month back in 2011/2012) a full colour sheet showing a picture of the completed quilt, all the original fabrics (these are from the Secret Garden collection, also designed by Lynette Anderson) and some beautiful yarn dyed fabric that was to be used for ther stitchery backgrounds. I traced the design using a lightpad (a very thin lightbox, and this large A3 sized one has 3 levels of brightness which is really useful) and a Micron Pigma pen - my favourite one is the finest nib, size 005, and a light brown, sepia, colour...
Picture
Picture
...once the designs were traced (the ink in these pens is permanent, so you do need a steady hand when you're using them), the hand embroidery was stitched using a combination of DMC and Cosmo embroidery threads. I used the solours that Lynette suggested, as I was using her original fabrics. The stitchery designs were then pressed, and cut out - there is a template included in the pattern for this - ready to be prepared for the applique part of the project...
Picture
Picture
...the edges have been turned over, and hand stiched into place using a very fine thread - the stitches are almost impossible to see. These appliqued blocks will be joined together with some Broken Dishes patchwork blocks later, to make the quilt top.
Picture
0 Comments

Heirloom Stitching

24/7/2023

0 Comments

 
These GORGEOUS Aurifil 12wt threads arrived in the post today from Cross Patch - 5 little spools of 50m each in shades 5868, 5023, 4644, 2930 and 1285, these threads will be perfect for some hand embroidery or hand quilting projects.
Picture
0 Comments

Aurifil Colour Builder - Pangolin

20/7/2023

0 Comments

 
Thanks to signing up to the Aurifil Colour Builder club at Oh Sew Sweet Shop I've been able to add to my collection of Aurifil 40wt threads. Pangolin is this month's selection and these brown threads - shades 2360, 6010 and 2312 - really are beautiful and are great for machine quilting.
Picture
0 Comments

The 1618 Cottage Bag - Construction

17/7/2023

0 Comments

 
Once the hand embroidery and applique for The 1618 Cottage Bag was completed, I was ready to construct the bag.  The lining was attached to a piece of wadding - the pattern suggest "bag batting" and the only structured wadding I had was ByAnnie Soft and Stable, which was a bit too thick for this project. After an unsuccessful attempt to put the bag together, I unpicked a few seams and re-did it using Pellon H630, which is a felted polyester wadding, and worked much better. I made the pocket strip by reinforcing the fabric strip with a piece of lightweight interfacing, folded the pocket strip in half lengthways, topstitched along the upper edge and layered it up on top of the wadding and lining. Dividing lines were stitched through all layers to form small pockets, which can be used for string needles and threads etc. The front of the bag was attached, then the zipper was machined to the main body of the bag...
Picture
Picture
...the bag base was quilted, and attached to the main body of the bag. Clover Wonder Clips are perfect for holding the thick layers together, and I hand basted the components together before machine stitching - the binding was folded over to cover the raw edges and hand stiched to the base of the bag. The lid was attached in the same manner as the base...
Picture
Picture
...the final touch was adding a decorative zipper pull. I used some scraps of leftover fabrics from the bag to make the tiny Suffolk Puffs, and used a few vintage buttons from my button tin. The instructions for this aren't included with this pattern, but are with another one of Lynette's designs, called Badger Cottage...
Picture
Picture
...the internal pockets are really useful for storing needles and threads, and although it's quite a small bag - it's approx 6.5" x 7" - there's lots of room inside for my other sewing bits and bobs too, and as you can see I've already filled it with everything I need for my next hand sewing project - which, surprise surprise, is another "Lynette-project" that has been on my to-do list for ages.
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

The 1618 Cottage Bag - Applique and Hand Embroidery

10/7/2023

0 Comments

 
Way back in 2020 a parcel from the Little Quilt Store (when it was based in Australia) popped through the letterbox - and it's been sitting in that VERY big box of kits in my sewing studio ever since! As my regular followers know, I made a list of all my kits at the beginning of 2022 and updated that list again at the beginning of this year. So finally, it's time to make this one! The 1618 Cottage Bag, by Lynette Anderson Designs, is a small quilted bag - the kit contained the pattern and all the fabrics required. This project uses a combination of both hand embroidery and hand applique...
Picture
Picture
...the hand applique was prepared using the Apliquick methd. I first saw Lynette demonstrating the Apliquick method of applique at the Festival of Quilts back in 2013, and have been using this method ever since. It gives lovely crisp edges to houses and roof topd, and I find it so much easier using the Apliquick tools rather than my stubby fat fingers - needleturn applique is definately not my thng! The embroidery has all ben stitched using a selection of variegated Valdani threads...
Picture
Picture
...the embroidery stitches are quite simple ones, and the variegated threads are especially lovely for the stain stitches flowers. Now the centre panel has been finished, I'm ready to start on the bag construction, but I'm leaving that until the weekend when I can shut myself away in my sewing studio for a few hours! 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

The Flower Farm Baby Quilt

8/7/2023

0 Comments

 
Last month I spent a lovely day shopping at Bury St Edmunds, and couldn't resist popping into Sew Much To Do - I really was on a mission, as I needed some fabric for a very special project. This gorgeous charm pack - The Flower Farm by Bunny Hill Designs - along with some yardage from one of the fabrics in this collection was perfect for the project I had planned. The lovely staff there helped to pick a pretty white fabric to go with it, and this Essentials Doodle Ditzy by Makower UK is simply perfect! Using the Charm Squares Baby Quilt pattern - designed by Elizabeth Hartman - the rows of squares and rectangles were soon cut and pieced together...
Picture
Picture
...sashing strips were added between the rows, and the quilt top was ready to be quilted in simple straight lines, half an inch apart. I've used a King Tut quilting thread purchased from Sew and So's  - this particular shade is White linen, and works perfectly with these fabrics as the white isn't too bright. I prefer to use bamboo wadding for my baby quilts, and this particular wadding was purchased recently from Franklins in Ipswich. Using the edge of the walking foot as a guide, I've "stiched in the ditch" first of all, then stitched the straight lines, using the edge of the walking foot as a guide. This simple quilting gives a lovely ribbed texture to the quilt...
Picture
Picture
...this pink floral backing fabric is one of the fabrics from The Flower Farm collection, and is also used for the wide binding. The binding is machine stitched to the front of the quilt, then folded over and hand stittched o the back. I've used ladder stitch for this as it's almost impossible to see the stitches, and used the same King Tut thread that was used for the quilting. One of my pre-made labels from Woven Labels UK is stiched across the corner...
Picture
Picture
...and here's the finished quilt. The pattern is one that I've used several times before, Charm Squares Baby Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman, and is a free PDF download from her website. The pattern also has instructions for making a larger one with a Layer Cake too. The bamboo wadding and simple quilting make this such a soft, snuggly quilt, ideal for cuddles and for tummytime too. Now it just needs to be wrapped and sent off to the parents of a very special little girl, who made her arrival recently! 
Picture
0 Comments
    Picture

    About me...

    Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! 
    ​​I live in Suffolk, not far from the coast, surrounded by the beautiful countryside.  
    ​If you want to share or pin any of my pictures, please link back to my blog.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture

    Blogs I follow

    A Quilt Lady
    A Quilting Life
    Abyquilt
    Anne-Grethe's quiltblog
    Anne Marie Quilt
    Bente Malm Quilte-Design
    Bloom
    Cinderberry Styitches
    Daisy made it
    Dilly Dimple
    Karis Quilterier
    Evas Quilterom
    Erickaeckles
    Fantasia Yarns
    Gail Pan Designs
    Hanne's Quilt Corner
    Halfpenny Home
    I'm a Ginger Monkey
    J-quilts
    Just Jude Designs
    Kviltstina
    Leanne's House
    Liv Aagots Quilteblogg
    Lily's Quilts
    Litamora's Quilt & Design
    Lynette Anderson Designs
    Merete's Quiltestue
    Mona's quiltblog
    Pam's Paradise Stitching
    Pia Si Sia
    Random Ramblings
    Sigrun's blog
    Sølvi's blog
    U-handblog
    ZewNice

     UK shops

    These are the UK shops that I use to purchase my quilting supplies - fabrics and threads etc.
    Bramblepatch
    Buttonberry
    Coast and Country Crafts
    Craft Den
    Cross Patch
    Emma's Fabric Studio
    Fiona's Fabrics
    Glenroy Designs
    Halfpenny Home
    Hulu
    J-quilts
    KIS Quilting
    Patchwork Chicks
    Quilter's Cloth
    Quilters Haven
    Sew and So's
    The Eternal Maker
    The Fat Quarters
    The Quilt Room
    U-handbag

    Australian links

    Cookies and Cream Craft
    Homespun magazine
    Little Quilt Store
    Quilt Fabric Delights
    Under The Mulberry Tree

    Scandinavian links

    Lapp-Elisa Quilts HB
    Lappedesign
    Lappedilla AS
    Myquilt
    Northern Quilts
    Quiltegården
    Quiltekroken
    Quiltemagasinet
    Quiltespecialisten
    Sy-Sammen