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... ...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... ...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.
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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.
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.
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... ...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... ...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... ...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.
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... ...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... ...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!
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... ...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... ...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... ...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!
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About me...Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! Archives
July 2023
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