Blog Archives - Nicola Foreman Quilts

Completed Projects 2024

31/12/2024

As usual I've had another VERY productive year, with lots of quiltystuff being produced in my sewing studio - quilts and wallhangings, tablerunners and journal covers, bags and Christmas stockings - the list goes on and on! Unfortunately, I just ran out of time and energy this year to complete all the qrojects that I started, so I've still got a couple of projectsto finish, and they're going to be my priority in the new year. Now I need to blitz my sewing studio and make an updated list of the projects that have been tucked away still waiting to get made - hopefully I'll have another fabric-fuelled year in 2025.

Kits Made in 2024 From That VERY Long List

30/12/2024

Here's an update on the actual kits that I managed to complete during 2024, from that VERY long list that I published in January 2024. I've included the pattern name, the designer, the shop where it was purchased, along with a link to the shop, and the year the kit was purchased...

Cool Blue Lavender - designed by Jo Colwill - purchased from Cowslip Workshops in 2022
Grow - designed by Heart to Hand - purchased from Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts in 2023
Running Reindeer - designed by Lynette Anderson Designs - purchased from Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts in 2023

Tully Tote - designed by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse Patchwork Designs - purchased from Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts in 2023
Bird in a Basket - designed by Lynette Anderson Designs - gifted from Lynette in 2020
Bouquet Cushion - designed by Jo Colwill - purchased from Cowslip Workshops in 2016

All For Christmas - designed by Hatched and Patched - purchased from Coast and Country Crafts and Quilts in 2021
Kate quilt - designed by Carrie Nelson for Moda - purchased from KIS Quilting Ltd in 2019
Together at Christmas - designed by Hatched and Patched - purchased from Poppy Patch in 2021

...as you can see, I managed to complete one more kit than I did the previous year - hopefully I'll have just as productive a year in 2025.

Another Project Bag

29/12/2024

A few weeks ago I'd hand embroidered a "label" that I was going to use for a cushion, then changed my mind, and decided to make a project bag instead. I made a quilt samdwich, using a 12 inch square of ByAnnie Soft and Stable wadding and some fabrics designed by Lynette Anderson. This was quilted very simply in a cross-hatch design, using a grey variegated Valdani quilting thread, which blended in with these fabrics beautifully. I added a strip of ByAnnie clear vinyl for the see-through pocket. A wide binding was added to the top of the vinyl, then the zipper was inserted. A oiece of vintace lace was added to decorate the front of the vinyl pocket...

...the front and back of the project bag were stitched together, with a neat binding that covered all the raw edges - this was added using the same method as binding a quilt, with neat mitred corners. And here's the completed project bag - it'll be perfect for storing some sewing supplies in, for a couple of hand sewing projects that I'm planning on making in the next couple of months.

Christmas Stocking 2024

28/12/2024

I've been making a few more Christmas stockings this year, and I've used these beautiful fabrics from various collections by Lynette Anderson Designs. Some of these fabrics have been in my "Lynette" box for well over 10 years! The pattern I've used is Waiting for Santa by Leanne Beasley, and I've lost count of the number of stocking I've made with this pattern. The pattern suggests the hand embroidered name tag is attached to the stocking with a ribbon bow, but I've used one of my vintage buttons in a colour to match the fabrics. This green one is for my little grandson Alfie..

...and here are my finished stockings, before they were filled with small gifts, ready for the big day. A hanging loop means they can be hung by the chimney ready fro Father Christmas when he visits! I didn't share a picture of these earlier as I didn't want to spoil the surprise if they were seen before they'd been received. As Alfie is a bit young for choocolate goodies, I've filled his sticking with a some cute socks, some warm mittens and a cosy hat with a very smart bobble on the top.

Jolly Robin Cushion

27/12/2024

A super new kit arrived in the post from Poppy Patch just before Christmas - this Jolly Robin cushion, designed by Claire Turpin Design, really was so much fun to make! The kit included all the fabrics to make the cushion front and the binding. This is primarily a machine applique project, and is compatible with a Brother ScanNcut machine. I don't do much machine applique, but I really enjoyed making this as the instructions were really well written. All of the applique templates are already printed full size, in reverse, which made tracing them onto fusible webbing (I used Lite Steam-A-Seam 2) really easy. Once the shapes were traced, they were cut out leaving a quarter inch margin all around the traced lines. For the larger shapes, I then cut inside the line, again by a quarter of an inch. The "outline" shape is then fused onto the wrong side of the fabric, and cut out exactly on the traced line. The paper backing of the fusible webbing is then peeled off and the shape is ready to place on the background fabric - or, if like me you're using an applique mat, the shapes can be layered up on the mat. Using a mat means once the fabrics have been pressed into place with a warm iron, it can be peeled off as one piece once the fabrics have cooled down. The applique piece is then laid onto the background fabric, pressed with a warm iron to fuse it in place (I also used a teflon sheet to prevent any adhesive getting on the iron) and the applique is then ready for stitching...

...I stitched through ALL the layers - backing fabric, wadding, background of cushion and appliqué pieces - so it was appliquéd and quilted all at the same time. I've used Aurifil 40wt threads in a selection of colours to match the fabrics for all of the machine stitching, and used the same thread in the bobbin as on the top. This did mean there were a few starts and stops with the machine sewing, but I stitched all the "green" pieces first, then the "light brown" pieces, until all the pieces had been stitched into place. I do love a stripey binding, and I was thrilled that this gorgeous stripey fabric was included in this kit...

...the instructions in the pattern for the zipper insertion is the same as the method that I've been using for several years, with a double layer of fabric for the back of the cushion, which make a very sturdy cushion cover. The zipper fastening is hidden, and having a zipper means the cover can be easily removed if the cover needs to be laundered. The stripey binding really finishes this off a treat - the ladies at Poppy Patch really did work hard to put such a super kit together, and the stripey fabric they use has all the colours of the cushion front in it - red, green, black and blue. The pattern also includes instructions for making the backing without the binding, if you prefer that method. I've added one of my ready-made labels from Woven Labels UK to the back of the cushion too...

...and here's the completed cushion, ready to be wrapped as a festive giift for my daughter. I hope she loves it as much as I loved making it! This was a great pattern to make, the instructions were so well written, with lots of diagrams to help. The fabrics in the kit itself was super, I especially liked the sparkly fabric for the star!

Simple Joys - Stitched and Framed

25/12/2024

At the beginning of the year we spent several weeks house sitting for friends, which meant I was away from my sewing studio. Lots of hand sewing was needed to keep me busy, and this is another one of the kits that I purchased from Poppy Patch - Simple Joys, designed by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse Patchwork Designs. Hand embroidered using a selection of DMC stranded embroidery threads, this is the result. It was packed away ready for my return to my sewing studio, where it was framed very simply. I wrapped the completed piece of emmbroidery around some heavyweight card, and secured it by lacing stitches across the back, pulling the stitches taut. This was then glued to a piece of backing card. An A4 sized frame purchased from Hobbycraft was perfect for this project...

...although I'd framed this back in May, I hadn't taken a photograph, as I was waiting until I'd got my festive decorations on display too. I'm really pleased with how it looks, and will enjoy having this on show every year during the festive season.

Together at Christmas Carpet Bag

22/12/2024

Together at Christmas - designed by Hatched and Patched - is another kit from that VERY long list of kits that I've had in my sewing studio for a very long time! Purchased from Poppy Patch back in 2021, this kit contains all the fabrics needed to make this large tote bag, including the lining - and these gorgeous fabrics are also designed by Hatched and Patched, from their All for Christmas collection. The front of the bag has a pretty appliqued snowman scene, which is stitched before the bag is constructed...

...once the applique was completed, I layered the front of the bag with some wadding and a calico backing, and machine quilted very simply around the main applique shapes. I've used a mid-grey 40wt Aurifil thread for the machine quilting...

...patchwork panels are stitched for the base and sides of the bag, and the back has been machine quilted very simply. The pattern suggests using fusible fleece for the wadding, however I was trying to use up what I had without buying anymore supplies, so I used an off-cut of a bamboo/cotton wadding. once the individual pieses - front, back, sides and base have been quilted, they are joined together...

...once the bag outer is constructed, the lining is made, and the handles inserted between them. A narrow casing is attached to the inside and elastic is threaded through to create gathers to give the bag it's shape...

...a fabric tab is then attached on the right side, to cover the stitching. Buttons are stitched in place at each end to secure the tabs in place...

...as you can see, the bag has a firm base - this is achieved by making a slip cover with a piece of template plastic inserted into the cover, and placed inside the bag. This ensures the bag keeps it's shape when it's being used. I'm really going to enjoy using this over the next few days, filling it with goodies, ready to deliver to lots of special little people!

Festive Robin Wreath Cushion

10/12/2024

A few weeks ago I purchased issue 119 of Today's Quilter magazine, specifically to get this super pattern which was featured in a supplement. The pattern Festive Robin Wreath is designed by Jo Avery and features a variety of my favourite techniques - wool applique, needleturn applique, hand embroidery and buttons for embellishment. This robin looks very jolly, although I was only able to enlarge the prnted templates to 160% so the robin and wreath are a bit smaller than Jo's original pattern. I used a piece of Essex linen for the front of the cushion, and once the applique and hand embroidery were completed, I machine quilted very simply around both the outer and inner wreath...

...the applique pieces are layered, with the wool felt holly leaves being stitched first. I've used green felt for the holly and the ivy, and fabric scraps for the leaves that are needleturned appliqued. I had a good rummage in my button tin for some small red and white buttons for the mistletoe and holly berries. I embroidered my name and the year on the back of the cushion above the zipper opening. The back of the cushion is made with the same Essex linen that I used for the front. Once the front and the back of the cushion were stitched together, a red striped double-fold binding was added to neaten the raw edges...

...and here's my completed cushion, ready to display over the festive season. I've filled the cushion cover with a plump feather pillow form, and it will have pride of place in my lounge!

Festive Wreath 2024

7/12/2024

A couple of weeeks ago I attended a wreath-making workshop with my youngest daughter. The workshop had been organised to raise funds for a local primary school, and there were lots of ladies pf all ages participating. We both had such a super time, it was lovely spending a creative afternoon together, Here's my completed wreath, embellished with pine cones and cinnamon sticks, rusty stars and red painted jingle bells. I'm really pleased with this one, and it looks super on my bright red front door!

Kate Quilt - Completed

5/12/2024

Started back in September on a quilting retreat, this quilt was probably the most ambitious one I've ever made. Designed by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co, it uses 36 different fabrics from the Rosewood collection by 3 Sisters for Moda, and using 28 assorted blocks for the quilt top, along with 31 differnt blocks using a combination of those fabrics AND a tricky pieced border as the blocks are on point, it certainly was a challenge! It was then expertly longarm quilted by Daisy May Quilting, and I've just finished stitching the binding onto the back. I really an so pleased with it! I think this is the most beautiful quilt that I've ever made, and even Mr F likes it too, which is certainly a compliment!