Month: January 2018

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Quilting Frame…

I’m not sure if I mentioned this before but I got a quilting frame from Kenneth Lund recently and I have finally set it up.

Having a few issues with it at present and will be making a few modifications but I’m happy with how far I’ve progressed with setting it up.

I broke my first needle on it – annoying. Can’t seem to move the carriage smoothly. mmmmmm – will work on it soon.

Will also post pictures soon. I could not find EMT conduit so used wooden rods but these are not rigid enough so my quest continues. If anyone in the UK knows where to find EMT conduits, I will be very grateful if they can share the info. Till I sort it all out, free motion quilting will have to do. 🙂

7 months down the line and I still can’t find 0.5″ EMT conduit called thinwall in the UK. I would not advise anyone in the UK to purchase this frame unless the are absolutely sure they will find all the materials needed to complete it.

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Applique, Applique, Applique…

Just completed a quilt with appliques. Although the ‘turn under’ method is straight forward, I enjoyed the bond-a-web method. Cutting around the shapes is a bit tricky but patience and sharp small scissors is the key.

Applique QuiltApplique Quilt  

Applique Quilt Back
Applique Quilt Back

Front and back of quilt. The quilt was filled with stippling. Had fun doing that.

Quilt made with Lovely layer cake range of Moda fabric.

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Design Wall…

I hear many professional quilters talk about a design wall where one can showcase blocks and work with the colours. I decided to give it a go and bought some flannel fabric.

I put it up with cellotape – temporary measure – and arranged my blocks on it. It worked! It sure is something that should be tried out. Now I will work on making it permanent.

Design Wall
Design Wall
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Teddy Bear Quilt…

I started a teddy bear quilt a while back and completed all 9 blocks I needed for the quilt. I did not get round to completing it till last week and I used only 6 of the 9 blocks.

Below is a pictorial of the quilt.

Teddy Bear quilt block
Teddy Bear quilt block

Quilt successfully sashed and squared.
Quilt successfully sashed and squared.

Quilt backing pieced
Quilt backing pieced

Quilt top, backing and batting laid out for basting.
Quilt top, backing and batting laid out for basting.

Quilt machine quilted - free-motion quilting.
Quilt machine quilted – free-motion quilting.

Close up of top quilting
Close up of top quilting

View of quilt back.
View of quilt back.

Close up of quilt back.
Close up of quilt back.

Close up of completed quilt.
Close up of completed quilt.

Four blocks of completed quilt.
Four blocks of completed quilt.

Full quilt with all eyes and noses present.
Full quilt with all eyes and noses present.

Back of completed quilt with label in corner.
Back of completed quilt with label in corner.

Quilt label made from word document.
Quilt label made from word document.

QED

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Double Wedding Ring…

You see a quilt and you fall in love with it. You determine in your mind that you will need to make one to satisfy the yearning deep within.

You embark on your project. You pick out the fabric – this takes all of 2 hours. You get home all excited and start cutting out the pieces. Then the enthusiasm dries up. You embark on other projects for another 2 to 3 weeks before you settle down again to at this precious project. You begin to put it all together and there are lots of teeny processes that can really be annoying.

Finally, 3 mnths later, you realise it is all completed. You can’t really see the beauty but you whip out that camera and take a few pictures and voila! it is there. The quilt looks beautiful. Looking at it non stop for 3 months has made the fabrics so familiar it’s all blended but through different eyes, it looks great. Judge for yourself.

DWR Front
DWR Front

DWR Back
DWR Back

DWR Label
DWR Label

 

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Sewing Room…

Luxury!!!!

We all dream of a space we can call our own and we sewers are the worst of all. We take over half of the house and still need more space. Well, I am thinking of moving into the garage as it seems to be the idea location for me and my ‘load’.

But – there always is a ‘but’ – the amount of work to get it sorted is frightening! I guess I have to roll up my sleeves and go for it. I really want my space where I can expand at will and not feel bad.

Finally, my dream is being realised. I have my sewing room. It’s been a year but it has been well worth the wait. The garage was finally sorted out and I have an 8ft x 15ft space to call my own.

The natural lighting is brilliant and it is also sound proof so I can blare my praise and worship songs without annoying anyone.

One of my main issues is how to fill it up. I already have tables and shelves but I need wall storage, a design wall and make it quite an effective space.

Ikea, here I come. Once I get it all sorted, will be back with more updates.

Put some stuff in and it’s filled up. Made my Ikea list and so should visit any day soon.

Here are more pics:

Studio 1
Studio 1

Studio 2
Studio 2

Studio 3
Studio 3

Still need to fit in 2 knitting machines, more bookcases for fabric and another table.

Yeepee!

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More Moda Fabric…

Lovely by Sandy Gervais, Antique Fair by Blackbird Designs, Buttercup by Fig Tree &

co, Max and Whiskers, Lily & Will II, Faith, Dragonfly Summer.

buttercup Hang Tag
buttercup Hang Tag

Dragonfly Summer hangtag
Dragonfly Summer hangtag

Collections-Faith Hangtag
Collections-Faith Hangtag

Antique Fair hangtag
Antique Fair hangtag

Lily & Will II hangtag
Lily & Will II hangtag

max & whiskers hangtag
max & whiskers hangtag

Lovely hangtag
Lovely hangtag
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Moda Fabric…

Finally took the plunge. Had a wonderful time with Moda rep yesterday trying to decide what fabrics to get for my store. Not an easy task but learnt a lot from her. Will update site with fabrics as soon as I get them in. Can’t wait!!!!

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Christmas Ornaments…

I have been searching for quilted Christmas ornaments for a while but apart from the odd christmas stocking, there really isn’t much out there. Does anyone have ornament patterns they will be willing to share with others? Here is a link to one I found a couple of months ago: http://crafterwithoutacat.blogspot.com/2009/08/ornament-tutorial.html. It’s quite easy and straight forward. Happy Quilting!!!

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Fabric, Fabric, Fabric…

I absolutely love the United states! Wish at times it was just down the road from me and I could pop into it like I would Tesco. Every major shop in the US sells fabric but here in the UK, it is a specialised commodity. Wal-mart bought asda yet they have not transfered that aspect of Wal-mart to asda. I can’t say how many times I’ve had to travel long distances just to get fabric. I do thank God I can make the journey but then there are others who can’t and who would love to sew or quilt. People who live in the midlands or south-east (heart of Kent) live in fabric paradise. We who live around London or on the outskirts of London don’t have that sort of luxury. The few around are so expensive and the range is not impressive. How do people around Swanley source their fabric? I love the feel and smell of fabric so I don’t really like online buying. Wool for knitting is readily available but fabric is at a premium. I would love to hear from anyone who lives around Swanley on how they source their fabric for crafts. I’m even mulling the idea of opening a fabric shop in Swanley.