Floor Quilt

For this small quilt, I took a block pattern and repeated it to get the size I wanted.  At the time, I was also very much into 'inchies', - still am, really - so used them for the middle border.  I like to think it adds some interest to what could otherwise be a very ordinary design.  I like leaves and this project contains all of my favourite colours: my whole living room is done out in them.

Detail

It was originally intended as a wall hanging but, somehow, it's become a rug, in front of the fireplace.

Grandmother's Little Angels

This is a small quilt with 3D 'little angels' made separately and appliquéd.  I love it.

Detail

It's from this great book, which has lots of really different and innovative designs...

Click here for link to book on Amazon

Would also love to do the design on the cover.  Ah so much to do...

My First Machined Quilt

As I've said elsewhere on this blog, I've spent most of my life crafting by hand.  That's not to say I've ever been without a sewing machine: I inherited no less than three from my mother and last year, in a decisive moment, treated myself to a Bernina 440.

I was determined to rid myself of the feeling that sewing by machine was somehow 'cheating'.  Also, I recognised that I needed to get over my sense that I had more control when hand sewing.  In all, I needed to just go for it and devote as much time as possible to gaining experience.

Well, that worked, to some extent.  This was my first full quilt (oops, quillow) which was completely machine-made.  It was for my grandson, who is eight and we all know that boys of that age want nothing to do with anything whatsoever that smacks of girlie stuff, so I tried to make it as boyish as I could.  Quite easy, really, since he's a Newcastle United fan, so choosing the colours was a doodle; but what I tried to do was come up with something that would be equally appropriate when he's older, with, perhaps, children of his own to pass it on to.  He loved it.

So - how am I getting on as far as the hand v machine issue goes?  Sew, sew.  I have more or less conquered free style quilting, with the help of marvellous on-line websites and tutorials.  I still find myself coming back to the hand work, however - especially if there is any level of stress in my life.  I just love the mindlessness/meditativeness of it.  I have always felt the same way about knitting - especially formless projects like blankets.

I will perservere with the machine.  If only to justify the cost of the thing!

Embellished Quilt Block

I found a basic version of this quilt block in a book quite a few years ago.  But, with my love of 'fine' work, I couldn't resist embellishing it.

Detail

The flowers are from various fabrics of similar colour tones and were appliquéd by hand. The stems and leaves are sewn in straight stitch.

What I decided to add were - beads, sequins and gold knots in the centres of the flowers,  and outlining of  the petals with gold metallic running stitch.  I also seed-stitched (with the same variegated thread as the stems) inside the leaves, but kept the stitching 'random'.

It shames me to say that I've had 12 of these blocks put away for years.  Just one of many unfinished projects patiently awaiting my attention.

I also think that this design would make a very nice cushion cover.

(Oh - and spot the deliberate mistake?  There will be those among you who are already aware of the ancient adage - that a handcrafted project should never be without a 'mistake' since only God makes perfect things.)

First Quilt

Since I intend to post pictures of my projects here, as I go along, it just so happens that I have guardianship of this at the moment.  It's the first quilt I ever made and was for my daughter, Charis, on her 21st birthday.  That was 2001 !  I can't take credit for the fabric selection - she has a great eye for colour/design - but I did stitch it completely by hand.  Sadly, I need to return it to her when she visits in a few weeks time.