One step closer - but not quite a finish

Even though my quilting progress the last couple of weeks has been mostly FM quilting... which doesn't translate well to impressive progress shots... I started to get quite excited when it appeared that I was approaching the "last corner".  I even made a bit of a schedule, hoping that I could finish that last corner and head off to my LQS to attend their monthly stitching day on the last Saturday of the month.  It all worked out, with the last few stitches done on Thursday and Nana agreeing that she could look after the kids for a few hours.  Woot!  The perfect opportunity to not only buy binding, but maybe even get it sewn on and the hand stitching started.

I love it when a plan all comes together.

The Country Yard even had the perfect binding fabric - a slightly darker grey than the Bella solid background, with yellow, orange and red stars... picks up the bright colours on the front...

And settles down the colours on the back.

OK, yeah, I was well and truly sick of this spiral quilting by the time I was done - this quilt is about 80 x 80" with a lot of background.  But it is a great filler pattern, giving a comprehensively quilted feel, without being too heavy - and still allows good draping.

Progress on the hand stitching will happen in slow bursts.  Summer time in Northland is not the greatest time to sit with a quilt on your lap.  I also have a bit more hand quilting to finish on a couple of stars - although nothing that would stop the quilt from being used.  I haven't made it to The Country Yard for a sewing day since July... it was great catching up, and seeing what everyone was up to.  Checking out the shop samples, and buying a bit more fabric of course, because what would a trip to a fabric shop be without a little bit of buying?

As I look at this basic quilt layout, I wonder if this scattered block idea would work for my odd bundles of fat quarters that I am determined to create something "useful" out of.  I have a granny square block playing around in my head... along with a million and one other ideas.  With this making it's way off my quilting pile, it is also time to think of the next project that needs quilting.  Oh yeah, and then there's Xmas which seems to be hurtling towards us at an amazing rate of knots.

The change in overnight temperatures from winter to summer meant an ideal opportunity to change the quilt on the bed.  Does anyone remember the Made in Cherry sew along a few years ago?

The difference in lighting and flash... I think the true colours are somewhere between these two photos.  Maybe slightly more towards the top photo...

WIP Wednesday, Friday - tomato, tomatoe...

As we rock along with another holiday day, could be Wednesday, could be Thursday, but I'm pretty sure it's Friday today.

Progress in the sewing shed.

Avalon Quilt - ran out of backing fabric.   As the pattern says you need over 3 yards, it was unlikely I would have been able to squeeze by with 1 metre.

On to project number Two.

Made In Cherry quilt - currently being quilted.   You know, I probably started this top sometime about a year ago.

Following Leeann's inspiration, I have quilted the orange peel pattern around the squares using a khaki/cream variegated Gunnold thread - I love the secondary pattern you get from this design.

Unlike Leeann, I have begun quilting feathery and swirly designs in the background areas - a good chance to practice my feather quilting and work out how to use a feather to fill an area.

From the front

From the back

For the backing, I used a selection of metre and half metre pieces of these related floral fabrics from one of Robyn Pandolph's lines, then threw in a piece of a khaki heath fabric I had picked up as an oddment to fill a little gap.  I couldn't really get a photo that I was happy with.

Love this quilty texture

Did it!

Took me a few days to get in the right frame of mind... but today I cut my large triangles for the background for the Made In Cherry quilt.  Whew!  The 20 1/2" squares were easy, but even the template for the enormous flying geese pieces took 12 sheets of A4 paper, and quite a bit of sticking.  However, I got it done.  Kids away today on a tiki tour with their dad, so in the peace and quiet, with just the washing machine and dishwasher humming in the background... I commence to cut.  I pinned my triangles onto my folded fabric, so I could cut two at the same time, then once they were rotary cut around (after moving the cutting mat about five times), I actually folded my template in half, and placed the fold on the remaining folded section of fabric, and cut another triangle, flipped it and repeated for the other side.  Sounds confusing...??  Anyway, it's done.  It fits!  All is glorious with the world.

OK, so I've sewn on two sets of flying geese triangles, and attached them with the corner square to the central square.  Long seams... bit tiring... might finish this one off tomorrow.

Background Fabric...

Check!  When I started cutting the squares for the Made in Cherry quiltalong... I wasn't sure what direction the background was going to take.  After a very successful trip to The Country Yard - I came home with the perfect solution (thank you Kerryn and the team of lovely ladies).

French General Petite Ecole - little red/burgundy dots on I suppose what you'd call a mushroom or mink background.  Priceless!

As far as progress goes... I have finished piecing all my points, and have two more seams to complete to get my central square finished.  Whew!  I think I was most worried about gusts of wind (named Nadia and Dylan) whooshing my little squares away from their carefully randomised placements.  Next problem will be actually cutting out the required humungous triangles from the background fabric... instructions say to cut a 43" square and cut on both diagonals... sounds scary.  I have drafted the pattern roughly into EQ6 and printed off the template for the triangle which I will use to cut around.  Much safer I hope.  The beauty of EQ6 templates is that they cut the bunny ears off, and allow perfect matching - music to my ears.

I've chosen my next grouping of fabrics for Swoon block number two.  This time the large floral (which was the star in the last block) will feature in the little accent triangles, the solid will be the largest bit, and the grey print will be the central star.

 All ready for next month. 

I've also finished blanket stitching the last few flowers and leaves on My Tweets central panel.  It sure has been a busy few weeks.

Let the madness commence

Had to quickly remove the circle quilt from the design wall to display all the 200+ 4 1/2" squares I cut for the Made in Cherry quilt.  Ohhh, ahhh... I hear from the cheap seats.  Looks like this one is going to be here to stay for at least a little while until it gets pieced into some bigger sections.  I keep thinking about all the great variations/possibilities of this design... I spy... batiks... totally scrappy... brights... will I be mental enough to make another one?  We shall wait to see how this one goes together first.

Well, starts with 100 squares

Then you start to add the pointy bits

But wait there's more

And the finishing triangle bits make the points truely pointy

I'm waiting until the sections are pieced before making any decisions on background fabrics - will keep you posted.  The background is cut into humungous triangles that are attached to the pieced triangles flying geese style, then along with smaller squares for the corners, sewn onto the central square.  I was a bit worried that there would be inset seams (I promise to wash my mouth out) - so was really pleased to read the instructions and realise how easy it is should be.

I have also been merrily blanket stitching around my My Tweets centre block.  Over half way now... I will estimate approximately three quarters (and counting) completed.

I've also had a bit of a blat with the clothes sewing thing... and made my pull on pants (also known as elastic waisted slacks) and at the last minute changed my plans for the top material I had bought and made a rather shapeless, unflattering top that I am a bit cross about. 

Thank you to the 6 years old who took my photo

I sort of saved it by putting elastic through the bottom hem, so at least it does pull in somewhere - looked just a little too maternity (like 9months with twins) - which I figured I just didn't need.  I would like to buy just a bit more of this fabric and make an infinity scarf - because it will go with so many of my other outfits.  I bought the pants material to go with the top material... but am not liking the outfit together - it's a bit nana-ish.  While I realise I am approaching a certain birthday this year, I don't need to look like I'm that old (or older) do I?  I do like the pants with a simple black tunic, and the top is not so bad with jeans.  That just leaves one more piece of fabric which I intend to make the top on the cover of this book with. 

Both the other patterns were from this book too.  You need to trace off the patterns from the pattern sheet then add the necessary seam and hem allowances - which is a bit of a pain and I used the eye ball method which probably shouldn't be recommended.

I was going to use the other fabric for this top too, but worried that it was a bit too floaty and could be difficult to cut and sew with so many bits.  I wonder if I should have risked it - but too late now.

I've also finished my first and last... no just kidding, first Swoon Block. 

24 inches of Swoon loveliness

These were the good seams - I have developed quite a broad concept of good,

and the not so good seams - ended up feeling I was just glad to get the block finished, will hope for better next time... and eternally grateful that I decided to only attempt one block per month. 

What a ripper - literally.  Every seam needed to be adjusted with my trusty little quick unpick.  Partly because I changed construction methods and started pressing the seams open.  Not my favourite way to make things match up - but I was struggling to get my sewing machine to sew accurately through the seam intersections.  How do people who do open seams get them to stay lined up?  At least opposing seams cause the butting together syndrome... I struggled to even get the opens seams pinned together accurately, let alone sewn.