A couple of quilts

Here are a couple of my latest quilts. One is for beautiful Elizabeth, sister to my godson George; the blue one is for our friend Simon's new nephew, Ollie.

Elizabeth's quilt was from a book called 'Quick and easy quilts'. I think they wrote that title ironically, as it wasn't quick! It was painstaking due to the number of one inch squares that I had to bondaweb iron on to the quilt top, and sew around each one - it was very fiddly. But it looked lovely. It was the first time I quilted with a zigzag line, and it really brought out the squares. The design was fairly simple but looked really special.

I used a similar nine-patch design for Ollie's quilt, all in shades of blue. Personally, I don't like the colour blue much, so this isn't one of my favourites - but Ollie loves it apparently. So that's what matters.

With these two quilts I also enjoyed making more of the backing design, with a strip of stripes from the front.

I have another quilt on the go, a purple one for a friend's baby due in July, which I've done in another new design, a bargello squares design. The colours flow through the quilt - it's lovely. It will have a Hungry Caterpillar back to it (possibly a reversible quilt).

Makes of 2011

Here's a round up of the quilts I made in 2011 - I thought I'd made more! 

Big quilt

The day has come - I've finally finished the Big Quilt!

It's for my colleague's sister's 21st birthday. It's taken about 3 months to complete. She wanted detail of handbags, cherries, cupcakes, birds, and lots of colours. Quite feminine, hence lots of red and pink, without being too girly.

I used several different fabrics for the binding - mainly because I didn't have enough of one fabric to do it all the same. The cupcakes worked really well on the binding.

I found it challenging working on such a big quilt, having done so many small projects lately. The last big one I did was all by hand, and I was living in my flat which had lots of space to spread out. For this one, I had to use the spare room, and laid out flat the quilt took up all of the floor space!! It made pinning very tricky, and I'm sure the backing isn't as smooth as it could be for that reason.

I couldn't do any quilting through all the layers though, which I was disappointed about. The quilt was just too big for me to manoeuvre around my sewing machine - especially as the wadding I used was quick thick. I tried to quilt by hand but ditto the problems of thickness again. I bought a sewing loop hoop recently, but again, the wadding was too thick to use that with it! Lessons learned for next time however.

My colleague was really pleased with it, and has already asked me to make one for herself in the new year. She wants some castle fabric if possible, but I'm having trouble finding any.

I always get a little sad when I have to say goodbye to one of my quilts.... it was even sadder for such a large quilt. A lot of time and effort goes into making things for other people. Sometimes it would be nice if someone spent so much time and effort on me.

All I want for Christmas... is a KitchenAid mixer!

...and somewhere to live please!

Sorry I've been quiet for a while. Our landlord is having a baby, and subsequently he wants to sell our house - so we have to find somewhere new to live. We've got until March 1, 2012 - which was generous of him, as he could have just given us a month's notice. But with Christmas and all, timing isn't great.... To say I'm panicked is somewhat of an understatement.

We were getting really settled here so it's such a shame - we only just put some shelves and photos up, and it was really feeling like home. We knew it wasn't forever but it suited us for now.

Now I feel rushed and scared. I'm checking for new properties every day, but there's never much property movement during December - obviously, no one wants to be moving house at Christmas (ditto!). We viewed a lovely barn conversion last week, but it wasn't practical - the landlord wanted to keep all her furniture and belongings in there, so basically it would suit someone who's just left home, without any personal stuff to clutter up the space. We couldn't be further from that! Especially with all my quilting garb!

On top of asking Father Christmas for a new home, I'd also like a wooden chopping board, some socks, and a food mixer.

It's available here, Father Christmas, in case your elves can't quite manage it!!

Big quilt on the way

I've been asked to make a friend a large quilt for her sister's 21st birthday / Christmas present. It's a variety of colours, with cupcakes, cherries, and handbags as special fabric. I decided it was easiest to put together as 6 blocks of 42 squares (252 altogether - if my maths is correct!).

Today I had the day off work and I've got the first 42-square block done. I love seeing it all come together! It's taken ages to cut all the squares out - the most laborious part, and my least favourite. But once the sewing machine kicks in, and it all starts to make sense... I don't want to do anything else.

Kirsty Allsopp said "lovely"

I was mentioned on the actual radio this afternoon. Crafter, baker, and maker on the telly Kirsty Allsopp (also of 'Location, location, location' fame) was on the BBC Radio 2 Simon Mayo show, talking about her attempts at local craft fayres and crafty stuff in general. After hearing him mention said upcoming interview, and the selection of quilting-related songs on the playlist, I emailed in with the vague hope that I might be mentioned.

AND I WAS!

He read out my email about my quilting, and Kirsty bloomin Allsopp said "lovely" in reference to the pic of my quilt I attached to the email. So proud and impressed - I know it's quit ridiculous to be so pleased at a little mention on the radio but it really made my day.

Here's a link to the radio show, although I'm not sure how long it'll last - you need to go to about 1 hour 8 mins in and listen from here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p2dfq

Quilts, on the radio... whatever next. I'll be hosting my own patchwork show!!

This was the pic that I send Simon Mayo off the radio: 

Crabs and Cornwall

My latest baby quilt!

Commissioned for a friend's friend who lives in Cornwall, near the beach - hence the squares of sandy fabric, and crab/fish/turtle fabric.

A simple quilting round the large blocks:

Cute! My next project starts straight away - a bigger quilt, throw size, for a grown-up this time, not a baby. The cutting out starts here...

Spider torture

Tonight I had my first panic attack in a long time. It was all over a spider. Possibly more irrational than some of my previous attacks, although possibly more understandable than the breakdown in the supermarket over which brand of toothpaste to buy.

This was a monster. I'm home alone, and I just panicked. I videoed the thing! Then he disappeared underneath the sofa, leaving me stranded - I couldn't bear to stand up in case he ran over my bare feet. I had to ring my mum and ask her advice. I tried moving the sofa, prone with salad bowl in hand to trap him under, but he didn't appear, and still hasn't.

I'm now quite worried about going to bed in case he appears in the bedroom. I fear I may not sleep too well tonight.

See, I told you it was completely irrational.

I was meant to be working on my latest quilt tonight, but I've been too afraid to go anywhere or do anything! So, these lovely squares are all waiting for me...unsewn...while I wait for the spider to climb aboard and eat me.

Oh, and if you'd like to see the video of said scary spider, click here.

My favourite baby quilt so far

My latest baby quilt - lovely orange binding.

I hand sewed the binding for the first time, and I'm really pleased with the result - very neat, and I have to admit that the process was very calming. Sitting in front of a film doing some sewing.... some things the sewing machine can't make up for!!

Festival of quilts

I spent the day at The Festival of Quilts at the Birmingham NEC today. I'm worn out but happy - it was so enjoyable and calming, even though it tires you out. I saw so many beautiful quilts, I was so inspired - it was more like an art gallery than a show of quilts. I loved it. It's hard to choose a few pics to share!

Another one

The next quilt is on the way... Another baby quilt, jolly colours, we don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet so it's just very colourful. The cutting out is all done, and I've laid the pattern out, so now it's just the sewing to do. Planning to sew in blocks this time, rather than strips like last time, so hopefully it'll be a bit less wonky.

I've been commissioned to do another baby quilt (white and yellow colour scheme, quite limited but I like a challenge!) and a big quilt ready for Christmas, that'll have a few colours in plus lipsticks, cupcakes, and handbags designs. Then I'm going to make two of my pregnant friends one each as well. So a busy time ahead - I might have to start a spreadsheet to figure it all out!

Greeny baby quilt done

I've finished my colour-themed baby quilt. It's to go with the Next Ziggy nursery set and I'm really pleased with how well the colours go together.

I used a turquoise flowery fabric for the binding and I think it goes with the apple green backing really well.

There were a few 'deliberate mistakes' but then it wouldn't be a handmade quilt if it was completely perfect - you have to know it's home-made.

I love it and hope new mum and baby do too!

Three stages to baby quilt

This is my latest baby quilt, with a specific colour scheme - my first quilt that's not been allowed to be random!

Step one: laying out the blocks.

There are two types of white fabric: one plain, and one with a paisley pattern that's very subtle and cute. I love the random patches of gingham, flowers, and the baby letters.

Step two: all the strips sewn together:

Although I think I got a bit gung-ho with the strips, and perhaps in the future I'll stick to making blocks up. I found that doing strips meant there was more chance of the width being slightly out in places. Not a lot, and I'm sure the receiver won't notice, but I do....

Step 3: the finished quilt top:

I think it looks lovely! A great time spent in my newly-painted sewing room which is getting more comfortable by the day - there'll be shelves going up soon.

Time for tea

That's what's happened this afternoon so far.

That, and panicking because I can't find one of my fat quarters that I need for my next project. Work borrowed some of my FQs for a photoshoot last month, and I have a distinct feeling that the FQ in question was included in the bunch - suggesting the photographer decided to keep it. Or, is just useless and didn't give it back. I am beyond annoyed.

Baby quilt all finished

I've finished my latest nine-patch baby quilt. I'm quite happy with it - a bit different to my normal plain square pattern. The binding is turquoise, although it looks pale blue in the photos, and the backing is lemon (we don't know if baby will be a boy or a girl yet, so I covered both possibilities).

I did mitered corners, although I'm not sure they look entirely how they're supposed to. But that's what practice is for.

Naturally there were a couple of mistakes! Just a couple of wonky stitches that hopefully won't be noticed. There was a patch where I'd sewed the binding through the backing and the wadding, but not the actual quilt top, so I had to do some ad-hoc handsewing and luckily you can't tell now.

Fingers crossed the new arrival likes it (and the mother too!). On to my next baby quilt that's been commissioned now - this one has a specific colour scheme rather than my normal hotch-potch of random patterns and colours. I'm having trouble finding the right kind of pastel green fabric though, so I'm on the hunt before I can start any designs.

On a sour note, the lady at the fabric shop fleeced me. I bought 0.5m of plain white cotton, and when I got home I realised she charged me for 1m. Rip off Britain!

Quilt top done!

The quilt top for my nine patch baby quilt is finished! It's such a thrill when it all comes together and you've got something complete in front of you that's all your creation. Then it gets too exciting and I can't wait to get it finished.

I'm a bit unsure about the turquoise I chose for the binding strips, but hopefully when it comes together with the lemon yellow backing it'll look good. I don't want it to look too blue (although I'm convinced the baby will be a boy).

There's a couple of wobbly wonky bits but that's to be expected!

I covered up the bottom-left cat issue with a different piece of farm animal fabric, and used a fancy stitch to make it look deliberate.

I can't wait to complete it. I'm looking forward to doing the binding; having done it once I've got more confidence and know a bit more about what I'm doing. I just hope it looks good!

9 patches done!

I got into my sewing room at the weekend (before I was struck down with another illness) and finished the nine patches of my latest baby quilt. I used some lovely new ABC baby fabric, and some nice green dotty fabric. Loving the scarecrow at the middle of the first block...

 But I'm not sure about the cat in the middle of the last block:

I don't know whether I wasn't paying attention when I was cutting the blocks out, as I'm sure I wouldn't intentionally use the cat wonky. I might have to find something to patch over the top, but we'll see.

This is the potential layout:

Now I have to think about whether to lay strips of a plain colour inbetween the blocks, or just sew them together. I was planning on a lemon yellow backing fabric, but I can't decide what colour to use for the binding. Maybe a green?

I can't do any more at the moment as I'm poorly, so I'm just laid out on the sofa off work for the second day. Doing the washing up wore me out so it's resting for me. And, as I gave it up for Lent, I can't even cure my illness with chocolate!