Liquorice Allsorts Anyone?

......and a long awaited picture of a quilt in the snow.

I thought I had better get a photo of one of my quilts in the snow before it all disappears,  it is melting very quickly now.  This last week there has been a huge upturn in the temperatures here.  We have had a lovely week of sunny days, blue skies and temperatures of +9 and 10c quite tropical compared to the previous week.

Yesterday while out on our drive I took my Allsorts quilt to sew down the binding.  While sitting by Middle Lake and completing the last stitch I realised I had a photo opportunity.

Allsorts in the Snow

......and the back

......and a close up of the quilting

As always seems to be the case when I try and take a photo, the sun just disappeared behind a large cloud as I got it all set up.  

 

Here is Allsorts, completed all except for the label.  I am so grateful to BA an excellent teacher, who allowed me to use her Millie longarm machine to quilt this quilt using the pantograph method.  We had lots of laughs and I had great fun.   BA arranges lessons and hires out her machine on an hourly basis, which I think is a great idea, allowing people like me to try out longarming.  I don't really like freemotion but I really enjoyed this method of quilting.  Maybe I will be persuaded to do freemotion next time.

 

I didn't think for a minute when I arrived here that within 4 weeks I would have a quilt top completed, taken lessons on longarm quilting and actually have the confidence to produce an intricate stitch pattern on a proper quilt - never mind a practice piece.  I used most of my scraps to produce this easy top which can be found in Modern One Block Quilts by Natalie Bonner and Kathleen Whiting they called it Squared Scraps but in my colourway I think it looks just like Liquorice Allsorts. 

Now I need to get my labels done today.  Have a great weekend everyone.

An Interesting Product

I would like to introduce you to Mary Ellen's Best Press my new best friend.

 

It was suggested that I might like to try this out as one of the fabrics I was using in my twister quilt was particularly apt to fray.   I could not find an alternative to this fabric for this quilt the colour was just the right one and toned nicely with all the other fabrics so I just had to use it.  I new this would fray as I had used a the same fabric in a different colour way before in Lime Haze and it was a beast.  I was humming and hawing over this fabric until B suggested I try Best Press.  This was a new product for me - and the shop girls were amazed that I had never heard of it nor used it before.  I was led to believe it was a bit like starch but without the aerosol can, without any nasty smell and hard finish.  I was assured it would help stop the fraying and also set all the bias edges cut by the twister template, and it did.  

I am very open minded (sometimes) and happy to take on board any tips and suggestions. I bought the bottle and tried it out on the first block.  Not sticky or tacky and no smell, this one was fragrance free although I believe you can get it with fragrances, easy to use and it produced a nice firm crisp block.  It was not hard or stiff but just had a nice smooth flat crisp finish.  At first I felt it was a bit of a bind when pressing just to remember to give the block a little spritz.  However I continued all the way and I really liked the look and feel.  As I reassembled the blocks and stepped back only to realised one of the blocks looked a little off.  As I lifted it I realised why - I had forgotten the spritz step, it was a bit limp and sorry looking compared to the others but it spruced up with an extra press and a spritz.  This is a winner and I will certainly be adding it to my list of must haves for quilting.  I just hope I can find it back in Scotland.

I had another longarm lesson yesterday.  What fun,  BA was tremendous again, patient and understanding. Like everything new there was lots of information to take in and absorb but I came home delighted with the results.  I have a couple of photos to share but I am afraid you may have to wait until I have more time to get them sorted out.  Suffice to say Allsorts is coming along nicely and will be trimmed up today hopefully and the binding attached.  Look out for it at the weekend on the next blog. 

Twisted Twister

On one of my visits to the quilt shop I think I told you I had seen a sample of the Twister quilt.  This was one of the many samples hanging on the wall in Addies and was made in primary colours with a black border.  It caught my eye and as usual a spur of the moment decision was made.  I bought the large template as well as an accompanying book showing lots of different layouts for table runners, cushions, quilts and more.

The Twister Template - note the thickness and little feet

When I brought it home and and read through the book my immediate thought was that it was going to use quite a lot of fabric and create lots of waste.  Undeterred I laid out my fabrics.  The coral, peach, teal, aqua, grey and big bold print called Flirt by Sandy Gervaise for Moda.  Hmmm it should work. 

Some of the fabrics I used

 

Although the pattern suggested a layer cake I cut out my 10ins squares and started laying them out on the floor - no design wall here, so I was crawling around on my hands and knees - not a pretty sight.  As usual the plan in my head was not the one I used.  The method for this quilt was to sew the 36 squares together 6 x 6,  add a 6 ins border then use the template to recut new blocks.  



The layout

I pieced them altogether and stepped back.  Hmm!  The dark border I had chosen was not going to work, it flattened all the colourful pieces.  Change of plan - substitute the light fabric.  This however meant a couple of the blocks at the edge would disappear - ho hum!   Now for the recutting.  

Here are some of my observations and a word of warning about the template.  This template is thicker than a normal ruler and has little non slip feet on the back, thus raising it from the fabric.  This means if you are using a normal 45mm rotary cutter like me, it catches.  Not good.  If you have one use a 60mm cutter or if you don't, consider paring down the feet with a sharp knife (as I eventually did). I would also suggest a new blade in your cutter so you don't create any drag.  Be very careful at the corners do not run past the edge or you will slash into the next block you only have a little leeway.  If you do go too far wondaweb is good for a repair!!  The good thing is there's not a lot of waste.

All the requirements - note the little slivers this is all you have between blocks 

 

These new blocks are then joined together and a brand new pattern appears.  Watch out when sewing them though because each one now has bias edges.  (I now have a new best friend and I'll tell you about it next time.) 

The first two rows of blocks

The pieces between the blocks leave a little 4.75in square. These can be recut with the lil' twister to make minis for the border or like me you could make HST.  The next decision - will it be this ......



Using the leftovers

........or this

I've used this layout before

.............or something completely different.  That's for next time too.

I hope I haven't put anyone off using this template because this was a fun top to make - I did enjoy it.  Maybe the instructions on the sheet should have come with some of these warnings.  It was challenging to deal with all the slight issues I had but I would not recommend it for a beginner though. 

That's what quilting is all about is it not - push the boundaries and try something new.   Would I use this pattern again? - Yes definitely.  I enjoyed seeing the new pattern develop in each row although I do have 2 disappearing pieces.   Guess what I'm going to name this one?

A Great Day Out

A new day dawned and I felt like an excited teenager going out into the unknown to try something new.   I set off on my hour drive for my day of tuition with BA at the quilt shop in Cochrane.  As usual a welcoming smile greeted me from all the ladies there.  BA was in the process of guiding another lady through the steps of setting up a quilt to be quilted on her machine 'Millie' an APQS longarm quilting machine.  

I was a bit apprehensive about all this new technical equipment.  BA put me at ease and soon had me set up on the other machine.  I thought I was on a 'white knuckle ride' I was gripping the handles so tightly, however soon discovered you could move the machine around with your little pinky finger, it was so manoeuvrable.  I was soon wandering over the fabric practice sandwich with wiggles, loops, ells and ees, my shoulders were tense but I was having fun!  This was such a wonderful opportunity and great learning experience but not at all relaxing.  



My First Attempt

After a short break I was transferred on to Millie, what a lovely machine - in some ways more complex and technical but much easier to use than the other one which was having a few tension issues.  Millie and I got on well, I was beginning to relax a bit.  We chose the pantograph from a large and varied selection and BA set it up.  I helped load up a new practice sandwich and I was ready to start again.  So many things to remember, and a whole new set of words to learn, brake, rollers, channel locks, stitch regulator, laser guide, white button, black button - my head was buzzing!!

Here are the practice pieces from yesterday's  tutorial.  Thank you so so much BA for such a great day.  



Not so good on smooth ups and downs with the pantograph



This was done on 'Millie'

1st row with stitch regulator, 2nd one without regulator and finally echo quilting and stopping on an intersection 

I returned home tired, a little stiff and totally invigorated by this fantastic experience. Cochrane, Canmore and Calgary quilters just don't know how lucky they are to have this on their doorstep.  I just wish we had such a facility back home in Scotland.   So if anyone out there reading this has any contact details for any longarmers in the central belt who hire out time on their machine please, please let me know.

I am returning next week to have another wee shot and if I'm good enough I might even quilt the Allsorts quilt. 

I hope you are all having a fun quilting week too.  

Fresh Sewing Day

It's a Fresh Sewing Day and I'm linking up today for the first time to Lily's Quilts.  As Alex and Ricky say on The Quilt Show, "It's a new day, everyday" and a new month too.  Time for a new project.

February is always a short month, this year it seems to have flown by.  We have been enjoying our break from the dull, damp, grey days in Scotland and have been enjoying blue sky days most days here, although the freezing -20c to -27c temperatures have been a shock to our systems.  It hasn't stopped us getting out and about though I do feel even more like the Michelin man by the time I'm all wrapped up in extra layers, scarves, gloves and thick jacket.

Stitching has been slowish with only one real finish this month. I finished up the totally misnamed quilt for this time of year Fall in the City.  I finally finished the hand stitching around the blocks a couple of days ago and I must say I am pleased with it. The front.....

.........and the back.

I have also managed a top finish which will be called Allsorts which is bundled up already to be taken to Cochrane (weather permitting) on Tuesday.  Watch this space to see the results later.

March always seems to me a month of new beginnings.  The days begin to get a little longer and we have more daylight hours.  The plants in the garden start to wake up and produce new growth, but here in the Rockies the plants will stay asleep for a little longer in these freezing temperatures.  Today will be a fresh sewing day.  A day playing, planning, cutting and sewing.  I hope to make a start to my twister quilt which I am looking forward to and should be a whole lot of fun.  It's -27c outside this morning so we won't be going out for a while if at all.  A good day to sew!

  

First Glove Almost Done

This has been a fun project - as you know I enjoy knitting socks on four pins but there is a limit to the number of feet you can keep warm with these lovely creations.  

One of a pair completed last year

I needed a change but still wanted to knit with my little pins and fine sock wool.  This is what I came up with.



Snug Fit - Just got the ends to sew in on this one.  Left glove started and cuff almost complete

I have tried gloves before but I can't say they were an overwhelming success.  They were knitted for Techie and had half fingers so he could have warm hands while out taking his wildlife photographs.  I think he has probably 'lost' them by now.  This pattern was much easier to follow although it is supposed to have  a lovely cable pattern on the back of the hand.   For the first knitting of this pattern I decided to give it a miss and just make them plain for simplicity.  I though it would be enough trying to juggle fingers.  We had a laugh along the way as each night a new appendage would appear a with spaghetti hanging out the ends of the fingers.  I am really pleased with this one and it's a really comfy fit.  I will cast on the next one later once I get all the household chores done.

I am trying to get the Fall in the City quilt finished too - I am almost there, I think I have only four squares to outline with the perle cotton then I'm finished.  I might manage to complete it this evening in time for finish it up Friday at Crazymomquilts.  

Fall in the City - neither is it Fall nor is it in a City

Update:  Success - here it is!  I will try and get a better photo tomorrow, maybe even in the snow!  The finished size is 58" x 75". 

I am planning ahead again - I have a quick and easy scrap quilt on the go too for a very special activity taking place next Tuesday.  Watch this space.

 

A Quilt Shop Visit

A bright sunny afternoon took us off on a road trip to the next town of Cochrane last Thursday.  What a fun afternoon we had, poor hubby usually gets a bit bored when I go off shopping for fabrics however he did enjoy his afternoon too having found a little cheese shop, a co-op kitchen and delicatessen and Sweet Sensations where he had a delicious gelato icecream.  Then on the way home we had an extra stop at the wine shop on the outskirts of the town, can you tell he is a foodie.

Ok back to my afternoon of fun at the quilt shop. The ladies were delightful, friendly and welcoming, with a little bantering thrown in for good measure,  I had a great time.  Often I tell the ladies at our class never go to a quilt shop without a project in mind - well as usual I wasn't listening to my own advice. Since visiting the shop last September it has been rearranged.

The yarns are in the back room where I started my foray.  Two skeins of sock wool and some little bamboo needles were on my list - check!  I'm not going to be knitting socks this time - I'm going to try my hand at gloves (oops sorry no pun intended!). 

Next I was looking for the little clips everyone is talking about to hold your bindings - check!  I laid these aside on the counter and stepped into the Aladdin's cave of fabrics.  Rows and rows of bolts, all colourfully arranged, a very good variety of prints, plains, modern, traditional, batiks, flannel, you name it - it was there.  One particular fabric line caught my eye immediately.  As always I need to chop and change add in extras then take them away.  Poor B was I think getting a bit fed up with me but was very good humoured and in the end just left me to my own devices.  Here is some of the selection I eventually decided on.

The shop is full of sample quilts which greet you as soon as you open the door.  Colourful quilts change each time I visit,  all made up and adorning the walls to give would be quilters lots of interesting ideas and suggestions.  I spotted a colourful twister quilt, I've looked at these for a while and thought I might try it out sometime in the future so I bought the templates.  

With my purse a little lighter and a singing heart I left to return another day hopefully in the not too distant future.  If you are ever passing through the area I would suggest you make a stop off here, in a lovely little town which has something for everyone.

Have a great quilty week.