Spring Break

We have had a somewhat disappointing break this year unfortunately.  We both picked up a rather nasty viral respiratory/chest bug on the flight which knocked us for six, left us with hacking coughs and sapped our energy.  We spent our first couple of weeks almost confined to quarters and I have had no voice for well over 10 days now, hopefully it will return soon because I am getting somewhat frustrated.  I guess when we return tomorrow to the damp, dreich Scottish climate it may well return too ..........fingers crossed.

So because I was feeling so rough I have not had my usual trips and outings to the local quilt shops. It’s a sad day! However my pennies have been saved for the time being.  Being ill I had plenty time to read and browse the internet and I have saved a number of patterns which I’ve come across during my trawling, so lots of ideas for new projects when I get home.

This last week we have managed a few lovely afternoons enjoying the clear blue skies and sunshine, and in the evenings I did manage some sewing.  I started this project last time I was here and have made some progress.  I’m bringing it home to finish it off, sandwich  and quilt.  Sorry can’t post the photo here but you will find it by looking on the Instagram tab at the top of the page.

See you on the other side next week.  

No PC

Blog posts may be a bit strange for the next few weeks or so as I have no PC.  I think I mentioned before I’m not all that technically minded and the Blogger app on my iPad no longer works so this may be a hit or a miss.

The rainbow theme continues and this next project will be a ‘Plus’ quilt.  It’s all going together quite nicely.

The circle of geese class project is progressing and what I’ve seen of the blocks made so far a very colourful quilt will be produced by the class.

This is just a short post today and it looks as though I am not going to be able to attach my photos, however if you check out the Instagram tab at the top you should be able to see what I’ve been doing.

Enjoy your week.

Migration

When we hear the word migration we think of birds and particularly geese, flying south for the winter.  Flying geese is a very traditional quilt block which can be fiddly and frustrating depending on which particular method you use to make the block.  There are many different ways of making them and I am not going into all the processes here today.  Suffice to say if you google flying geese there are hundreds of posts and tutorials online to show you how.

Well the theme of this post as you can guess is little triangular blocks of colour, flying around in a circle all pieced together.  Our weekly class decided a tutorial on foundation piecing would be interesting.  It was suggested that the block Circle of Geese could be a good place to start.  

Fabric was purchased, templates printed and very detailed instructions of the process were produced by K. who put a lot of thought and work into this tutorial.

In my wisdom (not) I decided before we started on our nice new fabrics and templates I would do a very quick summary using scraps and a template from the Paper Piecing Workbook by Elizabeth Dackman.  Using paper foundations is sometimes a challenge, you have to make sure your printer is producing the copy exactly as it should be and its always best to check the little indicator line/square is the exact size required.  So templates at the ready and lots of scraps I demonstrated a quick recap of the method.  This is the template and the finished Geese.  To date I think we have about 15 or 20 blocks which will be joined together to make a lap quilt for charity.

The circle of Geese block was duly started at class this week, everyone had their packs with instructions and background fabrics all we had to provide was 5 x 3" scraps of coloured fabric in the shades of the colour wheel.  Chatter stopped as we all concentrated on what we were to do.  Sewing machines hummed and there were a few mishaps along the way.  My first two blocks were fine 

block 1

block 2

but then I mixed up the third and got the pieces in the wrong order.  

block 3

AARGH!  time ran out on the night and of course I had to do a bit of reverse stitching! 

all unpicked

I did think about starting from scratch again with new fabric and template but thought I would try and salvage my mess.  I did manage it without too much difficulty and was able to use the fabrics and the template again.  

the offending 3rd block

and block 4

All is well in the end and I am really pleased with my finished block, 

which will join the others and migrate into a lovely cheery quilt to be donated to our chosen charity this session.  I hope you agree that this is a lovely block and well worth the effort to make.  A technical challenge successfully executed!

Some Finishes this Week

I've been continuing the tidying and sorting and finishing off some WIPs.  Storm at Sea was a fun project and I am happy with the finished mini quilt.  I think next time I might be a bit more adventurous and make bigger blocks thus making a bigger quilt.  I love the colours and the illusions in the pattern can you spot the Diamonds, Hearts and Stars.  I may also have to rethink my dislike for batiks.  The colours in this blended really well.  Jury is out.

Storm at Sea Mini quilt 36" x36"

Next to be finished off are my two big Walk and Stop Quilts.  Again a Connecting Thread Kit.  These kits are always very generous and while the kit had the fabric for the black background, I very quickly realised I would have plenty of the coloured FQs to make a second one.  So I decided to use a grey CT Chambray fabric which I hope you agree looks striking too.

The are very similar but not exactly the same.  I free motion quilted them on my frame with a water wave effect.  Still lots of room for improvement, and more freemotion practice is definitely required.

The scraps in my baskets were offered to followers on a Facebook site Helping Hands - stitching and sewing for good causes.  Eight different requests were received, for Dementia Fiddle Quilts, Girl Guide badge work, Linus quilts etc.  I  now have empty baskets on my shelves and feel good that I have been able to help others with their scrappy quilts...........I was so fed up seeing some of those scraps!  So I am now starting afresh and will repeat the share around again next year.

Scraps - a handful in each envelope

and they are ready for posting

 .............and as you can see there is already a start for the blue scrap basket on the cutting table.

Now I need to go and prepare for our class tomorrow night.  Circle of Geese in the making.  K made up little packs with our instructions and background fabrics, which we received last week.  Tomorrow we are going to make a start and make these Geese fly!  I had a little trouble choosing my fabrics, I got a little confused by rainbows and colour wheels.  This is my final selection

I am looking forward to trying this block.  I will update you when its done.  Hope you all have a good week, till next time.

Stormy

Its been a stormy week in more ways than one.  We have had snow, wind and rain and even a blue sky day.

My stormy quilt is progressing and is now ready for the borders.  It took me a long time to take out all the papers but I hope you will agree it is quite nice.  Batiks are not my favourite fabrics to work with but are ideal for foundation piecing as there is no right or wrong side to the fabric and saves you thinking which way up does this go.  To be honest I wish these blocks had been a bit bigger the quilt will be quite small at 36 x 36 inches by the time I put the borders on.  Its looking good though.

At this time of year I usually sort out my scraps.  Once again they have accumulated and my 6 baskets are almost full.  I will never use them all so I intend passing them on to anyone who is sewing for charity and have posted them on the Helping Hands Quilting and Stitching Group on Facebook.  (Its ok C I have saved you some!)

More rainbows to follow after the storm,  our Group will be making a charity quilt using the foundation pieced circle of geese pattern and we are using rainbow/colourwheel fabrics on a white and grey background.  I am looking forward to this and have been pulling fabrics from my stash.  I need to rethink my selection though as i have gone for more rainbow than the colour wheel colours.  I think I need some pinky purples in the mix.  Thats my task for later today. 

I have another busy week ahead so perhaps not a lot of sewing will get done, but I live in hope.  Have a good week.

Nines - The Disappearing Kind

Hello everyone and welcome back..........where have I been? - you might well ask.  Once again I apologise.  Where does time go.  I have no excuses only an apology.  I said once before I can no longer use my iPad for blogging as the Blogger app has not been updated for some reason or another.  Its not so easy just to sit down and type a few words without going upstairs to my desk and switching on my computer and of course I have gotten out of the weekly routine of doing it haven't I.

Disappearing Nines - believe it or not it is almost 9 weeks since I last posted, way too long, the weeks have disappeared in a flash.  I am sure many followers have given up on me.  I'm still here though and I will try and get back into the weekly routine of posting something or at least putting a photo on Instagram which requires no words but will allow you to see what I've been up to, and you can access it from the top of the home page here too.

Nines is the class Block of the Month for February.  A block, any size, any pattern but it must have nine pieces.  It is great to see the variety of blocks over the past few months of those taking part in this wee fun project.  Thinking out side the block is a bit of a challenge but there have been some really lovely surprises from some of the ladies.

So to some photos - I have had a bit of a lull in the sewing and quilting since the mad rush to finish some of the projects for Christmas.  The main big finish is Techie's quilt.  Ta Dah!!

I am so pleased with how it has come together (follow its progress on Instagram above or @audmackie  Everything about it worked.  The Pattern is called Refractions from a book by Elizabeth Dackson called The Quilter's Paper Piecing Workbook which features lots of lovely patterns.  I used mainly Moda fabrics, Grunge and Grunge hits the spot.  I did change the layout slightly from what is shown in the book but I am sure its called artistic licence.  I also introduced a pop of teal in the little blocks and the bindings.  It is sandwiched with Warm and Natural and has a Connecting Threads Mirage Flannel for backing which I think will be cosy.  I straight line quilted it echoing and extending the lines to look like prism and reflection/refraction lines.  It works for me and I think Techie is pleased with it too. No nines in this one as far as I am aware.  
*EDIT*  I have  just noticed when re reading the post this morning there are 9 blocks in the quilt.  Ive been working on this for about 4 months and hadn't realised.  

So for the last nine weeks I have been dipping in and out of the sewing room.  Stop and Walk below is a Connecting Threads kit which was on sale recently and once again I have managed 2 quilts from this kit by adding extra background fabrics for the second one.  They are coming along nicely and are at the binding stage.  I have quilted these on my frame and my machine is behaving well and although I have a lot to learn I think I am progressing albeit slowly in the dark art of FMQ.

The last nine I have to show you is on the design wall at the moment.  A small very small,   mini storm at sea quilt. It too is foundation pieced and uses batik fabrics.  They are not my favourite fabrics to work with but as they have no right or wrong side are very good for foundation piecing.

And last but not least, not sewing but knitting - a pair of Wellie Socks for Struan to keep his toes cosy in his wellies which seemed to be constantly on his feet during all the snow.

I hope I have made up for lost time with this post and unlike me you have had a productive period sewing and enjoying the craft.

Until next time..............maybe I should set a diary reminder!!

Advent

As you probably know I have been making all sorts of small projects over the last few weeks.  I am pleased to say they have all gone to better places and are being 'looked after' by others who hopefully will enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Struan's Advent Calendar before it was filled

For the other 'Big' Children in the family

It was really good fun making these, but as always had to rush at the end of last week to fill them with all sorts of fun goodies.


The quilt below has also gone of to Marie Curie to help in fundraising it will hopefully be raffled later this month at the Hospice Firewalk evening.

I now hope to return to the piecing together of Techie's big quilt, I am looking forward to tackling a larger project next week.

I am also a wee bit ahead as I have managed to complete with two weeks to spare the gift for our class Secret Santa.  Hope you have all been doing some festive stitching this week.