X marks the impro quilt

This is another bee quilt specifically  destined for  the Siblings Together charity. I received 15 blocks in all and made another equivalent of 6 x12 inch blocks to finish it off.  It has turned out beautifully and was a relatively easy make. It also featured as no 10 in my FALQ4 list ( here)

As I had 3 more blocks than needed for the front, I was able to use a fabulous Zen Chic fabric (that I'd had in my stash awaiting a suitable project) for the back. The extra blocks meant I  just able to stretch the fabric to the right size.

I quilted it with straight lines in different directions on each block but has given it a lovely texture.

Quilt Stats

X marks the Improv block by Debbie of A Quilters Table (tutorial here)

Quilt size :58 x 70 inches

Blocks made by Siblings Together Quilt Bee

Back: Blocks by STQB and Figures in blue by Zen Chic for Moda

Wadding: 100% cotton from roll

Binding : Kona Navy

Quilted using Glide in Magic Mint on top and Wonderfil decobob in mint in bobbin

Linking with FALQ4 at the end of this quarter.

Scraptastic Tuesday ( on Saturday)

Just a quick post to show off a couple of my recent scrappy makes.One of them ( the kindle cover ) is also number 4 on my FAL Q4 list .

Firstly, I made a scrappy pouch for Mary Emmens as a (rather late) pay it forward gift.

I used blue scraps and quilt as you go combined with some blue Essex linen to make the outside

Using the same QAYG method I also made myself a new Kindle cover, but this time using oranges and yellows.

The first one of these I made came out too small, so I've given it to DD as a makeup case and this is my second attempt.

Linking up to Scraptastic Tuesday and FALQ4 

Mountain Majesty Quilt- Ta Da!

I finished this quilt a month ago but have only just got around to posting about it. The blocks were made by myself and the now defunct Together circle of do.good stitches. The bee members were already depleted and then some of them dropped out , so it folded but the remaining members have now joined up with the Comfort circle, so all was not lost. A couple of my friends  ( Jo and Sue) stepped up and helped me out by making more blocks so I could get it finished.

I asked for solids only blocks in bright colours using Bonnie Hunters pattern and I'm delighted with it, it's so cheerful!

I used a extra wide back ( always so much easier) and a plain navy blue Kona cotton for the binding.

I quilted it  with a gold Glide thread in a variation of Angela Walters woodgrain pattern.

I love this quilting pattern, it gives such lovely texture.

This quilt is number 7 on my FAL Q4 list and is destined as another quilt for Siblings Together. 

Quilt Stats

Pattern: Mountain Majesties by Bonnie Hunter

Size: 57 x 68 inches

Blocks made by Together Circle

Back: Riley Blake wideback in turquoise

Wadding : 100% cotton from roll

Binding : Kona midnight

Quilted using Wonderfil decobob in pale yellow in bobbin and Filtec Glide in Military Gold on top

2016 FAL

Maker's Tote

I was very impressed at the Simply Solids retreat by the gorgeous Maker's Totes that a number of people had made. I've made shopping totes before but not anything resembling a 'proper ' bag, so I thought I'd give one ago.  Here is the result:

The only fabric I had enough of was this Cotton and Steel fabric that originally I was going to use for  a Place for everything bag. I still want to make one of these, so I'll have to order some more fabric.

This was the first time I'd inserted this type of zip for the concealed pocket. I found it reasonably straight forward, though tricky to roll the edge inside with the thickness of the Bosal ( some trimming was required). I decided to omit the front pocket as I'd never use it.

 It was also the first time I'd put a top zipper in like this with zipper tapes. Again, it was reasonably straight forward.

The most difficult parts of the construction were inserting the gussets and attaching the binding  round the curves. Somehow I managed it, but it was tricky.

It's a very roomy bag and I'm pleased with it. If I make another one, I'll use a thicker/stiffer interlining in the gusset and also make the handles into shoulder straps. I much prefer to carry bags on my shoulder rather than with handles. I may even change the handles on this one if I can be bothered.

This is my first finish of FAL Q4 ( original list here )

Finish a long Q4

Hard to believe we are in the last quarter of the year. I didn't do at all well last quarter, with only 2 finishes. This was due to a number of factors but time to move on!

So here it is :

1) Maker's Tote

I saw so many beautiful examples of these at Simply Solids Retreat 2016 that I decided to make one of my own 

 This shouldn't take too long!

2) and 3)

I need to make 2 sew together bags as gifts.

This is one I made for Justine as a secret sewer gift.

3)Kindle Case

I had my kindle and cover stolen, so I need a new one for my new kindle.

4) I-Pad Cover

I'd like to make one of these as well

5) Siblings Together Quilt

This top needs to be quilted and bound

6) Scrappy quilt

I need to finish this quilt which I started in Simply Solids retreat.

7)Majestic Mountains quilt

I had started quilting this when I 'broke' the timing. I've had to unpick all the quilting and I'll have to start again

8) Make your own Magic

I started this in a class with Sarah Fielke at Simply Solids in July. It needs a fair bit of work!

9) Mid century modern quilt

This quilt top was a round robin made by myself and my Bumbling Honey bee mates. I'm thrilled with how it has turned out. Needs quilting and binding.

10) Another Siblings Together Quilt

The blocks for this quilt are being made this month by STQB. I hope to have it finished this quarter

11)WIP's

These are all carried over from the previous quarters:

a) It's a wonderful world

b)Gnome quilt

c) Star quilt

d) Alison Glass triangle quilt

Lola Pouch

Just a quick post about my new Lola pouch, so I just get in under the wire for FAL Q3. I had seen many of these pouches by Sotak handmade on IG etc, so thought I'd better give it a go.
I've never made a pouch like this, with binding around the top before.

It wasn't difficult to make and the pattern instructions are very clear. I used a bit of Essex linen in blue and Liberty for the top section and the lining. The binding was a Cotton and Steel.

I have 2 gripes with the pattern, firstly the binding was too narrow, if I were to make it again I'd increase the width. Secondly, I really hate the way the zip ends. I followed the pattern measurements exactly and I just don't like how you have to grip the bag to get the zip to open.

I'm not sure if I'll make any more. Maybe I'll try the smaller size at some point.

This is number 7 on my original FAL Q3 list ( here).

Linking up to 

Juliette's Quilt

Juliette is my son Harri's girlfriend and she is absolutely lovely. Draped over  the sofa in London where my children live, is one of the first quilts I made and Juliette has always admired it ( even though I wince when I see it due to the dreadful piecing and quilting!)

So when I volunteered to make her a quilt , she asked for me to remake this quilt but with a lot more yellow in it (as this is her favourite colour). 

The block is fiddly to make and I've ended up with quite a few extra blocks . I've also made enough extra small hourglass blocks to make another quilt with the addition of some solid fabric. it was easier to make 2 identical hourglass blocks than to sew all those small triangles together.

So here is the finished quilt :

I managed to finish it in time for her birthday and she seems to like it! I made it on a sort of production line method with a lot of chain piecing. Even still, the blocks are only 6 inches square finished and towards the end I found it quite tedious. I also made too many blocks and cut up too much fabric into triangles  but these will be used for yet another quilt ( different from the hourglass blocks)

Quilt stats

Size: 72 x 72 inches

Pattern: Dalarna by Mariet Souethout- Mous in Quiltmania ( no 68)

Fabric front: mixture of quilting cottons including some Karen Lewis, Lizzy House, Jen Kingwell etc etc.

Back: Heather Ross Tiger Lily in canary ( cotton lawn rather than quilting cotton)

Binding: Lizzy House Natural History in raisin

Wadding: 100% cotton

Quilted with Glide in  Military Gold on top and decobob yellow  (138) on bottom

This was the final quilt I managed to quilt before my Handiquilter stopped working most likely because the timing is off. I'm waiting for it to be fixed.

This quilt was also in my FAL Q3 list ( no 2 ) so I will be linking up at the appropriate time. Sadly unless my machine is fixed soon, I'm not going to get much of my list done.

Jo's Blue Star Quilt

I haven't blogged for a while but I have several posts in my head that need to be written. I don't seem to have much motivation at the moment, don't know why but that's a different issue.
Anyway, some time ago now, the lovely Jo ( @joanne333jones on IG) told us that she was moving to Denver, Colorado with her husband's job. Jo has been a terrific bee mate since we met at the first FQR retreat in 2012 and we are all going to miss her terribly. So I did the obvious thing and thought we must make her a quilt. The pattern I chose was Kasbah Chic by no hats in the house which was published in Love Patchwork and Quilting, in her favourite blue colours.
In actual fact the pattern was an absolute bitch, even though the end result was fabulous. The templates provided for the corner segments gave very poor results and the half square rectangles ended up too small. We ended up paper piecing our own corner segments and fudging the rectangles. My fellow bee members were all cursing me for choosing this particular pattern and I was wondering if anyone tests these patterns.
We all met up in London in June  ( in Tate Modern for the Georgia O'Keefe exhibition) and were able to give the quilt to Jo.

I had such fun quilting this and trying to line up the front and back ! ( I didn't succeed but it's close enough).

I made a star label for the back.

And here is Jo holding up her quilt in the restaurant at Tate Modern. There were a few tears from all of us.

The blocks were made by myself, Jane @picosailors, Moira @ kettleboiler ( who also provided the binding), Sue @ suespatch12, Sue @justsewsue and Teresa @hillyfilly. We were all in the original Kinky Bees group which later became the FQR Bumbling Honeys quilt bee. 

We all wish Jo well in her new life in the USA and she will be back in a year or so, so it's not forever.

I'm really looking forward to visiting her in the future and getting the inside info on the best quilting shops in Denver.