Category: Uncategorized

Fanfare is the name of the project that I am putting forward for One Monthly Goal – the fanfares can wait til I actually finish it! I’ve had this sitting around for years and it is part of a challenge I set myself when I first started quilting – to make all of the quilts or dolly quilts in Quilting From Little Things by Sarah Fielke. She is one of my favourite quilters and I love her quirky colouful designs.

I also bought this fabulous ball fringe a couple of years ago. When I bought it I was asked what it was for – I didn’t have a project in mind and the salesman said ‘you are my favourite type of customer’ haha

I am thinking I might be turning it into a cushion cover but my goal is to finish the applique and sew it all together at the very least.

The link for OMG is HERE

So many wonderful projects to see

I have had the ‘Ugly Quilt’ hanging around for two years now – time it was finished! It has a wool blanket inside instead of batting and it proved to be too thick to go under the presser foot even when I reduced the pressure. I sewed one exasperating line of stitching and gave up. Even using extra long stitches didn’t help.

So my monthly goal is to tie it instead. I have never tied a quilt only made samples so now is the ideal time to tick another goal off my quilt bucket list.

I am linking up with every one at Elm Street quilts One Monthly Goal July Link Up where Patty is encouraging us all to get it done!

I badly need to change the layout and am sure there is a simpler way than how I am going to do it but I haven’t worked it out yet! Apologies if you are overloaded with email updates just delete them

I have to make a sample for my City and Guilds portfolio and I wasn’t very thrilled about it. With dark colours, black velvet, over-ornate stitching and every embroidery stitch invented it’s not my cup of tea at all.

However after a little research it seems it falls into two categories. It was a way of using up every scrap of cotton or wool by poorer people to make a quilt but women from richer classes, who had no need to work, it was another way to keep themselves occupied. With the wealth to buy rich fabrics such as silk, tulle, satin and velvet and trimmings it seems it all got a bit out of hand until the resulting patchwork was so encrusted with frills and furbelows, embroidery and beads, it was no longer a practical bedcovering and must have weighed rather a lot. It could be used to better effect for tea cosies, cushion covers or waistcoats.

As you can see I completely ignored the usual dark colours and used bright cottons. I have used feather, chevron, cretan, herringbone, and blanket stitch so far.

I’ve added one piece of lace and will add some ribbon too but maybe not buttons and beads!

The feather stitch is rather wonky as I managed to break my left thumb nail off including down on the nailbed. I didn’t realise how much my thumbnail is used to position and hold threads in place – it’s very difficult with a plaster and no nail!

Still a few more seams to cover and another sample is finished.

I am joining eveyone at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching. Why not have a look at all the beautiful work which you can find here

I don’t usually do posts just about fabric but from ordering to receiving it took only 5 days for this beautifully packaged fabric to arrive in the UK all the way from Japan.

I wanted some Alice in Wonderland fabric but not Disney as it is too bright and the wrong colours for the quilt I want to make for a special little girl. This fabric is perfect.

If you would like to order some yourself you can find it here

Can’t wait to start!

Not invented by me, but a great help if you can’t get started with your precious fabric

One Block Wonder Design Helper