On my wall

 

I was busy quilting most of last week, so by the weekend I felt in need of some piecing time.  I’ve always admired the Seattle Streets quilt pattern.  I wondered how it would work as in a small size.

What I learned was that it would be MUCH quicker to make this following the directions.  Laurie’s instructions guide one through strip piecing fairly large blocks and making a large quilt.  But I wanted to use some small scrappy bits, and even my black fabrics were from the scraps – small chunks and odd strips of various sizes. 

I made nine blocks that finish 10”.  These still need the black strips between them, of course. A small border will make it up to the right size for a preemie quilt for our regional hospital. 

I’m sure those are the last bits of a few of the fabrics that have been lurking in the stash for years (or decades?) – remember when we had collections of celestial fabrics?  and how about those happy faces and the rainbow stripes, and the dinosaurs!   Surely no one will notice that I’ve used about six different black fabrics (so far).

Technorati Tags: scrappy,preemie quilt,Seattle Streets

Scraps too small to use

 

I know everyone’s idea of how small is “too small” is different. 

One of my favourite tools in the sewing room is the waste basket – when the snippets of fabric are really too small to use, that’s where they end up.  I feel real progress in using up fabric when I watch the mound of scrap grow in the waste basket.   What gets tossed varies with the type of fabric, the style of fabric and probably the phase of the moon – some days I am able to drop a fairly big piece in there, and on other days I can’t part with anything wider than about 3/4 of an inch.

Yes, I know some people could use those thread ends and tiny bits to stuff pillows or to make pet beds, but in my house, this is THE END.

Technorati Tags: scraps

Hexagon quilt

When my friend brought me an old quilt top and asked me to machine quilt it with an all-over design my first reaction was horror.  Phrases like “vintage quilt”, “preservation”, “treasure”, “hand-quilting” came to mind.

We examined the top carefully.  The hexagons are fairly large, about 2” on a side.  The fabrics obviously come from a scrap bag.  The centre flower is made from fabric that looks like Grandma’s Sunday best.  One of the outer rows might be Grandpa’s pyjamas.  The solids are very finely woven broadcloth.  There are pieces in the outer corners that seem to be from feedsacks.  The entire top is hand stitched neatly with sturdy white thread. This top was probably intended to become a utility quilt that would have been seen good use in the home. 

The top has sat uncompleted for more than 50 years.  Grandma did not find time to complete it, and neither did her daughter.  Now the grand-daughter is looking to complete her own quilting projects and does not have the time or inclination to take on those started by someone else.  If we did not finish this now, it would have gone back into the cupboard to be dealt with (or discarded) by the next generations. 

So it has been quilted with a panto called “Feathered Hearts” by  Beany Girl Designs. At last the quilt maker’s hard work will be displayed and enjoyed by a member of her family. 

As I worked on this quilt I tried to imagine how I would feel if this is what became of one of my own projects. Though I am making an effort to complete the things that I have started, it is entirely possible that my UFOs could turn up somewhere many years from now.  I think I would be delighted if some were resurrected and put to use.

Technorati Tags: hexagon,vintage quilt

Baby quilt

A special baby will arrive in our family early this year.  It is my privilege as a great aunt to make a quilt.

In consultation with the baby’s mother I chose a Quilt Maker pattern, one of the Patch Pals series. The mommy liked the penguins best, and because we have been told the baby is a girl I was able to indulge in using a bit of pink in the quilt, which was great fun.

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One advantage of having a “mature stash” is that I was able to find a bit of special family fabric to include in the quilt.

The print with the tree and the picket fence is not really appropriate for a wintry penguin quilt. But this fabric was from my mother’s collection and including it here gives the new baby a link to her great-grandmother.

 

 

The quilt is finished except for the label, and that awaits the baby’s name.

Technorati Tags: baby quilt,scrappy,Patch Pals

December stitching

 

I did make some progress on the last UFO for 2012, but it is not finished – still stalled at the “shall I add another border, or not” stage.  I’m sure one day it will speak to me and let me know what size it needs to be.

Other things were happening in the sewing room as well.

I made a baby quilt for a precious little boy named Isaac.  (And I was pleased when Isaac’s mother told me that she still has the baby quilt I made when she was born!)

Isaac’s quilt was built around the black print with the cars on it that was used in the sashing.

I also spent some time just playing with bits of fabric and orphan blocks.  Didn’t “use up” much, but I had a lot of fun and produced an array of little mug rugs some scrappier than others.

Technorati Tags: UFO challenge,baby quilt,mug rugs

A UFO for November

 

This was not the one on my list, but it’s finished and I think that counts!

I missed the opportunity for photos when my tall quilt-holder son was home the other weekend, so had to wait until I visited a friend who had a space large enough to hang this up.

This is a Very Scrappy Braid.  Size 60” x 80”, and destined to be donated to a good cause. 

The quilt was made with 2 1/2” strips and squares and used some fabrics which had been sitting in the scrap drawer for a very long time. ( Is the drawer empty now? By no means.)  This was made as a class sample along with a planned version (French Braid) which still needs to be completed, so photos of that will follow at a later date. 

Just one quilt left on the 2012 UFO Challenge list.  Perhaps that one will be completed by month’s end! 

Technorati Tags: UFO challenge,scrappy,French Braid

One of life’s great questions answered!

Some time ago I posted about cleaning out my red tomato pincushion.  You can find that post here.  I remember being astounded at finding so many objects that had sunk inside nearly out of reach.

The other day I noticed crumbs on my cutting table.  Looking more closely I saw that the poor pincushion was leaking its sawdust stuffing.  I considered a mending job, but saw that there were too many breaks in the fabric.  Sadly I decided that this was the end of the line – the pincushion had been my mother’s and could easily be 50 years old.  The fabric had stood up very well during its long life.

As I held the pincushion and pondered its fate something poked my finger and I realized that even though I had removed 15 needles last year, there must still be a few left inside.  How many, I wondered – perhaps as many as 10?

Working over a dishpan I cut open the pincushion with scissors.  As I shook out the sawdust there was a glimpse of something shiny inside. Needles! (and a lump of mud mixed in with the sawdust!)

I carefully removed the needles and shook out more sawdust.  More needles!  More sawdust.  This is what I had when I had sifted through the last of the stuffing:

There were 67 needles inside!  A couple of sewing machine needles, several tapestry needles, LOTS of “ordinary needles” – sharps in various sizes.  Many of these must be left over from Mum’s days of sewing.  She sewed clothing and loved to finish hems and buttonholes with her fine hand-stitching.  I also found about a packet worth of my favourite crewel needles, the ones that are lovely and fine to sew with, but have a long eye that is easy to thread. 

To think that all these years I have been wondering where needles all go when they disappear.  I know that it is called a PIN cushion – perhaps that should be a hint that it will swallow the needles if I am foolish enough to put them there. 

 

 

Now the needles are tucked away (safely in a needle-book made of felt) and I should have enough to last for many years. But I feel rather bereft when I see the empty dish where the tomato used to sit. Even though I have plenty of other pin-cushions I know I will have to replace that red tomato.

 

 

Technorati Tags: pin cushion,needles