A Finished Quilt

 

I've finally finished my "Make it up as I go" quilt. My first and probably only quilt finish of the year.

Started back here in 2023, it's been a slow process.

Very much inspired by the fabulous seedling quilt from Tales of Cloth, I made a Mandolin block as my first block, then pieced or stitched other blocks I liked, but didn't necessarily want to make a whole quilt of.  In hindsight, I should have made the quilt in a log cabin sequence, it would have made fitting pieces a lot easier.

Always using my loved low volume and bright combination this quilt is approximately 70" square.

The backing is a fabulous rainbow Ombre from Northcott fabrics. 

The magical e2e quilting by Quiltmekiwi is Gingersnap design 

Binding is in Yarrow by Kona fabrics, I wasn't sure on the gold colour, but I think it frames it all nicely, and has a light brightening effect.

The final seal of approval has been given by Meeka.

Works in Progress

 

The other day I sent my "make it up as I go quilt" off to Leeanne at Quilt Me Kiwi to work her magic on it.  Instead of starting a new exciting project, I've pulled out some long time works in progress and started working on them.

First up is the  applique story project I started in the 2020 lockdowns, I've been embellishing and edging some of the raw edge pieces, adding stitches and some subtle colour with variegated threads.  I'm thinking it needs a little bit more of some smaller delicate flowers where I have very roughly sketched them in on a photo.  I figure I can always add them, then remove it if I don't like it. And, once I deem it is finished, I'm intending to get it framed.  It's far to delicate to be used in a quilt or cushion.

The other project I am working on is my scrappy Hexi quilt.  I pondered about making one here, and over the past few years have been making up scrappy 1" epp hexis.  These are normally made on holiday, or sewing days  with friends.  I find it an easy pick up and sew mindlessly project. I've made about 400 of them and have now run out of templates, so have decided that instead of aimlessly doomscrolling on my phone on my lunchbreaks and in the evenings, I'll start stitching them together into small blocks, so I can remove some of the templates and reuse them.  I'm not sure how any more I'll need to make to have enough to do something with.

I've another quilt top that has been sitting in the WIP pile for a few years too, that I need to either leave at the size it currently is and call it a lap quilt or make another couple of borders for it.  Will I get it finished this year?

Stacker Jacket

 

I have finally got around to making myself a version of the Stacker Jacket.

This cropped boxy jacket pattern from Papercut Patterns has been around for a few years now.

It wasn't until I made my daughter her version, that I realised how much I like it and how versatile it would be to have a casual jacket that wasn't denim.

Mine is made from a charcoal corduroy, with a black lining.  The under collar is lined in a lightweight denim, so that it helps to lessen the bulk in the seams.  The instructions are nice and clear, and there is a video tutorial for most steps too. One little mishap occurred,  when I gut a great big gash in my lining as I was trimming seams, thankfully I had enough lining fabric scraps to cut a replacement piece. I'm very pleased with my mitered corner seams too.  

I'm looking forward to wearing this.

April - Looking Back

Another month gone and we're now officially feeling proper autumnal weather.

It's been a busy month, my knee is just about totally healed now, so I'm able to go for decent walks and sleep comfortably.  I still haven't tried a proper hiking track yet though,

The Scout and I went out to the beach at Orere point and enjoyed a beautiful walk, with a stop off at Waitawa Regional Park looking out over the stunning inner Hauraki Gulf.  It was warm enough that we should have taken swimming gear with us.

I've been sewing -  some beautiful new cushions for my sofa with some gorgeous Designer Guild fabric offcuts and a deep inky linen blend bias cut skirt.  The pattern is the Clo Bias Skirt from Soften Studio, and its a very comfortable easy to wear and make skirt with an elastic waist and drawstring.  I think there will be more of these added to my wardrobe.

Finally after about 25 years living in Auckland, I had my first visit out to Muriwai beach on the West Coast.  Famous for it black sands and surf.  We walked, ate well, slept and read, a just enjoyed a lovely relaxing weekend away.

 

A Finished Quilt Top

Well, to all intents and purposes I have a finished quilt top.  It's been a long time coming and not without a couple of hiccups, which involved a lot of unpicking, measuring, remeasuring,  inserting strips, trimming blocks and then resewing the affected blocks together.  It measures roughly 70' x70"

In hindsight I  should have built rows around the very centre block, rather than making strips, and rows to piece together, that required gaps to be filled.  The quilt is a mix of English paper pieced blocks, hand sewn to background fabrics, foundation paper pieced blocks and machine pieced strips.

I plan to hand some applique along some of the low volume areas around the centre block, so am currently working on making components for this.  I'm also deciding whether to piece a backing and try and use up some of my stash or just use a wide backing fabric from my quilter. 

I need to think of a name for this quilt, I can't keep calling it the make it up as I go quilt. 

Bouquets and Garden Musings

 

One of the things I really love about summer is all the flowers that I can grow in my garden and pick for bouquets for the house or for friends.  Over winter my garden doesn't get much sun, so is usually pretty bare of anything pretty.

This year I have grown my dahlias, and even though people say they are easy care, they are finicky at times, they wilt with not much water, rot with too much water, ants seem to like making nests in the tubers, so they die,  and they succumb to mildew.

Zinnias, I find to be much hardier, and pretty easy to grow from seed, and the flowers are interesting all the way through the blooming process.  I love the range of colours and sizes.  Cactus type zinnias are my new favourites.

this summer I have have also tried growing :

- aster, which are quite long lasting when picked, and I will be getting more colours for next summer, - -- phlox, creme brulee a pinky beige coloured flower

- calendula which was pretty easy to grow from seed

- coreopsis, not such a great germination rate but I'll persevere with these next summer.

Next summer I'm going to relocate all my dahlia tubers and plant more zinnias and aster in their spaces.

Winter garden plans have seen me buy more daffodilt bulbs for growing in pots on my deck, much as I'm not really a fan of yellow flowers, I do like their cheery welcoming glow when I see them first thing in the morning  or after work as the brighten up my deck area.

January - Looking back

 

Well the first month of 2025 is over, and my intention of blogging twice a month has already passed.  So this post, hopefully not too long and rambling, is a summary of the highlights and fun stuff I did during the month, starting at the end of the month, as the title says - looking back.

• The best part of January is always my summer break away at the beach.  Just my husband and me (it's quite lovely now my kids are young adults and can look after themselves now), at our favourite beach at Mangawhai Heads.  I paddle boarded each morning before breakfast on amazingly clear calm waters, lazed around reading, ate gelatos and had a fabulous day boogie boarding at the surf beach,  We took a day trip to Whangarei and visited the Hundertwasser Art Centre and the Packard Car Museum.

• One of my intentions this year is to finish the top of my "make it up as I go" quilt.  I haven't touched this since 2023, so have sort of forgotten what I had intended.  I've since drafted a rough plan, and jotted down some ideas, and have started some epp which will be appliqued to a panel.

• I'm trying to walk each morning for 30 minutes before I go to work.  I've noticed its already getting darker in the mornings, but I have been treated to some amazing sunrises.

• I have lived in Auckland for 28 years and never walked up to the top of Mt Eden the highest volcano (196m) in Auckland.  It is dormant and offers fabulous views across the city in all directions.  I finally got to do it on a warm and rather blustery day.  

• My first garment make for the year is the Gibbons Slip Dress from Elbe Textiles.  Its a relatively simple dress, cut on the bias, so fits beautifully but not tightly.  Mine is made from a black linen viscose blend from spotlight

Wishing you all a wonderful February.