A Works in Progress Update

 

Back in June, I decided I'd start working on some long term unfinished projects.  there were a couple of reasons for this:

1     to stop me wasting time aimlessly and continually doom scrolling on my phone (this has the added advantage of helping me to sleep aa bit better at night) and

2    to alleviate the guilt I felt for all the started, yet boxed up projects, using beautiful fabrics and threads.

So I thought I'd provide an update on what I've achieved and where I'm up to.

• The floral applique embroidery piece is now at a point I deem finished.  I added some small Liberty fabric pieces with small flowers and leaves, which were then embellished with vintage lace and embroidery,  I think these add a little lightness to the piece now,  Next mission, getting it framed.  

• I've also pulled out my Liberty X/+ epp blocks  which I started back in July 2022 and over the past three weeks I have joined them all,  I do have plans to add a border made up of liberty and low volume fabrics too, I'm just playing with some options and giving my shoulders and fingers a rest from hand sewing.  This will be known as my Liberty Kisses quilt.

• The epp hexi travel kit still comes to work with me every day. I think I've made about 500 to sew together now.

I'm taking a wee break from the quilting and hand sewing now, I may have taken advantage of some of the recent fabric and pattern sales, so am feeling very inspired to make some seasonally inappropriate clothing, one of which will hopefully be my Auckland Frocktails garment. Stay tuned.

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?

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. 

Kismet Kiss - A Finished Quilt

 

Photo from https://www.instagram.com/cultivatedbychristin/

Yay - I'm so pleased I managed to finish a quilt this year.

I started my Kismet Kiss quilt back in April 2021 and as usual, with my quilts, it has been a slow process. 

Originally I had planned a totally random scrappy quilt, but decided to make it a little more cohesive using colours from a  beautiful floral arrangement as my colour palette.  I think I managed to work within the restrictions quite well. 

The English paper pieced blocks (EPP) were supposed to number about 48, but I got sick of doing them and stopped at 25.  These were all pieced together in January this year .   Borders from Kaffe Fasset fabrics were added to make the quilt a useable size, and a multi fabric pieced backing in colours similar to those I used used in the quilt front was made.  I decided to hand quilt it using a deep purple perle thread, my stitches are definitely not even, but really no one will be looking that closely ( hope)  and I do think that finished is better than perfect. 

The binding is an orange grunge fabric with colours found in the quilt too.

I am really happy with how this quilt has turned out, and as yet haven't decided if it will be a keeper or gift.

2023 - My First Finish

 

Photo from @cultivatedbychristin

Well it's been a little while since I last posted,  Life. Covid, and Christmas got in the way.

This year has started well though, I have finished my first unfinished quilting project for the year.

My Kismet Kiss quilt - originally started back here in 2021,  I based my colour palette on the floral bouquet above and think I've done pretty well in matching them.  I have made by quilt somewhat smaller than the original pattern, but will add borders of some description to make it a more useable size.

Pattern from The Sun Spell

Fabrics from my never decreasing stash.

Things Here Lately

 

Gosh it's been age since I last wrote on my poor neglected blog.

I'm working full time, but  still reading and creating, just not as prolifically.  Here's a brief rundown of some of what I have been up to over the past couple of months.

• I've started a new English paper piecing (epp) project using house blocks and squares.  Currently I am piecing the house blocks out of my Liberty fabric stash, and I'm thinking the squares will be assorted low volume projects from my stash. I'm enjoying having a portable project again, that I can work on in my lunchbreaks, or pick up in the evening for a quick stitching fix.

• A new little embroidery/wool applique project has also been started, I've picked threads to match one of my favourite Alison Glass fabrics.

• The sidewinder pants were the first pair of trousers I've made that weren't culottes.  They have an elastic waist, perfect for over eating and a cool twisted side seam.  They are a very different look for me, and I'm not sure I like them on me, they do look better in the photos, than looking at them in a mirror,  so it may be a matter of perception.

• I also made a new top for special occasion a couple of weeks ago. I used the Hilary Top pattern from Tessuti Fabrics, omitting the peplum and lengthening the bodice.  I made an XS but could possible have graded to a S.  Fabric is rayon in a lovely green animal print that just doesn't photograph well.

• I've finally managed to get away to a beach, it's not quite the same in winter, being unable to swim, cos I'm very much a summer swimmer only, but it was bliss to go out for meals, walk on the beach and just escape life in Auckland.

Happy weekending .

The Joy of Small Hand Sewing Projects

 

Kismet Kiss Quilt

Fresh Cut

Groove is in the Heart

Most winter evenings after I've finished dinner, the housework and various other domestic duties, I like to sit down in a comfy chair with either a book or a handsewing project. I have a few in progress at present: ( Fresh Cut - a wool felt and embroidery project, Kismet Kiss - my new epp project, Groove is in the Heart Quilt )  but have been thinking about why I prefer to work on some and others not so much.

I've decided that I'm not enamored with my Fresh Cut applique/embroidery project.  While I love the look of the finished ones I've seen, and using wool felt, the beautiful threads and making fancy stitches,  I am not enjoying making mine.  Perhaps it's because I'm doing it on fabric rather than a  felt background, and I don't like the fluff from the parlan fusible batting attached to it coming through the fabric.  It could also be because the blocks are large, my last couple of felt applique projects have had small blocks, which make it much easier to have a portable easy to work on handsewn project. Also sewing on black is hard, even more so if your eyesight is not great.  

I think this is why I really enjoy English Paper piecing.  Yes it takes me forever to select the fabric combinations for the blocks, but the pieces are small and easy to sew, and they don't take up as much room if I'm taking them somewhere as a portable project.  It's an easy project to stop and start, I can baste a lot of pieces ready to stitch, and I know that it will be a long term project anyway.

My Groove is in the Hearts quilt is also an easy to sew small hand sewing project, each heart half fits into a magazine, or manila folder which keeps it flat.  I've taken tis project away on holiday, a few times and  They are quite quick and simple to make and I see results quickly.

Unfortunately I think my Fresh Cut Quilt may be packed away for a while (read forseeable future) while I continue to enjoy smaller and more manageable projects.

Things Here Lately

 

My colour palette is currently based on these shades

Well, we are definitely headed into late autumn now.  The leaves are changing colour and falling everywhere, my mandarin and feijoa trees have been fruiting prolifically, the violets are starting to flower.  I can smell wood smoke from the odd fire that has been lit in my neighbourhood, (in fact we lit ours last weekend) and I'm starting to need to wear layers at work.  

I have temporarily increased my hours at work, which may yet end up being a permanent change, so I am finding I need to be more organised to ensure I get time to do all the things I like doing. Lets just say that lists are my forte at present.  So anyhoo, here's what have I been up too lately. 

• Obviously working on my new epp project, I have nine blocks completed now and have found a picture of the most beautiful floral arrangement, which has the colour palette I'd envisioned in my mind. I still struggle with choosing fabrics for the centre cross part of the block, I am sure that this part of the process takes longer than the actual stitching of the block itself.  I'm not sure if I'll make all the 48 blocks required, but I guess I have a lot of time to decide.

• I have also decided I need to conquer my fear of sewing with knit fabrics and make myself some layering pieces to wear for work and exercise, ie: walking and yoga.  So far I've made a black merino top from a Burda style pattern, which caused me to do an awful lot of swearing at my machine, the top is still wearable, and I will try this pattern again, with a different fabric .  I have also made a sweatshirt using the Undercover Hoody pattern from Papercut Patterns, from a charcoal merino/tencel knit, I'm certainly glad I upsized to size S.  I would like to try the hoody version of this next time too.  Also in the plans is a new jacket for work in a beautiful magenta cashmere/viscose blend.  I'm really looking forward to making and  wearing this.

• Of course, books will always feature in my daily life.  Some good novels I've enjoyed are:

            - The Invisible Woman By Erika Robuck (based on a real life story)

            - The Lost manuscript by Cath Bonidan (a charming epistolary novel)

• This corner of my garden is bringing me a lot of joy at present.  I love the bright green and deep crimson irisene, and I don't think I have ever seen as many flowers on the vireya before.  My dahlias have been cut back, and I'm pondering whether to risk leaving the tubers in the ground over winter this year.  

Hoping you are all enjoy whatever season you are living in at present,