2011 November (2)

 

Where did the last few days go?

I'm very behind on by Blog reading list, so sorry if i haven't commented to those of you who read here and blog elsewhere, and I'm behind on my post writing too, and, if truth be known, just between us, I haven't done much sewing either.

I have been talking to people about the Fun With Fabric sessions , and have designed a poster for the 'brand' and have opened a new blog with details of the where? when? how much? info for each venue (www.FunWithFabricUK.blogspot.com)

 But I have done SOME sewing!  I have  . . .


 . . . Pieced and basted and quilted  a girly I spy quilt for a friend's great niece (someone who is doing their Christmas shopping in advance!)

. . . Told Niki  how to piece, baste and quilt a quilt for a friend who has become a big sister (at 17!)

 

. . . Progressed Heather's Black and White and Pink to just needing half the binding to be stitched on (I didn't have enough of the pink or the black for binding, so it's mostly black with random flashes of pink - the photo doesn't show it very well, but I'm really pleased with it)

. . . And there are 5 Christmas sacks just needing the Good / Naughty  thingy to be added, and then they are good to go off the UFO list!

Happy 21st Heather

 At last Heather's Black and White and Pink quilt is finished ...

 

The binding is mostly black with flashes of pink (this is the smallest flash!)

And I have hand quilted around the 'H', which could I guess could go at the top instead of the bottom!

This quilt was inspired by Deedrie's Blue Cross quilt - you can see hers [here]. 

I also managed to get the tag done for the Christmas sacks,

And I have helped Lisa proof read a 2200 word essay on "Why does Hobbes contend, “Truth is predicated of words, not things" and Explain why Mill contends “the proposition is not true because the object is placed in the class”, not forgetting Explain why Frege states, “In grasping a sense, one is not certainly assured of a Bedeutung.” . . . 

time for wine :-)

The Reds are reducing

I've managed to take a few more paniccy red projects off the list on the right, thank goodness, as it's now just 16 sleep until I go to Australia - and I have a girly weekend in Vienna to squeeze in before that too!

To into the "FINISHED" category go . . . 

. . . .An I-Spy quilt for mum's boss's new granddaughter

. . . And Christmas Sacks for one of the teachers I used to work with, and for the nephew and niece in Australia (the naughty / good is only to show the design, not to indicate the Lucy is naughty, or that Marley and Indi are good!!!)

In other news this weekend, Mum finished Lisa's VERY warm wool jumper, exactly to specifications:

• warm wool - check
• mottled wool that mustn't go stripy when knitted - check
• big neck - check
• not the big cable on the pattern, but not plain at the front - check
• long enough to cover her bum - check
• holes about 3 inches from the end of the sleeves so she can put her thumbs through - check

 I think Lisa looks rather pleased with it!

And Niki finished an I-Spy quilt for her friend Jade's new baby sister, Maisie. 

Cheesy grin, but permitted given the great job she has done (and this is the daughter who claims she DOESN'T sew!!!)

2011 November (S&Q)

 

SLIK and Quick Christmas Sack

I have spent the day making Christmas sacks, and found I had forgotten how I made them last year.  I seem to remember having the same problem 12 months ago, so this time I am recording the method, so that hopefully next year I'll be able to get started without having to think it through!

I cut the sack fabric to be able to make a sack appx 14" by 19", and I cut Christmassy fabric 14" by 7"

I attached the Christmassy fabric to the top of the bag about 3 inches down from the top (right sides together) then flip up and press. (On back as well as front)

I attached the back and front of bag together, leaving 2" unstitched at the top (either one seam or both seams depending on whether one or two drawer strings will be required)

I stitch open the opening(s) at the top of the bag, slightly tapering them open.  (Reinforce the top of the side seam several times.)

(I have written this for me, anyone else is welcome to use the instructions, but please feel free to ask me if there is anything unclear)
 

Then the Christmassy fabric can be brought down on the inside of the bag, and stitched with a small hem.  Finally I stitched about 2cm from the top to create a channel for the ribbon

Finally I am going to make a small two sided patch that says 'good' on one side, and 'naughty' on the other, so it can be left as a message for Santa on Christmas Eve!

I have obviously been good, as I received a package from Katy.  It doesn't look very exciting, but it is insubrite (I may have spelt it wrong) which is insulating heat resistant fabric that can be used for making oven gloves or table mats.  Thank you thank you thank you Katy!

My other sewing to day has been sewing some strips from my two-and-a-half-inch-strips-of-washed-fabrics drawer (!) for the block lotto this month.  The block is a sort of technicolour yawn with a black Irish chain thing going on.  Have a look [here] to see some of the others that have been entered.  Each block counts as a ticket to win 35 blocks.  I really love this block, and think I will make one for myself from my scraps if I don't win.  I have started to sew the blocks, but don't have any washed black fabric, so these 'fives' will have to wait to be come 'sixes' then I can cross cut and make the 36 patch blocks

2011 November (1)

 

I can't crochet

I can't crochet, but it seems that Lisa can!

She has done a couple of blankets, but has needed one of the little old ladies at church to start her off with a square, then she can go round and round it, getting bigger every time.

We bought some wool at Knitting and Stitching show, and she and Jackie had a one-to-one in the car on the drive back.  It was not made easy by Lisa sitting in the back of the car, with the hook and the wool, and Jackie sat in the front, twisting round trying to give instructions "yes, like that, two of those, no not through that hole, through that hole, loop it round again, through the same hole, now through the next hole, now another one . . ."

Anyway much as I laughed at the chat, it must have worked, as I got this postcard from Lisa:

and she has nearly finished a first scarf too :-)

Thank you Jackie, and well done Lisa

Colour coding

A hundred years or so ago, when I was doing my O'levels and A'levels (translation for non UK residents - school leaving exams at 16 and 18, O=Ordinary, A=Advanced) I spent ages designing revision timetables - different colours for different subjects.

By the time I was happy with it, the first day had usually passed, so I needed to do a new one so as not to miss out on that subject's revision.  I think there just may have been some avoidance going on there.

The reason I mention it here, is because I found myself this evening colour coding my UFO / To Do list.  The projects which can wait until after Christmas are in green, while the projects I really should be getting on with are in red.  Looks very pretty, but there are still a dozen projects in red!

However, the first Cream Orphan D9P and the second Pure Blue have had the binding machine stitched to the front, so they now just need some hand sewing doing (the pile is now at 5), but Debbie tells me they can wait until after Christmas (have you seen they are in green now!  :-)

Meanwhile,I want to have a rant about my supposed friend Plum - I had a nice day with her and her diddy (!) little machine on Saturday, until I realised she was sewing with Aurifil threads.  I knew something was up as her spools were orange and my quilting thread spools are green.  Do you know she subliminally infected me with her thinking (she must be on commission or something) as last night my fingers did some tapping on the iPad screen, and I suddenly found that I am soon to be receiving

ta da

this

(be still my beating heart)

and the super lovely Meg at New Threads was not at all miffed at discussing colour descriptions and swaps at 8 o'clock last night!