2022 November Block Special

Richmond and Kew quilters had a great Easy Stack workshop last Saturday run by Paula Doyle.  It's not my place top share her method, but you can see loads of inspirational photos on our FB page.

I'll show you my blocks later, but Paula also showed us how to easily make a 4 patch so I wanted to show you while I remember

Lay out the 4 pieces as you want them to end up.

Numbering them in this pattern

1 2

3 4

fold 2 onto 1, and 4 onto 3 and stitch them: do not cut the thread between, just keep going from the top pair to the bottom pair with a few chain stitches between.  Think of these seams as seam 1

See the chain stitches - leave this intact

Now pivot anti clockwise and flip 3/4 onto 1/2, and stitch.  This is seam 2

Flip over and the question now is how to press?

Snip open the chain stitches, and tug a little to unto the new few stitches (these are the stitches from the chain part of seam 1 to where they have been stitched over by seam 2, probably just 2 or 3 stitches)

You can then fold each seam anticlockwise and have this cute little baby 4 patch in the middle.  This means all your seams are ready to snuggle together when you start joining your 4 patches to each other!

2022 October

 Welcome to a quick whiz through my October: not quite in chronological order that's to Bloogers random processes, but here we go!

We had a "World Café" even at the community coffee morning - loads of people came.  The preschool is collecting children's pyjamas for a charity that wants to give a new pair to every child in hospital over Christmas.  Three of us wore of PJs for the coffee morning to promote it (we collected 18 pairs!)

 

I have finally finished my poncho shawl thing: a bit bigger than I expected, and rather warm, but I still love the colours and it'll live in teh sewing room for when it gets a bit chilly

 

Jackie was over for a few days and we made some bits and pieces: I can't find photos of them all, but these zippy cases are great!  And we had a lovely time!

We taught at class at Chertsey museum: Christmas cushion covers (got to love a roll of Heat and Bond!)

 

 

 

Loads of lovely cushions!

I've been working on an "ocean inspired" challenge: a foundation paper pieced puffin.  He's nearly finished but annoyingly I've run out of grass, so I'm not sure where I am going next!

This Puffin however worked out much better - he's needle felted!

This is the finished (?) denim jacket I was making on a hoody 'net'.  I took it to Richmond and Kew and my friend Jane has taken it to add some buttons!  The patched denim was donated by Cherille . . . it's becoming a group project!

This was a group project too: all the blocks were make by Richmond and Kew members . . . 

and L was delighted to receive it

I made some felted birds

and some felted fairy lights

and the rainbow wrap has reached the right size so is ready to be quilted - if anyone knows where I have put the bag of pearle threads please can you let me know!

2022 September

 And here we are again!

I spent some time in the sun with some Richmond & Kew Quilter friends: a raised patio made it easy and comfortable to work on the denim jacket.  It is now close to being finished (or what will count as finished) but I cant show you until it is unveiled at the R&KQ meeting next Monday.

Emily at Chertsey Museum brought in her wedding veil to show us: wonderful hand stitched designs

   

I went to Creative Craft exhibition at Farnborough . . .  and may have bought a bit of Christmassy Fabric 😄

I also bought some Shutelane.com fabric: I had seen the cushion sized panels and the 6" squares, but I hadn't realised they did smaller repeat designs, and they even sell scraps - sort of small hexie sized scraps!!!!

I'm not sure where these are going, but I'm loving all the Puffins!

There were just enough scraps to make this,

and a bigger puffin does fit inside - is that the best use of the hexies?

And if that wasn't enough puffin love . . .  here is a finished needle felted puffin . . .

And a few bits that make a paper foundation pieced puffin

    

I've practically run out of grass fabric so this one has stalled a bit until I get re-enthused!

September was the month of blackberries and apples so Kay and I made crumble

And the Richmond & Kew session saw us making lavender hearts, thank you Sue

Lisa picked up a sold-as-seen jumper from work for £1 but it needed darning - I had the prefect colour and quite enjoyed darning it!

I'm teaching an evening session at Chertsey (applique Christmas cushion covers) at the end October and have done some samples

And have done some embroidered labels for customers' quilts.

Richmond and Kew had a blue & yellow (Ukraine) block challenge and these were the blocks we received.  The plan was that I would piece, someone else would quilt then another would bind . . . various changes of plan meant that Muggins ended up piecing . . .

quilting and binding!.  At least it can go into show and tell next week and then be gifted!  

I just need to decide whether I prefer the yellow label (Ukraine colours) or the red (R&KQ colour)

Talking of gifts . . .  I got a felted picture kit, chocolates, wooden necklace, FQ books, thread themed mug, tape measure bracelet, needle keeper, glass puffin and needle punch embroidery kit for my birthday - very spoiled!!  Thank you everyone xx

And a final gift has gone in the post to Brian's closest cousin who recently became a grandad.  Obviously this isn't for granddad, its for baby Rose (Alex and Brian's granny Mullins was Rose too!)