the next quilt :: sashiko all over

Some fabrics from my stash have been sewn together, some cotton, double gauze & some linen.  All fabrics that I love and that I've finally put to use.

 I'm using sashiko thread to do the quilting and I plan on covering the whole quilt with the stitching.

 One piece I have hand sewn on top.

 This quilt is 3 layers - the top, a layer of calico and the backing.

 I did have to buy the backing which is a green linen.

design files open house

wow! so many lovely things to see at the design files open house wow!

I met gOLd ChaLK there on friday.

I love the hand painted wood.

What a great idea for oldish... blankets

These stools caught my eye, there were a couple out the back as well.  Just a little out of my budget, a  pic will have to do...

a beci orpin, I could admire it for ages.

forgot to keep a little liberty

My fabric sampler made it out of the cupboard the other day so I updated it with a couple of new liberty's, unfortunately I forgot to keep a tiny piece of this one...  Does that mean I need to buy a small amount?

liberty & linen hexagons :: finished

3 years & 2 months later it is finished.

my little helper. 

I had to finish the quilt with a liberty binding.

I love this quilt, I will treasure it always.

reversible sashiko placemat

Over at the Purl bee I came across Molly's Sketchbook: Reversible Sashiko Placemats, a couple of weeks ago I printed out the instructions and now I have one placemat.  (I must admit that I have printed off loads of projects from the Purl bee, so many lovely things to make).  I love the stitching on this project, you draw on a whole lot of chalk lines making a grid and away you go.  I like both sides, but if I had to choose it would definitely be the side with the little crosses.

This is the sashiko thread I used on a cotton/linen blend

I popped out and got a 25mm bias tape maker, I think I could make meters & meters of binding...

With a little apprehension I started sewing on the binding - no problems at all, I feared heaps of missed edges on the underside, I was pleasantly surprised.  I had to go back over a couple of the corners, great effort I thought.

Can you believe how close we are to Christmas... 

I'm sure the chalk will disappear soon, not sure I want to wash it yet.

tissue paper flowers

last weekend we celebrated my little girls' 7th birthday - happy birthday bells!  I saw these and thought they'd be lovely.  8 were made and placed in old milk bottles around the house.  I used a couple more layers than what was suggested and made the squares 8" x 8", one day I'd like to do some light green ones.

hexagons :: basted & ready for quilting

Hexagons has now been basted and is ready for quilting.  We went on a lovely little holiday to Venus Bay, what a beautiful part of the world - especially Walkerville, I love a place with not many people around & beautiful beaches.  Anyway while we were away I managed to finish the top, I added a couple more rows so now I'm happy with the size.

I chose some nani IRO double gauze for the backing, it's so beautiful and I had enough wool batting in the cupboard, so this one will be nice and light & lofty.

I'm using linen thread to do the quilting, only a little has been done so far.

liberty & linen hexagons :: paper pieced

This was started back in 2009, I can't believe it was that long ago.  Over the last few months I've been working hard and enjoying every minute, it's amazing once you apply yourself how quickly it all comes together.

It is now almost 1.3m square, I had a moment of panic when my supply of cotton/linen mix diminished - I bought it years ago and  I thought I wouldn't be able to find any more.  Anyway I breathed a sigh of relief when I found it over here.  The colour match is not 100% but it's so close that after a wash or two I'm positive you won't be able to tell the difference.

I want to do another couple of rows, two maybe three or four, I am so looking forward to doing the quilting. Right now I'm thinking of linen thread a couple of mm around each patterned ring and also within the inner ring. It's possible I could change my mind, we'll see what happens.

The underside appeals to me too.

Along the way I have added some new liberty's, who can resist a little liberty...

little paper hot air balloon

The other day I saw this cute little hot air balloon over here, so I followed the link to here and so you have my finished balloon.  It stands at only 8cm tall.  A mobile would be lovely, not sure I can make that many...

baby quilt done

little Maggie joined the world 1 week ago, a new niece for me - she's so sweet and tiny.  Here's a quilt for her crib, my sister chose all the fabrics and I just put it together.  Beautiful linen from Japan.  I didn't take many pics, not sure why - so here is just 1.

quilting is finished

It's been awhile of nothing nothing nothing here on the blog.  I have been working away on my sister's quilt which is now finished - quilted with linen thread.  In my mind I want to be doing heaps of stuff, but when it comes down to it I'm just not sure where to start and therefore nothing gets started.  My sister has another project she'd like me to complete which is a baby quilt, that will be fun and shouldn't take too long.  Baby no. 2 for her is just around the corner, so exciting.

Maybe after I finish that project I'll be able to get going on something...