And Sew On ✓

It's a bit like waiting for buses at this blog! You wait ages for a finished and then two come along at once!!
Anyhow, let me introduce you to my And Sew On wall hanging!

These blocks are from the BoM that Kristy designed and held on her blog. She is the queen of paper pieced design and is a bit of a speed sewing whizz too!

Each month Kristy released a pattern gradually getting harder and I have to say I was a little imitated at the 'Sewing Sanctuary' and 'I like a Big Stash' and I did put them off and fell behind. But, I got the paper piecing bug back and finished them up this month and they were not half as hard as I had imagined them to be.

Then I concentrated on getting them together in to a top and adding the details.  I had tried to make sure that each block had some orange in it give them a running theme, so they would play nicely together.
I embroidered all the threads on the blocks, the needle on the machine and a spool on the 'Cut it Out' block.

I also added some steam to my tea, but it's tricky to photograph.  

I did have a sizing mistake on May's 'Keep Calm and Press on' but I added a small border to two sides to make it up. And now have a wonky iron cord!?!

I also have a bit of upside-down fussy cutting. 

I concentrated so hard on getting the writing in the handle, that I didn't check the placement of the piece! Oh well, it has all taught me something!! 

And lastly, I added a little note on the binding to give me a reminder of a brilliant BoM!  Yes, I am going to keep playing with the alphabet on the new machine!!!

It's hanging above the computer in the kitchen at the moment, for everyone to see, as I don't have a sewing room, I just take over the kitchen. 

The Details

Pattern :  And Sew On Bom by Kristy @ Quiet Play

Size     :    32" x 32"

Fabric :   All from my stash (except the painters canvas that I ran out of and had to order an emergency fq for the floor!) Ikea britten and Kona orange School Bus for the backing and the binding is Sketech Charcoal, which I hope frames it. 

I had a brilliant time making these blocks and it really pushed me to try complex paper piecing, thanks to Kristy for designing them and encouraging us all the time. Everyone is linking up their projects from today and I can't wait to see what people have made with their blocks!

Kristy has also posted some ideas for next years BoM and I can't wait to get started! 

Sorry for the photo and words heavy post, but I'm really so pleased with it and the family have stopped listen to anything fabric related. 

This was on my Q4 list for the 2013 FAL and so that is 2 down 4 to go!! 

I'm linking up with the lovely Liz & Clare for 

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Hand Quilted Entry

I've watched from afar for the last two years, as bloggers have linked up their quilts to the brilliant Blogger Quilt Festival. I found loads of blogs through it and lots of inspiration.

The first year I hadn't even really finished a quilt and for the last two festivals, I've not felt I had made anything that was special enough to share.
But, I have finally finished my most precious quilt over the last week.
Spinning Stars of Quilt Blocks!

I started this back in September of last year when Katy 'I'm a Ginger Monkey' Jones started a quilt along and I got the top all together by April. And then it sat there waiting for me to man-up and baste it!

I knew I wanted to hand quilt it like the original by Anna Maria Horner, but am just a scaredy cat!

I think I was also a quiet worried about ruining a top I loved with wonky machine quilting! But, over the last few weeks I've hand quilted it whilst watching TV and then tackled the binding. Lots and lots of binding, nearly 315" of it.

The Details

Pattern : Spinning Stars by Anna Maria Horner
Size :       86" x 70"
Fabric :  Quilt Blocks by Ellen Luckett Baker, Pezzy Print by American Jane and lots of Timeless Treasure's Sketch for the top. Binding is more Sketch and backing is Spot On extra wide for Moda.
Quilting : Hand quilted by me with DMC Perle No.8

I added a little note to the binding with the alphabet on my machine to mark when I finished it!

The year went a bit squished! 

I really stepped out of my comfort zone making this quilt, both with the patterns and the fabrics colours, but I love how it has finished up! I used fairly big stitches and used the same colour Perle on the rings as the Sketch and white Perle for the stars and centres.
Even the man of the house made a comment when he saw it on the bed! So it must be bright!

So, thats my entry, I'm off to look at all the other entries and will try and not add anything else I see to my making wish list!!

Edited 30/10/13 - I forgot, this is also my first finish from my Q4 list for the 2013 FAL 1 down 5 to go! 

Christmas Makes Week 3!

Yesterday, I broke the iron! I think it has a heart attack at the thought of more HST's! So I'm only one Swoon block up from last week, along with a pile of squares to be trimmed and ironed!
But my big finish this week in my Christmas Makes is my Hootenanny Quilt Top!

I really love this fella! He is very quiet (unlike most in this house!) and he is just making me smile today, oh and feel a little bit paranoid! Those sparkly eyes are still following me everywhere!
I could only work on him, when son No.2 was out, so he still has on idea that I've started his quilt. I need to get shopping for some backing and wadding to turn this top into a quilt.
And heres Swoon block No.4

My list so far.....

Swoon Quilt for the Parents - 4 of the blocks done

Hootenanny Quilt for Son No.2 - Quilt Top is complete 

Doll's House Mat for Rose, I want it to go on the wall!?!

Christmas Table Runner - I keep getting distracted searching for ideas on Pinterest! 

Polar Bear Cushion  

Christmas Dress of Rose - I now know I'm going to make another Book Report Dress in Christmassy Cheesy fabric! 

So, thats two well on there way and the rest being ignored! I think that is a pretty good week when you consider I churred out two outfits of the little lady too here and here!
I'm not long in from work, so I'm taking a glass of wine to the sofa to watch Strictly and catch up on some of October's Woodland Sampler!  But will be checking out the other Making Christmas progress thats been linked up at Kristy of Quiet Play.

Now, where was that Argos catalogue for the new iron...... I have Swoon blocks to make

Speedy Book Report!

I've surprised myself today and managed to get my Oliver + S Book Report Dress finished!
I chopped all of the pattern pieces out on Wednesday evening and made a start sewing them together last night!

And today managed to complete it! That to me is a pretty quick make especially as I only ordered the pattern and the fabric on Tuesday!

Whats more I think it looks pretty good too!
And I am so so chuffed with the straightness of the pattern of the insects, I really concentrated on the lines when cutting....for once!

She was channelling her inner zombie! 

My model was a lot more corporative today and was more than happy to pose for photos! Maybe she thought the chocolate button rate would be higher today!!
This is the third Oliver + s Pattern I've used and as with all the others this was so clear and straightforward. The only change I made to the pattern was to use a plain cotton for the facings instead of the linen/cotton and corduroy to reduce the bulk.  See, lesson has been learnt from the skirt!

So, the details, 

Oliver + s Book Report Dress made in 3T

Echino Insect for Fabric A

Turquoise Cord for Fabric B 

Sparkly buttons by Coats  

I use a little over ½ metre of each of the fabrics, which were both from Cloth Kits and I have to say I called them to check if the cord I had picked would match the Echino (it's so so hard to know if the shade is right online!) and they could not have been more helpful. Even when I picked the pink Insects in my online order, the lady rang me back to check and confirm that I still wanted the green and blue. Whoops. 

But, word of warning the cord really really runs! 

This poor colour catcher really had to work hard! 

And I didn't run the machine on an empty rinse, so my Insects have a slightly blue hue! But thats my own fault, and you live and learn.

So, that is my Kids Clothes Week over with, until the next time and I vow to be more organised than ordering patterns and fabric on the Monday and Tuesday. I have been massively inspired by the Flickr Group, there are some seriously talented sewists out there! 

Hopscotch Skirt!

It's done, the model has had a strop, been bribed and we now have after a very long 10 minutes of convincing her photos of possibly my only finish of Kids Clothes Week, my Oliver + S Hopscotch Skirt!

I made it with fine wale corduroy that I bought at the Knitting & Stitching show from My Fabrics and some wooden buttons by Coats that I grabbed on Tuesday from Hobbycraft! .

It is an incredible easy pattern to follow and it was sewn together in a very short evening. Although, those takeout pockets need concentration and I could get the first one right but the second wouldn't play nicely. So I had to cut it out again!
It's really autumnal in colour and fabric and I think the little lady of the house will get a really good wear form this and I can see more in her (and my) future!

Yes, it actually is sunny here today!

The new machine (name still to be decided!) made sewing this a dream and the insides look so clean and dare I say quite professional. IMHO!

But, I have learnt a few things from this project ....
●  This colour and the fine cord made seeing my stitches eye aching work! I nearly went off the edge topstitching it several times.
●  Cord waistband + cord skirt + cord placket = too thick fabric to make a decent buttonhole from! But, I got there in the end, and it has made me change the facings for the Book Report Dress I've cut out.
●  And models need chocolate buttons in payment!
●  I only need half a metre of fabric if it a wide fabric! (Cord anyone??)

If I get the chance I might get some sewing on these pattern pieces this evening for the Book Report Dress,

but I'm not holding my breath!

I'm linking up with the lovely Liz and Clare at

WIP Wednesday!

I haven't played along with WIP Wednesday for ages, but thought it would be good to keep track of where I am this week! Especially as it's half term next week, and I may not get anywhere near my sewing machine!

Hootenanny Quilt! 
I really cracked on with this on Sunday and added a bit more yesterday!

As long as I lay the blocks out, they sew together really quickly! Although I can't help feeling like I'm being watched!!!

Swoon Quilt
I have added another block to the mix so the count is now up to 4.

Nearly half way there..... with a pile of HST's ready for trimming and ironing

Kids Clothes Week
I had great hopes for KCW this time, but my planning was rubbish.
Last night I worked on this corduroy Hopscotch Skirt and just need to fit it to Rose for the elastic sizing and do the buttonholes.

For the life of me, I cannot get a decent photo of the colour of this cord! 

From sewing this, I now know corduroy is so so bulky!!! And that I must trim trim trim those seams!
Then this morning, this delicious lot of fabric arrived from Cloth Kits, which I have hopes to turn into a Book Report Dress.

So, thats my crazy week! Send me luck or cans of Diet Coke, I think I may need it!
I'm linking up with

  

I've finally started.....

Last week I joined Making Christmas, with Janine at Rainbow Hare and Rebecca of Making Rebecca Lynne and can you believe it, I've actually started sewing one of my Christmas makes!
I grabbed three of my freezer bags of prepared Swoon cuttings and made some blocks!
This one,

Then No. 2

And finally No.3

I think this last one might be my favourite!!

I really love the blue with white dot fabric, even if it is making my eyes go a tiny bit wonky...

I'm pretty chuffed with getting these sewn this week, it's been a pretty busy week what with the beast only arriving on Wednesday and I only posted my Making Christmas list on Wednesday. Now I just need to get on and make the other six!

Nothing cleared off the list, maybe I should have started with a smaller project!!

Swoon Quilt for the Parents - ⅓ of the blocks done

Hootenanny Quilt for Son No.2

Doll's House Mat for Rose, I want it to go on the wall!?!

Christmas Table Runner

Polar Bear Cushion  

Christmas Dress of Rose

Have you started any Christmas making? Go and have look at all the other list that have been started!!

Paper piecing and a new toy

This week I was determined to get up to date with my And Sew On BoM and so I did!
First up.
I Like A Big Stash

And then I tackled
Cut It Out

Whilst photoing the blocks I spotted a major error from one of the early blocks, so I then spent ages unpicking and redoing it.

Of course it had to be right in the middle of the block..... and in the process, I've knocked the handle out of line, but that is staying just the way it is!! 

Yesterday, I got them sewn together and hand stitched the details. It's now all basted ready for quilting.

Hopefully, I'll get to do that tomorrow.

And lastly, thank you so so much for the lovely people who gave me sewing machine advice. I went, I saw, I tried and I bought!
I read everyone of your points, took a list and a neon yellow ruler. And even though I went with the Pfaff Expression 3.2 in the front of my mind, I really wasn't blown away by either the sales or the machine.  And as Jo advised me 'go with the one that makes you go Ooooooo!' I did! So the Janome Horizon MC8200 was the winner of the day.
I then came home worried I'd spent too much money and that it was too big and waited until yesterday for her to arrive!

I'm still figuring out how to work her (I'm rather attached already and thinking of a name for her!) and with the children off because of a teacher strike (I don't mind them striking, but could they not take the children on the march with them???) I'll have to wait till this evening to set up the table and really get her up and running!
I'm hoping I can just give her a pile of fabric and she'll produce a beautiful quilt...... if only!

I'm linking up with the lovely Liz and Clare at

Making Christmas ... The List

We know it's coming, it's on the same date every year, it's all the children and TV talk about from September onwards and it's also my busiest time of the year (work as well as family) but I always end up in a panic and am buying and making things last minute!! 

I kid you not, I was making open wide pouches on Christmas Eve for family gifts to give out the next day! 

So, when I saw that Janine of Rainbow Hare and Rebecca of Making Rebecca Lynne where hosting a Making Christmas weekly link-up I knew I'd join in.
I already have an over-adventurous FAL list so I know I have to be realistic..... So heres my list so far

Swoon Quilt for the Parents 

Hootenanny Quilt for Son No.2

Doll's House Mat for Rose, I want it to go on the wall!?!

Christmas Table Runner

Polar Bear Cushion  

Christmas Dress of Rose

I know there will be more changes, but I love that I can add to the list as the weeks go along!
Wish me luck, I think may need it! 

It's the final countdown!

Da da da daaa...... I genuinely cannot believe that we are at the final quarter of 2013! 

So, as it is the last list for 2013 I'm really going to try and get them all cleared and start 2014 with a clear sewing pile!!!

bwahaha!!!! 

Ok, maybe I'm slightly unrealistic, but here's whats on the list anyway! 

The Spinning Stars Quilt

If I don't finish it this quarter, I may just throw it out the window as it's been a finished quilt top for a year! It's 80% hand quilted and I've picked Sketch in Mist or Grey to bind it so, fingers crossed!

Wonky Pink Stars

This has not been touched since the last quarter or the quarter before that! I really just need some more stars and to pull my finger out to get it together! Rose won't like pirates by the time I'm finished! 

 Happy Swoon

All the blocks are cut and ready to go in sandwich bags for when the mood strikes! This is a Christmas present so really has to be finished! 

Hootenanny Quilt

This is chopped and also ready to go for son No.2, but I keep stopping myself from getting any bits together! I'm worried that I'll mess the layout up, just need a good kick up the .... to start! 

Frosted Pumpkin Sampler

I've just finished September and I really want to keep up and get this all finished and into something before the new year starts! 
added 13/10/13 - I forgot this one! 
And Sew On Blocks

I have 1½ blocks to finish and then turn this into something by the end of October so I can link it up with Kristy. Originally I was thinking of a wall hanging, but think it might be too big now! So it might end up as a lap quilt for me! 

So thats it and considering there are a fair few quilts on that list I'm not very hopeful! But Leanne did say go big and I won't get in trouble for not finishing any, I hope!