Christmas Making and a reminder to link up!!

Well, I have definitely been missing in action on this blog recently, but as with everyone else, sometimes life just gets in the way and that is the priority!
But, I have been trying to get a bit of sewing squeezed in-between and today I have finished my Log Cabin Wreath quilt top.

The pattern is by Jessie Fincham and was in Issue 4 of Quilt Now and as soon as I saw it in the magazine I knew I wanted to get myself one made in time for this christmas.
Now I have to decide do I add a few more stripes of Low Volume to make it a bit bigger, currently it is measuring 43" square, but I would really love to get it up to about 50" which I think will make a good sofa quilt.
So, I best get off the computer and get sewing and cutting............also don't forget you only have 3 and a bit days to get you Holiday Makes linked up on my Ho Ho Ho and on we Sew post to win one of these pairs of Christmas fabric.

So go, make/finish your holiday make, link up and look at all the other amazing makes that others have linked up!!! !!! 

Ho, Ho, Ho And on We Sew November

Hello, and welcome to my little spot of the blogosphere for Novembers link up of Ho, Ho, Ho And on We Sew.

I love, love, love Christmas, so back in January when I was asked by Fiona about hosting a month of this brilliant idea, I was so excited to have the chance to get organised and actually tick things off my list, nice and early, then I could enjoy December but……….things went a little crazy and every month I saw that you clever peeps kept linking up brilliant finishes, but I never got anything done to join in!
So, with my month approaching I decided to tackle something that I have had on my 'to make list' for at least 2 Christmases. Although it isn't a present, it's to get me tidy and organised over the super crazy Christmas Period and I think any wrapping enthusiast would probably like one as a gift.

The Christmas Gift Wrap Sack

You will need:

2 m of canvas fabric for the sack
1 fq & 1f8th of contrasting fabrics for the pockets
Bias binding
1.5 m of cord
ribbon and stamps for labels (optional)

Cut your canvas fabric into two rectangles 18"x 36.5"
cut the contrasting fabrics into one rectangle of 13"x 18" and another of 9"x 18"

On the sack panels, mark 2" down from each of the top corners, once ¼" in from the side and another ½" in from the side.
You will then make a cut into the side of the sack panel to the ¼" mark. This is so that we can make the channel for the cord to go through.

Fold the fabric above the cut inwards, press and topstitch. You should do this on each of the TOP two corners of both the sack panels.

Then press the top of the sack panel ¼" down and then fold again and press so that it meets the 2" mark.

Topstitch this down, you now have the cord channel.

Using bias binding cover the raw edge of the top of the pocket panels, topstitch into place.

On the pocket fabrics mark out the size of pockets you would like ( I made the centre pocket 5" wide) and stitch any tags in place. Put the pocket panels on top of the sack panels and topstitch the pocket markings.

Pin or topstitch the pocket panels onto the sack panels.

Put the sack panels right sides together and pin together.

Starting UNDER the cord channel and using a ½" seam, sew the sack panels together, down the side, bottom and up the other side. STOP just before you reach the cord channel on the other side, backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitching to reinforce.

Trim seams, clip the corners and turn right way around.

Attach a safety or basting pin to the end of the cord (I had to use masking tape as my cord kept fraying) and thread it through the cord channel.

Fill it with gift wrap rolls, tags, tape and scissors and put it to use!

And I have to say it is a massive improvement on my previous storage.

The sack finishes at 17"x34" which means you can fit and close the sack with the rolls in, although you could shorten it if you don't mind them poking out! I like that I can hide the paper and it won't spoil my Father Christmas helping paper.
I hope this is clear, although feel free to holler if it doesn't make sense!

So, now the time for you to link up all of your Holiday makes, Fiona is offering these lovely Christmas fq's and I will be sending the winner a Christmas fq or two as well!

An InLinkz Link-up

And it is really important for us to say a massive THANK YOU to our brilliant sponsors, without them it would be a prize-less and sad link up!!!

My Tile Quilt Top is done!! WooHoo!

Don't refresh your computer screen, yes, I have been sewing again! Shocking I know, but I think my sewjo is returning!!!
I have managed to get the borders on my Fabulously Fast Tile Quilt top that I started back at FQR in the class with Amy.

I'm so pleased it is together, I love the fabric and think it could be the perfect quilt for when Rose gets a big girl bed.
I sent the man of the house out into the garden to get a decent shot of it, as even on the bench the eldest is still too short.
So, it's a step closer to being finished, just need to pick a backing fabric, I wouldn't mind a vintage sheet. But don't own any, so I might have to have a search of ebay or etsy.

And I might be being optimistic, but I've been chopping fabrics and print paper piecing patterns to get some Christmas crafting on!

On the left is for the Log Cabin Wreath quilt By Jessie in Quilt Now and the on the right is paper piecing from Tacha Book Playful Little Paper-Pieced Project! I've been wanting to do that December Block of the Cabin since I saw the book first advertised (and the book has all the patterns on a cd, no holding up the photocopy queue in the newspaper shop for me!!) It's by Kerry Green and she made it into a box, but I think another cushion will be my aim!
Got any Christmas making planned??

Slow Swooning and a bit of secret sewing!

I've been really slow at sewing over the last few weeks and even slower at blogging, life is just not giving me enough hours or energy to fit it all in! But after a virtual kick up the backside a few weeks ago I have managed to get block No.7 made.

I love the colours of this block, they are really autumnal.

With pretty good points too, well mostly, but I'll only highlight the good ones!

I think this one might be my favourite block, although I think I'm being a bit Brucie and might have said that about them all…….

So, just two more block to get done, that sounds so easy! Helen, I may need a further kick next week! 

And then on the Secret Sewing, back before the summer holidays I got an email asking if I would like to contribute a row of blocks for a Christmas quilt for an issue of Fat Quarterly by the lovely Lynne. Would I ever, so immediately said YES!! But then I saw the list of other contributors ( Susan, Nicky, Juliet, Lynne and Joanna) and actually crapped my pants and worried for most of my holiday! But I gave myself and TouchDraw a good talking to and made my blocks with the yummy Winter Wonderland by Bunny Hill Designs.  

They were then put together by Lynne and have made the most amazing Christmas Jumper Quilt for the latest issue of Fat Quarterly! We even made the cover ladies! 

I'm genuinely amazed to see my nursery like Paper Pieced Tree blocks in amongst those other stunning blocks! I mean look at those reindeers!
So, I'm off to wrestle the boys off the xbox and browse Fat Quarterly to find out who made the low volume snowflake quilt, it is amazing! 

October Makes

To me October was over in a blink of the eye, with a lot going on in our little family, that left very little sewing going on, but I did finish some things.

My very much loved Tattooed Emery Dress, Raspberry Leaf Tea Scarf and an as yet unblogged Swoon block No.7.
I've had pieces cut out for my next Emery dress for at least 10 days, but just haven't have the time with half-term and a trip to the Isle of Wight. I've also got to finish up the prize for Helen from my giveaway, so those are the priorities for November!!!
I'm linking up with the lovely Lynne and her Fresh Sewing Day lovelies!