Slow Progress - WIP

A million other things have been providing sources of distraction this week so my sewing adventures have been thwarted. However, I have been having lots of fun!

Here's a list of my current WIPs:

Wedding Present Cushion Cover Set (in which we learn the absolute importance of the 1/4 inch seam)

EDIT
Oops, forgot to include this picture of the first finished article

 Blankets

 August Birthday Baby Blanket - the inspiration! 

I've also just heard some fabulous news about a former colleague and friend having a baby, so there'll be another small quilt coming right up!

Granny Triangle

I am an easily-distracted sort of gal when it comes to sewing or crocheting and I am always ready to leap into the next crafty project before I've completed the current one(s).

It was with this level of gusto that, instead of adding some more rounds or squares to my Rainbow Granny Square Blanket(s), I decided to make a triangle to send to Lucy at Attic24 (details here) for Granny Bunting!

She's written a brilliant tutorial on how to make Granny Triangles - there is going to have to be a whole blanket of those soon (and I bet I start it before the squares are done).

Brown Paper Packages - #1

As I said in my last post, I accidentally did some fabric shopping this week online.  This meant I was greeted this morning by a parcel containing this little stash of Liberty beauties....

This one is my favourite xxx

Cushion Cover - Done!

Woo!  The mock up of my FMIL cushion is finished!

Now if only I could find the piece of fabric for the real thing!

In other news, I have started work on a cushion cover set for a wedding gift.  I used this tutorial from Bee Square.  I really want to make them the whole quilt, but I don't have enough time between now and the wedding.

 I also accidentally went shopping this week.  Twice.  

I think buying the fabric is half the fun!

EDIT: MONDAY 27TH MAY
Linking up with Melissa at Sew Bittersweet Designs as part of Let's Get Aquainted!

Every Day's a School Day - 3

I finished sewing my Granny's knitted squares together!  I am a bit worried about the obvious stitching.  This is due to the amount of wool of each colour available rather than a choice so I hope she likes it.

I'm not sure the decision to crochet around all the squares in order to make the sewing together really worked as easily as I hoped.  As you can see, not all the squares were exactly the same size, and I thought having edges of a consistent wool and easily identifiable loops would help pull it together.  I think the lesson here only used tried and tested techniques on other people's projects!

Potential - 2

Now the Under the Sea Quilt is finished I have been lavishing some attention on some other ongoing projects.

I have been working slowly and steadily through my Granny's knitted squares, until suddenly there were only ten or so more to do!  I got quite excited at the prospect of finishing it and spent the weekend working out how to sew them together through the crochet loops.  Turned out the careful preparation on the squares has meant it takes no time at all to sew the rows together.

This should have been included in last week's Every Day's a School Day post, but I have discovered can crochet in the car.  I start to feel a bit queasy if I do anything in the car, but having read so many blogs where people were able to maximise their car journeys, I thought I would give it a go.  Anyway, this new-found knowledge refers to the second WIP, the Rainbow Granny Square Blanket (s).

Third is the potential to which the title refers, which arrived today.

Other projects currently include finishing my mock cushion cover before being let loose on the real thing which will be gifted to my FMIL, and a bed runner for my sister which is very much still at the idea stage.

Sounds like plenty to be going on with when you also consider I received an email about the Stitch Gathering today indicating we are to make a badge for fellow stitchers and I have not started my ticket....

Linking up:

Every Day's a School Day - 2

Things I have learned this week

1. Sunny days off on my own are brilliant.  More of those please.

2. Sunny days off should really be spent outside, even if you planned to sit at the sewing machine.  Who knows when it will happen again?  However, I did sit at the machine and managed to get this done...

It is a practice run of a cushion cover I am making for a gift for my FMIL.  While I like the fabric and the design, I think it will be given away because it isn't really my style.  I don't normally do hearts and pinks (that said, they were really fun to sew).  I think I will much prefer the grey version I'm going to create!

3. Sunny days off are great for photos of quilts and projects.  Last weekend I went away to the beach and managed to get more of this project done.  Introducing the Rainbow Granny Square Blanket (s)!

Linking up with:

Under the Sea - Done!

I finished the Under the Sea quilt today - hoorah!  I'm giving it a quick wash and then posting it to my friends and their new tot.

It is also glorious in the Burgh today - dare I say the 's' word?  Or will that make it start raining until October?  Either way, I took the chance to get some sunny pictures.

Potential - 1

I love the potential of blank pieces of paper, balls of wool, and piles of fabric.

This little piece of creative "Potential" dropped through my door a couple of weeks ago and since then I have been enjoying/scared of the endless possibilities and ideas it brought with it.

It is my ticket for the Stitch Gathering in August in Edinburgh.  You have to customise the square and bring it with you, ready to become part of a larger quilt.  An excellent idea, thought I!  I can't wait to see them all together and reveal what I'm doing with mine.  Question is: to be brave or safe?

Every Day's a School Day - 1

Things I have learned this week

1. If you measure the point at which you stop sewing binding onto the top of a quilt in order to achieve a mitred corner, they will be lovely, neat and exactly how science intended.  If you guess, you cannot be surprised when they don't fit together perfectly.  Who knew?

2. The bigger your cutting mat and ruler, the easier it is to cut big things.  My advice for other new quilters would be buy a BIG one first.  This is a highly addictive activity and you will keep at it once you start, so you might as well have the right tools.  I made a pay-day week spur-of-the-moment purchase of a new BIGGER cutting mat and ruler this week and was delighted with the squaring up on my Under the Sea Quilt, this weeks first Work in Progress.

3. Practice makes perfect.  This lesson was imposed on me when I couldn't find the patch of curtain material I bought for my FMIL's cushion.  So I made a mock up of my design.

It is bound to be in a "safe place".


I was also pleased to find this button at Lily's Quilts tonight! My Blog is very new but I think I'm ready to share!