Easy Swap UK Mini Quilt - DONE!

This summer I signed up for my first ever swaps and, with my usual over ambition and enthusiasm, I didn't stop at one!

The first of these was the Easy Swap UK hosted by Nina of Bossy Oz.  The brief for my partner was either red, black and white, or rainbow plus low volume.

I went with red, black and white just to try something a wee bit different.  I added some light grey to the mix too.



Last year I participated in the Little Blogs Quilt Bee and Celine of Espirit Patch had requested foundation paper pieced (FPP) pineapple blocks.  I was intimidated by trying a new technique but soon realised FPP is easier than it looks and a guaranteed way to deliver clean lines and matching points.  You can see my first block from that bee here.

As my mini was going to be for someone else, someone I had not met, I wanted it to be something a bit special but still not too complicated to sew.  I instantly thought back to the pineapple block. My partner had said they liked log cabins too and I thought there was sufficient similarity between them to go for it.

I opted to quilt the mini using "Stitch in the Ditch".  I was using white thread and it was inevitable that I would be successful on the white fabric and wobble on the black.  However, it was my first time doing quilting like this and, again, I wanted to try something a bit special as it was a gift.  I didn't think my usual stipple would compliment the design at all so I braved it out. The front looks good and the back looks ace!

I sent it off to my partner along with some perle cotton in matching colours so she can use her favourite shades in other work.

Stitch Gathering 2015 - Goodies

I was well and truly spoiled at this years Stitch Gathering.

At the notions swap and I received a fabulous EPP kit.  My lovely partner had included pins, thread and some wee scissors.

I was so thrilled, it is a such a great, well made pouch.  I've already been able to move all my EPP bits and bobs around the house with ease and it's meant I've made great progress on sewing up my hexies.  So chuffed.

The goodie bag this year was another treasure trove.  I counted 17 fat quarters!

And finally, I was once again given an excellent name tag - this year, there were extra pouches and places to keep stationery!

Thanks to all the sponsors of the event:

Michael Miller
Cloud 9 Fabrics
Coats UK
Dear Stella
Lewis and Irene
Blend Fabrics
Duck Egg Threads
Love Patchwork and Quilting
Pilot
Nairn's Oatcakes
Aurifil (particularly as I won a pack of ten spools of thread in the tombola!)
My Bearpaw

Brown Paper Packages - 11

This week I started making a quilt for my husband.  I had been collecting fabric to make us a quilt on and off, with no real deadline in mind.



Well, I set the deadline, decided on the pattern and jolly well had to ramp up the fabric buying to make sure I had enough.

He's pretty into yellow and green as a colour scheme, so I adapted it slightly to mustard and teal.

The pile above is from My Bearpaw in Edinburgh, where I spent a very happy half an hour pulling bolts off the shelves while my Christmas gift vouchers burned a hole in my pocket.

This is Teal by Carolyn Friedlander from Botanics and a joy.  I'm already considering buying more just because I love it so.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the quilt is made up of 540 (!!) triangles of various teal and mustard fabric.  Cutting 540 triangles was a daunting prospect, but I got through it faster than anticipated.

I've started chain piecing these together, starting with the edges.

I've got a horrible feeling I've not let enough room between the selvage and the edge, but we'll see.  I've got lots of these edge peices left over so am confident I'll be able to replace a few where it looks a bit tight.  The one on the top of the photo above has already met with the unpicker!

 Linking up with Sunday Stash at Molli Sparkles

Brown Paper Packages - 10

My parents are moving house next month and, as part of the big move, they have been doing some destashing of 30 years of the dreaded S word - stuff.

I'm a frequent user but objector to the word stuff.  I also object to being surrounded by it, but have to balance this against my ingrained instinct to hoard.

However, it turns out one person's stuff is another person's treasure.  My Mum used to sew before she had children and when she was clearing out, ridding herself of cupboards of stuff (not opened or used since their last move), she came across this treasure trove of Liberty.

There used to be a Liberty shop in Edinburgh and my Mum picked up some excellent sale purchases sometime in the eighties.

Even the carrier bag has a little flap on it for when it rains!

Yes, that's right - three metres of Liberty goodness for £2.00

I'm yet to find the slight imperfection in this.

The label on this one said it is a poly cotton and is from Japan.  There appears to be some water damage to one side, but there's at least a yard of salvageable fabric here!

Also included in the bag of goodies were these excellent patterns.  Maybe they will be my first foray into dress making?

So perhaps hoarding is fine after all?  Who knows, all the junk in my loft might make someone's day in twenty years?

Linking up with Molly Sparkles and Sunday Stash

Brown Paper Packages - 9

Having resolved not to browse through fabric emporiums, on or offline, I accidentally purchased some fabric this week from the discard bin at John Lewis.

All bargains, including the solid yellow.  Finding that was a stroke of luck as I needed a piece to back a baby quilt I have started for some friends.

I've had a lovely Sunday of piecing, basting and quilting.

Linking up with Molli Sparkles and Sunday Stash

Brown Paper Packages - 8

This week, I have some notion related additions to my collection of sewing paraphernalia.

I bought A LOT of pins for my first attempt at pin basting this week!  Having bought the triangle on a whim, I notice Paula at the Sassy Quilter is hosting a triangle-along shortly  - good timing or what?

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash!

Brown Paper Packages - 7

So, once again I accidentally fell into a fabric-buying situation this week...

It keeps me in Brown Paper Packages posts if nothing else...

Okay - now to do some actual sewing with all of this!

Linking up with Sarah from Mila and Cuatro for Sunday Sunday Stash!

Brown Paper Packages - 6

My poor, poor bank account.

New to the Note to Follow Sew Stash this month (all from M is for Make - that sale section just sucks me in everytime....):

  

Centrepiece in Evening
Hand Drawn Garden by Anna Maria Horner

Feathers in Teal
Sun Print Feathers by Alison Glass

  

Floating Axes in Turquoise
Uno by Stof

Of a Feather in Ivory
Tsuru by Rashida Coleman Hale

  

Retro Clover in Breeze
Just My Type by Patty Young

Text in Charcoal
Sun Print Text by Alison Glass

Type Keys in Mustard
Just My Type by Patty Young

 

Bike Path in Smoke and Bike Path in Charcoal
Sun Print Bike Path by Alison Glass

And my very, very favourite fabric of the lot, satisfying both sewing and stationery requirements:

Writers Block In Pastel
Type by Julia Rothman

In other news, the date for the Stitch Gathering 2014 was announced this week!  I am definitely going to try to get a ticket - I had such fun at the last one.  I feel a Glastonbury-ticket-style rammy coming on...

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash: