Whit's Knits: Colorblock Hand Warmers

Last weekend I took a brief sewing hiatus - just a short break in sewing continuity (no need for alarm!) - and picked up sticks.  The knitting sticks.

The pattern is Whit's Knit: Colorblock Hand Warmers, a free Purl Bee project the details of which can be found here.

The Yarns:

Madeline Tosh Merino Light

Silver Fox, Antler, Alabaster and Napoli

The Colorblock Hand Warmers Pattern is a simple and quick knit and does not involve shaping; it is an ideal pattern for beginner "in the round" knitters, and a fun knit also for more experienced knitters.  I really enjoyed the color play, substituting two of the four original yarn colors with yarn from stash.

For more pictures and all the details check out my Ravelry page:

With thanks to my hand model who enjoyed this photo session as much as I did.  Effortlessly.

Now it is back to the sewing machine for me.

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

Sunday Stash #130

It's no secret that I enjoy recycling vintage fabrics including vintage sheet fabrics.   If at all possible I like to squeeze a little piece of recycled goodness into most of my quilting projects.

This bundle of recycled vintage sheet fabric arrived earlier this week.  As you can see I am again collecting striped fabrics in every color of the rainbow with a view to eventually create another version (or variation) of the In a Spin Quilt.  The dainty floral fabrics could not be resisted!

These fabrics were sourced and sold by Jeni through her Etsy Store ~ (In Color Order).  Jeni's store is regularly updated with new goodies and I have had the chance to enjoy Jeni's excellent customer service on numerous occasions already!

I also enjoy scouring the net for artisans who are hand printing their own unique designs on fabric. 

Leslie Keating is the driving force behind the Melbourne based Maze & Vale.  Leslie uses natural fibers upon which to screen print her own designs using environmentally friendly inks and fine cottons (as well as linen blends).

Maze & Vale screen printed fabrics and handmade items are sold through Leslie's Etsy Store ~ Maze & Vale.

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

Paper Piecing ~ Colorado Stars

I enjoy Foundation Paper Piecing and have over the years made several projects using this technique, including the Spot On Quilt way back in 2006, and more recently the Geese Around the World Doll Quilt.  Paper Piecing involves the use of a foundation upon which fabric pieces are sewn in a particular order; it is a great technique for accurate seams and sharp points.

I do find Foundation Paper Piecing confusing, and each time I attempt this technique it seems that I need to re-learn the basic steps.  Once I have re-acquainted myself with these steps it again becomes quite procedural and structured.  

It does not come without the occasional error :  Oops no seam allowances! - Unfortunately doing is still the best way to learn (as does reading the instructions before trimming the units).

This block is called the Colorado Star and it is from the book titled 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars by Carol Doak.  It's a book I have had in my quilt book library for quite some time and have photocopied foundation papers for numerous blocks, but until now have not sat down to piece any star blocks. 

The book includes a detailed step by step tutorial with photographs, as well as a presentation by Carol Doak demonstrating her paper-piecing technique on CD-ROM.

Some of my own foundation paper piecing tips:

• Cheap A4 paper is perfect for this task.  I used 70 gsm paper weight.
• Cut fabric patches larger than necessary to assist with easy placement.
• Use a 90/14 Needle and shorten stitch length to 18 to 20 stitches per inch.
• Use a dry iron to press. 
• Don't remove foundation paper prior to sewing units into a block.

There are several great foundation paper piecing tutorials including Quilter's Cache - Practice Paper Piecing (great for beginners).  Also the current Fat Quarterly (Issue 8 - Paper)  has a detailed how-to, taking you step by step through the process of  foundation paper piecing.  Fat Quarterly Magazine is available from Fat Quarter Shop as an instant download.

Paper piecing is a little fiddly, time consuming, and so very messy,  but well worth this end result.  Crisp lines and matching seams make for happy stitching!

Rita

Gingham Galore ~ Two Finished Quilts!

As promised, here follows a gingham update together with a warning for another picture heavy post:

It certainly was pedal to the metal this weekend!  Thankfully both quilts basted and quilted really easily and without problem, and my sewing machine played nice.  The few hiccups encountered along the way were operator error, brought about perhaps by lack of sleep.  Self-inflicted.

Thank you so much for all of your comments on my previous post featuring the start of these two quilts!  I loved reading all of your comments, and have been spurred on by your enthusiasm.

Several readers wondered how well the gingham would fare during the washing and tumble drying process.  Upon hearing these concerns I immediately threw all caution to the wind and soaked the finished quilts in a tub, spun the quilts in the washing machine to remove excess water, and then tumble dried on a "crease guard" and "gentle" mode.

Both quilts emerged from the tumble dryer wrinkly and crinkly, but in cozy and comforting way that really suits the style of these quilts!  The images seen here are post washing, and I must admit that the crinkle factor has been played down somewhat by the use of a warm steam iron. 

There was no color run, or noticeable fading.  I am really pleased with how well the gingham, vintage linens and quilting cottons endured this process; so much so that I've been back to Spotlight to stock up on a little more gingham! 

I have used a striped fabric to bind both quilts, a black/white stripe and a red/white stripe.  And yes, I do still machine bind all of my quilts.  I've had A LOT of practise machine stitching the binding.  It is a technique that you get better at and becomes effortless over time.  I am just about there.

Both quilts have been backed entirely with Little Apples (Round and Round in White Linen) by Aneela Hoey.

These quilts have been listed separately in my Etsy Store.

You can find the listings for the quilts here and here.

Thank you for stopping by!
Rita

Sunday Stash #129

Well, I did warn you ....

More gingham!

Small and large scale gingham in:

Brown

Grey (love!)

Natural

Yellow

Black

Red

100% cotton and fine quality gingham by Kokka.  This really is a lovely quality woven fabric; light weight and surprisingly soft to touch.

A versatile stash addition suitable for so much more than just patchwork and quilting, although that is of course the purpose of my stashing.

Enjoy Sunday!

The Gingham Phase

Earlier this week I ventured out to my local Spotlight Store (I gather it's much like an US version of a Joann's Store), in search of maybe finding some of the more recently released Denyse Schmidt fabrics.

I did find some DS fabric, but nothing that needed to come home with me.  As I made my way out of the store the section of gingham fabric caught my eye ~  100% cotton, woven fabric in an array of colors that immediately set my head in a spin!  Why had I not seen these before?

The team member at the cutting counter eyed me with curiosity even asking what I had in mind.  Huh?  A quilt, of course!

Since then I have enjoyed the fabric play, auditioning prints, retiring some and calling upon my vintage sheet fabric collection for dainty floral prints that work well with gingham.

I had such a wonderful time creating the first quilt top that a second followed soon after!

We'll call this the gingham phase, and I hope you'll bear with me as I ride out this creative whim.

I am busy working on completing the second quilt.  Basting, quilting and binding are yet to commence.  More pictures soon.

Rita

St Ives ~ A Finished Quilt

I have worked with Lecien fabric collections on numerous occasions and have always found Lecien prints to be a lovely quality fabric with a nice hand; a soft and light touch.  

St Ives by Sarah Fielke is no exception and I have enjoyed working with just the Cherry color palette.  I have showcased Sarah's prints by keeping the design simple.  The alternating solid fabrics used are Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solid in White and Ash.

Instead of using cotton batting I have used a product called Quiltlite.  Quiltlite is a 100% cotton woven fabric similar to a loosely woven flannel fabric.  It is used in the same way as normal batting, sandwiched in between the quilt top and back, and offers a presence of batting without the bulk.

Quiltlite reduces the bulk of the quilt considerably (which makes the task of machine quilting so much less onerous) and means that the quilt is like a thin, light weight blanket, easily folded/stored and therefore very portable.  Great also for use in warmer climates!

I have used Aneela Hoey's Puppy Dog Tails in Cherry for the quilt back and a lime green and white stripe (From Little Things) also by Sarah Fielke to bind the quilt.  The lime green stripe fabric perfectly matches and highlights the splashes of green in the St Ives prints.

Congratulations Sarah on yet another fantastic fabric collection.  Thank you for  the opportunity to work with your fabric!

Thank you for stopping by,

Rita

Sunday Stash #128

This week's Sunday Stash features recently stashed or re-stashed Japanese prints, some of which are hard to find, rare, or out of print.

This bundle of four Fat Quarters are by Kumiko Fujita (Yuwa). They make a good addition to my growing collection of text prints.  I love the clarity of the text, the individual written words, followed by short sentences to show use of that word:  House.  He lives in a small house. 

Next up, another Fat Quarter bundle of Japanese fabric by Yuwa with French text:  Je Vous en Prie (You're Welcome!) in black, red, white, green and grey.  Some of these prints have already been cut into; they really do coordinate  well with the rest of my fabric stash.

Again another Japanese Import ~ Yuwa ~ addition, a Fat Quarter bundle of Daisy Flowers by Suzuko Koseki in Blue, Yellow and Green:

And I may just have been in the right place at the right time to pick up a several fat quarters of the sought after Kerchief Girls by Lecien.  These sweet girls have made an appearance in a number of my quilts and I can only hope that Lecien is considering a re-print of this collection in every color of the rainbow ... as well as black, and grey and ... Soon please?

Fabrics from these Etsy Store:

Blije Olifantje (The Happy Elephant)

Ayumills's Shop  

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

St Ives in Progress

Way back in November last year I was sent a bundle of St Ives by Sarah Fielke for Lecien as featured in Sunday Stash #120.  This bundle of fabric has been patiently sitting about awaiting for inspiration to strike.

Since then I've seen some lovely projects made from a variety of these prints but have in particular been taken by the Cherry (red/pink) color palette of the St Ives collection as featured in the free pattern designed by Sarah Fielke for Lecien:

Image taken from:  http://www.lecienusa.com/home/

Made in Cherry is a free quilt pattern available for download here:  Lecien ~ Free Patterns.

Inspired by Cherry color palette of the St Ives collection I have commenced a new quilt project; something relatively simple so as to feature the colors and the prints.

I think this quilt top needs some interesting quilting to jazz it up, and having just completed two large quilt projects I am really looking forward to quilting this smaller quilt (50 x 50 inches).

Red and Pink ~ just in time for Valentine's Day!

I suspect it is going to be a quilty weekend!

More soon,
Rita

Custom Order Pillow

Yesterday was spent working on a custom order; a repeat of probably one of the sweetest pillows that I've ever made:

A tumbler patchwork pillow cover featuring the all of the cutest prints from Sarah Jane's fabric collection Children at Play for Michael Miller.

It really is very satisfying to make a small project now and again.  Even the basting (!!) and the quilting become a joy when the quilt sandwich is not much bigger than a 20 inch square. 

For the back of the pillow cover I have again used the Children at Play border print - Parade - and have used a light weight fusible interfacing for stability and durability.  Fusible interfacing is easy to use, and with a warm iron it is quickly applied.  The interfacing has added body to the back of the pillow without stiffness.

A zip is hidden under the overlapping flap not quite half way down the back of the pillow.  The pillow form/insert can therefore be easily removed before washing the pillow cover.

This patchwork pillow cover is ready for shipping and I have a feeling that one lucky little girl will enjoy this pillow very much!

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita