Beginners

Yesterday was week 3 and the last week of the beginners course that I Have been teaching at my LQS, Stitchcraft Studio in Grantham.

So this was what they've been working on ...

and I also ran up a working runner for demo purposes

oh, and the spool block I turned into a quilted sampler for demo'ing how to add binding

and this is just how awesome my group of ladies were!

Thank you to all the ladies, it was great fun, and I can't wait to see your finished runners and follow your progress on your quilting journey!

If you're interested in a Beginners Class, I am repeating this class again

Saturday 18, 25 January and 1 February 2014

and 

Saturday 22, 29 March and 5 April 2014

contact the Shop if you are interested in booking a place.

Running!

Well, making table runners at least!

So I've been working on a simple project that is suitable for beginners, 

in preparation for teaching this as a class at StitchCraft Studio, Grantham 

I asked my lovely friend Katy of I'm a Ginger Monkey if I could use her book as the basis for the class, 

and I was thrilled when she agreed!

If you don't have this book, it's a great compendium of blocks and small makes, ideal for the beginner, 

I'm more than happy to recommend it! 

I chose fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics

made a few blocks

remade one

made a few more

and before long a runner was in the making

and of course I had the perfect match for the quilting too!

I quilted in the ditch on this runner, I wanted the blocks to pop and don't want to intimidate my beginners with any fancy schmancy quilting ...

so, if you are a beginner quilter, been watching from the sidelines thinking you'd like to give it a go, but don't know where to start, I will be teaching this as a beginners class, along with all the basics of cutting, 1/4" seam and the difference between borders, sashing, and half square triangle!

StitchCraft Studio 

Saturday 5th, 12 & 19 October 2013

11th, 18 & 25 January 2014

22, 29 March & 5 April 2014

a little bit of this, a little more of that and a crinkle or two!

A little bit of this ... a finish.

Finally I got this little runner I made before Christmas bound and done! I really like it, I have a friend who has her birthday soon, it may be heading her way :)

A little more...

... time spent on my 'Camp Sloanie Keeping the Camp Fires Burning' quilt means I actually got the borders on it today. Wooohoooo! Another top to add to the pile of those awaiting quilting. I have a few ideas on quilting this one already! It may have to do a little queue jumping ... hehe!

I started my Expedition Quilt Art challenge for February. Using some of my snow dyed fabric, I had a good read of Nellies Needles blog, and set my fabric to dry in the airing cupboard! Today was the day it was released from the confines of the cup revealing a crinkle or two!

I eased the fabric out, and layered it onto the backing and some beautiful wool wadding. This is going to be hand quilted, and I just love hand quilting on wool wadding. I found myself some big needles, though I'm not sure about them just yet. They'll take some getting used to. I am so used to using tiny needles to get tiny stitches on hand quilting.

But I do have some beautiful threads to use on this project. I'm having fun with them already :)

Happy quilting!

Oh what a week!

It's been a busy week that's for sure. To say I've been a little focused on finishing some Christmas projects is an understatement!

So, last weekend, along with a little focusing help from Pat Sloan and her Holiday Finish It Up weekend, I managed to get these little gift bags made. Thanks to a pattern from Moda Bakeshop.

And these three too! Some have already made it to their recipients, others have yet to be packaged up.

I managed to get my mums quilt pieced together, loaded it up on the frame Saturday morning, and began the quilting. I finished the quilting Thursday morning. This included going back and doing the triangles I missed in my haste to take it off the frame to turn and do the horizontal sashing strips.

I've got the binding on, and am sewing it down by hand at the moment.

I've got 3 table runners pieced. (but can only find pics of 2 of them) This one is the bonus one, made with the left overs of the strip sets from the Amy Butler pinwheels runner below. This was quilted with a variegated thread from Aurifil. It was beautiful to quilt with, and lovely soft subtle colours.

This is the Amy Butler runner, pattern courtesy of Quilt Dad, who designed it for Moda Bakeshop using a Honeybun. As I don't have any, I cut into my stash and went from there.

I made this one as a birthday/Christmas gift for a friend. I finished piecing the runner on Thursday morning, loaded the two runners in the afternoon and got them quilted. I put on the binding in the evening. Phew

It was hard to get a good pic of the quilting late into the evening, but this gives you an idea.

The gift was given Friday morning, and I am so pleased my friend absolutely loves it!

The postman has made several deliveries, one a huge box almost as big as me, can you guess what it might be?

Another are these gorgeous threads from Aurifil, all 50 wt mako cotton. I can't wait to compare them with the 40 wt, which I love.

Today, we were preparing and packing bags for my daughter to go on her school trip to Germany tomorrow. How do you know which is your suitcase when it's in with 50 other kids? Well, yours is the only one with a hand made luggage label of course!

She chose the fabrics, something bright that could not be missed.

I'm pretty pleased with the results, not bad for something I came up with from scratch!

So it's been a busy week, I also got a simple Holiday runner put together, quilted my foundation Santa's, and made a Christmas stocking.

Happy Quilting!

I went with Yellow!

This evening I pieced this table runner with the left overs from my Old Red Barn Sew Along top (which is yet to be loaded onto the frame and quilted). I have a thing for soft buttery yellows, I'm just that sort of girl I guess. There's something very peaceful and comforting in it don't you think. I'm pleased with this runner, 'cos I'm not really a table runner person.

I like it though, and I'm pleased to have used up all but the last one 4 1/2" x 12 1/2 " piece which I will try to incorporate into either the binding or the back. You'll just have to wait and see!

Happy quilting :o)