Quilting Part 2

The criss-cross quilt is finished, washed and ready to go to Project Linus.

As expected, my plans to use some free motion quilting in the criss-cross sections changed and I used a serpentine stitch instead, using different colours of thread to match with the different fabrics. I didn’t want the rows of stitching to run parallel to each other, so I changed the stitch length on every other row which helped make them out of sync.
 

I’m really pleased with the texture of the quilting and the contrasting styles, which shows up particularly well on the back of the quilt.

 

Now I need to decide on what to start next.

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Quilting Part 1

I was a bit optimistic when I thought I might manage to finish the quilting and binding this month. However, progress has been made and the grey sections have been quilted with straight line stitching.

 

My stash of Aurifil 40wt was lacking in the right colours for the criss-cross sections but fortunately they do a “Colour Builder” collection which has three very useful colours for this quilt.

I think I might try some free motion quilting in the criss-cross sections, but like most of my plans, this may be subject to change.

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Quilt Progress

A flurry of activity during one weekend saw good progress being made on the Criss-Cross quilt. There was some sewing followed by lots of pinning resulting in a sandwiched quilt.

 

Hopefully next month will be a time for quilting and binding.

 

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New year, new quilt plans

January started with some rummaging around in my stash to try to find eight fabrics, a backing and a binding to make a criss-cross woven effect quilt.

After supplementing what I found in my stash with a couple of on-line purchases, I thought I was ready to go, but when I laid out the fabrics on the bed, one of them didn’t look quite right.

Luckily, I had the chance to visit a bricks and mortar fabric shop at the weekend and found an alternative that is a much better option.

The geometric print (top row middle) will be replaced by the new dotty print (bottom row right). However, when the quilt is made and handed to Project Linus, the recipient is in for a surprise as the new fabric glows in the dark!

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2021 - another year (nearly) over

In my sewing summary post for last year I said “2020 was definitely an odd year and I do hope that 2021 is not going to be a repeat.”. Well, I got that wrong!

Sewing-wise there have been no masks this year and has been a mix of quilts, garments, accessories and has included:

• 2 quilts for Project Linus
• 6 incubator covers for Project Linus
• 3 scissor holders for online swaps
• 1 biscornu pincushion for some posh pins that were a Christmas present last year
• 1 zip-up and open-out pouch
• 2 mini quilts for online challenges
• 3 garments for me (an oversized “Womble” top, a twist front dress, a fleece gilet)

 

One bright spot in 2021 was that sewing shows were able to return from the summer. I visited Festival of Quilts and found a very different type of show – quiet and spacious. I think my only in-person sewing purchases for this year were made at the show. As I’m still working from home, my lunchtime trips to Abakhan Fabrics are no more, for which my stash and purse are probably grateful.

After the past two years, somehow I expect 2022 will be more of the same (at least we are all getting used to it now), though it would be nice to be proved wrong on this. 

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The Travel Quilt

I started this quilt back in March and lost enthusiasm for it once I realised that my choice of colours reminded me of my school uniform and the seats on the local railway*. I finally got round to finishing this weekend and will be very glad for it go to Project Linus where hopefully it finds either a train enthusiast or someone who doesn’t use the local railway. 

The pattern is the Saturday Morning Plaid Quilt from GillyMac Designs, but I added some extra blocks to make is slightly larger and symmetrical. 

I did simple straight line, edge-to-edge quilting either side of the yellow stripes and either side of the middle of the grey squares. It is backed with fleece and bound in dark grey. 

*You’ll have to continue to wonder about my school uniform, but here is a photo of the train seats. 

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So little sewing

There is still very little sewing being done. All that has been completed this month is re-hemming a pair of jeans that had started to wear through on the edge.

 As ever, this was made easier by the right tools for the multiple layers of denim fabric – jeans thread, size 90 top stitching needles and a “bulk seam aid” (also known as a “hump jumper”).
 

I would like to think that I will have more to report next month, but I’m not convinced that this will be the case.

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