Update on current projects

Elaine visited a few times last week as it coincided with delivering and collecting her machine from the repair man. We have now tacked the sandwich for Lynette's Japanese (foreground below) and it now needs to be quilted.

In the background in the photo you can see the next quilt top in construction. Together we started trimming the blocks and adding the borders to each block.

This morning I decided to do the next step on this which was to join the blocks into rows. This is now done and I have added the orange border top and bottom to check that we had enough of that fabric as we did not have any spare. As you can see, all is good and it is looking great. We probably need another border as it is quite a small lap quilt.

Some weeks ago we put the Winding Ways blocks on the design wall. We have one spare so chose to leave out the one that was much paler than all the others. I think it will be a challenge to put together but it will be fun to bring out the circles in the quilting. Though I do like Carol's blocks set on point too.

So arrange a day to come and do the next step in our quilts and make sure all you blocks are back for the next ones.

Carol's Show and Tell

 It seems Carol was also inspired by the winding ways block and has re-covered two chairs. I love them.

Jeanette's show and tell

 Jeanette was inspired by the Winding Ways block and did a whole lap quilt with it.

It is amazing and you can really see the circles that appear. I love it when people get inspired.

Elaine's Show and Tell

 Elaine has finished her English paper piecing quilt done while in lockdown. 

It is really quite magnificent in real life.

Two quilts done

 Today Elaine and I were able to photograph and draw the latest two quilts - Seminole 1 and 2.

  

 

It would be great if we can find someone who would like two matching single bed quilts. Helen V won the draw but after redrawing they will be donated to charity.

Elaine's Show and Tell

 Elaine came yesterday to do some sewing and also to photograph her latest Covid quilt made entirely from bits and pieces. It is beautiful.

Quilt Progress

 Stephanie called to drop off her Ohio Star blocks and we looked at the Winding Ways collection so far.

As we were just "throwing" the blocks randomly on the table three of the blocks  came together with the large pieces of the focus fabric starting to make the pattern below. We both saw it together and decided to see if this arrangement would work. 

After a bit of juggling it did work and the secondary pattern is the lozenge shown below.

If you have your blocks waiting to be returned please post them now as this will be the next set to go up on the empty side of the design wall.

Elaine came the following day and progressed with the next border of Lynette's Japanese quilt so that is now off the design wall.

I have now quilted both the Seminole quilts and have bound one. Progress is happening!

It only took a day!

 I'm thrilled to report that my machine was only at the doctor's for a day and is now working like a dream. I have started quilting the second seminole quilt and might even do a bit more on the first one once I have finished the binding. 

One of the difficulties with these quilts is that I cannot start at the centre but have to go in the same direction for the whole length of the quilt. I've been rolling the quilt as I go and unlike the tiny machine it actually fits under the throat of the machine. I have now worked out how to clamp it in place so it is easier to manage. Yay!

Hopefully these two quilts will be finished soon because I now have a project of my own in my mind. I devised it while in Norway and drew it on a serviette so we'll see if I can bring that to fruition.

My beautiful sewing machine is sick

Yesterday I had to deliver the sewing machine I bought when Surrey was sick to the sewing machine doctor. He says he can look and it will cost a fortune but not as much as a new machine.

That left me in the lurch as I am up to quilting the seminole quilts and my other machines don't have a long enough throat for so much quilt to go through. So I tried my treadle machine. That was the right size but as I need two hands on the quilt I found it awkward stopping and starting because you also need a hand to spin the wheel to start the treadle. I don't have three hands.

My small machines have no table extension so I have now moved one of them to my large table and was able to do one of the quilts (not well). I've now added the binding quite easily though. 

        

I think I'll wait until my machine returns to do any more quilting.

A very productive Friday

Yesterday Kathryn came for a bit of fabric therapy. We had a great time tacking the first seminole sandwich and it is now ready for quilting. We've decided a dark blue binding will look best and perhaps a red binding on the second one.

After we had had our afternoon tea we played with the blocks from the next quilt in the boxes. This is Jenny's Flowers. We decided to make 6 more blocks to create a quilt of reasonable size.

We then played with sashing and cornerstones and have come up with the arrangement below.

Kathryn has now arranged it on the design wall and (the other two blocks are still on my machine). The sashing will be a green patterned fabric as shown above between two of the blocks.

Meanwhile after Carol had finished creating the top, I did the quilting and binding of Carol's quilt and as it is now labelled and finished I used random.org to draw the winner.

 

And the winner is Elaine! Congratulations. I am yet to hear if she would like to keep it or donate it to charity.