backing with fleece?

My DD2 bought some pretty green fleece for a project, and, having put together the squares for this quilt top, it occurred to me, I could just do with some of that to back a quilt, rather than wadding and a fabric back. It was just the right colours, and might be extra snuggly.

So, a trip to that fabric temptation shop later, and I have enough to back my top. And a pretty leafy print for a border. So I am about ready to start pinning. And I suspect I want a fairly basic, open quilting on it, so that the snuggle factor is not lost. The squares are all so different, I do not know if I will have to do something different on each one, or if I can come up with something to go across the whole.
And I will do a scrappy binding, using whatever works. I will be glad to see this coming together rather than an overdue WIP!

If any of you have done this fleece thing before, and have any tips? It would be appreciated.

Alright, this weeks block from the skill builder, is this pretty star, built up with pairs of diamonds, and then the squares and triangles inserted with those lovely (forced grin) corner seams. You start with strips. Two in one colour, and two in two different colours. Sew strips together, in pairs, lengthwise. Cut on the diagonal to produce paired diamonds. Take one from each combination, nest together, and sew. Hey presto, a four part diamond appears.

 But sadly, it does not always line up perfectly, because 'Mrs Bash it out' here is too impatient and didnt take enough notice, and had to reacquaint herself with the seam ripper.

 Hmm.
Well two were fine and six required attention. but in the end, I ended up with all eight being satisfactory. No, I did not say perfect. They will not bear the scrutiny of an unkind eye. But they were near enough for me to say, doing it again might end up worse!






So, with points matching, I am ready for the next bit. Sew them together in matching pairs. Which was not so bad.
Then add in the triangles.  Two of these units get connected, and the square sewn in.
Now, up to this point all appeared to be going according to plan.
Oh, don't the gods laugh when you get confident. More on that later. Swans!





It doesn't look so bad does it?

But, why does it have that funny fold in the middle? And if you look carefully, there is a sort of circle effect going round near the points of my floral star.





Want a closer look at the pleat in the middle?

 Go on, have a good laugh!  I suspect this would be great on a very fat cushion! Pre-shaped even.

But notice too, if you can, how all my points matched on this!

It had to come apart again.  And was resewn. Now it lies flat. But the points do not match. :-(

have another look, just not too close a look! I think it is ok, because of the busy pattern in the middle.

Ok , I did say the gods laugh.

I had a few adjustments to make to my swans, including adding a bit more hook and eye tape, to prevent gaping. I normally just run a line of tape top to bottom, but I knew I was running out, and it would be a while before I could get any more. A few days type of while, not months or anything. So I tried to economise.

Have you ever noticed, when you try to economise, it nearly always ends up costing more in time and trouble, than if you hadn't?

So, I had to add a section in the middle. On most of them, this was fine, but, you couldn't do it if you tried, on a couple, I added the hooks back to front. 

Can you see? the middle lot of hooks will not hook, so they have to come off and go on again, the right way round.

Ho hum.




Now, a while back, in the skill builder, we appliqued by a number of different methods. Circles. I cut out my paper patterns using a nifty little device which is basically a compass, with a blade instead of a pencil. Alright, a pair of compasses,with a blade....

If you pop over to the Quilting Lodge they are doing a giveaway of a rather posher version of this, which cuts through fabric. I do not know if mine will do this, as I haven't tried. They also have some tips and a really lovely table runner thing with circles to use this for- so go have a look, and you might try to win the cutter. I think it is also rather larger than my one, and will cut bigger circles..

Good luck!

And I finally got around to putting some of my skill builder squares together in a quilt top today.

Hurrah!


 I find I have several distinct groups of them, some more yellow, some cream and some white. So, that is how they are going to be matched.
I am considering doing a double sided one, with the cream on one side and white on t'other.
I think this needs a border, but I do not have the right whatever for this. So at present it is 'cooking' in my brain to see what I want for it.
But it is getting there. perhaps a deep green? Any thoughts?

Stash bee, June block, and, I am 100?

Well, There's different.

 Laurel has asked for us to do a faceted design, in plain colours, no patterns, on a black background. This looks fun! You draw a straight line, then create a triangle, or a quadrilateral from it. Then add another, and let it grow, into an almost 3-D shape. Colour in the shapes, in different colours, until you like what you have, then reproduce in fabric. So I had to have a go straight away.

She recommended using freezer paper, but good old greaseproof is what we get in our house, and I drew, traced and cut out, chose fabrics- I don't have much plain stuff, thinks I. Until I looked out what I do have! And I do have quite a bit. Well, some of it had to be acquired to make blocks in other months- yes I did order the Kona white, and put it in a safe place, though where it is hiding now... I shall have to do that long promised turn out... and I had got some for a FMQ project which failed after a couple of weeks, and so I discovered I had, yellow, purple, blue, green, aqua, amethyst and pomegranate, in fact, very nearly a rainbow to play with.

So this is the result. I hope it is what is wanted.
By the time I tackled the second 'crystal' I worked out that it was easiest to draw the sewing line on the back of the fabric, and then pin and sew.

I am also joining Lily's small blog meet-



Now, I have noticed that I am posting my 100th post. It seems to be a tradition in sewing blogs for there to be a giveaway at that marker. But I am very unsure if my taste runs with other folks, so I shall make the offer- and if no-one takes me up on it, I shall understand.

I recently got some Cosmo Cricket 'Salt Air' charms. They are really pretty, and I would be sorry to let these go, but I also hope someone else may do something lovely with them.

I also acquired some bright cheerful spotty FQs. Alternatively, I can make a zippy pouch, if you prefer. They are also fun!

So, if you would like one of these options, tell me which you would like, and why, and, if you have NEVER won anything ( in a blog giveaway) make that a separate entry. Possible two entries.

And I will try to bribe my DD- or one of them- to tell me how to do a random pick. It may be numbers in a hat!

Is that OK ? ish?

I will try to sort this out on Friday of next week, the 7th June, after work so, round 7 o'clock BST.

Paper piecing

I did the traditional hexies years ago, - before children!- and made a cushion cover. I may still have it somewher, who knows? Anyway, Leila put up a block to be made with EPP, as one of the latest skill builder blocks, and as so much of it is hand sewing, and I was so busy with other things, it took a while to get around to it. But now I have. ( No, that is not English, but it says what I want it to say.) And I quite enjoyed it. And then this evening I decided I was doing something for me, so I appliqued it onto some left over azure, using ribbon for the stem, and using some of my lovely rainbow King Tut round the flower. Well, I didn't want to change thread for each one!

So there it is. Rainbow flower hexies.

I am looking forward to the next one, which is a particularly lovely star, just to choose the fabrics, and I can get it going.

Sorry, you can go away now, if you like, but I need to put more garden pictures in for DD1, as she cannot see them in person, and I think she likes to be kept in touch!

yellow flag iris

We shall have strawberries- unless Mr Blackbird has them first!

 Love the clash of colour here!

Bourbon, just look at the colour of that!

normal?

Now I am back to 'normal', this is what my table looks like,

see, Nicky, my mouthy pouch is being used! couldn't live without it, in fact.
Anyway, all that chaos needs tidying so I can start the next lot of chaos.


I finished the little caddy to give to the dance teacher, and discussed all sorts of variations that could be made, how about an octagonal one? and a square bottom one? how about the sides being made proper hexies, just with longer sides than top and bottom? all sorts of inspirations going on there.










And the garden keeps producing new treasures. I have a flower on my tomato!
and another of my Spring garden show iris has bloomed. Did I say I was in love with irises?
 
isn't she wonderful?    I also have some yellow flags out in the garden,and, apart from the weeds, it is very satisfying. Now on with the other bits I am due to do. My day off today, so I should get stuff done!

Garden day

We have been having glorious weather lately, but of course work gets in the way of enjoying it. However, I have officially finished with the costumes, so, after work yesterday, it seemed a good idea to tackle the grass! I can hardly call it lawn at the length it had got to! So, out came the mower, and I got the basic mowing done and made a start on the edges. Why is it that my other half doesn't consider edges as part of cutting the grass? I last cut and edged a month ago, and he last cut, but not edged, about two weeks ago. So it was slightly desperate.


Then my Dance teacher arrived to collect her costumes, and brought a surprise. My dear friend arrived with her, and we had a cuppa, and agreed, I would hang on to friend, for supper (very tasty) and she stopped the night. She sat on the grass, while I edged, and then, after supper, we sewed. Penny's hexie pincushion caddies. Together.  It is so satisfying to sit and sew and chat as you go. I supplied fabric, and cereal packet, she supplied company and chat and fun. At midnight we decided to call it a night, but put in another hour sewing this morning, before I had to drop her off to a Christening.
These were her fabric choices. Sorry no photo of the work in progress here, and she has taken it with her to finish. Pretty though.

I used some of the bodice fabric and teapot fabric, as an excerpt from Alice is also being done, so it feels appropriate.

Not finished yet, but perhaps tonight.
















I have done more garden this afternoon, and also found time to do some more bits for the stash bee I sent iff the block, with a promise to sort out the signature block and post later. I used some 12 weight thread, and a topstitch needle. I had not used this weight of thread before, but I really like the effect. I also made a smaller wonky star block for Helen, which I hope she will like. She did say she was happy to have smaller blocks as well as the standard 12.5 " one.
So I will have to post these off now.









Now I need to put in some garden photos for my DD1, so she can see what is going on.

 Bourbon, hiding behind a peony,












 A little scabious, bought half price from the 'sad' bench, and flowers prolifically,

 My climbing hydrangea












And my cheapy clematis with no name. 














 These poppies are glorious

 I cannot remember if this is Niobe, or Rouge Cardinale, another flower is coming, but this is solo at present.



















 Silver wedding, a present from my haunt 3 years ago.

Rhapsody in blue, secretly flowered while I wasn't looking!



Unfortunately, my lily of the valley has quietly flowered and gone over, without my even noticing. I have the dead flower heads showing it has been, in both parts of my garden where it hides.

On a plus note, we have seen evidence of a wren feeding her brood in one part of the garden, so I am very pleased to have spotted her about her business.

And this morning I saw a blackbird, with worm in beak, on the grass. Well, he dropped the worm, and picked it up. He rubbed the worm on the grass. Put worm down, picked worm up, dug in the lawn next to worm, and finally ate the worm. It took him a good five minutes to prepare the worm to a point where he could eat it! Daft bird!

Done! I think..

This is what 14 purple Waltz of the Flowers bodices look like.

And this is a mock up of the result, on an underskirt belonging to my daughter, The real ones will have a shorter, flatter tutu under them.

Over 700 metres of thread went into these. I bought a pack of five 100 metre reels of thread and also used two different ones I had in from something else, and still had to go and buy more. And that doesn't include the overlocking round each piece. It was just seams.

And this is what 14 swan bodices look like, all in a heap.

and a mock up of these?

Difficult to see on the spare bed. I think they will be okay.

Dress rehearsal Sunday, we will see if they ride up, in which case they will need anchoring. Hand sewing of press studs. I hate hand sewing, so keep fingers crossed they behave.
Thank you!

And does this clematis remind you of anything? I think it has similarities to those waltzing flowers I have been working on!

So from the second half of April, until now, I have made 40 separate garments!

I may now be making petticoats as well for some of the dancers. How many? What style? Not sure, but will find out tomorrow.

Happy sewing...