Planning Ahead

Before December I had a mini brainwave to make my MIL a cushion for Christmas and then follow that up with a quilt for a special birthday she has later this summer.  So, in the interests of not leaving this all to the last minute, I planned to make a start by finishing one quilt block this month, and hopefully follow that up with a few blocks each month. 

When I pulled out the fabrics we had set aside for the quilt (DS chose these for his Nanny), to be honest I wasn't sure where to start.  I dithered and dithered and then realised I was afraid to cut the wrong piece of fabric in case that left me short for borders and bindings etc.  So it seemed that a little bit of advance planning should be undertaken.

Borders and binding strips prepped and remaining fabrics are now game for block making.

I did some quick quilty maths and compared what I needed with the fabric quantities on hand.  Some zippy rotary cutting later, I have all the borders and binding ready before I even finished a block!  I know it seems a bit back to front, but I am so much happier knowing that my finishing fabrics are protected and I won't find myself needing to order more for borders and binding because I cut into something I shouldn't have for the sampler blocks.  (Watching the unnecessary fabric spend this year!)

Antique Tile block

So, with that lovely wee pile of available Modern Meadow fabrics I started with an Antique Tile block. We made these a few months ago for Bee Blessed and I think it's such a pretty block.  The Modify Tradition tutorial for the Antique Tile works like a dream too.  Highly recommend it if you fancy a go.  I made five of these in blue and whites for Bee Blessed and each time they were perfect.  Not so this time.  Not sure what I did, but there is a little inaccuracy in the lining up of this one.  Anyway, I'm adopting the "bigger picture" philosophy and reckoning that it's not so awful/obvious as to ruin the entire quilt.

Amish Diamond Block

I hadn't planned a second block for this quilt for January, but I got a little excited about being back in front of the sewing machine proper since feeling so unwell over Christmas, and I unearthed another tutorial I had spotted on the Modify Tradition site.  This one is the Amish Diamond block.  Doesn't it look great?  I am really happy with this little block and was surprised that it was so much easier than I had expected.  The centre of the block is the only "tricky" part really, but it's just like making a giant siggy block with two extra corners.  Once you have that sorted, the rest is wee buns!  Hey presto, a second pretty block for MIL's quilt.

Off to a sparkling start with this one.  Now I've got a few weeks to decide on another block or two for next month's additions!

Weekend Update

Nothing big going on around here this weekend on the sewing front but there are some bits and pieces I can share.

First up is this fabulous Bee Blessed Antique Tile quilt top - 

I've been piecing the donated blocks together for the Bee and I think it's so stunning.  Of course, I have a penchant for blue and white quilts so this is right up my street, but I think you'll agree that this block looks great as a quilt.  Thank you so much to all of you who contributed blocks - can you spot yours?  If you don't see yours here, fear not, we have a second Antique Tile top in aquas/blues coming along with the remaining blocks that were sent to us so if yours isn't here, it'll likely be in there in due course.

September brought a return to hours of my week spent waiting poolside during swim training so I've been picking up my crochet again and the chevrons now look like this - 

Would you believe me if I told you there's an hour's work in every chevron stripe?  (Maybe I'm just slow!) This is soft and snuggly, and some days too warm to be working up in a stuffy swimming pool, but I am really enjoying making my waiting time productive again.

Also this week I finally got around to making a zippy cosmetic purse requested by my mum some time ago - bad daughter!

She likes angels, so while the rest of you are having heart attacks over the country angels in brown, I am happy that she will be okay with it!

And, I have finally reached the end of the 572 pieces I've been cutting from shirt scraps for my son's Squares and Strips bed quilt!

What's more, clever me already has 22 of the 88 eventual blocks completed? See ...

Single square blocks

Is that cheating? In any case it means just 66 blocks left to make!

So what have you been up to this weekend?

Bee Afternoon

Today was our Bee Blessed afternoon - fabric, fun, friends and tales of firemen (leaving you guessing on that one...).

Evidence that we did do some work and not just spend all afternoon eating Janette's cheese, biscuits and fresh fruit platter and Marion's sweet treats -

Everybody hard at it.

Our lovely Ros has been working on a pair of Amy Butler quilts and today finished up the first one.  Isn't it fabulous?

The second one is going to be slightly different in the sashing and layout, but is equally gorgeous.  We'll try to remember to show you when it's ready.

 I was working on some more blocks for the next quilts.  Another Very Square Like Me Block

and a couple more Antique Tiles (I like this block design A LOT)

Fun afternoon and kept us all out of trouble!