Zip trials

As you'll know if you drop in from time to time I have sometimes mentioned that my ability to fit a zip can be quite inconsistent.  A little while ago I spent a very frustrating morning trying to fit an invisible zip to a cushion and it was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back.

I had also read of someone else using the same machine experiencing similar difficulties with their zips and, while I am always happy to admit user error/incompetence, I did wonder if maybe something about the zip foot was causing the problem.  So, after a prompt from the wise one and a quick google search I did find that my machine can be fitted with an alternative foot like this one

It's much narrower at the back than the standard zip foot supplied with the machine, and as a result it allows me to stitch closer to the zip teeth without the traumas of previous experience.

Armed with a few bits and pieces I decided to road test it and make myself a simple zippy pencil case to  store my rotary cutters.

So this little lot

became this wee rotary cutter case

all matchy- matchy with my new travel sewing pouch

And the verdict on the new zipper foot:  I think that maybe I could get better with a little more practice with the foot and gauging the positioning, but I definitely think it helped to get a neater seam line next to those zip teeth without all the heartache.

Showing off!

So, on Friday I promised I would show what these lovelies were destined to become.

Ta Da!!!

This is my slouch bag made at Judith's workshop yesterday.  It was an Adult/Child workshop which I managed to sneak a place on without my offspring (couldn't quite convince my son that he needed to make himself a slouch bag).

It was a great wee day and inspiring to see the girls so keen and eager for Judith's teaching and development of the machine mastery. Yay for encouraging the next generation of sewists!

I must admit to having a quiet chuckle as some of the girls looked daggers at their supervising adults (mummies, aunties and grannies) who dared to break for coffee when the girls just wanted to keep at it!  Oh, for the stamina of youth!

If you want to see their great makes check out Judith's post.

Off now to fill up my bag with all the necessary junk to keep me portable during the week!

Check these out!

First up, fancy a chance to win this fabulous set of Oakshot cotton fqs?

Well, the lovely Lynne at Lily's Quilts is offering us all that chance, so if you are already thinking up plans for using these fantastic fabrics hop on over and sign up for the giveaway.  There are 32 fqs up for grabs!

Next, I have been remiss in sharing a new blog with you.  My Bee Blessed friend Tina has recently started sharing her creativity online at The Secret Ingredient: Love.  

Tina has a fabulous log cabin quilt to show off and is working on a Double Irish chain quilt for her friend's wedding - nip over and check them out.  Tina is also a fantastic baker and I know she has plans to share her recipes and tips on her blog as well as her stitchy talents.  So, if you're interested in edible goodies, don't miss out 'cos at Bee Blessed we have tasted her culinary efforts and those recipes will definitely be worth making a note of!  So, why not pop over and say Sarah sent you.

And just before I head out for the day, here's a wee squizz at my latest Bee Blessed blocks.

Antique Tile blocks

Judith has posted the link to the tutorial and the Bee Blessed specifications for the colour placement here if you are interested in this block.  It was fun to make and I can't wait to see a whole quilt of these in blues and whites.  Those of you familiar with me will know that I have a soft spot (a very large soft spot) for blue and white quilts so those at Bee need to keep an eye on that quilt when it's finished just in case I sneak off with it!

Have a great Saturday in spite of the rain!

Plans for the weekend

Got plans for these lovelies for this weekend - if all goes well I'll show you on Sunday.

Quilt Progress

The only advantage to wet summer evenings is that it creates a little more space (and the excuse) to sneak off up to the sewing machine and get on with some stitching.  And getting on with things is exactly what I need to do as a number of unexpected family visits and plans for later in the summer have suddenly added to my quilting to-do list.

I have pieced together all the blocks from these little jelly roll strips I cut a few days back and now I have a crisp, clean quilt top.

It all came together nice and simply, though admittedly with a few wobbly strips in there (don't look too closely) and I really like it for its simplicity.

Now there's just the small matter of budgeting for wadding and backing and binding (groan) before I can finish it.

Brit Quilt Swap 3 - the plan

The partner assignments for the Brit Quilt Swap 3 came out a little while ago and I've been busy cogitating and deliberating (read 'panicking') about what to make my lovely partner.

It's taken a while, but I do have a plan...

The bottom draft gives the better impression of what I'm aiming for.  It looks a little patriotic here but that's accidental as the red and blue were the best sharpened pencils in my pot when I was doodling.  So ignoring these particular colours, this is what I'm hoping to be able to pull off for my partner (with fingers crossed that it'll fit the bill).

Just to check if this was going to be even remotely attainable for me, I made a test block.  Again, ignore the colour of the fabrics.  Given my partners preferences I don't think these will appeal,
so the real thing will be different.

I'm pleased with how the hexagonal block turned out for my first effort and I really enjoyed making it.  I would like to see more of them in a future project for me (way, way in the future at this rate).  Though if I do make many more I'll be investing in an equilateral triangle ruler.  I was like some kind of crazy twisting bug trying to figure out which way to angle my big 6" x 24" ruler correctly at the 60 degree mark!  It's all new to me, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it by the time I make all those little triangles for the real job!

So, that's the BQS3 plan - suddenly feel even more nervous about this as I prepare to hit the publish button on this post!

Something New

I am starting something new -

These fabrics are from a Joanns' mini-jelly roll I was given as a gift last year, and as my list of family gift quilts-to-make is beginning to grow again, I thought I'd put it to use.

They wouldn't necessarily be colours I'd choose for myself but I think the soft teal shades help to lift the browns, and there are a couple of the orange prints that I like a lot.

Anyway, I decided to cut into them to test drive some block measurements I drafted recently for a very simple quilt.

Nothing original about this, I just did some maths.  Fingers crossed it'll all come together as it should and become a gift for the very special person I have in mind for it.

More soon, I hope.