Scrap Fabric

No, not fabrics scraps, but fabric from scraps. Confused?

Well, I started with my trimmings bin

a piece of calico

Not a very exciting pic, I grant you.

and a little bit of this magic stuff (available on ebay if you can't source it elsewhere).

So, on to the calico I piled the trimmings (fabric bits and threads), then put the magic stuff (soluble embroidery fabric) on top of all the scraps

and sew, sew, sew, sew, sew

to stitch it all down.

Then the magic happens - you wash it in some cold water until the soluble fabric vanishes. There was a small crowd around my sink to see if this would actually work, so we can now ALL verify that it does!

The scrap fabric piece.

When it's gone, you dry and press the fabric and you have your very own creation to do with as you will.

I did learn a wee lesson in the process of doing this.  It takes a lot more sewing (and thread) than you might imagine to get all the scrap sewn into your new fabric piece enough to keep them stable if you then plan to cut little bits from them (which I do). And, I could probably have put more scraps on to begin with.  My plan is to use some of this for little applique shapes or for cutting little shapes from for card making, but I'm sure there are probably oodles of other possibilities.

I have to give credit for this to the wonderful Judith who described this process to my skeptical self (I really couldn't envisage this actually working at first) and her explanation was spot on.  Hope she doesn't mind that I'm now sharing it with all of you.  Thanks Judith!

Kaleidoscope QAL - fabric selection

Well, I've scrutinised my stash (didn't take long as it's more a pile than a true stash) and chosen these for the Kaleidoscope QAL.

Makower - Blue Danube (and one or two extras)

I had been saving these fqs for a mini version of Dear Jane, but alas that plan has bitten the dust (for now at least).  And, while I had hoped I might be able to gather enough more modern fabrics for the Kaleidoscope and keep these for a more classic sampler type project, there just wasn't the scope in my little stash.  So, here they are all waiting for the kick off.  I'm sure they'll be lovely with a wee bit of kona snow and I'll have my blue and white quilt a bit sooner than I would if I were waiting on making the Dear Jane.  So off to the cutting table ...

Farmer's Wife QAL - it's a start

I have finally made a start on the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt-A-Long with these two little blocks.

Block 1 - Attic Windows

Block 4 - Basket Weave

I am now beginning to desperately miss my Janome and it's quarter inch foot as the first of these blocks had to be remade twice in order to get it to the requisite 6.5" square (unfinished).  Not sure how many more I will get made and I may wait until the return of Janome just to make it more straightforward, but still it's a start.

Picnic Rug Progress

Doesn't a wee bit of sunshine do your heart good?  It's been an absolutely fantastic weekend for weather and today the sunshine was glorious! I even managed to pick up a wee bit more steam today and made some headway on the picnic rug.

Isn't she lovely?

Got the rug on the line to prove that yes, the sun does sometimes shine in Northern Ireland.

Back of quilt - no raw seams on this side.

It's not quite finished - needs a label for its recipient and then I have to snip into all those raw seams and wash and tumble dry it to bring up those lovely fluffy seams. At least it now looks like it will have a chance of being ready on time to be gifted just after next weekend.

Catching Up

Being out of action for a couple weeks is wreaking havoc with my projects list and I really need to catch up. All being well I'll be able to go to class next week and I'd like to be on track before then as it's the last class for this project and I need to be able to gift the quilt a few days thereafter.  No pressure then!  So after a spell in the sewing room this afternoon I have managed to join all the blocks into rows -

Wish the light had been better in these pics.

Stitching these blocks took much longer than I thought it would - think it's a combination of both me and the Toyota being a bit under par today - which was a little frustrating.  I hadn't enough room to lay it all out so in the pics the rows are all overlapping, but in the finished quilt each row will be as wide as the one you can see far right.

I am really looking forward to snipping the seams in this quilt and getting that lovely soft raggy look once it's washed and dried.  Must keep reminding myself not to fall too much in love with this one as I am giving it away.  Hope to post the finished quilt before too long!

BQS Mini-Quilt Arrived!

Look what the Postman brought to me today courtesy of the lovely Lynda (flickr name - quack quack 22) in the first ever round of the Brit Quilt Swap! Isn't it lovely?

The star of the show!

What you can't see from this photo is that every one of those 16 blocks is just 3.75" square and the 24 tiny leaves are just 1.25" tip to tip!  Lynda has put so much detail and effort into this beautiful quilt and I cannot thank her enough.  She has also been a pretty good sleuth and spotted this year's purple and green theme that I have going on!  I loved this little quilt when I saw it pop up as a work in progress on the BQS flickr group and am slightly in awe of it as I could never do that amazing applique border work that Lynda has poured her heart into for me.  Honestly folks, the photos don't do this little beauty justice! (I'm a quilter, not a photographer!)

As if the amazing quilt wasn't enough, Lynda included some little extras too.

Goodies!

A set of pieced HSTs and a set on the foundation paper (thanks Lynda - that foundation paper template for HSTs is really useful to know about), and the most adorable coin purse which has room for a few essential cards as well.

Aren't these gorgeous colours?

Room for cards too!

I love it all Lynda - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Brit Quilt Swap - Parcelled and En Route

Okay Partner, it's all wrapped up (with a few wee extras) and off to you in the post.

I really hope you like it.