Patchwork Progress

I began this quilt way back in the summer last year.  It has been a slow process but a pleasurable one.  

I love sorting through my fabric stash and selecting the prettiest colours.  I love cutting out the paper templates and then the fabric itself.  I love putting two designs together for each block, even though it can take a while to decide what looks right.

And then there is the stitching which I love the best, sitting somewhere quiet maybe under the apple tree when it is warm and listening to the birds or in the playhouse when it is raining listening to the raindrops on the roof. 

I love laying out all the beautiful coloured rows and deciding on what goes where.  Getting an idea of how it will look when it is finished. Sometimes it's tricky when similar designs are closer together than I would like, it can take a while to sort it all out into a pleasing effect that feels just right.

Then the most exciting bit of all, sewing the strips together to create something beautiful and unique.  That is where I am right now.........


Dev x

Oh Dear

Another cold, miserable Bank Holiday has passed and it has been too depressing for words really. There was a trip to the beach, but there were no flip-flops, no sunhats, no sunglasses, just wooly hats, wellies and a thermos of coffee. Puppy and Littlest Fairy had chattering teeth and it was a case of hot baths and cocoa when we got back. It's outrageous...WHERE HAS THE SUMMER GONE!!

So we have struggled to entertain ourselves. It has been one of those weekends of grouchyness and pickyness! Getting on each others's nerves and trying hard to keep our tempers. We are all feeling thoroughly out of sorts!

Puppy has had some fun it has to be said....I, on the other hand, was ready to explode!




To help keep me sane, I have sewn and sewn and sewn and now have a substantial pile of gorgeous jewelled hexagons.

I seriously miscounted the number of hexies that I needed for my quilt. I can't understand how, but then maths has never been my strong point. I originally counted it as 216, but that has now leap to 324! No matter though because I am loving it.

I have some new fabrics winging their way to the Fairyglade, but the Bank Holiday...the miserable cold stinky Bank Holiday has delayed them...Bah! Hopefully, postie person will drive up to my gate in the morning, the sun shining and pop longed for parcels in my box.

Sorry, for the poor picture quality. Did I mention dark, dismal, stinky Bank Holiday?... Oh well, there is always another one in August, fingers crossed!

Dev x

Hexagons

I have been itching to do a bit of hand sewing which coincided with a neighbour asking me to help her make a simple patchwork quilt. A rummage through the stash revealed loads and loads of pretty fabrics that I have been saving for just such a project. Now, I have to be truthful here...I have several quilts in the making, so I must be mad to start another I hear you yelling over cyber space. However, I have always wanted to make a hexagon quilt using the paper piecing method.

The history of this type of quilt dates back to the 1800's when fabric was costly and every scrap was saved. Small blocks were constructed and several were then sewn together until it was big enough to make into a quilt.

So, the sun was shining and a gentle breeze was blowing and into the washing machine all the pretty fabric went. A few hours later and it was all dry and smelling of spring.





Out with a hot iron and you end up with lovely neat piles of crisp fresh fabric already to use.

However, we are still not ready to begin because a template has to be chosen and the required number of hexagons cut out...in my case 216 in all.
I can hear some of you groaning from here, you are saying that life is too short and just get the sewing machine out and have done with it! Go on, be honest. But, I really, really enjoy this method of quilting. I admit that the sewing is more fun, but this is all part of it. Sat under the dappled shade of the apple tree, a cool glass of elder flower cordial and the waft of wall flowers on the breeze. What could be nicer?

So, now all the papers have been done, it's the turn of all those gorgeous fabrics. I might say at this point that I use old leaflets and magazine pages for my templates. Ordinary paper is just not quite rigid enough and cardboard is too thick. The leaflets at supermarket checkouts are perfect...shhhh, don't tell tham I said that!

Then when all that is done, it's time to begin stitiching. For this quilt I am trying to make no more than 2 or 3 hexagons in the same fabrics, and in some cases like the lilac polka dot above, I only have enough material for for one single hexagon. I use cheap old cotton for the tacking/basting, which you do all the way around each hexagon. Here is what it should look like.

They soon pile up as each one only takes a couple of minutes to do. And soon my little pile becomes a small stack of bright jewels.

I am really enjoying the making of this quilt. I like the repetition of it and above all, I love the yummy fabrics that are finally getting used. All of them are 100 % cotton. I believe that it is important to do this and that you should wash all your fabric before hand, just in case of shrinkage and loose dye colours.

On the subject of yummy fabrics, here are my favourite, favourites at the moment. I still do not have enough material and so ebay will be my next port of call for some more.

I know that it isn't everyones cup of tea, but I love it!

Dev x

Charity Shopping

Firstly, I just had to share this photo with you all. This is what happens when you get a naughty puppy...everything is on the menu! Shoes, boots, remote control, makeup, leather belt..you name it, he wants it....bless! The trouble is, we just can't be cross with him for too long because he is so darn cute....and he knows it I suspect!




I have done rather well in the charity shops this week. I don't often get a chance to visit them and I am ever hopeful of finding pretty things. Most times I come away empty handed, but I was rather pleased this time round. So what did I get...well, I decided that I would like to replace all my boring old grey, steel needles with colourful ones. I have enjoyed a return to knitting recently, and pretty needles make it so much nicer. I had to ask the assistant if she had any as there were none on the shelves. I was in luck and got this pretty haul all for the princely sum og £1.

The tortoise shell ones are lovely and the little bamboo ones are perfect for Little Fairy to use. You can never have too many pairs of scissors in my opinion, and these are lovely and sharp. I was all ready to leave the shop when I spotted this little gem.

My heart did a skippety, skip because someone else was holding it aloft and admiring it this way and that, and asking her friend what she thought. I almost fainted when she put it back on the rail saying that it was a bit grubby. A bit grubby...yipeeee! I sprinted from the doorway to the back of the shop and gleefully snatched it up much to her obvious dismay. She looked most put out I thought, perhaps she wanted it after all. Ha Ha too late now. Into the washing machine it went and out it came bright and fresh and much admired and fought over between Littlest Fairy and Boy Wonder. He is winning for now I fear. Oh yes, indeedy do, it's all mine!

That would have been enough to make my day, but next door was another shop and on the shelf sat this little treasure...more skippety skipping and into my bag it went....deep sigh!

My crafting mojo has been replenished and I am itching to do new things. The angel is a little further on as is my crochet blanket, but I now find myself drawn to coat hangers...yep, coat hangers. Strange but true. I have seen some wonderful examples of late and so decided that it can't be that hard. I have come up with my own version, yes siree, my own pattern.

Wow, I never thought that I would be able to say that. I am notoriously hopeless at patterns normally. However, I just threw caution to the wind and went for it. It is not finished yet so I won't post a picture just in case, but if all goes well, I may even make a tutorial. Mind you, I don't want to get ahead of myself just yet. Well, okay, here's a sneeky peak.

I am also itching to do some hand sewing and a friend has asked me to help her make a simple patchwork quilt. Well, simple I can do by the bucket load! So, I have sorted through my fabrics, made a few notes, sorted out a design and am ready to begin.

This was my first attempt at patchwork. I made this for the Littlest Fairy a couple of years ago now and it is much loved and used. I want to do something different this time and something not quite as pink. More to follow on this when I have made a start.

Well, that's it for now folks. Dev X

How's Things?

Look at that sky, is there anything more beautiful than that blueness? Is that a proper word do you think...blueness.?

So how is everybody, has the snow gone where you are? We are virtually clear now, although there are some stubborn patches that refuse to melt on the higher ground and beneath the hedges that get the least sun.

There was a brief spell of warmth on Sunday which has been overtaken by fog and mist and dampness and cold. But Sunday morning you could have almost convinced yourself that it was spring. The light was very harsh though casting strange long shadows and making us squint, but the sun had a little warmth in the shelter of the gazebo. Warm enough to take a few photos and have a cup of coffee outdoors, albeit with a woolly wrap

A few brave plants have lifted their weary head and turned towards the sunlight, but mostly they sleep on, biding their time..waiting........

Everything is just waiting...............

I have struggled a little to get back on track with my crafting after the mammoth efforts that I made before Christmas. I have run out of wool in some of my favourite colours, there are knitting patterns that I want to do, but can't understand some of the instruction, which is frustrating to say the least. I want to start another patchwork, but already have 2 unfinished projects peeping out from my craft cupboard. What about you ladies, how many unfinshed projects do you have lurking in bags and cupboards?

My last post was a plea for help in finding a copy of the new Art of Crochet magazine and you did not disappoint me. I am now in possession of said magazine and the crochet throw is more gorgeous than I first thought.

However, 120 issues at £2.99 a piece, adds up to a hefty outlay and sadly, I am not sure that I can justify such a sum. It would buy an awful lot of other more essential but less cheering things don't you think? Besides which, as was the problem with the first episode, I have yet to see it on the shelves of any of my local shops and supermarkets. Has anyone else seen it anywhere? Very illusive!

I decided to have a go at the first square, just to see...I made a mistake somewhere (as per usual) and had to pull it out again, but all is good now and I like it very much.

I

If you look closely you can see that the pattern is wrong and doesn't flow properly.

I now have a mind to make up my own squares using a book of crochet stitches to devise my own squares. Watch this space...........

I also thought that I would give the hexagon a go, it has been on my "to do list" for quite a while now. What do you think...do you like?. I seem to lean towards the pinks and purples but think in the case of the throw, I will try and make it as colourful as the one in the picture.

I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head, but it is a confidence thing.. can I make it, will people like it...am I clever enough? I need to stretch myself a bit I think.

So girls, what are you up to at the moment, what new projects have you started and what projects have you dug out of the cupboards to finish off?

Dev X

Invasion

Has anyone else been invaded by ladybirds? This year there seems to be thousands of them. One wall of the house today was a seething mass of red and black bodies scurrying here and there. The air was filled with them to, all of whom had a death wish and were dive bombing my coffee cup, eughh!

That said, it has been a beautiful day here at the Fairyglade. Blue skies, birds singing and soft breezes. Spring in the air.....VERY disconcerting for the time of year I must say.

Haven't been feeling myself recently, but today gave me a bit of a boost and I managed some reasonable photographs of the projects that have kept me occupied during my malaise. Do you want to see?.......................

First up some patchwork cushion fronts, at least that is what I think they will become. I attended a workshop last Saturday with the wonderful Jane, who is the fount of all knowledge of patchworky things. She makes it so effortless, that event a numpty like me can make things like this.

This is a variation of the Nine Patch for those of you who might be interested. Just need to back them and buy some cushion pads.

Then there is my tea cosy. Just had to make one after seeing the lovely pictures in Jane Brocket's book. Am half way through a second one, but that is for another post. Not bad for a first attempt methinks!

Some sweet little xmas birdies complete with crochet flower wings..

And finally, this.....

Not quite finished yet, but nearly. Just need to quilt and back with some halloweeny orange gingham and it will become a wall hanging. I made a few last year for swaps etc and never kept one for myself. So made another one just for me.

Well, that's all for now folks, short and sweet. Hope you all have a lovely week.

Dev x