Friday night sew in

It just dawned on me that Christmas is not too far away so out came a beautiful pattern and kit which I  purchased at the quilt show.

I love the range of fabrics...such pretty prints and soft colours.

So my time was spent cutting, cutting, cutting...with more cutting to go. 

Thanks for sharing your night with me...I'll say goodbye so that I can look at what you've been up to.

Friday Night With Friends

So good to be back. It's been a while since I posted but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy with all things patchwork!

I traced the Anni Downs designs for her gorgeous project roll (see previous post) and am loving the simple stitching at night. I really should spend a couple of hours tracing so I've always got something to pick up. There's been many a night when I've had itchy fingers and just don't have anything prepared and it's so frustrating!!!!

Well there's really not much to show for a Friday night but you all know how slow stitching is...

While I'm here I have to show you my quilt...I worked on it for seven years!!!! I learnt a lot of embroidery stitches along the way and spent AGES cutting and piecing it all together. Last month my patchwork teacher and friend Debbie Donegan held a quilt show to celebrate ten years of her patchwork classes and my quilt was up there for all to see...so proud!

Here are some of the embroidery panels...

Thanks for visiting, I'm off to take a look at what you've been playing with lately.

FNSI catch-up

Friday night saw my friend come over to continue working on the lovely project roll. I managed to get all of my squares together, and then over the weekend I also cut and pieced together the front section. This will feature appliques and stitcheries before being joined to the squares.

I'm very happy with it so far.

Here a few finishes too.

And my friend's...

I love them all. We've both enjoyed working on projects together on Friday evenings while the boys watch the footy. It's lovely to stitch with a friend and so much more motivating.

Heading to the show in Sydney this weekend. I keep telling myself I don't "need' anything...lets see what I come home with!

Thanks Wendy, for coordinating our Friday night get together. I hope you had fun too. Now I'm off to have a look at what everyone else got up to.

FNwF and Chooky's party

Have been unwell all weekend but that didn't stop me joining FNwF or the party in the Chookshed. A day off work on Friday saw me start a little early. I've been playing with some crochet, making medallions which will eventually find their way into a granny square blanket.

I spent Friday night with a friend. We've decided to start on Annie Down's project roll...

We are big fans of all of Annie's projects...as you may have noticed! I raided my favourite scap bag and leftover strips and came up with a nice variety. I've decided to use some good old calico for the contrasting squares. After a weekend in, I've ended up with everything cut and ready to go.

It's been lovely spending time on my projects, knowing I have friends all around doing the same. Thanks Cheryll for Friday night, and you Chooky for the weekend of fun...I hope you both had a good time too!

Friday night sew in

Well this week I was meant to be meeting a friend to work on her baby's quilt. With three weeks to go we really needed to get a wriggle on. I've had lots of fun teaching her some patchwork basics, but newbys to the world of patchwork rarely appreciate the time it takes to make even the easiest of quilts! So, already under pressure I was stunned to hear she gave birth three weeks early!!!! As you can imagine, I have since been madly piecing the borders and quilting.

I find quilting anything larger than a table runner so fiddly. I really admire you girls out there who quilt beautifully, especially larger projects. If there's a trick to this please let me in on it! I am happy with the result but I can't say I enjoyed the process.

My friend was so happy with the quilt...I'm going to embroider a message before handing it over for keeps.

Thanks for a good night Wendy. I'll visit everyone else now to see how they went.

FnWF

Well my night didn't turn out as expected but I made up for it this weekend! I've had this little pattern stashed for some time and decided to give it a go as our special little one is now keen to help her mum in the kitchen.

I picked up some fabric last time I was visiting my girls in Newcastle. A little quilt shop just down the road had this gorgeous fabric, and was perfect for the project.

Feeling inspired by the fabric I started pressing, cutting, sewing...

...I love it! So cute I decided to find a pattern and make a little chef's hat.

So happy with the results...can't wait for the little model to try them.  Thanks for the night Cherryl, I'll get around to everyone else now to see what they have been up to.

Friday night with friends

I had an early start yesterday and spent most of it on the machine (not my favourite!) trying to finish the periwinkle stars which sit around the central block of my Gossip in the Garden quilt. I actually started these about two and a half years ago but I really don't enjoy foundation piecing so simply left them for another day....as you do!

Well I decided to just get it over with and set myself up with talking books, podcasts, netflix - anything to keep my mind off what I was actually doing!!! Still have more to go, but definitely getting there.

Thought I was being clever using foundation papers (accuracy and all that...), next time I'll make some templates and stick to EPP - much more enjoyable!!!

After dinner my friend joined me for a night a stitching. A couple of weeks ago we decided to do a project together and chose a little needlecase from this book from Anni Downs..

We decided to throw a few little squares in there

I loved working the stitchery - so relaxing.

Last night we started putting things in place - introducing my friend to needleturn applique - she's a natural...

We didn't get too far but enjoyed the slow pace, a cup of tea (I know...wine would sound much more decadent but it gives me a headache!) and the knowledge that lots of others were at home enjoying the same...

Thanks for the night Cheryll...I always feel motivated by these virtual sew ins. Very impressive -hosting whilst on holidays! 

FNSI

Thanks Wendy for organising Friday night...my friend came and joined me and I continued on with my hexies.

I'm still deciding on how best to use them on this block...maybe something like this...

Throughout the week I worked on a couple of blocks which I've been putting off for at least 12 months (I actually sat at the machine!!!!) I surprised myself by enjoying the process...

This morning I started tidying up my sewing room and found some Christmas place mats which were sooo close to being finished...just needed backing and quilting.  While I was still feeling positive about my sewing machine I completed these...

...and found these...

...for another day!

EEP preparation

This is the first time I've joined the party and don't really have a lot to show...

I've been working on my Gossip in the Garden quilt so put together this little star.

It doesn't look much does it...but if you've joined in this link I have faith that you know just how much time goes into the smallest of projects!!!

Friday night....

I've been powering through some needleturn blocks for my Gossip in the Garden quilt
(by my standards anyway!)...although it took me the whole night to complete this little cup cake.

I'm intending to 'frame' this with some hexies which are ready to go...

I'm using these as a bit of a break from needleturn too...there is so much more to go.

Here are some of the other blocks I worked on last week.

Thanks for the sew-in Cheryll...sorry about the late post...I've been sick in bed after a big weekend with family in Sydney. I'm off to check out what everyone else got up to.

Make Friday night a big one!

Cheryll is kindly hosting Friday night with friends this Friday (3rd March)...why don't you join us? Just copy the following link and sign up...https://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com.au/.  I'm having a friend over and we'll share something yummy while we stitch. I love checking everyone's progress over the weekend too!

Friday Night Sew-In

After the extreme temperature of last weekend I finally got some sewing out (really do need an air conditioner if I want to sew in summer!). Wendy's Friday Night Sew-In  also provided the motivation I needed to get back into it  all...

So out came the Gossip in the Garden quilt (yep...it's what you'd call a long, term project ha ha..) and I have to admit I'm feeling very motivated, so I'd better act on it.  I seem to have a lot of panels organised... but they are all missing something!

Don't look too closely...I need some handles for cups, stems for flowers, a few more hexies...the list goes on!

So I picked up a block and reintroduced myself to needle turn applique, which I love doing but it's definitely not quick...and the little circles were challenging.

"Where are the stems?"

And now I'm on to another block...

Thanks Wendy, I really enjoyed the night. Now I'm off to have a look at what everyone else got up to.