A little bit of sewing

Hello,

I've not been blogging much recently partly because the whole family has been struck down with various lurgys over the past few weeks and partly because I've been sewing instead.

So I apologise for the photo overload!

I finally finished my Mum's 60th Birthday quilt!!  Her birthday was in March and the quilt has been sitting basted since April/May time.

She has been very forbearing but she did drop some big hints that she would like it finished when she visited in September.  So when she & Dad were scheduled to visit at the end of November I knew I had to get my act together!

I'd had an idea of quilting it with the handprints but after a couple of attempts it became clear that I just don't have the control when I'm FMQ to do that yet.

So I decided to do a big stipple and it turned out really well.  This is the biggest quilt I've made (82" square) by some margin so I was quite chuffed that I managed to wrestle it through my machine.  It definitely gives me some confidence to try and improve my FMQ and to tackle things other than baby quilts.

The pattern is Large Lattice by Amy Smart on Moda Bakeshop  and I made it using Twiggy fabrics and two Klona solids.

So having got a long standing UFO off my back (with an enormous sense of relief) what did I do?  Did I get going with another WIP?  No, I started something new!

I chopped in to my FQ stack of Summersville and made Jeni Baker's Side Braid pattern

Part of the top is looped over the line but I didn't want it trailing in the mud!

 It is a great pattern - I wanted some nice, easy, instant gratification and it certainly was.  I cut the pieces one evening and sewed the top the following day.

I've still got quite a lot of Summersville left so I think I'll add in a coordinating solid and make some wonky log cabins for the back.  I'm thinking red at the moment but not sure.

After that I decided I did have to get on with stuff.  I finished all the panels for the Perfect Zip Bags I'm making as teacher gifts using Elizabeth Hartman's pattern.  I'm now part way through construction so hopefully I'll have them done in good time for the end of term - I'd rather not be madly sewing the night before term ends!

Seven are made from a Tradewinds charm pack which I split by colour and the remaining two are from a Verna charm pack.

Right I'm off to find the Christmas decorations in the loft.  The wee man is determined we should do the tree this morning but I'd like to wait until this afternoon (mainly because I like a glass of mulled wine whilst I do the tree and 10.30am is too early for that!)

Bye
Sarah