Melbourne Town!

That is what I have decided to call 

the "My Small World" quilt.

I have had some fun this week personalising it...

with my own embroideries.

I find it easier with the little blocks 

when lots of seams meet,

to iron them open.

I make the small pinwheels by

cutting two 2" squares of each colour 

and drawing a diagonal line.

Stitch a scant 1/4" seam either side of the line, 

cut apart and press open.

Trim each to 1.5" each 

and construct the pinwheel!

To make the larger one I start with a 3" square...

I found this top triangular shape easier 

to foundation paper piece...

Draw a 2" square and mark the halfway point at the top

I followed Molly Flanders applique method for my 

clamshells...

To make this block, which uses the 'V' template,

I cut two 4" squares, cut them on the diagonal, 

sew opposite colours together and 

trim the final block to 4.5"

More pattern corrections can be found here

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Ta-da!

Just stopping by with a quick finish.....

front

ready for gifting this week!

and back

And panel three is done....

Forgive me if I don't pass any more hints 

at the moment, 

chopped off points...

oops, sideways!

Some of this nearly did my head in!

But I am officially half way- 

yippee!

Happy days!

SUZ

Notting Hill Terrace....

I recently had the pleasure of testing a pattern 

for Nadra, over at Ellis and Higgs

I really enjoyed both the making 

and the quilting of this mini....

adding roof tiles and leadlight windows,

and texture to the door and window frames!

Head over and check all the other versions,

with their embroidered flowers, button door handles 

and even a visiting bunny!

Happy days!

SUZ

Keeping it real....

Well, that was interesting, to say the least!

Your response has so encouraged me to continue 

blogging....

InstaGratification IG will take a back seat for now.

And in an effort to keep it real....

here's the mess I'm making ...

in the process of re-creating 

the "My Small World" quilt.

Scraps are perfect because there are some small 

pieces used...

this little pinwheel finishes at 2.5", including the 

seam allowance.

Rather than using some of the suggested templates, 

I am enjoying the challenge of calculating easier 

construction methods....

This is the stage I am at....

(Do you have your sunglasses ready?)

the first panel is complete!

Is anyone else out there making the "My Small 

World" quilt?

I'd love to share more of my shortcuts with you, if 

anyone is interested...

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Shortcuts.....

My Small World quilt is progressing…..

Panel Two

I love using my little design board….

It makes it easier to move pieces from machine to 

iron and back again

Appliquing using freezer paper is a well known 

method…

But I read somewhere that if you build up two or 

three layers of paper, 

it makes the job easier.

Trace to freezer paper

Cut out

Iron to the back of the fabric

Press edges in

Of course, the freezer paper is removed before

appliquing!

The Churn dash block is easier to make if you 

cut out pieces like this….

Two 2” squares of each colour,  

one  1” x 6” strips of 

each colour, 

one 1.5” centre square

 (I think the instructions say 2.5" for this one, 

but I maybe wrong...)

Make HST the quick way (see previous post)

Strip piece the 6” strips together before cutting into 

the 1.5” pieces required.

Construct in the regular manner.

I made mine with Liberty Tana Lawn.

This fine fabric makes for flat little blocks.

I will leave you contemplating these pieces….

I had some trouble constructing these so I’ll be

back with the maths soon….

I am now onto panel three!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Answering a question...

Linda asked a question on my last post...

Pattern from this book

but she is a no-reply blogger!

Constructed this way

so here are the details for you, Linda!

Ends up looking like this!

This quilt was never finished because 

I messed up the quilting!

And this is what I have been up to today....

This little block measures 3.5"

I'll be back soon with more shortcuts for the

"My Small World" quilt - panel 2

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Ambivalent...

I leave questions on blogs....

No one answers!

I am in a bee on Flick'r

for Carla!

but only a couple of participants are 'active'!

I'm on Instagram....

which is not so instant when friends 

take over three days to 'like' my photos!

Does anyone use a computer any more?

Is that the reason?

I am not sure whether I will keep my blog going....

it seems a bit pointless these days?

I might even quit IG.....

I think I'd rather be sewing!

SUZ

Tops!

I was eager to get back into my sewing room,

and finished this...

and this.....

in a flash!

It is now time for quilting!

Happy days!

SUZ

Rosy Posy...

Today I reveal my mini quilt as part of the second 

round of the "Four-In-Art" challenge.

I have chosen to construct a mini linking 

life with literature...

The origins of nursery rhymes are said to 

reflect events in history.

"Ring a Ring o' Roses

A pocket full of posies

A-tishoo, A-tishoo

We all fall down"

 is supposed to be about the Bubonic Plague!

(But I won't let the truth 

get in the way of a good story!)

My design, this time, developed 

as I cut and stitched...

Trying out ideas and discarding them...

The yo-yos and flowers stayed....

and hand quilting and subtle printing were added!

along with a new tissue-like pocket!

I will leave any further explanation 

to your imagination!

Art is like that, don't you think?

The back 

Please take the time to visit the other in the group-
Elizabeth @ Occasional Piece
Rachel @ The Life of Riley
Catherine @ Knotted Cotton
Betty @ Flickr
Simone @ Quiltalicious
Jeifner @ Flickr
Nancy @ Patchwork Breeze

Happy sewing!

SUZ