Wensleydale

 is a Jen Kingwell pattern in her "Quilt Recipes" book

I borrowed my copy from the library because I had 

looked at a sample copy at a nearby quilt shop.

This quilt was the only one I really liked.

So when my turn to borrow it came up, 

and I didn't have any other quilts to piece....

perfect timing.

In the book it is pieced with templates!

I fell out of love with these after I had finished a twelve month subscription 

to make another Jen Kingwell quilt, Delilah! 

I decided to make a Foundation Paper Piecing pattern.

Turns out I could have bought them pre-printed for a reasonable price!😬

I then got busy choosing a colour palette.

I have made two blocks already...

I think it takes longer to choose fabric combinations 

than it does to sew a block!

And I also have a name for it.....

but more on that soon!

Happy sewing...

SUZ

Orbiting Delilah!

I think these "Orbit" blocks were worth the time they 

took....

They seemed to take forever to complete!

Probably because my machine is in for a service, 

and I've had minor foot surgery,

I ended up hand stitching two to help pass the time!

Can you tell which ones were hand pieced and which 

ones were machined?

Here they are all together....

And to celebrate reaching the halfway point,

another group shot!

Happy sewing!

Well, maybe I'll be knitting instead.....

SUZ

Mastering the Curve...

I seem to have done a lot of curved piecing recently!

That is a sure fire way of improving at a skill...

#2 from Month 1

The second month of the "Delilah" BOM had more...

One rather scrappy,

and the other with fewer fabrics and 

a centre made from on whole fabric piece.

I'm happy to know that month 3 is much more 

straight forward,

well straight at least!

Group shot

And my New York Beauty quilt needed one last block

to make it up to the even two dozen.

I've decided to sash each block in black,

primarily to make it a bit more useable size.

For my next quilt,

I'm definitely making something simple next!

Happy sewing,

SUZ

Testing, testing....

I've been testing a new pattern for Allison who blogs 

at Campbell Soup Diary.

Quirky name, hey?

This pattern has everything...

curved piecing, lots of HSTs and even applique!

The blocks finish at a large 24" square.

 I was never going to make a whole quilt but love 

the simple graphic nature of this block....

 so I have hand quilted it...

to make a pretty table topper!

I love the gingham and the stitching on white fabric- 

so crisp and Spring-like!

All I need now is a bunch of tulips, but they will have 

to wait a few months here!

I don't even have autumn leaves to show you!

This David Hockney picture, from the recent

 exhibition here in Melbourne, seems to fit the bill!

The pattern is due to be released this week if you 

want to grab a copy of yourself!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

The ride continues....

Four of last week's blocks....

And a group shot of 36 blocks together....

and today's blocks...

brings the total to 40!

I hope I have the stamina for another 8...

Perhaps I will feel re-energised after I attend Jen 

Kingwell's trunk show on Tuesday...

I'm really looking forward to it!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

I forgot to show you these.....

I think I made these before I went to Tassie?

Another round of Chuck Nohara blocks.....

December

November

October

October

I now have 55 blocks.  

I will probably stop at 56,

otherwise I would need 63.

I don't think I have the enthusiasm for another 7!

I think there is an ice-cream there that didn't get a

photo of its own!

I'm now playing around with ideas for the sashing....

This last block I sent to my friend Elizabeth in the US,

         for her to add to her own Chuck Nohara quilt.

                                 Happy days!

                                       SUZ

Piecing it together...

On my last post, I showed you this...

I thought I'd share how I went about it.

I did hand piece it, slowly...

much like an Ohio Star, on-point....

 with curves!

Even the back is interesting to see the way the 

seams behave!

And here are all my September blocks together!

And the ones we've chosen for October...

Although I'm not sure I'll do the pumpkin...

Halloween is not significant to me, here in Australia.

Happy sewing! 

SUZ

Hint, hint...

I have never had a formal applique lesson so

 anything I do is never going to win a blue ribbon!

Chuck Nohara #cn1044 - no applique on this one!

But I have picked up a couple hints that have really 

helped me and thought I'd share them here...

I love "Best Press" but it is pricey here in Australia.

So rather than spraying randomly over small pieces 

of fabric, where most settles on the ironing board...

 spray some into a small dish and 'paint' it on!

Ironing a crease around the freezer paper template 

is much easier this way.

#cn564

I was still having all sorts of trouble turning the 

edges of my shapes,

particularly the inner corners.

So my friend Elizabeth, 

who blogs over at Occasional Piece ,

suggested I check out 

Becky Goldsmith's You Tube videos! 

Wow! What a revelation that was!

See that toothpick up there in the top lefthand 

corner....

that helps turn the edges under like magic!

Where's Wally?  #cn345

There's always something to learn, isn't there?

And that also completes July's Chuck Nohara blocks!

Happy sewing...

SUZ