In The Sticks!

 I have a finish to share....

Just my 5th full-sized quilt for 2023.

I based this quilt on a few I had seen on Pinterest. 

It seems it was popular back in 2009 on 

"Film In the Fridge" blog

A tutorial for the blocks is here

 

I initially quilted in the centre of the white strips in a 

grid design,

and decided it wasn't enough.

So then I went back and did a random square spiral!

Still not finished....

I used perle thread in black to hand quilt each block!

I think it adds something extra to the final look.

So "In the Sticks" is done!

Yes, I think our friends believe we live "in the sticks" as 

described by Merriam-Webster:

"an area in the country that is far away from towns and cities"

so that is what I've named it.

The back is all made from stash!

Perhaps they think we live in this house?

Quilt #5-2023

Lifetime Quilt No.151

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Slowing down!

 I decided to take a short break from quilt making for 

my next bout of crafting!

So I finished this table runner, started during my recent 

ruler class.

Due to COVID restrictions, some classes have not gone 

ahead; I am not sure when they will be re-scheduled.

In fact, I am not sure I am going to bother going back!

I think I learned more from YouTube than I did from the 

teacher!

Then I put this pretty pile of textiles together...

the doily was a gift from a friend,

so I decided to make a little 'doll' quilt, 

one for her, one for me!

I'm adding some hand stitching- maybe crosses, French 

knots and hand quilting, possibly some little yo-yos?

Finally I had seen this lovely project bag on Instagram.

A link to the pattern is here: Bucket Bag

And when I was able to source the eyelets locally,

I decided it would make a great knitting bag.

I'm enjoying the slower pace of hand stitching!

Happy sewing indeed!

SUZ

Always Learning!

 I had little idea of how rulers worked with machine 

quilting, so its been a big learning curve!

But I'm having fun in the process!

After only one lesson, and plenty of YouTube time, I'm 

enjoying trying out many designs.

The four week, 20 hour quilting course was very 

reasonably priced.

Having to buy seven rulers to start was not so good!

That's why I am trying to educate myself.

There's no way I am going to be talked into more 

rulers!

(Besides, the teacher took too much time helping 

a student learn how to use her fancy new machine,

or selling threads to other students!)

There are so many great videos out there to help you.

This one  (linked) by Angela Walters might inspire you!

All you really need is a ruler foot and a quilting ruler.

The ruler foot needs to be either a low or high shank 

one, depending on your machine.

Quilting rulers are made by many, many companies!

You may notice there are two different looking rulers 

here...

solid straight and curved ones,

The stickers are there so the rulers don't get mixed up in class.

and ones with cut outs.

And there are little rubbery bits of tape attached to help with grip

I haven't quite worked out which ones are better or 

which I prefer yet...

So I guess I'll just keep practising!

Still some wonky sewing happening!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Trying out some new ideas!

My scrappy green quilt is finished, 

and as it was only 38" square, 

I decided to try out spiral quilting for the first time!

I knew pretty much straight away that I wouldn't be 

able to use a washable marker

The colour is off here

to draw my starting spiral.

So I chose to try a dissolvable stabilizer I had from 

an embroidery project.

It is slow going at the start, one stitch at a time.

I started with quite a tight spiral with lines about 

1/4" apart,

slowly increasing it to 1/2" or even a little bit more as

I circled my way out, 

I used the previous stitching line hugging the 

presser foot as I sewed around and around.

You can see the different widths here.

and on the back!

The second thing I wanted to try was a machine 

embroidered label as part of the binding. 

I like how it looks here, but I will need to sew closer 

to the fold next time.

It doesn't sit well when folded to the back.

Now I'm off to get some 'glamour' shots!

Stay tuned for more photos of this as yet unnamed 

quilt! 

SUZ