Patchwork update - have to start in the middle with the black circle and work out. Not machine friendly cos of all the different blocks and the need to emphasise each shape. Lovely.
Meanwhile there is to be an Open Day/fundraiser so we've been given little projects to do to make things for sale. These include stuffed cloth mice, elephants and birds which appear to serve no other purpose than gathering dust so I opted to make 2 notepad holders for the kitchen, tho who will buy them is beyond me. Wouldn't have the in my kitchen and not just cos the colours are wrong.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I don’t envy you the big one Obelixx, but the little notepad ones are really lovely. I think they will sell. They could also be used for putting some pencils in so that they don’t roll away when colouring in. You can tell what my latest interest is, can’t you. Next time you might be able to design something to hang your longer pencils in.
Obelixx rather than quilt the whole thing as a piece, I would tend to quilt each block individually first. Roll an edge in like a giant swiss roll and feed it into your harp. No-one said it was going to be handy!
Start in the centre of the centre block and work out and work in all directions so that the piece doesn't skew. Isolate part of each block using an 8" embroidery hoop if you have one (or not...I prefer not) and stitch in the ditch of the pieces in the first instance. You may find that when you've done all the blocks, you'll have done enough.
The idea of the quilting is to anchor the whole thing but having worked so hard on your sample blocks it would be a shame to lump them all in together with parallel lines. Stitching in the ditch between the blocks may be enough to finish the whole thing off nicely.
Can you drop the feed dogs on your machine? If so you can enter the dark world that is free-motion.
Pat - we are handed the pattern fabrics and doings so just have to sew the little kits accordingly.
PP - Thanks for the excellent advice. I do have a free motion feature and a special foot on this machine but have never tried them so I think I may just make one or two easy blocks I can use as cushion covers and practise on those before I tackle the big one.
First tho, I need to make a new handbag for Possum........ with a padded pocket for her PC and enough space for her camera, diary, phone, make up, purse...........and please can I add a removable shoulder strap.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Obes check out the Annie Unrein bags. They're addictive but with all that weight going in you'll need something fairly substantial. (Buy good quality clips and rings if you're determined to do detachable!!!!)
I love her Ultimate Travel Bag but it may be too bulky for everyday use. I'm eyeing it up for my sewing machine. I'll probably do detachable but it will have straps that are sewn all the way down too and not just attached at the top. The sewn on ones can be for heavy loads ie sewing machine and the detachables (in two lengths of course) for swanking about.
I have a pattern from Butterick which I used last time, just making it a bit wider to take her PC which is a smallish one. Unfortunately, as it was my first attempt, I didn't reinforce the strap fixings enough so I need to start again. She wants it plain black again but I'm using a canvas style fabric this time and may do a bit of Japanese sashiko embroidery on the outside pocket flap as she's nuts about Japan.
I'll definitely look at Annie's stuff tho as I need a good summer bag that can hold my camera and sunglasses and so on and don't find the sizes and pockets I need in standard commercial fare..
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Today's patchwork special class was supposed to be Hardanger embroidery but had somehow morphed into sewing a lined bag for toiletries or similar and decorating it with a hand embroidered silhouette of either a very 50s head doing her lipstick or a lady form an earlier era wearing a huge hat. Strange.
Yesterday's willow weaving was good tho. I made a basket which is certainly not perfect - first attempt - but will serve very well for collecting harvested beans and sweetcorn and rhubarb and so on when we have some. A very enjoyable day which I should like to do again.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
Patchwork update - have to start in the middle with the black circle and work out. Not machine friendly cos of all the different blocks and the need to emphasise each shape. Lovely.
Meanwhile there is to be an Open Day/fundraiser so we've been given little projects to do to make things for sale. These include stuffed cloth mice, elephants and birds which appear to serve no other purpose than gathering dust so I opted to make 2 notepad holders for the kitchen, tho who will buy them is beyond me. Wouldn't have the in my kitchen and not just cos the colours are wrong.
I don’t envy you the big one Obelixx, but the little notepad ones are really lovely. I think they will sell. They could also be used for putting some pencils in so that they don’t roll away when colouring in. You can tell what my latest interest is, can’t you. Next time you might be able to design something to hang your longer pencils in.
Obelixx rather than quilt the whole thing as a piece, I would tend to quilt each block individually first. Roll an edge in like a giant swiss roll and feed it into your harp. No-one said it was going to be handy!
Start in the centre of the centre block and work out and work in all directions so that the piece doesn't skew. Isolate part of each block using an 8" embroidery hoop if you have one (or not...I prefer not) and stitch in the ditch of the pieces in the first instance. You may find that when you've done all the blocks, you'll have done enough.
The idea of the quilting is to anchor the whole thing but having worked so hard on your sample blocks it would be a shame to lump them all in together with parallel lines. Stitching in the ditch between the blocks may be enough to finish the whole thing off nicely.
Can you drop the feed dogs on your machine? If so you can enter the dark world that is free-motion.
Have a swear box handy.
Last edited: 22 February 2018 12:05:49
Pat - we are handed the pattern fabrics and doings so just have to sew the little kits accordingly.
PP - Thanks for the excellent advice. I do have a free motion feature and a special foot on this machine but have never tried them so I think I may just make one or two easy blocks I can use as cushion covers and practise on those before I tackle the big one.
First tho, I need to make a new handbag for Possum........ with a padded pocket for her PC and enough space for her camera, diary, phone, make up, purse...........and please can I add a removable shoulder strap.
Whooooo! Obelixx, your energy amazes me.
In bed now and not long for sleep.
night sll
Obes check out the Annie Unrein bags. They're addictive but with all that weight going in you'll need something fairly substantial. (Buy good quality clips and rings if you're determined to do detachable!!!!)
I love her Ultimate Travel Bag but it may be too bulky for everyday use. I'm eyeing it up for my sewing machine. I'll probably do detachable but it will have straps that are sewn all the way down too and not just attached at the top. The sewn on ones can be for heavy loads ie sewing machine and the detachables (in two lengths of course) for swanking about.
That's the plan.... mmmm mice and men...
I have a pattern from Butterick which I used last time, just making it a bit wider to take her PC which is a smallish one. Unfortunately, as it was my first attempt, I didn't reinforce the strap fixings enough so I need to start again. She wants it plain black again but I'm using a canvas style fabric this time and may do a bit of Japanese sashiko embroidery on the outside pocket flap as she's nuts about Japan.
I'll definitely look at Annie's stuff tho as I need a good summer bag that can hold my camera and sunglasses and so on and don't find the sizes and pockets I need in standard commercial fare..
Yesterday's willow weaving was good tho. I made a basket which is certainly not perfect - first attempt - but will serve very well for collecting harvested beans and sweetcorn and rhubarb and so on when we have some.
A very enjoyable day which I should like to do again.
Photo won’t load. I’ll try separately.