October finish number 2

This quilt is a Linus one which someone else pieced. It was actually very large (double bed sized, at least) and I've managed to get three Linus quilts from it.

It seems to have quite a bit of Debbie Mumm fabrics in it (whatever happened to Debbie?) and lovely blue and red sashing. I bound it with dark reds out of the scrap bin, and it has worked well. I was slightly dubious about the red stripey at the bottom, but it's played very nicely.

And here is an update on (some of) my UFOs. Dear Jane is first. 27 blocks done, a lot of applique ones which I did on holiday. I think it needs more dark ones to balance it out.

Here is my Barbara Brackman Civil War quilt. I'm way behind with this. She's already onto block 41 and I've only done 29 of these. This set needs more with a light background, I think.

And last (and least) the Crumb Along I'm doing with Jo which is so much fun to do. Next I'm going to do some hearts, which should be nice and quick. I'll have to hang on though, as I'm quilting October finish number 3!

Holiday sewing

I like to take plenty of books and some sewing when I go away, as there are always times when they come in handy. Waiting at the airport, during the plane journey, that gap between the day's activities and the evening ones, or just relaxing in the shade are all times when I read or sew. The snag is the scissor situation when flying. Although I read that scissors with blades of less than 4" are permitted in plane cabins, since my best Fiskars embroidery scissors disappeared into a bin at check-in, I've not dared test the rule. This means prepreparing anything wanted on the journey. This time, I felt a few 'Dear Jane' blocks would be ideal.

While these blocks are relatively straightforward, especially the one on the right, it's the placing of the applique which is tricky. Since the blocks are so small, a fraction of an inch one way or the other makes a big difference.

Here are the 12 blocks I've done so far. Each one is such a challenge that I'm really enjoying them all. For someone with a short attention span, they're ideal, although I have to admit, my stitch-unpicker has had lots more use than usual!

A great finish and a poor start

I have quilted and bound my 'Roll, roll, cotton boll'! Here DD is holding it up as best she can. Although it's only five eighths the size of the original (20 blocks instead of 32) it's still a big quilt!

I am so pleased with this quilt. Not only was it great fun to make, but the whole top and binding was made from my stash. I didn't buy a single piece of fabric specially for it. Of course, it hasn't seemed to make any dent in my boxes and boxes of stuff, but it's a great feeling looking at all those different fabrics which play together so nicely.

I had to buy yardage for the backing, but I used a tip from Bonnie Hunter when I found I hadn't bought enough. She cuts unloved fabric (you know, the fabric you bought in those 'stash builder' bundles when you first started quilting, and which has lingered at the back of drawers and in the bottom of boxes ever since!) into 10 1/2" squares, and joins them into strips to make backing. Since the squares finish at 10", it's easy to work out how many you need. Plus, they make a nice feature on the backing too. And now for my poor start. I've started making some 'Dear Jane' blocks and here are my first two. I'm using cream and blue for my colour scheme - lots of different fabrics in each. I'm working from the centre out, and then, if I run out of steam (or skill, in this case) I can use what I've made as the centre of a medallion quilt. (Nothing like planning for failure!) The first block, on the right was G7, Indianapolis. It's turned out to be a fraction too small! The other one, G8, Justin's Comet, has turned out a fraction too big! Only two blocks in, and I'm already going to have to fudge. What a surprise!

Civil War blocks

I must be crazy! I'm making blocks for the Barbara Brackman Civil War quilt, my challenge blocks from Lynne Edwards' sampler book, and now I'm intending to do 'Dear Jane' blocks! How ridiculous is that!
At least the Barbara Brackman blocks aren't too dificult. Here are the next four, taking me up to week 20. The top two were a bit tricky, but the bottom ones were very straightforward.

Here are the blocks I've done so far. I have made a mistake by using white in the basket block and the Jacob's ladder block. I'll have to dip them in tea to tone them in, before I make it up. (Jane said I ought to dye the fabric instead, but since I don't use biological washing powder -eczema in the family - it'll be fine with tea!)

Now I'm off to start my first 'Dear Jane' block (G7). Wish me luck!