CHOOKSHED April Challenge no. 9

 Ok, April is no. 9.

Sunflowers Irish Chain

Dreamworthy Quilts with Deana

I didn’t have any luck with last months challenge so I was determined this month I would achieve something.

I was given these embroidered blocks about 10 years ago. My friend had a new embroidery machine and wanted to have a play. Lucky me. I had the fabric and knew what to make. I made a start then who knows what happened next but for some reason they were packed away.

I pulled them out again to find that I needed to make more 20 patch blocks. Problem was…. There was no navy blue fabric with the rest of the pack. I didn’t have anything that was close, neither did Spotlight.

I had a different blue which wasn’t even close so I needed to 13 more complete blocks. The colours varied too much to keep them in.

Stitching away while on Chooky’s Zoom on Friday night.

I would not have sew if it wasn’t for zoom. Thanks Chooky

Blocks are all ironed and trimmed

Rows being stitched together

Webbing being done.

Now to sort out what to do for the borders

Last border going on.

Wow. It looks good.

I DID IT.

Now to pack away for another time to get it quilted. 

Maybe next years challenge list will be to quilt a quilt each month.

What a bit of fun making iPad covers/zippered pouches . Mini tutorial.

 I am going to be doing a tutorial night at some point this year at my quilt group. We only have a 2 hour session so the project has to be quick, useful, achievable (without much to do at home) and fun.

So I searched Pinterest and YouTube to look for suitable projects. I came across a cute pouch. I then studied a few YouTube’s and mix and matched to come up with mine. 2 at a time pouches.

You can do them so they are exactly the same or completely the reverse of each other using the same piece of fabric.

I’ll try to explain how I made them step by step. 

1. Quilt your 3 layers together 

I marked mine with masking tape and quilted them one way

Moved the masking tape and crosshatched the other direction.

and trim to 24” high * 20” wide. 

Then mark down 6” from the top left. Also from the bottom right.

Cut from point to point.

You will need a 1 * 25” continuous zip with 2 zipper pulls OR 2 * 25” dress zips.

Binding/contrast fabric…. 2 lengths 2” * 24” ironed in half lengthwise

……. 2 lengths 2.5” * 24” ironed in half lengthwise

2 lengths 3” * 24” for the wrist strap (ironed like bias binding)

Optional … 2 rings or d rings for the wrist strap.

Now, lay the wrong side of the zip on to the wrong side of the angled cut.

Sew the 2” folded strip onto the right side of the zip. Matching the raw edges.

(Oops, my zip is a bit wavy.. don’t stretch it)

Peel off one side of the zip and put aside for the second pouch.

Fold seam allowance under and top stitch the zip to the pouch fabric.

Then iron over the binding to cover the raw seam and top stitch down on the right side of the pouch.

Slide the zipper pull on to one side with the rounded edge first.

Have fun getting the second side on.

Fold over and trim the side edge even

Now to make the wrist strap. Using the 3” wide bias folded piece top stitch down each edge. Then cut a 3 “ length. Thread through a ring / d ring. Attach to the side seam edge about 1” from the top of pouch.

Turn wrong side out making sure you leave the zip half open.

Align the edges and pin or clip.

Attach the binding as you would on a quilt.

Fold through the left over wrist strap and attach around the ring.

And you are done.

Now for the second one. You can make it exactly the same or sew the zip to the opposite side of the quilted piece

This will make another pouch but with reversed colours and zip opening from the other direction

2 easy identical pouches finished

My Farmers Wife busy weekend

 Due to all my holidays I had fallen behind in the Farmers Wife blocks I was supposed to have sewn. 

I was 10 behind. I know they are only 6" blocks but they do take time.

Anyways, my quilt group had a sit n sew day yesterday and I knew what I needed to do. Friday I had to clean my sewing room, print out the patterns I needed and choose my fabrics. I achieved this and the car was packed for a great sewing day ahead.

Here they are.

Block 82 took me until lunch break to sew.

off for a little walk to get lunch and back again to the machine. Block 31 was quick

starting on Block 105

Block 91 called Strawberry Basket. I even had fabric that had strawberries on it.

I managed to get 4 blocks stitched and continued on Sunday to finish off the other 6 blocks.

Block 51

Block 102

Block 67

Block 79

Block 96

Block 21

Here they are all together. I choose colours without having my blocks up on the wall. Clearly, I will have to move some blocks around to mix up the reds and similar fabrics.

I am all caught up and ready for next weekend. I am going on a little sewing retreat to meet the other ladies I am sewing along with. 4 days together to get to know each other. There might be 4 or 5 of us. I am really not sure. We are taking the van and camping on one of the ladies house block. Yes, hubby is coming too and we are making a good weekend of it. 

Hopefully we will get a few blocks made and share some tips.

I'll be thinking of all you Scrub Stitchin ladies who will be sewing along too at your retreat.

Should have been Happy 30th birthday today

 Yes, my son should have been 30 today.

My daughter bought these beautiful flowers for me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN.