CHOOKSHED challenge end of month report. I finished it.

 Back to my sashiko piece. I was up to here.

We decided to go away for the weekend camping. It was close to home but the weather was nice.

We had a lovely view of the lake.

And the evenings sunset was so beautiful. Sorry about the grainy photo but you can see the colours.

Enjoyed some sewing time.

The next day was even warmer with the sun out. We had to put the awning out.

Enjoyed sitting beside the fire in the evening.

Only 3 sides left to do around the outside by the time we headed for home.

I was so close I had to continue the same night.

It’s done….

Hopefully when I wash it the drawn lines around the edge will come out. 

Fingers crossed.

Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy

Maxine held a little tutorial this month.

 My quilt group has a tutorial each month held by one of our members. This month was with Maxine.

It was a cute little felt toggle/charm stitched by hand. No step by step photos.

We started with a strip of felt and rolled it up. Stitched a ribbon around. Did a decorative stitch top and bottom. 

I have it hanging on my bag.

Button on the bottom and ribbon around the sides.

Topped with seed beads.

More Farmers Wife catch ups.

 May 17th blocks 65 & 57

I really liked this block. It went together very well and looks pretty with these fabrics.

It did take a little while to make.

I did this one a little different to the pattern. I removed some seams. If the next piece was the same fabric I cut them out as one piece.

The hardest part is choosing the fabrics.

Down the rabbit hole and a Kawandi appeared.

 I have really enjoyed my big stitch quilting, Sashiko and the new to me Kawandi style.

So down the rabbit hole I went.

I wanted to try a smaller piece with a brighter effect. Into my tub of fabric sets and packs I found this cute one.

I found a nice pice of fabric in my Farmers Wife tub.

It has been cut to size and the edges have been ironed over.

The charm pack has been cut up ready.

Normally Kawandi uses a sari cloth as the centre for some body. I wanted a little more thickness so I added quilt wadding.

The fabrics have started to be stitched. The first round is done.

Once again.. sitting here listening to YouTube and slow stitching away.

Stitching lots of different fabrics.

Give it an iron to keep it flat

I went a bit crooked so I had to fill in the gaps.

I was asked how I end of my thread. So here goes. Tie 2 single knots close to the work but not on top of each other.

Go back into the same hole as the last stitch

Pull the thread through and cut off. The end is all hidden now.

Look at this beautiful cloth. Measures 16” * 26”

It looks lovely against the green.

A lovely table centre.

Farmers Wife progress.

 I needed to catch up on my April 26th Bock 86.

Foundation piecing is the way to go.

Here is the finished block.

Next up was to start on my May blocks. I haven’t focused on these blocks since I was in Echuca so it was good to get some more done.

So here are my blocks for the 10th May.

Block 94

The colours are muted and blend into each other but it will be ok.

Look at the way I have ironed the seams to get them flat.

Block 22

This was a bit of a challenge but I found Susan Gatewood’s printouts  were very helpful. 

And the blocks is done.

I have started my sashiko

 This month for the CHOOKSHED challenge is no. 10. I went to start it but wasn’t happy with the way I had prepared it so I unpicked and restitched around the outsides and a cross in the centre to stabilise it for hand stitching. Now I am happy.

Sunday night I started to do some stitching. Taking it slowly. I am happy.

The front

The back 

More Farmers Wife blocks. Well one anyway.

 Wow. This was a doozie. My mind just had trouble getting started.

Block 110

Sitting and sewing while listening to YouTube The Last Homely Quilter

Foundation paper piecing is tricky.

Once you get all the pieces stitched it’s time to join them together and getting the points to match.

So I pin on the seam points. I only push the pins in straight and don’t lay them flat.

Then I put dots of basting glue in the seam allowance

Start the seam stitching with the pins still staying straight up and only taking them out as you get to them.

Hopefully keeping the fabrics in the correct spot and points matching.

Some seams get ironed open and some to one side.

Then I use my wooden clapper to help flatten the seams better.

I don’t trim the outside of the block while I am piecing together as I am always having trouble getting them the right size. It is all pieced and ironed.

Papers removed and ironed again.

Now time to trim

And it has worked out beautifully. Yes, some points are off but I can live with it.

110 completed.

Kiwis have a new home. It’s finished and delivered.

 Last months CHOOKSHED challenge is finished and has been delivered to its new home. I have loved doing this big stitch quilting. I can see more in the future. 

I know why Linda . Koshka2quilts makes smaller quilts and hand quilts most of them. They are so manageable. Thanks Linda for the inspiration to give it a go.

It only measure 36” * 39” and used a lot of scraps.

The striped binding works so well.

I used chenille on the back for the first time. It was so soft and fluffy.

When it was washed it came out very different. Maybe needs a real windy day to fluff it up. A lot of the fluff came off and balled up on to the front blocks.

Anyway, here is the difference before washing and after.

Thanks Louise for the Kiwi pattern

Linking up with Anja Quilts

Hand sewing a special project.

 I have been spending a lot of time making a special project. I cannot show the finished item but I can give you some sneaks..

My friend drew a cute little picture and designed a hand made mirror for her purse. It had the drawing on the back of the mirror. Then she had it printed on fabric for me to make a special pouch to hold and protect it.  A carved wooden box is also being made to store it all and it will then be entered into an exhibition in the UK.

A little bit of braid for the edges with fresh water pearls added from our local gem shop. Woodsies.

Here I am measuring to see how long the braid needs to be. The red is a satin lining.

The drawing was printed on to silk so the hand stitching is done in silk thread.

The finishing touches are being added.

This is now completed and has been put in the post too.

A very special project.