Binding is sewn and it’s on my bed

 I received my quilt back from Judy @ Cornerstone Creations before I went on a little holiday. Friday night I fit shed hand stitching the binding down. It was nearly 11m of binding.

It is completed and looks fantastic 

The quilting Judy chose is beautiful. Not too tight. It’s just right. Quilted in a blue thread matches perfectly.

And it’s on my bed. I wanted it from floor to floor, side to side.

With the pillows on.

I just love it. The label is done too.

Edited …. August is Aqua

  August over at Angela’s is AQUA. I received my Bordertown B’s back from Judy. She has done an amazing job at quilting it for me.

(Close up photos to come)

Now it is time to get the binding done. Trimming up.

I think I have enough of the aqua backing to do it. Time to measure and get started.

Yes, there was enough. I needed 11.5 metres of binding. 

It’s all sewn on and I have a few days of slow stitching to hand stitch it down then it will be a finish.

Of course there were leftovers so what did I do?

Make 2 more placemats.

This is now 39 out of 50 made.

Linking up with Kathy for Slow Stitching Sunday and Angela for Scrap Happy Saturday.

Now to get back to my binding.

CHOOKSHED Challenge April # 4 is already done…..

 Yes,, that’s right..

I have done the backing, prepared and delivered to Judy for quilting. 

Linking up with

 https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2025/03/chookshed-challenge-april-number-is-here.html#comment-form

I have a free month to finish up some other projects that are on my radar..

I celebrated a birthday and caught up with friends

 I celebrated my birthday a few times this month. I had a lovely lunch with Maxine who bought me some flowers.

 We had a good catch up.

Tony and I had a good day out meeting up with Judy, Barry, Pat and Allen.

We met half way at Murrayville. Had lunch in the little Cobb n Co cafe.

It was a great catch-up all be it very warm. BUT.

I handed over my quilt, backing and wadding for Judy to do her magic.

Preparing my backing for Bordertown B’s

 It’s time to get my backing sorted. My quilt measures 96” * 112”. Yes, it’s a biggin’.

As you know we need to make it a bit larger for the longarmer. Now the fun begins.

The wide back I bought is only 108” wide which seemed ok but only 98” long. I knew I had to lengthen it by at least 22”. I was also advised to wash it first as sometimes they shrink. I have never washed my fabrics first. A new experience for me. Having to wash, dry and then iron this one fabric. Thanks Judy, it’s washed and ironed. PROBLEM.it shrunk. It now only measures 100” wide so definitely not big enough. Mmmmmmm.

Okay, get out all my scraps from the quilt top and join them together. 

But first I have to lay out the backing on the floor. I move my furniture to give me room and my living/ dining room become my workspace. First cut done and a strip sewn in.

2nd cut done.

Oh this was scary.

Next, layout my leftovers on the floor in my hallway/sewing room

I worked out which sections I could sew together and I moved them onto the sewing table

They went back together a little different to what was planned. But I got there.

Here it is big enough for my quilt top. 

Not to go and join the batting to get it to fit.

I used the iron on batting joiner but stitched it as well. Sorry no photos of that.

Okay. My back went out doing this and the next day I had trouble walking. It popped back in but took about 5 days for the pain to ease. Please remind me in future that I am not to make a quilt bigger than the width of a wide back or the wadding . I am not joking them to get a bigger size. It wa stop much hard and painful work. Although I will love my quilt when it is finished…

Now to deliver them to Judy for quilting. Thank you 💕

Aqua quilt named and a little tray project

My local quilt group makes a little mystery project on the Friday night of their retreat. We are always looking for fun, quick and easy projects that will get finished on the night.

So I found this little tray on Pinterest or YouTube. Sorry, I can’t seem to find the link now.

And I gathered my supplies to give it a go.

 The finished project is great. I did make mine a little bigger as my scrap of fabric cut in half made 2. There was no need to trim it to make a smaller one. This was very easy to make and is so usable too.

When it is not being used  you just open the press studs and leave it flat. It then packs away into your bag without getting all squashed up. When you are set up and ready to use just click the press studs closed and you have a tray/basket to store your supplies in. Or use it as a thread catcher.

It has been quite hot here this week and will continue for another few days yet.

38 - 41 degrees Celsius (101 - 106 F ). With the air con on I sat and ironed my aqua quilt top.

I am very happy with my new iron and board. The board doesn’t wobble and the extra padding is good. It also is a hotter temp than my older one so presses really well.

Also taking the time to trim all those loose threads. I am not too fussed about some points not matching. When I trimmed the blocks first up I originally was going to do a different layout where they didn’t have to match anything. I wasn’t very precise. Of course, I changed my mind to another layout. Oh well, I can live with it.

After taking about 1 1/2 hours I finally got to baste around the edges to prevent fraying, stretching and seams pulling apart.

Folded nicely until I make the backing fit and get it quilted.

I have now named this quilt BORDERTOWN B’s. 

Most of the fabric was bought from Judy at Cornerstone Creations https://newsfromjude.blogspot.com/ in Bordertown and most of it is Brown and Beige with a touch of Blue (Aqua).

It measures 96” * 112” ( 244 * 285 cm )