The last in CHOOKSHED challenge. No.8

 Well it’s the last number in the CHOOKSHED Challenge. So my No.is 8. A Christmas themed item. I’m not sure what I will do yet but I do need to make a Xmas cushion for my local quilt group Kris Kringle.

Mmmm… I think I have something in mind. Watch this space.

FINALLY IT WORKED ......... Photos of CHOOKSHED September Challenge to no. 7

 I did it. My September challenge is done. No. 7 … a good number….

Bonnie Hunter Frolic is completed ready for it to be gifted.

I had so much trouble uploading these photos. Anyway, after getting onto the laptop it worked.

Frustrating...

Thanks, Deana, for the push to get some UFO's done.

CHOOKSHED challenge progress

 I have been very busy with work and spending a lot of hours at the hospital with my husband. There has been slow progress with him but it is better than none. He is now taking some steps with staff by his side. Small steps are progress. It will be a long road. 

I take my Boro sewing in but no photo yet but there will be soon. Boro is a technique that requires not much concentration. It can be picked up and put down at any time. Just what I need.

Anyway. This months challenge is for me to hand sew the binding down on my Bonnie Hunter Frolic 2019 quilt. I had already machine sewn it on and now I just need to hand sew it down to finish it. 

I have had it out of the cupboard for 2 weeks sitting on the couch.

So tonight while I watch mindless tv late at night I have picked it up and started sewing. One side is nearly sewn down. Progress is progress no matter how small.

Linking up with Deana

A day at a time

 Hi everyone, I just want to say a very big thank you for your support. I haven’t replied to many emails I have received but please know I thank you and appreciate every message you have sent.

Any way, a quick update. My hubby is now in the rehab ward in hospital very close to home. It makes it easier to work a few hours a day, for my sanity, and still close enough for me to visit twice a day.

I work, visit, home for a nap then back to visit. I do fit in the other necessities like work, shopping, washing and eating. 

So here is Tony saying hi. Feeling a bit tired, sick of being in bed and not eating the hospital food is causing a few problems. He will get there. Now for Rehab to start…….

I am now comfortable with some sewing at the hospital. I am working on a Boro piece. I think I will use it in a back pac I need to make.

Saturday was the first time I picked up my sewing in 3 weeks. I felt comfortable and relaxed enough to pick up my hand quilting.

No. 3 CHOOKSHED challenge for August. I have done some but not as much as I had liked. Anyway. I will continue.

Slow Stitching Sunday

CHOOKSHED challenge 2024

August Challenge is no. 3 — My Blue 40th birthday quilt

 This quilt kit was a gift for my 40th birthday. I started it straight away and finished the top not so long after. I put it away for a while before getting it basted for hand quilting. I started the hand quilting and it got put away once again. This has happened a few times over the last 20 years but it’s time to get it back out and do some more. I do like hand quilting so let’s see how I get motivated this month. Thanks to Deana for spinning the wheel and selecting no. 3.

So here it is. My Blue hearts birthday quilt

This is how I had left it in my blanket box. Now that’s not really smart

I have even started sewing on the binding to protect the wadding going everywhere.

Quilting in the centre of the log cabin blocks.

The quilting on the back.

Echo quilting in the background. This wasn’t the best choice but it’s done so I will have to do the other corners the same.

Another shot of it in progress.

Now to go and find the thread I was using.

 Mmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!

End of month reporting

 It’s the last day of the month and I had my challenge item sitting on the couch, waiting to be worked on, until 2 days ago. My En Provence Bonnie Hunter 2016 - 2017 mystery quilt needed its binding. I actually stuck with it and finished the top in January 2017. There it sat until I finally got them Quilted in 2023 by Judy.

 Then it was trimmed and the binding machined on to the front. Once again, it sat in the cupboard.

But thanks to the challenge it’s number 1 was drawn out to be worked on in July. And I did it. The hand stitching is done.

It is finished and beautiful.

I have also put a hanging sleeve on and the label. So when I gift it everything is ready.

So cute all rolled up.

I am linking up with Deana over at

https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2024/07/july-chookshed-linky-15-minutes-phd-and.html

CHOOKSHED challenge . July no. 1 … Binding in winter

 Oh good choice this month. CHOOKSHED challenge no.1 has been drawn to work on in July

I will be working on finishing a binding on my Bonnie Hunter En Provence quilt started in 2017.

The binding was attached back in May 2023 

Now to get the binding completed.

I’m linking up with Deana

 https://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/2024/06/july-chookshed-challenge-number.html

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

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 

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

Kiwi top is done - ready for quilting

 I did continue working on my Kiwi quilt top.

Onto joining up the last corner

Borders are on and now to choose the quilting thread.

I was going to use the bigger reel but this is also a 4 ply crochet cotton. It might be too thick. I found 2 reels of a thinner one so I’ll just have to try and see.

All pin basted onto the piece of chenille I had. I did put a thin Pellon as the wadding. The chenille is thick and cuddly enough so no need for a thick wadding too.

I started out with this pile of scraps

and have only a few left

So off to start the big stitch hand quilting.

June CHOOKSHED Callenge is no. 10…. SASHIKO for me

 Here we are starting another month. I now have a couple of moths where I have made progress on the challenge projects but this month I might finish. 

SASHIKO.

I have prepared a block to stitch.

Here is someone elses picture. I love the variegated thread.

This is what thread I will be using.

If you want to see what everyone else will be working one have a look HERE

CHOOKSHED challenge no. 5 progress

May .. no. 5

 I have some progress not a finish.

I started with copying the pattern into 4 different sizes.

I pulled out my pink scraps as it was the colour of the month for RSC. May is Pink — RSC  

Also found some chenille and minky as I have decided to make a little baby quilt.

Found some fabrics for the backing.

Started making some blocks in both directions.

And I have a big mess to go with it.

See what others got done  HERE