When fluff falls onto your sewing

 It’s time to clean your machine and change your needle. 

Look at all that fluff. It is filthy

My friend told me she used mascara sticks to clean hers. I have used the pipe cleaner and the little brush that comes with the machine. So I gave it a go.

Everything helps. There was so much fluff but it’s all gone now.

Back together again and it sews much quieter.

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.

I have started a new Tea Bag scarf

 I really enjoyed making the last scarf so I have started another one. I have a lot of strings now and I need to get them knitted up. 

I use 40 sts on 4.5 mm needles and knit for about 2 metres (6 1/2 foot)

All I need to do now is to tie them together and roll into a ball.

Do you like my stitch protectors I put on the end of my needles to stop the stitches falling off. I bought these in Japan last year. As I am going again this year I might buy some more. I think they are fun.

This month is BLUE - KAWANDI

 I have decided that I wanted to try to make a Kawandi project.

I had this gingham tablecloth from a picnic set we use. It is very light weight and thin. 

I have wanted to try the Kawandi style of stitching for a while now so I thought this would be a good chance to 1. Make a better tablecloth, 2. Try this technique and 3. Use BLUE for the RSC this month.

I pulled some scraps that had blue in them and started stitching around the edges.

When the first round had been stitched I added one layer of and older, thinner fabric for the lining to add a little more body as the gingham is thin too.

All flattened out ready for some more stitching.

Chooky had a zoom on Saturday so it was a perfect project to sit quietly and get some more stitching done.

I managed to sew around twice more. They are about 1/2” apart so will take a while to finish. I really enjoyed this big stitching. I am using up some of mums crochet cotton too. 

This project is all from stash. Already there is a good weight happening and I think I am addicted to it.

To see more BLUE projects look HERE

My weekend of sewing = my kiwis

 I have been playing around making my KIWIs

I decided, with the help of the zoom ladies, what size my baby quilt will be. Also, the design has all been thought out now. This is where I started.

Blocks coming together laid out to work out the size

Enough blocks have been made. I am going to sash with scraps of pink - docket stitched sashings. A small white border.

Appliqué the name on a block for in the corner

I am using the soft, cuddly chenille as the backing.

And have chosen this stripe as the binding. 

Once the design was chosen I was so excited. I just kept sewing all weekend.

Layouts changed

Receipt strips sewn into sashings

Lots of thinking, measuring and calculating.

Until I got this far and it was midnight. 

Bedtime

I think I will be big stitch quilting this with some of mums crochet cotton.

Have a look HERE over at Angela’s for more pink work for the RSC May month.

 

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

Another special Happy birthday to my friend Christine.

 Christine is celebrating her birthday on a special holiday with her family so I had a lovely phone call with her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE.

Her gift has to wait to be sent so she is home when it arrives.

I have been knitting with teabag strings and finished her scarf.

It measures 2 metres long. It weighs 38grams. And used approximately 3,230 teabag strings.

Of course it depends on the size of the strings. Some are longer than others. This was calculated on 85 strings per gram. I used 4.5mm needles and 40 sts. Then just knit until it reaches about 2 metres long.

Look how lovely it looks.

It is lovely and washed up so soft too.

Time to wrap it up and get it in the post.

A special happy birthday for Colleen

 Another friend of mine celebrated a special birthday.

We had a surprise lunch for her at our local pub.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLLEEN

The tables were beautifully set without going overboard.

As I am a bit taller than her I thought I would sit down.

Can you tell she likes purple.

Friends from the Sunraysia Patchwork Friends (SPF)

And I gave her my Sashiko cloth I have been stitching.

She loved it.

I’ve been sewing.

 I have finally done some sewing. I haven’t looked at my Farmers Wife quilt blocks for over a month. Yesterday I actually opened the box, found some sashing fabric and started cutting.

I knew I didn’t want to make all the blocks first then join them all at the end. Off I went and started joining the one ps I already had up on my display wall.

I think it is looking great. Now I want to go and sew some more blocks. Just the push I needed.