2020 Wk 9 - Hexie Hems and stuff

Hexie Hemming: I have two denim tunics that are very similar.  I shortened the sleeves on one and finished the edges with hexies (I blogged about them here).  I had plenty of chambray fabric left so I kept going with the tacking and whip stitches and finally added a slightly deeper border to the hem of the tunic

I'm rather pleased with it!!!

The hem measurements weren't  quite right to match the size of the hexies but this is the join at the back, and I can certainly live with that!!!

The lovely Stitch ladies met on Saturday - lots of sewing and organising (and maybe a fair bit of chatter too!)  You can read about our aims here

 
I'm doing a class for a local authority Well-being Week later in March, so I've been working on a sample - doing a bit of . . . hmmm . . .

Slow Stitching?

Mindful Making?

Calming Couching?

I suppose it doesn't mater what it's called - I just hope they enjoy decorating their bags!

I've rotary cut a whole load of pop concert t-shirts for a quilt I'm making for a customer

And I've used some more Happy Fabric to make another Christmassy t-shirt

2019 Wk 16 Easter Sewing

Not as much sewing as I'd hoped as we've been catching up with friends and family too, but I have managed some sewing.

The Australian Starred Hexies are about halfway to a flimsy

I made some personalised Sleep Out Patches for the friends that slept out with me

And made some play shopping baskets for another friend whose church runs the Treehouse cafe during the week

We had Crafty Church on Saturday - lots of ladies in Crochet Corner

Including Rushi who learned how to crochet

And I actually finished a quilt - it's appliqued to a fleece blanket and echo quilted by hand

2019 Wk 13 - weekend with Jackie

Thank you Jackie for a great weekend - two full days of sewing and a day with the family

We made these pods (from here)

And sorted these old EPP Australian Starred hexies that stagnated about 5 years ago

And made these great Hello Pouches (can you see that the top half is vinyl?)

Does that help?

And had a great morning at Stitch - 22 of us altogether including three generations from one family

A video from Stitch

And we made these Charm tote bags (thank you Amo for the charm squares, they went perfectly with this petrol teale)

And these travel purses with credit card slots, a zip pocket, two slip pockets and a velcroed vinyl pocket

We also made a bag for Lisa's necessary essentials

And admired her ferris wheel crochet

We both got rather spoiled by the girls for Mothering Sunday

And they made me a momento frame with tickets and photos from our trip to NY earlier this year

These were from a class I taught last week.  Pincushions with a scissor pocket.

2019 Wk 10 & 11 - a bit of a catch up

Just a quick whiz through some photos from the last two weeks, then we'll see what I've been up to!

I've been stitching patches for people who join the Windsor Homeless project sleep out in a few weeks time - and stitched the design straight onto a sweatshirt for myself and other colleagues who are doing the Sleep Out (if you are able to sponsor us the link is https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/bentahickley2019
Many thanks to those who already have!

The pile of EPP plus blocks is growing (another 27 to go!)

And the girls at Crafty Church wanted to make reversible tote bags  . . . so they did - not bad for 10 and 8 year olds!!!

 And I made myself a linen dress!  I love the colour - just need some warm weather to wear it now

Pocket and hem trim in this beautiful print.

Richmond and Kew saw a couple of charity quilts being made.  These blocks were made with some fabric from a FQ bundle and other fabrics added - everyone made a block - some great variations!

 And these are string blocks made using flip and stitch onto a square from an A4 sheet (so paper foundation).  Lovely cheerful blocks

And finally my friend Linda finished a quilt made from blocks we cut from her late Dad's shirts - it's brilliant, well done Linda!

2019 Wk 5 - Off to Ireland

Chertsey Museum class was on last Friday and we made triangular purses.  Mostly these were made from leather, pleather / faux leather and fleece so no sewing although some ladies did use fabric.  We used Kam poppers which are really sturdy, and we had fun!

The next day I was up at 3:30am!!!  And off to the airport for the first flight to Ireland.  By the time I would normally be waking up I had been driven to Heathrow, flown to Dublin, been picked up and delivered to Jackie's and we were in the sewing room deciding what to make first!!!

These were the winners - pink penguin's cover lunch bag aka a very useful bag

We then made the first of 4 pay-it-forward gifts I have committed to on facebook.  This is for a niece who had sent a link to an infinity scarf with a zipped pocket for phone or keys.  I took the sent link to be a subtle hint so we made one and it will go in the post tomorrow

 We then made a pair of hobo / project bags fussy cutting some bold Ikea flowers (thank you Sharon)

Jackie has made a few Sew Together pouches, and this time we thought we'd have a go at the mini one.  It was a bit fiddly as were had to use the original instructions with the 'mini' adjustments but we got there in the end

 We made (started!) some storage pods

 and some larger-than-we-expected bowls

And then we went to have cuddles with little Miss Gorgeous

And the slightly boisterous big brothers (I am sooo jealous - isn't Jackie greedy having 3 grandchildren while I have none!  I am lucky that she shares though!!!)

we did our usual gift exchange but most of the goodies I brought home have been put into use (love the mug!) or put away before being photographed, but this has stayed on my wrist - so far it's decorative but who knows when I will need to measure something and will be able to!!!