2021 Week 18

 Some random crafting over the last three weeks:

I've worked on my painting by numbers Christmas present - I cant wait to be on a beach again!

I created this for Star Wars Day (although to be fair I'm not sure she used a lightsaber!)

I actually visited a shop last week - such a strange experience, I'd forgotton what it was like to shop by touching things rather than looking at screen images!

I fell in love with this selection at Hobbycraft

and I bypassed the usual "I shall stroke this while I decide what to do with it" stage and went straight to adding from stash . . . 

 cutting and tacking . . .

 and starting to sew!

The greeny turquoise (teal?) didn't make the cut.  I found enough is stash for the first green round and while I was looking I found a pack of Hobby craft grey which I rtaher liked with the turquoise, so I've cut them and started another flimsey!!!

I have also finished the crochet blanket: apart from a few joins where I'd balled the wool too short I didn't want to sew in any ends so I not only left them but added to them so every colour chnage has rustic (as in no particular length) tassles which I rather like.

What to crochet next???

A few Saturdays ago I had a whole day to myself - I was tidying up when I found a donated duvet cover that made it's way up here as I thought it would make a nice tunic.  I dug out the pattern that I have used many times and made this

 

Looking for the pattern I came across another version that had been cut but then abandoned so I finished that one too - good job they are quick to make!

I finished the Oliver safari bunting and his grandma has posted it off to Canada

2020 Wk 15 - playing around and a round up

It's lovely to receive REAL post - it does wonders to stave off the wobbles!  I got two miracle cures this morning - Lisa sent us a crochet rainbow and Plum sent a stitched Easter Card - Even husband was impressed!!!  Thank you both!

The two villages have set up a Safari Park Trail - people are encouraged to put out an animal and facts about it, so kids can look for them on their walks.  Mine:

And next door's

In other news there has been some hand quilting

And some finishing (only one side so far, I'd forgotten what a flaff this method was!)

 

I also have to confess: Following our Resin craft afternoon a few months ago, I *may* have popped some resin craft stuff into my Amazon basket!

I found a collection of postage stamps dating back to I don't know when (but some of the values have half pence on them!!!) so I made these

And then I did some more with some pretty rainbow buttons

I have also (clearly not much else to do at the moment!) made the Hexi flowers for the Facebook swap for April as well as March

 and completed some more FPP blocks 43 made, 90 needed!!!

I have been keeping a UFO spreadsheet (thanks for the idea Amo) to show me what needs doing next.  Unfortunately it's a bit two-steps-forward-one-step-back as I keep finding more projects to add to this list

As if this wasn't bad enough I've just realised the Spotty Circles quilt isn't even on it!!!!

2020 Wk 12 - Zip zip zippy day

we were not able to hold Crafty Church yesterday, but I did go and open the church for a time of prayer and reflection, and so I could use the doors/tables to plan a customer's quilt.

All planned now so I can start sewing

I may have done some shopping!    I do have a weakness for pre-wound bobbins and was delighted when I found a UK based site selling them.  Not only much cheaper on postage, but the USA site had pages and pages of machine manufacturers and which bobbin size . . . but my machines weren't on the list.  At www.embroideredjust4u.co.uk, she just listed 4 choices for Brother - nice and easy!

So I treated Lizzie to black bobbins and some pretty colours, and the sewing machine (which doesn't have a name) to a whole load of colours!

Two of the classes that have had to be postponed were for a zippy pouch - one was a machine class and one was hand sewing, but both needed samples, and my hand sewing ladies don't mind if I machine sew a sample for 'their' class.

My problem is that I wont remember the construction methods when I don't to teach these so I am saving my sanity by recording the methods along with the photos here!

The instructions are very "short hand", but if you do want more info just zap me a comment or email

Curt a piece of vinyl into a square or rectangle about 1/2 inch bigger than the size you want the pouch.  Cut the vinyl into 2 where the zip needs to go: could be 50/50 but I usually go for about 1/4 and 3/4 sections.

For all the methods you need to attach the zip to vinyl fabric using favorite method resulting in at least 1/2 inch fabric on both lengths of the zip.  I use this method (use instructions 1-7 here) -   Cut strips of fabric 2" wide fold in half, press, fold edges into the middle, press: you now have zipper binding 1/2" wide

Tuck the edge of one piece of vinyl into to the opening until it's flush with the back, pin or clip in place.  Place on top of the zip tape and sew through the zipper binding, the vinyl and the zip.  repeat on the other side of the zip so the vinyl is now once piece with a zip in it.

Cut internal fabric and external/backing fabric pieces the same size as the prepared vinyl.

Layer fabrics as shown (but so edges match), pin in place

Non- Bias Binding method
Cut length of non-bias binding equal to perimeter plus 8".  Bind as for a quilt.

 

Bias Binding method
As above, but round the edges of the pouch and bind with bias binding gently easing around the corners

Birthing method (full vinyl front)
Stitch all the way round but leaving a 6" gap for birthing

 

Birthing method (bordered vinyl)
I prepared the vinyl/window piece by adding a border to the vinyl, then slicing into the fabric border and adding a zip

 

The birthing method pouches have not been finished so we can look at them layered up in the class.  When birthing remember to turn by putting your hand in where you can feel the zipper pull and turn that section to the outside.

2019 Wk 52 - Crafty Church

This month's Crafty Church was mostly making Christmas decorations!

I was taught how to make these fun decorations

And Daisy, Ellie and Rosie (who taught me) and their mum made 6 large versions between them and then joined them together to make this mega star (about 20" across)

Tara made this *tiny* Christmas scene from a kit

And Lynne is working on this in secret as a Christmas gift for her daughter

 This kept me warm on the way to church - tank you Janine - I love it!!!!

I popped into my LQS last week.  I've known Helen for (we worked out) at least 23 years.  She has a log cabin in the front garden - it's a shop and workshop.  I have spent many happy hours there, but she and her husband have put the house on the market and plan to move to the south coast for retirement - the shop has now closed :-(

I help the retirement fund I bought a few bits and pieces: some shocking pink spraytime for the Kaffe Fassett quilt

 some Sashiko stencils for a class I'm teaching next year

A beautiful teale fabric and some brown spraytime to go with it, a few meters of dark blue, some sky and some random FQs

And I think I'm ready for Christmas - woohoo!

2019 Wk 49 - Janet Clare Course and scrappy pennies

Richmond and Kew quilters organised a course at Janet Clare's studio.    It was the "Quilted memories to cherish" course, but it included drawing with the sewing machine - free motion sewing to draw pictures

I was well out of my comfort zone but really enjoyed the day.  These are my pictures:

I "may" have bought some of her fabric too!  My plan is a quilt alternating the medium fabrics with the light fabrics - and some of the dark squares will be the pictures rather than just fabric

She was also selling some felt:  So I had to buy some of that too!

On Friday I am teaching scrappy pennies and needed another sample, and on Monday I will be taking part in a Secret Santa swap at Richmond and Kew, so need to make something - for a while I was daunted by the work that I needed to put into both those events, until eventually it occurred to me that I could make a Secret Santa gift with scrappy pennies!!!

Do you remember the wraps we made a few years ago from Ikea fleeces?  I am now making another one, decorated with scrappy pennies!!!

I hope whoever gets it likes it!