I loved every minute of making this little quilt.
It measures roughly 31" x 25".
I started by sewing the vases of flowers using needle turned applique with embroidered stems and adding a little embroidery to the vases. When almost completed I did some shading and colouring with Inktense pencils - that was a bit scary as I could so easily have ruined all that applique work! This is a before and after using the Inktense.
Here is a link to the drawings of the flowers in their vases if you'd like to use them anytime. They measure roughly 5" x 7". - Flowers in Vases
My applique was sewn on a cream fabric measuring 6" x 8" plus seam allowance. I sewed a strip of 8 flying geese 2" x 8" to the right hand side, 4 geese 8" x 1" to the top, a 2" x 9" strip of strings of scrappy fabrics to the left hand side and 5 square within square blocks measuring 2" x 2" to the bottom. This made an interesting block 10" x 11" ....... or thereabouts. (add seam allowance to all these measurements)
The string strips are so handy as they mean you can adjust the width of the block, if need be, before adding the squares at the bottom. I sewed all the flying geese by the "no waste flying geese" method in SuzyQuilts - Super Simple Flying Geese Tutorial
These are the other 4 blocks
You can see that I have used the Inktense pencils on the petals, vase and some of the leaves. I always imagine that the light is coming from the top left-hand corner. I was tempted to add a shadow of the vase on the cream fabric but was too frit!
I sewed two rectangular blocks as below to fit to the top and bottom of the middle flower/vase block. These measure 10" x 6½ "
I joined the 2 blocks on the left, and on the right, with another string strip so that I could match the length this made with the centre panel, by adjusting the width of this strip.
These are the 3 panels that make up the quilt
I quilted by machine along some of the seams and by hand around the applique and in the small yellow squares.
I sewed a narrow green border to the top and both sides of the quilt and then added binding in a blue and white fabric which I had used sparingly in the string strips.
And a final look:
Mixed in with the pleasure of a finish is the rather peculiar feeling of loss - this quilt doesn't need me anymore!! Best move on to the next ...... quickly!
Happy Days - Anita x
Afterthought ........ this photo edited pic gives an idea of what the blocks would look like made up into a larger quilt.
For various reasons I haven't written posts for our last few Flowerpatch Quilters meetings so this is a bit of a round up.
September
We started the new Flowerpatch year with a 4 corners evening. Sue showed some very intricate embroidery stitches and everyone had a go at sewing them, Iris explained how to make a snazzy zipper pouch for wonder clips (watch the video here), I encouraged members to have a try at using Inktense pencils on fabric and Dy showed how to sew multiples of half square triangles and flying geese.
October
This is our AGM meeting each year and also the evening when we hand over a cheque to our charity. We were delighted to welcome Paul Ford of the Cornwall Air Ambulance Heli Appeal to accept our cheque for £1700 , and to give us a very interesting and amusing talk about the work of the Air Ambulance. I believe that they have now almost reached their target for a new helicopter. After the business of the AGM committee members showed some of their UFOs most of which were many year's old.
November
I was really disappointed to miss this meeting as Abbieanne Searle gave a very entertaining talk about her sewing. By all accounts everyone had a great time - so much so that Abbieanne is making a return visit in late 2020 to do a mini workshop with us.
December
Our Christmas evening at Cowslip Workshops was, as usual, a very friendly and relaxing evening - Jo is the perfect hostess. We sewed stuffed hearts, appliqued with embroidered pictures. Thank you Jo, and also to Arnolda for some of the preparation work.
This is my finished hanging heart
For most of December we had a Christmas tree displayed in Launceston - firstly at St Mary's Church and then in the library. Dawn designed some very cute donkeys and sheep to hang on it.
January
This is the evening when the blocks come together for our new charity quilt. This year we are raising money for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and very appropriately our quilt is called "Wildflower Meadow". Here are some of the blocks:
Yellow flowers
Red flowers
and Blue flowers
We spent a lovely evening sewing on extra flowers.
Next month,on the 13th February, we are having a question and answer evening when I think we'll all learn a lot by pooling our sewing knowledge. For instance one of the questions will be - "What is your favourite "can't do without" sewing gadget?" I'm really looking forward to hearing everyone's answers ..... and there's cake, too! - should be a fun evening.
There's also another challenge in the offing. We're sewing "Finchies" - all will be revealed.
Happy Sewing
Anita x
