Free motion quilt along hosted by Angela Walters – 2

This is going to be so much fun as the free motion part has always been the best aspect of quilting to me, once I get there, I know it is almost done and yes, I like doing bindings too.

I finished my first two blocks and also attempted a new technique (to me it is) of basting a quilt on the frame to allow me to take it off and reload whenever I need to work on something else, so in the yellow block the holes from the needle where I removed the basting stitches can still be seen but these are easily removed with a little water in a spray bottle or even just a quick brush.

Now unfortunately I have to wait for the next video to be released…… patience is a virtue, they say????

On Ringo Lake, a Bonny Hunter mystery – 9

After the previous string piecing I was finally able to see what a completed block would look like.  Very impressed as I didn’t think I’d like the colours.

Then it was back to more string piecing, it just seemed to never end.

And all of this to only finish the sashings.

I have all my blocks up the design wall and now to start joining.

Free motion quilt along hosted by Angela Walters – 1

I regarded myself as a confident free motion quilter on my domestic machine but then got a Q’nique 14+ on a frame in November 2017.  It was back to square one for me, totally lost, believing I’d never get the hang of it and struggling for days on end just getting to load the 3 layers, let alone actually quilting anything.  I had to be hard and remind myself of how long it took to become confident on the domestic machine, so I decided to practice, practice and practice some more.

I will forever be grateful to a couple of trusty quilting friends who offered their completed quilt tops and let me use these as practice pieces, I made mistakes, learnt from it, saw myself getting better but this is still early days and I have a long way to go. 

So imagine my excitement when I saw Angela Walters hosting a free motion quilt along.  This is one lady that I regard as a totally accomplished quilter, having the ability to comfortably move from doing free motion on a domestic machine and just as easily doing the same on a long arm.  I would be a fool not to make use of this opportunity.

She even started a Facebook page, so we could all follow and see each other’s progress and there is nothing like working in a group, noticing your own flaws but also seeing someone with a bigger learning curve than yourself or someone achieving what you hope to some day.

The challenge officially started on 12 February 2018 but the information can still be obtained on her website or blog

The choice was yours whether you’d use the free pattern she made available or use your own quilt top but I opted to go with the pattern she suggested, just made it in my own colours.

This was my quilt top with additional borders when done.

Sonja’s Quilt top

Even though this being a stunning top, I found the story behind it hilarious.  Sonja’s mom asked her to donate a quilt top to be raffled for some ladies’ group to raise funds.  Apart from having the two already finished tops, rejected for having too harsh colours and Sonja hurriedly having to make another in softer pastels, she then was asked THIS question….. “could the back be used as the top?”  Now I fully understand that I don’t get anyone’s love of gardening and I respect people not appreciating our hobby but really……, wanting to use a mottled pink backing as the top instead of this stunning top?

After Sonja dropped her top off by me to be quilted the only sentence that stuck was “could the back be used as the top” and by golly, not even knowing any of these ladies, I planned my quilting around “what would it look like from the back?”  Ridiculous, I know, but it got me thinking out of the box and with having received my ruler base on the same day Sonja dropped the top, I had serious planning and experimenting to do. It turns out my expectations were set somewhat high in that I did not consider throat space when drawing up straight lines, so last minute change of plans.  I suppose it could be done if you don’t have a time limitation but Sonja needed this quilt finished over the weekend.

Once done I took it from the frame, just to discover I forgot to quilt certain areas on one side.  Back on the frame and by golly, once Sonja arrived and looked at the back (we are infatuated with the look from ‘the other side’ aren’t we?) she too saw areas that I didn’t quilt.

Too late then as she wanted to use the afternoon/evening to put the binding on and once this is done, we’ll give it yet a third time on the frame and hopefully resolve all issues.

Block 33 – Kerry

With us, admin staff at the office, being utterly bored seeing that the fitters all work on huge contracts and we therefore have very little paperwork to do, I got to do some handwork and I finished block 33.  That is now apart from doing my private posts on the blog from the office computer too.  The more you own, the more problems/trouble you have.

Total frustration

Whoever said “lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same spot” was either not very clever or didn’t stay in our house.  First hit was on 9 January, leaving us weeks without internet, although it felt like months. Luckily we were insured and we just got paid some 2 days ago and even more lucky, the TV and sound system has not yet been replaced but then, lightning struck again last night.  Same old, same old and we are back to square one. I thought with having my laptop formatted at the same time as the previous computer/router fixes, it wouldn’t affect me much but I’ve been trying to use my “new” laptop now for 2 days straight and all I get is “do not switch off your computer, updates installing”.

To add to the bad news I had a technician out earlier the day to check on a freezer just to be informed that it cannot be repaired with a neat R450,00 call out fee.

As the saying goes “the darkest cloud has a silver lining” I finally got my ruler base for my longarm and I am rather eager to start practising on this little addition.

17 piece Black and white half yard bundle

On 23 December 2017 I saw Quilted Twins advertise this bundle and decided to take a leap of faith and order from them.  Leap of faith, not because I didn’t trust them but because of our pathetic postal service and by golly 8 weeks later I got my fabric.

This however is not the best news yet.  Including custom fees I’ve paid R69,00 per meter LESS than the cheapest fabric I can find in our city.  I might just become an importer for personal use again.  Aren’t these just adorable?  Now….. what to make, what to make???

Marie’s Quilt top

We had the little ones for a sleep-over…. Well at least they slept.  The little man seems to get nightmares and cried bitterly sad, from being fast asleep, twice during the night, leaving me unable to sleep again.  Hubby too had an eventful night in that the alarm company of the business phoned him a couple of times.  It lead to us two old people to hit a bed rather early yesterday evening.  They did have fun though and swam until they got tired.

Our local Pfaff dealer also gave me her beginners quilt top to play with on the frame and I had so much fun, just a pity it was done in 2 afternoons and I guess if I want more, I better start cutting and piecing and that part takes forever and a day.

I still have a lot to learn but I see progress with every quilt I do.  This is the front of her top.

This is the back.

On Ringo Lake, a Bonny Hunter mystery – 8

We were treated to a lovely dinner by friend Karin and her dearest last night and I am really getting old now, one evening out and I’m bushed the next day

I finally got to the point to join all my pieces to form blocks.  It was good to see something realizing from all the cutting and piecing. Plenty of my blocks compete to see which could be the most crooked or have triangle tips cut off but so be it.  I am taming this beast, skew or not.

Then it was time for some more string piecing to get the sashings done.

On Ringo Lake, a Bonny Hunter mystery – 7

I am taking care of the feathered grand children while the youngsters took their dogs to experience the beach and the sea for the first time.  Here they can be seen starting their journey by car.

And then the pups met the water, initially a little apprehensive but then it was all systems go and they are apparently dead tired at night.

This clue was another fun one with no cutting and string piecing all the way.

Making slow progress but moving forward.