Slow but steady progress

Although the faster machine project is not going quite as “fast” as I hoped for I am making progress.  All the while still working on my other hand projects and believe it or not, the newest craze I’ve given in to….. another handwork project.  O dear this will never end.

My cut squares have been sewn into strips and with the strips I made blocks in two colourways – orange and black.  Now the sewing of the rows must be done.

Starting a new project

While working on two handwork projects and another appliqué quilt which all takes forever to move forward, I realized I needed a machine project.  Something I could cut, stitch and pack on the design wall to see rapid movement every time I work a little.

So digging through my books I came across a pattern that I always wanted to try and spend a couple of days simply cutting fabric.  While doing this, it suddenly dawned on me that if I continued to work on the hand or appliqué projects instead of cutting new fabric, they might just have been done a little faster!  

However what’s done is done, and if I can now turn these into 144 blocks, I should end up with another huge bright quilt.

Owl quilt and bag

A friend of mine heard she’s becoming a grandmother for the first time and with what seems to be a trend in South Africa lately, the theme for the baby’s room is Owls.  

She then asked me to make a bag for baby, sending me pictures of what she had in mind.  Not really being into making bags, I didn't have too many patterns for bags and offered to rather make a quilt for the cot.

As the project went on, the ideas started growing, memory (about an old bag pattern I had somewhere) started kicking in and one thing lead to another and by the date of the Stork party I could present my complete gift as a package.

Completed:  25 March 2016

Motorcycle quilt for my youngsters

My baby moved in with her fiancé and not even properly used to that, they adopted two Pitbull terriers.  I would not dare mention the word we use to refer to these two but heck destructive and wild like you cannot imagine… but then that’s our opinion.  In the kids’ eyes they are the cutest, most adorable puppies ever.  As they say, to each his own.

Anyway, dearest HUGE puppies get to stay indoors and sleeps on the bed and future son in law was not too impressed by the dirt showing off on the bedding.  So with both being motorcycle enthusiasts I decided to make them a dark (dog dirt proof) quilt for their new King Sized extra length bed (to have enough space for the dogs obviously).

For the centre panel I tried my hand at thread sketching and loved every minute of it.  Learnt a couple of valuable lessons along the way but decided even though I have puckering I am keeping it as is.

Then I simply appliquéd several motorcycle shapes in different coloured blocks and had a complete motorcycle quilt.  Now don’t stare too long at the two motorcycles facing the wrong way.   If a quilt is done, I am not unpicking a single thing.

Crochet doilies turned into placemats

Sadly I’ve neglected my blog and sewing for a while but life happens and sometimes ones priorities just need to change, not to mention hoping all the parasites and bugs that wanted to attack you are now over and done with.

I cleared cupboards during our festive season break and found these crochet doilies my mom had made for me in the early 80’s.  I don’t think I’ve used these in the last 15 of more years but just couldn’t get it over my heart to throw or give them away.  So I decided to make placemats, which we still use.

This is my first set done and my first completed  project for 2016.