Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Finished and beginning


And then it was done.
I got most of the binding hand stitched sitting in the sunshine at my last Melbourne market a couple of weeks ago. A little bit to finish off at home, and there it is. All done.


I had a feeling that this quilt might be just a teeny little bit small for our bed, but actually it's perfect.
It's cold at night here on the coast at this time of year, and we'd been sleeping with a cotton blanket on top of our doona since we moved here.
I never realised how heavy that blanket actually was until I swapped it for the quilt, which is featherlight, and soft, and warm as toast.
We love it. I love it!
I'm going to do it all again!
In the meantime a new dress design has finally hatched.


This has been on the drawing board of my imagination for quite some time.
I do like a frock.
And I do love the little shirts that have been so popular with everyone too.
And I love to combine pattern and colour.
And so I guess this was a logical progression, and I love them too!
Including pockets allowed me to add a third fabric into the mix. Which seems to mean that I am managing to make a patchwork out of everything I'm doing lately.


There are just three of these new dresses in the shop, and I'll be making them as one or two of a kind, depending on how much fabric I have, and what combinations take my fancy, so pop over and take a look!

Friday, May 17, 2013

Nearly there

Yes. More quilting!
The hand quilting has been slow and steady, and a nice way to pass more than a few very cold and wet days here.


A little bit done here and there, whenever there was a spare half hour or so.
And all of a sudden, there was the end!


Today I've got the binding on, the corners of it mitred, and it's all pinned up ready for the final step.
(more hand sewing!)


I've loved every minute of the making of this quilt, and I can't wait to see it finished and on our bed just in time for Winter.
But, because I knew I'd miss the hand work, I've got another one all cut out and waiting for me!
In the meantime, I've got one last Melbourne market before Winter really sets in.


Perfect timing to grab a little piece of Liberty patchwork in a scarf perhaps?

Shirt & Skirt Market
Sunday May 19
10am - 4pm
Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Still quilting and a bit more

Things are coming along with the quilt here.
A trip to Melbourne and the wonderful Amitie Textiles for some advice, some batting, some binding fabric, and a lovely cotton to hand quilt with had me ready for the next step.


There was more crawling around on the floor getting all the bits together.
Smoothing it all out and getting it square, then putting in big safety pins to hold it all together was another test for my knees. My quilting friend wisely said that this would be the tedious bit, and she wasn't wrong!
But the reward is the hand stitching. 


We've had friends visit, and there was nothing nicer than to sit and stitch while chatting at our table.
I am loving watching the stitches form, starting to make the quilt look quilted.
Judy from Amitie suggested this duck egg blue coloured thread, and I love the way it's hue changes according the colour of each fabric. On the darker ones it's silvery, and then moves back to duck egg on the pale fabrics. Bliss!


I haven't completely stopped on other things though!
Scarf season has begun, and nice parcels of these have gone to Follow Store, House of Balaklava, and Poppi & Pippa.
You can find them in my online shop too.
I had the pleasure of a couple of shirt orders as well this week.
This one here is off to Spain for a holiday.
Lucky girl!