BLOG 26

The 2 quilts that I have made for my twin beds must be quilted now and I have come up with a cunning plan! I would like to have a go on one of those big long arm quilting machines, on a frame with huge rollers. This would enable me to quilt both of them in a day …perhaps! To that end, I have asked a local shop owner to let me have a go on hers and, as she knows me well and has faith in my abilities, she has agreed! I am so excited!

In return, I am making her a quilt top using her latest fabric range. She will have to quilt it naturally but once complete, she can use it for display to draw attention to the fabric and show people how they can use it. I have chosen to do a French Braid quilt from a book by Jane Hardy Miller, published by C&T. Here are the first 2 strips:

French Braid

Once all the preparatory cutting of the centre squares, strips and end triangles has been done, this is a super quilt to sew. The book has good instructions and a series of logical steps to follow. It’s a joy to use and so quick.

Auditioning fabrics

I need to finish off each strip with a triangle and for this I need to audition a suitable fabric. Green runs through the centre of the strips and is in every fabric so that seems to be the best choice to me.

This is what it looks like when the vertical joining strips and the surrounding borders have been added. I really like the colours and will find it hard to hand over the quilt.

Completed quilt top

I did hand it over after taking this pic; the under exposure doesn’t do the quilt justice at all!

I have also been diverted onto machine embroidery again, this time making boxes using sheers, threads and pelmet vylene.

Box before folding

The centre of this box was created using threads only, sewn as a sample onto a vanishing layer. It seemed like a good idea to use the sample and so the sides of the box were sewn to match the colours.

Detail of embroidery

The box below was sewn on the one day course with Suzette Smart at Castle Court Quilters. I know that if I am at home, I will always choose to work with fabric so I enjoy the discipline of just playing with threads and sheers at someone else’s workshop. These boxes will make good Xmas presents, filled with coasters or special chocolates.

Completed box lid

A close up