I’m back from our week in Kefalonia and what a wonderful
relaxing time we had there. Last week was the very start of the season and a plane
full of Thompson’s passengers was distributed around the island to the hotels
that were open for guests. There were only 30 in our large hotel so the service
was magnificent and there was lots of room around the pool and on the deserted
beaches nearby. By the time we left, they were expecting to have 350 guests in
residence. Half of the people on our outward flight were spending 2 weeks there
so we returned in a half-empty plane so there was lots of room to stretch out.
Brilliant! So, I strongly recommend package holidays during the first or last
weeks of the season. But look what was waiting in the garden when we returned.
Don’t you just love spring!
However, in my studio, the spring warmth had the effect of
fading the pattern for the bird panel that I started in my last blog. It was
drawn with a water-erasable pen and had been left out on a table surface. With
no pattern, I can’t see where to position the applique fabrics so I have undone
it ready to start again ….. soon!
So I have decided to focus on my calendar quilt for a while.
I need to work out my method for adding a pattern made from sheers to each
block. The pattern needs to be designed first and this is the stage that often
holds me up. I find other things to sew as a way of avoiding getting my pencil
and paper out. That said, once I get started I enjoy the process. So, it’s blinkers
on and a week of concentrated effort ahead!! This in the block for September.
This is the corner pattern I have designed for September.
And to remind myself what I am trying to achieve, I need to refer
to my first attempt at working with sheers, using a Margaret Beale soldering
iron and being inspired by the work of Kathleen Laurel Sage. What I like about this
panel is the spontaneity of the colours and the way that the colours bleed into
one another. But how do I go about it directly onto the fabric of a quilt block?
The story so far:
I overlaid the pattern with light-weight Vilene and traced it with a permanent
marker.
I positioned and pinned the pattern onto the WS of the
corner where I wanted the detail to be seen. You can see the stitching lines
where I previously added detail to the hydrangea in the centre of the block. I
used ‘Stitch and Tear’ on that but found it hard to remove afterwards and will
use Vilene (which will remain in place) for this purpose from now on.
The sheers are ready, what’s not to like eh?! Mouth-watering!
I have selected my thread and this will go on the bobbin as
I want it to appear on the RS of the panel and I will be sewing from the WS.
More next week.
PS Terri Vorsteher
contacted me at the end of Blog 94, making enquiries about my Signature quilt
from 2012. If you are reading this Terri, I am happy to answer any of your questions
about the quilt but I just don’t do Facebook. Looking forward to hearing from
you. Dilys
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