BLOG 488

Blog 488

In May last year we were holidaying in China, with the city of Wuhan on our itinerary; what a difference a year makes doesn’t it! With the Coronavirus, we are living in unusual and unsettling times and it makes me wonder whether history will look back on this period as life before Coronavirus (BC) and life after (AC); I think it will prove to be a defining moment in the history of the world! Today is day 6 for us of the recommended 12 weeks of self -isolating and, here in N Wales, we are fortunate to be living up a farm track on the periphery of our nearest village. We are isolated anyway. So, it’s a case of keeping our heads down and finding pleasure and interest in the small things in life. I have decided on two courses of daily action in this regard. Firstly I am going to make a wall hanging of small houses, making one daily to represent each day we are encouraged to stay at home. (More about that next week). And secondly I am going to find something simple that makes me smile daily and take a picture of it because, when all is said and done, it’s the little things in life that are most important. Here’s the first batch.

 

              Smile 1 (Katie’s impression of Covid-19)

 

            Smile 2 (This references our obsession with toilets rolls!)

 

            Smile 3 (Pheasant tail feather found on a walk. It is was shining an iridescent purple in the sun)

 

             Smile 4 (Completed jigsaw of Burano in Italy which we have visited in the past)

 

             Smile 5 (Snakehead fritillary given to me a few years ago by a dear friend who has had a stroke)

 

            Smile 6 (A pond full of frog spawn to tell me that spring is on its way!)

 

 

PROJECT: Fabric Manipulation

This project is especially for my sewing friends at the Nercwys craft group. I promised them that I would do a mini workshop on fabric manipulation. As we can no longer meet as a group for the foreseeable future, I suggested that I would do it via my blog. So here is the first instalment for a cushion inspired by Jenny Rayment’s book.

           Inspiration

 

              Book sample

 

 

REQUIREMENTS for a 16” cushion

You will need 1 metre of calico. Cut out the following pieces for the front of the cushion; the rest will be used for the back.

4 squares cut at 12½”

1 foundation square cut at 13”

4 squares cut at 3½”

4 border strips cut at 2½” x 14½”

1 square of wadding cut at 18”

 

METHOD

1 Fold a 12½” square accurately from corner to corner in both directions and press the diagonals.

                Diagonals

 

2 Fold and press it in half across the middle to form a rectangle.

 

                

           Press in half

 

 

3 Lift the bottom corner of the top fabric only and fold the corner in on itself. Press and repeat for the other side.

 

 

           Tuck in the corners

 

             Press and repeat

 

 4. Carefully arrange the four triangles onto a 13” calico background. Align the raw edges and pin the layers firmly. (NB I have used a contrasting fabric so that the pale shapes show up for photography).

 

 

              Place on foundation fabric

 

          4 squares on foundation

 

 

5 Secure the centre points with a cross stitch

 

 

           Cross at the centre

 

 

6 Pick up one layer of a corner and fold it towards the centre point of the straight edge (it helps to pin the underneath corner to the foundation.) Fold the other corner over in the same way to meet centrally. Secure and repeat for all triangles before pressing well. To be continued next week ….

 

 

 Fold one corner to the centre

 

                Fold the other corner to the centre

 

              Secure

 

               Repeat for all triangles