A top and some blocks

In my last post I had somehow managed to start a St Louis 16 Patch quilt, well it's now a finished top!

the 20 blocks I had already made became 25 and now I have a 70" square quilt top. I was very tempted to go bigger, but the kids have announced they need another quilt for the living room. Apparently this is for them and they have proclaimed it the perfect size as it is. I've already decided how I'm going to quilt it and now I just need to find some backing fabric.

I managed to get my Brit Bee blocks for June finished. I wasn't too happy with the first one. It looked much better in my head. The block itself is beautiful. It's called Whirling Star by Faith at Fresh Lemons, but my fabric choices really didn't do the block justice.

So I decided to draw my own block for the second one, and planned my fabrics a bit better

I spent some time over the weekend stitching and now it looks like this.

I decided to applique it to the background fabric and it turned out to be a bit of a nightmare to get those points tucked in! Seams meeting at a sharp point like that do not make for easy applique! I really need to remember that!

Happy Tuesday!

Fiona x

On the 16 patch bandwagon

So I did it again. I somehow accidentally started a new quilt.

I kind of deserved it, sort of. I managed to get (almost) caught up on Bee blocks and other things that had a deadline and once the decks were (almost) clear, I figured it was just fine to add another project to the teetering pile of half-done, almost-finished, barely started projects that clutter my house!

A while back I treated myself to a bundle of Bari J's beautiful LillyBelle line, and it has been sitting patiently waiting to play.

I love the 16 patch block and wrote a little tutorial for a 12" version for our do.Good Stitches group to make a 16 patch quilt a few months back (another unfinished quilt that is at the top of the pile!) 

But I decided to follow Steffani's great tutorial, as recommended by the lovely Katy so it makes better use of the FQs that I have. It seems like everybody who has made one of these has marveled at how fast they come together, and it's true!

I really needed some mindless sewing today, something fast and easy so I could ignore my lovely, beautiful, but extremely annoying squabbling children. Our school holidays started 4 weeks ago and they are getting a bit sick of the sight of each other! 

Anyway, I now have 20 blocks which will make a 56" x 70" quilt but I'm thinking I might want to go a bit bigger. I might pour myself a glass of wine, play at arranging my blocks, and raid my stash for a few more FQs.

Happy Wednesday!

Fiona x

A new little lady

I saw this lovely little Featherweight on eBay last week and was unable to resist!

I was a bit nervous because the description was a bit sparse and I'm no sewing machine expert.

I had to wait a couple of days after she arrived because I was too superstitious to plug her in (both out cars broke down the day she arrived and there was some very sad family news) but today I decided it was time give her a wee try.

She didn't explode when I finally switched her on, but she started sewing and wouldn't stop!

I got out my screwdriver and appealed for help on Instagram and the lovely Emily came to my aid with a handy manual.

I have removed the capacitors, oiled and cleaned her and she seems to be working perfectly! :)

I think I'm going to call her Martha - what do you think?

I'm very behind on Bee blocks and other projects so I'm going to put her to work tomorrow - I can't wait!!! 

Have a great week!

Fiona x