Fourth Quarter FAL List

I've missed the last few rounds of the FAL. I got totally overwhelmed with my massive to-do list and couldn't face making a list of stuff that I knew I probably wouldn't work on. But I've realised those projects aren't going to finish themselves are they? So here goes

1. My Brit Bee round 2 quilt. I have the most beautiful pile of blocks and the lovely Sarah has guilted me into putting this top of my list ;)

2. my St Louis 16 Patch quilt. I love this quilt and have already added an extra row as I wasn't happy with the square shape. I've got backing fabric and just need to get it basted and quilted.

3. My Scrap Vomit Quilt. I think I might have lost the plot a bit with this one. It was actually quilted, but I wasn't happy with the backing fabric I used (a flannel sheet that I dyed a hideous colour) or the quilting so I ripped out all the quilting and binned the offending backing, so it has regressed back to being a quilt top.

4. Moving swiftly on...
My Fat Quarter Shop BOM 2012 blocks need to become a quilt top. I'm trying to decide on a layout for these blocks, and I'm considering making a second version of each block so the quilt is bigger, I've got plenty of fabric and I really enjoyed making the blocks. I really wish I'd made 2 of each one as I went along, but that's a lesson learned!

5. I started a scrappy Tumblers quilt on a whim months ago, and fell out of love with it halfway through making the quilt top. I'd really like to get this one finished and onto my bed!

6. My Brit Bee round 1 quilt. The lovely Emily basted this for me and I've started hand quilting this. I would really really like to get this finished.

7. My FFA2 Dresdens quilt. I think this might be my oldest WIP. I started this when Lynne did her dresdens QAL and loved making it, but once I basted it I fell out of love. I'm hand quilting this one too and I'm hoping I'm going to love it again once I finish the quilting.

8. My Recess quilt. This was another one I started on a whim and loved making it. I'm hand quilting this one too and got bored. I need to get this finished up because I really love the fabric!

9. My freshcut quilt. I was hoarding this fabric for so long and finally decided to use it in a quilt.  Once I finished the quilt top I didn't like it at all and I've ripped out some bits and it's been sitting sadly ever since.

10. My Row Along Quilt. I started this QAL that Lori Holt hosted, but I think I got bored and it got abandoned. I love the fabric and either want to use what I've made so far to make something - a baby quilt maybe? Or make the rest of the rows and get it finished!


Now that I look at that list, I think there's no way I'll manage it all, but if I even get a couple of things done then that's better than none :) There's also a bit of a theme going on there: start something on a whim and either get bored of it, or not like it anymore once it's a quilt top :(
Maybe I'll love them again if I ever do get them finished.

Thanks to the lovely Leanne for hosting the FAL!

Fiona x

Prettified Pincushions - A Zakka Along 2.0 Project

Well it seems like I needed a little blogging break doesn't it? Sometimes something has to give and this time it was my blog (again!)

Anyway I've been wanting to jump in on the Zakka Along 2.0 since before it started. I bought Ayumi's beautiful book Patchwork Please as soon as it came out and have flicked through it so many times, each week when a new project was posted in the sew along I vowed I would make the time to make it, and finally in the final week I have managed! Yay!

I grabbed some of my teeny weeny Heather Ross scraps that I just couldn't chuck away and made 2 little Prettified Pincushions. I kind of wish I'd made a third because these two are destined to be gifts, but I have plenty more little scraps and it was such a quick easy project  I'll definitely be making more.

I was really excited to find the square buttons in my Great Great Aunt's button box. They're beautiful mother of pearl and are the perfect size for the centre of the pincushion.

I've got loads more to write about, but I'll save that for another day. For now, it's just nice to be dropping in here :)

Happy Thursday!
Fiona x

Stitch Gathering this weekend

I'm getting excited and organised for the Stitch Gathering in Edinburgh this Sunday!

I've got my ticket, my secret partner's name tag, my supplies and all my class prep (almost) done.

Hope you have a great weekend, and if you're going to the Stitch Gathering I'll see you there! :)

Fiona x

A finished quilt and a ticket

 I can finally show off a quilt that I made a wee while back.

It's in the current edition of Creative Quilting, which is a special edition and was being launched at the Festival of Quilts last week. you can buy it in WH Smiths or order it online here

The quilt is made using a jelly roll and I will be teaching how to make this quilt at the Stitch Gathering in Edinburgh later this month.

The magazine is packed with really beautiful projects including a stunning quilt by the lovely Jo, who is the Mastermind behind the Stitch Gathering, as well as some other really gorgeous projects. The photography is really lovely!

Speaking of the Stitch Gathering, I have made my ticket :)

Jo had the brilliant idea to produce a fabric ticket that can be personalised by each attendee, and turned into a quilt! How clever is that?!?

Our schools went back today so I am finally managing to get stuff done, and am hoping that more time means more blogging :)

Here is how my little lovelies looked this morning

Happy Wednesday!
Fiona x

Fat Quarterly Summer Issue is out tomorrow

The Fat Quarterly Summer issue is out tomorrow and it's packed full of fantastic summer projects for you to make! 

And you can find out how to make my essential camping kit too :) Visit Fat Quarterly to buy a copy, or if you are a subscriber keep an eager eye on your inbox!

Fiona x

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