Disappearing nine patch quilt

With all the travelling done and a stay at home weekend , I have been able to get on with some sewing. My latest project is a quilt for the sofa in the conservatory - here it is just practicing at being a throw on the sofa.

I started with 9 fat quarters of a fabric called 9 from Moda which I had bought a fat quarter at a time over a few weeks at The fat Quarters. ( OK I know there are just 8 but i didn't like the 9th one and so I repeated the red and gold spot)
I cut them into 5" squares .
Then sewed them into a 9 patch block.Then I cut the block in half vertically And again horizontally. The top left and bottom right squares were turned around and the block sewn back together.
12 blocks sewn together and you have a quilt top. Well with a couple of borders it will be big enough for a throw for the sofa.
The plan is to free motion quilt it but with a proper design this time rather than just free motion stippling as usual. I bought the book Freemotion quilting made easy on our trip to Edinburgh. These are the first few exercises from the book. As Janet says Beware of anything that is labelled "made easy" - it is not necessarily true as my practice pieces show.
The illustrations in the book are perfect and you can see every stitch - just like hand quilting - I think I need a bit more practice !!
Jenny was much more successful with her project this week - a purse made with scraps from the ribbon box for a friends birthday.

Happy Quilting xx

International Womens day

I am now about a week behind with my posts, I know international women's day was last Monday, but here are my photos. First of all this magnificent amaryllis has flowered, it was a Christmas present from my aunt.

Last Sunday Jenny and I went to a Clothes swap at the Assembly rooms in Newcastle run by daisy green events in conjunction with the cooperative - to celebrate international women's day. The idea was that you took any unwanted clothes, accessories, books or CDs and swapped them. Here Jenny is browsing the rails.I didn't get a lot from the swap, just shorts, a top and a book but I did very well in the raffle - winning 6 bottles of fair trade cooperative wine. Jenny is seen here modelling one of the tops she got - without spending anything- she had something new to wear to school every day this week! There were fashion shows and stalls all on a make and mend theme - from recycled clothes to organic cosmetics ( the ingredients grown in a field at Morpeth)
The AS level textile project is finished. Jenny has designed and made this dress herself.
Here is a close up of the detail on the bodice - a reverse applique heart with machine embroidered edge and the handmade flowers, some with recycled buttons as centres. the fabric is a lovely dupion silk in the very fashionable nude colour. I like it - I just hope the examiner likes it too. The bottom border is made from chenilling 4 different fabrics with machine embroidery and a scattering of gold sequins.

Happy Quilting xx

Spring Quilt Festival Edinburgh 2010

I have had such a busy 10 days or so that I haven't had time to blog about it, but there is so much to show you. Margaret, Janet and I went to the Spring Quilt Festival in Edinburgh last weekend and here is Margaret scrutinising the first quilt which was on display as we walked in.
There was a fantastic display of quilts - some I will be able to name but there were too many to remember so apologies to the wonderful quilters who are not named here. This one was made from recycled shirts.
These beautiful blocks depicting plates on a welsh dresser
This was my favourite - A Northern View by Roy Dickinson.
And this was my favourite Patchwork quilt.There were lots of trade stands - we bought all sorts. Here is my booty from the show. All around were ladies saying to their friends "Don't let me buy anything else" as they walked away from a stall laden with goodies - then -- "oh look at that - we'll just have a quick look there" -- and so it went on.
Then of course there were the refueling stops.

We had a great time and are planning to go back again in September for the Scottish Quilt championships in the autumn.

On the Thursday I took the afternoon off work to go to the Pins and Needles show at Newcastle arena where my Wish upon a Star quilt was hung in the quilt show.This was some huge knitting project by Ingrid Wagner - a knitted fishing boat.

Saturday was day 3 of my creative weekend and on to St Abbs for Woolfest 2010 courtesy of Louise at Woolfish. This was my first go at spinning on a 21st century computer controlled spinning wheel made by this very patient gentleman from Almost alien.


I was restrained in my shopping this time and only bought a couple of balls of sock yarn to knit these fingerless gloves in this months Lets Knit magazine. (Oops - the sideways picture gremlin is back)

Hope you have been inspired by all the things I have seen on my travels last week. Don't forget to leave a comment. This weekend has been just as busy but you'll have to wait a few days for those pictures.

Happy Quilting xx