Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter Weekend Sewing

It's been a while but I've finally had some time to get back to the sewing machine this weekend.


First up was a quilt - I've had the top completed for several weeks but just needed to psych myself up for the back breaking task of basting it. We have wooden floor boards and I've found the best method for me is to tape my quilt backs to the kitchen floor. Works well but it can be really hard on my back and knees!


I've been making a concerted effort to use what I have in my stash. This quilt has what I like to call "franken-batting" - several smaller pieces of batting stitched together to make a large piece. When it came time to bind, I searched through my thread stash and was pretty pleased to discover I had the exact shade of thread I needed to hand stitch my binding. Shopping from the stash can reveal surprises sometimes!


Today I decided to start something new so I pulled some scraps out for some patchwork. I chose and aqua and orange palette - so pretty! I don't have much orange in my stash but this combination might encourage me to look for some more orange shades next time I'm fabric shopping.


Those scraps turned into this patchwork panel. The project is still a work in progress but hopefully I'll have something finished to share next week. It was nice just to cut, arrange pieces and stitch without hurry.

Hope you had a lovely Easter weekend and got some stitching time too!

7 comments:

  1. Ros, so thankful for wooden floors! Knee killers for sure.
    I have a Croc garden kneeler that really makes it easier.

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  2. Glad you've found some sewing time, Ros. I find basting is the hardest part of the process. I baste on carpet, but it still kills the back and knees. Love the orange / aqua fabrics.

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  3. I think its the basting that turns me off doing quilts. Ugh.
    Loving your fabric choices... as always x

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  4. Love seeing what you've been making... I've just cut some fabric to piece a quilt for my girl but am dreading the basting on wooden floors too! Any tips for stitching together bits of batting??

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  5. Hey I wanted to ask you also about stitching the bits of batting together, do the places where you stitch them together stick out in the quilt?

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  6. Hi Sash and Alisa, when you stitch the batting pieces together, you butt them up against each other then use a zig zag stitch.

    Here is a tute: http://thecraftyquilter.com/2012/12/how-to-piece-batting-scraps-together-part-1/

    It's pretty quick and easy, although it's good to stitch fairly slowly as the pieces can warp a little bit.

    Ros xx

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  7. That is actually a really great idea, Although I just go to Mums and get her to do it, then I know it will be done properly...totally lazy I know! I finally unpacked my sewing machine today last used in (yikes) December. Now just to get motivated to sew the patterns I have cut out :)

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