Half Square Triangles.

While doing the pinwheel sampler quilt along i have been playing with methods of making half square triangles.There are so many ways of making them but i think i have found my favourite way of doing them especailly if you need several.

I will do a little tutorial of the method later in the week and also show you a quilt that i came up with using a Moda layer cake and some lots of half  square triangles.

In the mean time just to catch up with the blocks that i have done for the quilt alongs.

Pinwheel Sampler Quilt Along.

Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along.

Talk to you soon.

Sharon

The Madness has started!

Sock Madness 4 has started the first pattern was released on Wednesday sometime after lunch.

So the socks were cast on then by Thrusday evening i had one tube, a toe and the start of a second sock.

By Friday evening had one complete sock and almost a tube on the second sock and by Saturday teatime had a pair of socks!!

They were interesting to knit as they were knitted sideways but it meant alot of grafting and picking up of stitches. They are a little snug on me so i think they will be given to my SIL who has smaller feet.

The fun has begun so we now await the second round until then i must catch up on the blocks for the quilt alongs and i have been playing with half square triangles and a Moda Layer cake but i will show you that later.

Talk to you soon.

Sharon

Quilt Alongs

I have caught up with the blocks for the quilt alongs i am involved in, today.

Firstly the Jelly roll sampler quilt along block, this is being run by Konda Luckau of moose on porch quilts.

I decided to use a jelly roll with 1930's prints and am using a slightly textured background fabric that is an old duvet cover - may not be the greatest idea - not that stable! - but we will see.

And second is the pinwheel sampler quilt along  being organised by Rachel of ps i quilt.

I have made extra set this time as i couldn't settle on which arrangement of fabrics that i wanted so it will either be this....

the same as Rachel's or this.....

all matching.

I not sure which i like best but i will wait to see how it all looks when all the blocks have been finished.

So all caught up now.

Talk to you soon.

Sharon.

Waiting......

I am waiting - its March so when will it start!

Sock Madness starts in March but as yet we don't know when....

I am all ready to go yarn is all sorted and needles are ready!

I have enough yarn for all the different socks but i have been tempted by a Drops yarn, called Fabel in a colour that can only be described are liquidised frog green! It is colour 151 Guacamole, my computer screen does not really do the colour justice, it's bright.

So waiting for the start .......when will it begin.......

Talk to you soon.

Sharon

Joined another quilt along!

I have joined another quilt along, this time its a Jelly roll sampler quilt along being organised over at

 Moose on the porch quilts by Konda Luckau.

It looks like it should be good fun as there is a different designer for each block.

I just have to choose a jelly roll, but a small confession, there will be no need to go shopping as i have dozens of them stashed away in my sewing room and most of them have a little bundle of yardage with them as well!!

We will not get into how much fabric i have tucked away in cupboards but i did once meet a lady at a workshop i went to, who admitted to being a collector of fabric and not really a quilter, i think i am just both.

A bit of stash diving i think!

Talk to you all soon.

Sharon

Fallen in Love.

Doing the blocks for the pinwheel sampler quilt along I thought I would just test out a new purchase. I bought a new 1/4 inch foot for my Featherweight Singer and I fell in love!

I have had this machine 2-3 years it was bought off ebay as a non runner and my DH worked his magic. I have used it on and off but never been totally happy with it, it wasn't the quality of the stitch, it sews beautifully. I could never really put my finger on what was wrong with it but on Sunday I discovered what it was!

It was the foot I didn't like the little striaght stitch foot that comes with the machine and the new foot is bigger and holds the fabric better.

I am now a very happy girl and the machine has been on the table all week doing little jobs including using the ruffler to make a pleated trim for a clients cushion cover!

Talk to you soon.

Sharon

Its Started!

The pinwheel sampler quilt along has started, Rachel of p.s, i quilt posted the first block tutorial on Saturday. So it was time to choose which fabric to use.

Which one?

Well having changed my mind everytime i looked at the fabric,

 i finally went for this group.

I decided that i didn't want to be totally scrappy - which is what would have happened with the Layer Cake and there was another reason i have fallen in love with this (scroll down the page to post headed Sooo..) and this, so am in the process of coming up with something along these lines that will work well with the fabric i have.

So how did the blocks come out?

I love them,

 i think am unlikely to use the greens in the original group of fabrics

 and may only use the reds and oranges with the cream/beige coloured prints

 but haven't completely decided yet.

And one final thing as a result of making these blocks i have fallen in love.

But i will tell you about that tomorrow.

Happy stitching

Sharon.

My Home or Yours

I thought I would show you what I am working on at the moment. I signed up for the My Home or Yours by the very talented Lynette Anderson at the Festival of Quilts 2008.

 I don't quite keep up with the one block a month plan it always sounds so easy but never seems to quite work out. But I am now almost at the end I have one more of the little stitched designs to do and then just a little stitching on the joining blocks. It can then be joined up!!!

I did the frames a little different as English paper piecing drives me nuts!!
So I cut my triangles with a quarter inch seam and added a seam allowance to the little corner piece then joined them on the machine.

I have then used a blanket stitch to secure the frames in place.

I am quite thrilled with how it is all coming together and am looking forward to quilting this, this is still in the planning stage, will keep you posted as thing progress.

Talk to you soon

Sharon

Changing and Moving

I am having a bit of a move round, i think this layout is a little better, i hope you like it.

This week sees the start of the Pinwheel Sampler Quilt Along being run by Rachel of p.s. i quilt. I am looking forward to doing this it is the first i have done while writing a blog, i am hoping this will ensure that i keep up with it a little better than i usually do.

After a great deal of debate i am going with the Christmas fabrics, the range is

 Merry & Bright by Sandy Gervais.

The plan is to use the Layer Cake for the pinwheels with the cream fabric pictured in the middle for the background of the blocks and the use the red check fabric for the sashing. The bauble print will be used as a final border or the backing depending how big the quilt is when it is finished.

In the mean time i have been working on a new bag pattern for the quilt group in help to run, it is a messenger style bag big enough to take a laptop or A4 folders. The bag is finished needs  a couple more washes to get nice a fluffy, just the pattern to write. It took 9 mens shirt backs - do like using recycled fabric gives project a lovely lived in look from the start. What do you think?

Talk to you all soon.

Sharon