English Piecing

Some time back I blogged about this quilt that my daughter and I made. I had inherited the hexies years ago and my daughter pieced them together, I then made them into a quilt for her. I have been sending her lots more of the hexies to South Africa where she lives and she is making a pile of them. But she doesnt know how to make them into a quilt. So I have put together a little tutorial below for her. I have used some vintage triangles that I was also given. This method is called English piecing. 

This is her pile

Cut the correct size of backing fabric and wadding. You will only need the extra layer of backing if you are stitching hexies onto that before the wadding. If you are joining all the hexies together to make the quilt top you wont need that layer of fabric

 Stitch together hexies

 pin the joined hexies to backing using slip stitch around edge, leaving card templates in place

 When this is complete, pull backing fabric away from hexies and cut fabric away to reveal the card templates

 Cut away the tacking from the card, careful to avoid snipping your slip stitching

 Sandwich together the layers of fabric, wadding, fabric and pin through layers

 hand quilt through layers, along all edges of shapes and then around the outside of the total shape

Underneath view of quilting

If you are making the whole of the quilt top from hexies or other shapes there is no need to back that with fabric and cut the back away. You will just take the card templates out before sandwiching the layers.

great finds

I am always disappointed that there is no decent sewing shop near to where we live. There is one that's OK but doesn't have the range of fabrics and haberdashery that I would like. Today I went to a shop about 30 mins drive away to try and find some bright green bias binding....nothing. I asked if they sold a gadget for making bias binding...no. 

BUT as I was wondering around this little town I passed a vintage shop which I have passed before but thought it only sold clothing  This time I ventured upstairs and found a whole section of vintage fabrics, haberdashery and patterns!

I bought a single Marks & Spencer curtain for £5 which will make lovely cushion covers. Two metres of cotton sear sucker fabric for £3 per metre and a pattern for girls dresses which I will use the body pieces for the main part of two princess dresses that have been requested for Christmas presents ;)

old woollen blanket recreated

I have had this lovely woollen blanket for some time, having picked it up in a second hand shop. I have lots of blankets and didnt really need another but knew I would find something to use it for. I bought a couple of cushion inners and made a cover for each of them. I still have some of the blanket left and I am sure I will find something to make from it.

I love the colours, especially for this time of the year as the leaves are turning colour ready for the Autumn.  

Ideas

I have had these tags made by moo.com Its a great site and you just use your own photo's for making the cards. I punched a hole in the corner and then threaded some string made from refined,pressed paper which I have had on my shelf for a few years. 

Then today I came across a website called everythingetsy.com which has some great ideas...including these tags from moo.com which look very like mine but I think, a little prettier.

So often I come up with an idea and then see another one just the same when neither could have known about the other. 

Then I find myself asking the question 

"Did I see that idea somewhere else?" 

Fun

So the rainbow blankets are getting full use. 

So sweet how they are holding hands because its a bit dark in this Medieval Roundhouse

 

OK so I may not be very tall but I can do it without any help

Tea Towels

I have decided to make some house wares for the etsy shop. I love sewing with this cotton ticking fabric. I have made these tea towels from cream with black stripes....I would of used the dark blue but the shop has sold out. I had some labels made but they aren't really as big as I would like so I will be on the look out for some more. I would prefer to buy from the UK so if anyone knows of a good supplier please let me have their website. Thanks!

Baby Quilt

I have just finished the baby quilt using Moda bella Solids. Really nice to use and the colours are stronger than they look in these photo's. I backed with plain white cotton fabric and the border is in a lovely fine calico. I used pale grey quilting thread to hand quilt the individual squares and border.

Jesse Benjamin

Jeremiah 1:5

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you

Psalm 139:13

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb'

So this little guy is 6 today, I cant believe that he has been in our lives for  five and a half years. His life didn't start out too well, being born in the ladies cloak room in the city court house...BUT God had huge plans for Jesse. He was found and placed in a foster home where he was introduced to our daughter and son in law who went on to adopt Jesse as their son and brother to Joseph. Here he is this morning ready for school and carrying the new back pack that Grandma and Grandpa bought him.

We thank God daily for Jesse, we know God had his life planned out before he was even born and we are privileged that God chose our family for Jesse to be a part of.  

And if you have time hop on over to http://littlefingersandfrosting.blogspot.co.uk/ and get his mummy's post 

 

 This is one of the first photo's we saw of Jesse, just hours after they had brought him home. he was a very sad little chap, suffering from reflux and a skin condition

 But in no time, after much care from his new parents, Jesse changed to a happy little boy, reflux and skin cleared up

 With big brother Joseph

 Helping mummy bake

 First birthday

Just recently...enjoying the South African wild life

Remembering

Remembering

My daughter and her friend at Ground Zero.....9/12

A Day in London

We have spent a lovely day in London, strolling around. I enjoy just snapping shots here and there.

 Maltby Street Market  is in Bermondsey and within walking distance of London Bridge station...lots of interesting food stalls and some nearby markets stalls selling second hand stuff

 I'm usually lagging behind the boys with my camera and I just follow them from one eating place to another...they know all the best places to go

 The Shard

 Lovely cake stall at Borough Market

 London Bridge