Online Quilt Festival!

This morning I came across the Blogger's Quilt Festival via Cheryl at Naptime Quilter. 'Oh goody!', I thought to myself, 'Another post for Blogtoberfest!'

I decided to enter myself into the novice quilter category (if this category doesn't already exist, it should, even if I'm the only entrant!!).

NOTE: if you think you've seen this quilt before, you have, here. I'm squeezing it for all it's worth!

This is my first ever attempt at machine patchwork/quilting. It's a Moda Chocolat charm pack, with a couple of pieces of yardage for the borders. I quilted it very simply myself, and hand stitched the binding. The finished size is about 84 x 105cm (33 x 41.5 inches).

I sewed all the squares together around Christmas 2007, finally adding the borders and completing it about 2 months ago!

If you'd like to see more quilts entered into the festival, you'll find them here. I'm yet to have a proper look, but I suspect there'll be some pretty impressive entrants!

A conclusion to Episode 1

It is finished.

Hand sewing the binding was time-consuming, but the rhythm was quite therapeutic and satisfying. I suspect I'm not Mrs Efficient when it comes to hand sewing, either in my speed or the stitch I used! But it's relatively neat and I kind of worked out how to use a thimble :-)

I also like the way it's come up after washing it - the quilting indents are a little more pronounced which is nice.

So, the verdict:

I like it a lot more now than I did when I pulled out the partially completed top a month ago. Yay!

And I'm now dreaming up the next one - a quilt for my daughter when she moves into a big bed (I have well over a year so it's possible in theory!), and something that she might still like as a teenager. OK, so this last bit might be a tad unrealistic, but I'm only dreaming at this stage!

Is it time for a thimble?

I've had a productive weekend!

I worked out how to attach the walking foot to my machine.

I QUILTED my quilt! Not a very complicated pattern, but mostly successful :-) I discovered that feeding a quilt sandwich through the sewing machine is a good workout.

I made binding using Heather Bailey's very excellent instructions (thanks Leonie!), and attached it.

I'm now in the process of hand stitching the binding to the reverse, so once I'm finished that, it's done! Freaky! Though the speed at which I'm hand sewing may mean that it's not finished for weeks - I have a very sore middle fingertip where I've been pushing the needle through! I've never got the hang of thimbles before, so it might not work, but we'll give it a try :-)

my creative space

I've been learning about basting a quilt with these nifty bent basting pins.

I have also learnt that basting a quilt with nifty bent basting pins while crouched over the floor and being headbutted by two feline 'helpers' leads to sore fingers.

Visit Kirsty for more creative spaces :-)

Confessions of a WIPaholic - episode 1

My (often very un-) helper ;-)

As I've previously mentioned, I have a number of Works In Progress stored in various places around the house. In an attempt to reduce the number, or at least limit the number of WIP's cluttering up the house, I've decided to keep myself accountable to you, my imaginary readers, and attempt to be able to classify some of these as FINISHED!!

So then, Project Number 1 - The Chocolat Charm Pack Quilt.

Up until last weekend, this project had been completed to the point of sewing a number of squares together into a rectangle. I'd also bought some extra fabric to sew some borders, and some backing fabric. And at that point it sat, in a bag, for about 18 months.

BUT, progress has been made!! Over the last week, the borders have been cut and sewn on! Which is a good thing, because when I pulled it out, I wasn't sure I liked it anymore, but now the borders are on, I'm feeling more positive towards it. Not LOVING it, mind you, but not DISliking it either. Phew. I think it's another hazard of leaving WIP's in the cupboard for too long, this whimsical falling out of love thing!

Today, I went and bought some batting, quilting cotton and basting pins. So I'm nearly ready for the next step! Except that I don't have a walking foot (for my machine - the feet attached to the end of my legs walk just fine). I seem to have bought an obscure model of sewing machine several years ago (a brother Star 15) and am having difficulty working out which walking foot will fit. Grrr.

So, the to do list:

• Cut backing fabric
• Cut batting
• Baste layers together
• GET A WALKING FOOT
• Quilt the quilt
• Make the binding
• Sew the binding on

And that's it! If I can do those things, this project will officially move from the WIP list to the FINISHED!! list :-) I think I'm about 70% there at the moment, and will hopefully will have added another 10% by next weekend (the deadline factor!).

Wish me luck....!