Toes in the Sand Finished

 Just a quick post to let you know that I finished binding this quilt last week.

This is my very first quilt hand quilted on my Grace quilting frame. I am so pleased I quilted this one first before quilting my Legacy from Violet quilt...which I might add is still not finished. Just two borders to add... so close but yet so far.

There was a lot to learn making this quilt from the very start using a Hex n More ruler that I would highly recommend. Pressing seams open to get a better finish on the points of triangles, not to mention learning how to use the frame.

Lots of experimenting marking the quilt, which needles to use, adjusting the height and angle of the frame, tension on the quilt in the frame and so on.

 Not to mention ordering the correct amount of backing fabric so you don't spend an extra night piecing one so you can start quilting ;) 

I am pleased with how it turned out. It is far from perfect, but I enjoyed the process. About 10 needles were sacrificed along the way when they snapped in two as I tried to quilt the corners of blocks where several layers of fabric met.

But now I do have a finish for February and can add that to my OPAM tally.

Binding Toes in the Sand

My quilt frame is empty, I finished quilting Toes in the Sand on Monday night.

The binding is on.

I had to piece the backing. Not sure what happened. I needed five yards of fabric, I had only three (?). 

Luckily I had HEAPS of fabric left over. Probably enough to make a second quilt. 

So tonight I am stitching the binding down. Quilting this has been a great way to wind down of an evening. I have been madly trying to make lots of progress with the course I enrolled in last November. 

If I power stitch, I might have it finished by tomorrow night and have an OPAM finish for February. If not, it's coming on retreat with me Friday.

Friday Night With Friends

 Last night I joined the virtual sew in known as 'Friday Night With Friends'. I worked on my 'Toes In The Sand Quilt' that I have been hand quilting. 

  I have quilted about 5 or 6 flannel quilts prior to this and found the needle on the left fantastic for gliding through multiple layers of flannel with Perle 8 thread like a hot knife through butter. So I had started quilting this cotton quilt with some Gutterman hand quilting thread a largish needle, but wasn't happy with the size of  my stitches.

I asked a few posts ago what size and type of needle others use. Thanks so much for your responses.

After trying a number of needles suggested, I have settled on the needle on the right. A size 10 Piecemakers', so small by comparison. Took so long to get used to such a small needle, I felt like I had five thumbs. But I persevered and have found my quilting has slowly improved with these.

I am pretty excited to say that I am now up to row six of seven rows of triangle blocks. I started this early January and have certainly not worked on it everyday. I am surprised how quickly I have been able to quilt this by hand. It will be about 80" x 65" when finished.

 Don't forget to look here to see what everyone else was doing last night.

Have a great weekend.

Toes in The Sand Finished!!

Today I am linking up with Finish It Up Friday and Friday Night Sew In.

 

I have completed my BOM called Toes In The Sand.

 

 

First some close ups.

 



 

And now the completed quilt top.

 

I really enjoyed using the Hex n More ruler. It made cutting and piecing triangle, hexagons and jewels so easy.

 

I think I might hand quilt this,  but I have a question for you...

 

I am dreaming of owning one of these.

 

It's a Z44 hand quilting frame made by the Grace Frame Company.

 

Do you own one?

Have you used one?

Would you recommend them?

 

I just love hand quilting and find it's too hot in Summer here in Australia. Definitely a Winter time activity.

I want to hand quilt my Violet quilt once completed and it will be about 93" square once piecing is complete. I just can't imagine trying to quilt that in a hand held frame.
 

Would love some feedback on this to help me with my decision.

Thanks

FNSI and Toes In the Sand catch up

Yesterday was very quiet. Mr Stitch unfortunately working this Easter weekend. Son No. 1 home tonight for Easter break. Son No. 2 spending time with his girlfriend and her family before she heads back to uni and Son No. 3 recovering from birthday sleep over with mates.

 

Nothing to do here but sew.
 

I decided to catch up on my Toes in the Sand BOM. I was  three months behind. But I am all caught up now.

 

Block 10

Block 11

Block 12

 

All blocks are now completed and I have fabric to finish this quilt. Thanks goodness for holidays. It might be a finished flimsy before too long.

 

During the evening I joined in with Friday Night Sew In. Pop over to Wendy's blog if you would like to sign up or take a look at what other people were up to. I kept plugging along with the quilting on my Star Flannel quilt.

 

 I am looking forward to all of my family being home tomorrow and celebrating Easter.

Happy Easter to you and your family.



New Skirt Fabric and Block 9 Finished

Last night I completed block 9 in my Toes In The Sand quilt. All caught up now and ready for block 10 to arrive.

I found these fabrics from Finder Keepers, the closest patchwork shop to home. I'm ready to start some variations on my skirt pattern.

Thought I would start with these ones tonight. Still perfecting zipper installation. Got some great tips from a dressmaker this afternoon. Hopefully practise will make perfect.

I'm making the most of the last few days of the holidays.

Will work on these ones next.

I'm joining in with Friday Night Sew In? Are you. Click here to sign up.

More Toes In The Sand

I am a little behind in my Toes In the Sand BOM. Ok....I've had two blocks sitting on my sewing table waiting to be stitched and another on its way to my letterbox. Time to catch up. 

Tonight I completed block 8.

Two Rivers Retreat post....finally.

 

If you would like a place for a small gathering of 'quilty' friends for a weekend, can I recommend to you Two Rivers winery in the Upper Hunter? Several weekends ago we made progress on lots of projects while enjoyed  the view and the serenity, not to mention great company. Below you can see almost all of us watching the sunset over the valley, we carried our wine and nibblies and our sewing up to the lookout. It was lovely, we sat there until it was too dark to see our stitches anymore.

 Cardygirl was there for a while working on this beautiful creation.

So was Fairyfloss working on some really cute bags. 

,

I just love this red and white number Kylie worked on.

Julie (can you believe STILL NO BLOG!! ) was there making this lovely quilt from her dad's ties. Sadly he passed away last year and he was a man of many, many ties. A lovely project to remember him by.

 

A close up for you.

Bags were a popular project. Caron and Susan finished some lovely bags made form French General fabric.

What did I work on?

Well I raw edge appliqued 'Oh Christmas Tree!' you saw in my last post. I also caught up on Toes In the Sand BOM.

Here is block 5....

 

and block 6.

 

 

Today I finished block 7. So now I am all caught up....again!

Lots of cutting in this one. Took ages to complete. There are 86 triangles and hexagons of varying sizes to make those two triangles.

 

Hot, dry and windy here today. Fingers crossed for some rain soon. My grass is now brown AND crunchy. I will leave you with a bit more of the scenery around Two Rivers.

 

 

 

Two weekends ago....

So, two weekends ago I was invited to a quilting retreat with some lovely and talented ladies. It was so nice to spend the weekend away from the usual chores that tend to interfere with valuable sewing time. Rather than starting a new big quilting project, I decided to work on some of those projects I have been meaning to start or finish for ages. One project had been eight years in the making!!!

 


 

The first job was start on this Christmas table runner. I even quilted it myself. I have been trying to do the odd small project to practice my quilting on. I bought this fabric earlier in the year from here and you can search for the free pattern called 'Hugs and Kisses Quilted Table Runner' from here.

 

 Then I finished these cushions. I started them...oh...about eight years ago. You won't believe that all they needed was a rectangle of felt added to the back to make it into an actual cushion!!

 The problem was the backing was never stored with the front. I would find one when looking for something but could never find the other part so the two could be joined. Obviously, they were eventually found simultaneously.

 I bought this lovely wool felt and pattern from here.
 

 

Hmmm..I wonder how long it will take me to make inserts so they can go from flat Santa to fat Santa?

 

Then I completed Block 4 in my Toes In The Sand BOM.

 

Finally, I cut out about 70 half diamonds for the border of my Violet EPP quilt.
My OPAM tally for August is now four.

Not a bad effort for one weekend.



 

What A Week!!

 The long awaited 18th birthday party was held last Saturday. It was lovely that so many family members and friends travelled for the event and several stayed with us.We sadly waved goodbye to the last of our visitors today. 

Two of the visitors (and the last to leave today) were my parents. Usually Mum and I take some time to sit and sew together...but unfortunately not this visit.

So...I haven't sewn a stitch since last Tuesday!! I have to admit that I can become a little difficult to get along with if a whole week passes with no chance to sew. It is my release...my way of relaxing and unwinding.

After the usual chores this morning, I made sure I had some time at my machine to catch up on a few projects this afternoon.

First I made this little zipper case. It was a kit from a new patchwork and gift ware store called Finders Keepers (no website to link to yet).

Then I finally got around to sewing block 3 in my Toes In The Sand Quilt...a good thing as block 4 will be arriving in my letter box soon.

I bought this fabric from the new store and made this with it...

I completed the embroidery for the matching needle case and pincushion back in January 2012!!!  Hope to complete the needle case before the holidays end and I plan on making the bag as well...one day...soon.

Ahhhh.....I feel so much better now. 

And what about finishing my hexie flannel quilt I hear you ask? Well...it is basted and I am going to relax on the lounge once I finish this post and continue with the hand quilting. 

Photos to follow soon.