Desperate Remedies

I have been riveted to Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy this week, so have not sewn much: just a bit of hand piecing 2" squares. Yes, I have ruled the 1/4" seam allowance in pencil on all of the cream squares, as if I don't nothing will ever go together properly! 

18 months ago I went a little crazy and cut hundreds of squares and triangles to make this quilt designed by Bonnie Hunter........................

.........but hand pieced using the method taught by Jinny Beyer.  If are interested in handwork, her book is amazing and even though it is expensive, you will never need another pattern book.  You can also see a demonstration of her method on the TQS website: this is a free show for non-members, number 313. 

There are enough triangles and squares cut for at least two quilts.  I will only make one by hand, the rest of the pieces will join the cut scraps

Comforting Light

This is the first paper pieced item I sewed: it's made from really old fabrics: scrounged items, old clothes and lightweight furnishing swatch samples in a mix of poly cottons and cottons.  I started it over 20 years ago before I had a cutter or cutting board without any idea what I was going to do with it as I couldn't afford wadding then! When I moved to my current house 17 years ago I lined it with an old sheet to turn it into a  door curtain.  It's really faded now.  I took it down when I re-decorated 3 years ago and discovered it again on Friday.  I love the way it looks with the light shining through it, so now its my bedroom curtain and faded or not, it's really comforting, and proof that I have always been a fabric hoarder!

Retreat

Bonnie Hunter is running a mystery quilt-I almost started cutting this morning, then I realised that I have patches cut for TWO quilts already.  I shelved this project out of sheer frustration (and inexperience) about a year ago.  A friend recommended using a corner cropping template when I cut the patches.  I really wish I hadn't done this!  My cutting is accurate, the stitching isn't bad, but I miss that perfect corner line up check and the flying geese units are not behaving!

I made all these about a year ago that need to be checked!  There are lots of pieces in this quilt.............

I am having an 'internet'  quilt retreat day along with the girls doing Bonnie's Orca Bay quilt. Me and Mozart and all day to sort out the piecing puzzle!

One star completed. Not very happy with the accuracy so proceeding slowly. I have 88 to do!  If all else fails and I just can't make the pieces fit, I have several large cushions that need covering, that should make the whole thing more manageable  and I won't have to throw the patches out in frustration!  Tip of the day: don't trim your dog ears until you are happy with the fit!

I just looked at this after uploading the picture-spot the mistake-I SHOULD HAVE SEWN BLUE SQUARES IN THE CORNERS!!  AGGGHHH! 

Time for lunch I think.

That's better.  The size should be 6" finished, they are a little small.  I'm not sure how persuasive I can be with the iron. The piecing could be sharper.  This will be a very busy quilt with a strong pattern so the imperfections will be lost in the overall effect I hope. Am I being overly critical? I want perfection!





Scraps...

I couldn't resist these in the sale, broccoli, beans and BLAH. The broccoli has a planned use, beans and BLAH I just like.  I haven't done much sewing this month, I've been reading a lot. 

This was my first ever try at random applique with bits from the scrap bin sewn on to a muslin backing.  I liked doing the curves and random shaped bits best. I'd like to make an  old fashioned quilt with the embroidery round the edges one day but there are other things I want to do first.  I haven't done embroidery since I was at school! 

I would rather make a cathedral window quilt, I enjoyed this more and I can see possibility with it too, rainbow colours flushing from one side to the other across the whole width of the quilt.