A long due update.. and a quilt for Sarah

Wow... it's been a month since last update. Where did time go? I obviously didn't have much time for sewing... or blogging... or even reading blogs but look forward to catch up.

My sewing machine has not been completely idele though... This week I've been a little busy making a blanket for my oldest son's class teacher, who will start her maternity leave on Friday. I really wanted to make her something. See, my soon changed school last summer because he was being bullied at his old school. She was magnificent when he started her class and literally within weeks my son had lots of confidence again and some very good friends as well. She did such a good job making him feel welcome and become part of her class. And we enjoy his high spirit every single day. Sometimes words are not really enough, so I agreed with the other parents that I would make a baby quilt and have all the kids write their 'signature' on the quilt. I then embroidered of their names making this quilt super personal... and very, very sweet.

Sparkle Plenty

Today I made the last stich on the Sparkle Plenty quilt... Or should I say the first of them. I definately see more Sparkle Plenty in my future. (in fact I already started cutting another for my oldest son - I hope to have it finished for his Birthday in early January).

A few fact about this one:

• It's 180x180 cm (app. 70 x 70 inches)
• It's made from the Sparkle Plenty pattern (I enlarged the blocks slightly)
• It's made of various green scraps and the solid is Moda Snow.
• The border is Meadowsweet by Sandi Henderson
• I started this quilt in November (but worked on several other projects while doing this)

It is one of my all-time favourite quilts. The star is a classic design but overall this quilt stands out as very modern. Later today I'm going to drive by my friend Susans house to give it to her. She is a fantastic woman and deserves a fantastic quilt.

Sometimes you do stupid things...

Sometimes you do stupid things... Like staying up until 00.30 to finish a quilt. I just made the last stitches on the diamond quilt and I.LOVE.IT. Can't wait to take some better pictures tomorrow. Until then a picture of the scrappy border all rolled up nicely and a few bad flashy images of the finished quilt.

Sunday... and a finished circle quilt

I finished the circle quilt this weekend. It will be a Christmas present for my funky little niece Elisabeth.

A few facts:
Started in October 2011
From the pattern: Mod Circles Appliqued Baby Quilt from Moda Bake Shop
Quilt: Hand quilted with Pearl 8 in orange, blue and green
Fabric: Various scraps and basic dark and light grey

A finish…

Yes, I am not kidding. After a long period where I seemed only able to start new quilts I actually managed to finish a quilt.  And I may just have started a very unhealthy relationship with Heirloom as well. At least from a financial perspective.  It's on sale this week from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics btw. Been shopping already... A lot!

The design is super simple which is intentional to show off the beautiful fabric. It’s Joel Drewberry’s Pendant Quilt but with a simplification. I found a much easier way to add the triangles than the way it’s described in the pattern. Something like a double Y-seam and then a lot of twisting and turning.  After 8 tries trying to decode the instructions and where it just didn’t work, 8 times undoing with the seam ripper and an unsuccessful visit to youtube for instructions I was ready to quit. The cuts were in front of me when I suddenly saw the light *LOL* . Just add one triangle to the top piece e.g. the right one and then add the opposite triangle to the bottom piece and then pin and sew.

I made a simple zig-zag quilting pattern and the filling is cotton.  The white is Moda Snow (so not really white) and the background is dark grey and some leftovers. I went with a small dotted grey for the border.

 I think my Goddaughter, who is 14 (unbelievable… It seems like only yesterday her Mum and I were out dancing most weekends *sigh*), will be very happy to finally have her own quilt.

I am linking up to Amylouwho's Sew & Tell. I missed it last time... big buhhh on me for that.

HST is done

I seem to have found a good quilt-making-rythm. I usually have a project that challenges me and then have some little 'in between' projects that are faster, easier, and almost guarenteed to lift my spirits. Like the half square triangles quilt I just finished.

I made the quilt it in little over a week. Easy peasy and really fun.

This is what I intended :
I had 2 charm packs and nothing in my stash that really went with this line so I needed to 'stretch' the fabric. I also wanted it to be 'boyish' even there are a lot of red, yellow and oranges charms. Hence the very graphical, dynamic pattern.

This is what I got out of it:
Size: 58x44 inches
Fabric: Moda Snow (solid) and 2 Moda Punctuation charm packs. I used all the charms but 3 pieces so I couldn't make a pieced back
Backing: IKEA fabric (cheapest fabric I ever used. Not the best, but ok for this type of quilt). Think the writing goes perfectly with the Punctuation theme though.
Quilt: Stitch in the ditch around the squares to make them pop
Binding: Black and white stripes from the stash

Its a sofa quilt - perfect for the kids to snuggle in.

  

Well, someone (besides the kids) find this non-stop quilt making very useful

I like the striped binding - first time I tried with stripes and I think it looks ok

'Birds meet Bento' is done

The rebellious 'Birds meet Bento' quilt is finally done. I love how the pattern turned out and the colors as well. But the quilting - oh boy - I absolutely hate it. The way I see it the quilting ruined the quilt. I think that is why it took so long for me to complete it. Once I started there was no going back and I just had no desire to work on it. The Bento boxes are quilted with 'Stitch in the ditch' so they pop and the appliques are quilted in a criss-cross pattern. A mess basically  ;)

For the backing I used some fabric I purchased in a bargin a while ago. It's been laying around and just waited for the right project. Because the front was boxes and applique I decided the back should have the same although differently, so I made applique leafs and the whipped up some fast boxes with the 90 degree ruler. The pictures does not show the back very well - you'll need to click to enlarge it - but I love how it turned out. Both my boys actually prefers the back over the front. We'll need to have a serious chat about that at some point ;)

The quilt is a small sofa quilt - 65x65 inches. The wadding is 'left over' wool from another project and the quilt will be perfect for the cool winter evenings. If I can overlook the actual quilting that is  ;)

The fabric is a mix of FQ bundles I found at my local QS, the backing is 'Modern Mix' by Jennifer Young, and the binding is from Moda's 'Oh My'.

Hand pieced star quilt is done

I present to you the hand pieced star quilt. My Mum and I started it this winter entrigued by the thought of making a quilt together despite living in different countries. Can't say that the road wasn't bumpy. Can't say it was easy-peasy. But that we're done it does not seem so bad after all.

Although I like modern prints we went for an old fashioned look and used small FQ of different blue and brown colors.

It's 175x175 cm so quite a large sofaquilt - and that how it will be used once we decide who should have it. Right now we both want the other one to take it, so in reality it is a poor, homeless quilt. I'm more stubborn than my Mum so lets see  ;)

We decided to use wool rather than cotton so its light as a feather and very comfy. It is machine quilted - very basic - just around the stars. The effect is that the stars 'pop'.

As a final litte fun feature we decided to sign the quilt. We each wrote our names so the letters came out different. I think it adds to the personality of the quilt.

A quick quilt travel roll...

I signed up for a quilt course/retreat this autumn and winter. 9 Saturdays and one Sunday with som incredible and experienced quilters. It will be so much fun and propably a steep learning curve for me. Looking forward  :) So what better to do on a Thursday evening than plan ahead and make a roll for all the quilt accessories I need to bring.

It only took a couple of hours to make. The fabric is Prince Charming except for the border, which is from Moda's 'Oh My' collection. The string is my ever faithful teal solid from Kaffe Fasset. The batting is double cotton so the roll feels nice and soft. 

The frogs were just too cute to cut into smaller pieces so I am happy I could use them in a big piece like this.

I finished way too late yesterday and I still have to cut some threads and I also need to give it good press but when that is done I'm ready to rock 'n roll Prince Charming.

Me.Like.It.

July wrap-up

Amylouwho has a show and tell every month - a virtual livingroom where we can see and enjoy each others projects. I really enjoy the inspiration that comes with Tour de Blog every month :)

So here's the July wrap up from freezing, cold and wet Denmark - we have the worst summer ever. Please pass the heatwave from the US.

To be honest I didn't finish that much in July actually because of being away for most of the month. But I did make some major progress on a few projects AND I got my Mum so interested in quilting that she bought a mat, cutter and lots of fabric for making the first quilt on her own. Not so bad after all. Next time I see her she will blame me for getting hooked :)

First I finished off my scarf - first time knitting since I was around 17. I dont have a picture of it though and DH dozed of in the sofa so you will have to pretend you can see it. But its lovely... Light grey Alpaca yarn, simple design and so comfy to wrap yourself in on a cold summer evening.

Secondly my Mom and I basted the hand quilted stars and I started the quilting. It feels amazing to be this far:

Finally I had another quilt project that I was struggeling with and I to be honest had a hard time feeling the love for. I think that it changed a bit thoday though. It's like it has all come together despite all. I still need to make the binding but with a little luck it will be done before midnight making this something I finished in July :

Wrapping up June

Amylouwho show & tell: 

June came to an end – and so did my ’instant satisfaction quilt’… literally finished it half an hour before July 1st. I needed something fast and easy in between my hand quilted stars. And with 4 charms squares from Freebird Moda and some extra for backing and borders it was easy. I went for Camille’s ‘Coming home’ pattern. It her version it's subtle and calm. My version ended up being a bit on the wild side, but I love it nonetheless.

This is the front

And this is the back

And the best part is that it was tested and approved already this morning.

Next quilt project is a Charming stars quilt from Moda Bakeshop with some Riley Blake fabric. But before then another crafty project... Knitting. I have not knitted since I was a teenager, but we’re going to drive down to France soon and I can’t imagine not doing anything crafty for 2 weeks. So knitting it must be.

Lacking so much experience though I do not dare to rush into a complicated pattern – it’s a vacation after all – so I made my own pattern but are aiming for something like this – really simple: