Early Quilts (3)

Here are the last two photos of early quilts.

There were other quilts, but they got away without photos...

(Remember, these are not digital photos but scanned in to the computer from prints)

The blocks in this quilt are friendship blocks made by ladies from my church for a friend who moved over East (lovely Donna). When I was helping my friend get ready to move, I found a sample block she did with appliqued hearts on it and I sneaked it in to my pocket and put it in the quilt. She is the most excellent friend and I do miss her.

This quilt was made for a friend and work colleague (Elizabeth). She had breast cancer that recurred after a few years and she decided to move over East to be with family. I wanted something bright and cheerful for her. She has since passed away.

This pattern was from a magazine but I can't remember which one...

Early Quilts (2)

Here is another early quilt I made for the granddaughter of a work colleague. I made this from stash and was glad to use the fairy fabric up. I was careful with the placement of fabric to keep the fairies all going the same way. Don't know if that made such a simple quilt better, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I quilted it in the ditch.

(Remember - these are not digital photos but scanned in to the computer from prints.)

This is the back of the quilt.
And of course every little girl's doll needs a quilt too.
This will help you to see the fairies on the fabric.

Back of the doll quilt.
I would probably make something a little different today, but I do like working with squares and rectangles and sometimes you do need to just make a blanket for a kid to drag around. This quilt is still in use and much loved.

Early Quilts (1)

I made this quilt in 2004 and donated it to the primary school for fundraising. It didn't raise as much money as I thought it should but it went to a little boy who I hoped loved it... the pattern is from a magazine. (Quilter's Companion No. 7) (The designer is Maureen Rayner)

This quilt was made by my daughter's year 4 class in 2002 to celebrate the Year of the Outback. The children traced the kangaroo shapes on to vleisofix, mums helped cut out and fuse to the background, and the kids then went around the edge of each shape with fabric glue (with glitter as I recall). It was quilted by a local machine quilter who donated her time to the project. (Quilts by KayCee, WA) The quilt now hangs in the administration building.

A little detail...

I think the teacher went on to do other class quilts in different years with other techniques, but I was not involved.
Just a reminder that these are not digital photos but scanned in to the computer from prints.

What's in the Box?

Photos (non-digital) of Quilts Past...

I've scanned them in but the quality is shocking. I will show you 3 today.

This first one I made for my sister-in-law Sandy (she of the amazing bead prowess - on my blog search 'pretty bauble') in 2005. It's meant to be a kitchen quilt and used as a hot pad. At a recent family dinner she was deficient in hot pads (some didn't make the move) and I asked her about it and she said it was too good to use. I explained that she should use it, and if it got wrecked I would make her another. Some of the scrap sewing I'm working on will be used to make her another - one that doesn't look so precious so she will indeed use it! And you may be interested in knowing that the potholders I made my mother-in law (here) are being used and one even has a scorch mark! I gave her a big hug and thanked her so much for using them!

This one was made for my sister-in-law Wendy. I don't know if she uses it.

And this one was made for my dear mother-in-law.
She does use it everyday on her kitchen bench under her fruit bowl.
I did warn you the photos were shocking!
I built these up from the centre out using a stitch-n-flip, quilt-as-you-go technique. I gently pressed every seam and squared it up at the end. Finished is around 12 inches as I recall. They were so much fun and quick... I feel a couple of more coming on... but my sewing table is filled with little sets of scraps at the moment so maybe next week...

How was Your Saturday?

Overslept.

.

Coffee.

Laundry.

.

Coffee.

Paperwork.

Taxi Mum.

Food Shopping.

Lunch.

Paperwork.

Taxi Mum.

Paperwork.

Phone Call.

Paperwork.

Taxi Mum.

Laundry.

Paperwork.

Cooked Tea.

Dishes.

Paperwork.

Hot Tea.

Chocolate.

More Chocolate.

Make Fabric Block #1

6 1/2 inches square

Machine Quilting Samples

The machine quilting class was such a lot of fun. Jan is a great teacher. And amidst a few tension problems (of the machine kind) I managed to get a few designs tried. And while I learned a lot, the most important thing I learned is that it's going to take a lot, and I mean a lot, and then even more, Practice.




Jan provided us with an excellent handout with a good range of designs to try and information on threads and needles. She recommended that you use the manufacturer's leaflets that are available for types of threads and needles and what they are recommended for. And of course try and see what works best for you. And then, you know, Practice. Below I am sharing the references she did for us. Should help you on your own journey, and the info is not proprietary.

So now it's just about practicing... and practicing... and practicing...