Miniature Block of the Month December 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month December 2015 - The Quilt Room

I am pleased to say that I have managed to complete the December Miniature Block of the Month offered FREE by The Quilt Room, called 12 Pointed Star.  Even after twelve months of trying to get my foundation piecing up to scratch, I still made mistakes and had to unpick.  I love the sharp look of this technique, but my brain hasn't yet worked out how to get a successful 'flip' first time.

Miniature Block of the Month - The Quilt Room

But my perseverance has paid off and here you can see all twelve completed blocks together.  They still have all their papers in them and I think deciding the layout for the them within a quilt will be a job for 2016.

Miniature Block of the Month October 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month October 2015 - The Quilt Room

Yes, I know. It is nearly December and I have only just completed the Quilt Room's October Miniature Block of the Month.  This was due to a bit of a muddle there end and a bit of a muddle my end, so I am willing to share responsibility.  I wanted to get them done before I started this years Quiltville Mystery quilt and get ahead of myself.

This one is called 'Pinwheel Star' and could have had loads of different colour combinations.  The layer cake of 'Snowman Gatherings' which I have been using is coming to the end of its useful life and this is BOM becoming a scrap project.

I don't actually live near to the Quilt Room shop and haven't found many others doing this BOM online which makes me think that I need to update my social media habits - where do you spend most of your time these days to get you quilty fix?

Miniature Block of the Month August 2015 - The Quilt Room

'Jack in the Pulpit' Miniature Block, The Quilt Room BOM

Another month, another miniature block from the FREE Miniature BOM offered by the Quilt Room.  This one is called 'Jack in the Pulpit'.  It was a nice simple foundation block, which I pulled together with NO mistakes.  I think this might be the first time this has happened with this project.  I am using a 'Snowman Gatherings' Layer Cake for this project and the light blue fabrics are starting to run out, so I have had to resort to using the fabrics with the actual snowmen on them.  Snowmen in August .... hopefully, the pieces are so small that they are unrecognisable.



Foundation Piecing - Miniature Blocks, The Quilt Room 2015 BOM

The collection of blocks are growing, but it feels like Autumn is just around the corner and that means there are only four more left.

Pets on Quilts 2015

Also, just a reminder that it is the Annual Pets on Quilts Show next week.  Suzi the cat and I have been working all year to capture a winning photo which will be revealed next week.  We are pleased with our efforts but are realistic in our expectations knowing that we will probably be up against 'cute kittens'.  We welcome your support when voting opens.

Miniature Block of the Month June 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Quilt Blocks - Quilt Room Free BOM

We are half way through the year and I am pleased to say that I have kept up with the FREE Miniature Block of the Month currently being offered by The Quilt Room. Each month I pull out my shoe box with my fabric selection and a new block joins the group. I am starting to think how I will set them - at the moment I am thinking of putting them on point.  The fabrics I am using are mainly from 'Snowman Gatherings' by Primitive Gatherings and I see from a few online stores that there is now 'Snowman Gatherings II' available.


Miniature Quilt Block- June 2015

I quite enjoyed the June block.  I only had to undo one line of stitching!  With the foundation piecing the flying geese have come out perfectly. Not quite a star this time, so to keep on theme I have included a tiny star print.

Suzi the Cat

Suzi the cat hasn't featured on the blog lately, so here is a photo for all her fans out there.  It is only June, but we are starting to think about the August extravaganza - Pets on Quilts 2015!   

Miniature Block of the Month May 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month May 2015 - The Quilt Room

I have just been catching up with myself again.  The Quilt Room have issued their FREE Block of the Month foundation pieced star for May 2015.  This month there was a log cabin centre. It is only the fifth block I have made, but it feels as if I should have a lot more.

Carol Doak's Foundation Paper

I am continuing my search for the ideal foundation paper.   I was visiting the 2015 Malvern Quilt Show last weekend and Creative Grids had some of Carol Doak's Foundation Paper on sale.  It is a US, rather than UK, standard size paper but I purchased it knowing that. It doesn't say what weight it is, but it feels like lightweight drawing paper that I used to have in primary school. Thanks to Marly and Annie for their thoughts last month.

Miniature Block of the Month April 2015 - The Quilt Room

Miniature Block of the Month April 2015 - The Quilt Room

We are a few weeks into April and I have only just remembered to do my Miniature Block of the Month, currently offered FREE by the Quilt Room.The blocks are turning out to be a collection of stars and on this occasion I merged some of the pieces to get a more satisfying shape.  I am still struggling with foundation piecing - I managed to cut all the pieces backwards and still had to unpick some .... I will keep trying.


Layout Paper - foundation paper alternative?

So far I have been using regular A4 computer paper for my foundation paper, as I print out the patterns in my Electric Quilt software, but was struggling with its heavy  80gsm weight.  I went on a tour of the aisles at our local stationery store to see if there was an alternative I could put through a printer.  The best I could find was layout paper which is slightly lighter at 50gsm.  This works fine through the inkjet printer, but was not so happy in the laser printer.  Have you found any alternatives?

Joining up with Design Wall Monday

Miniature Block of the Month March 2015 - The Quilt Room

March Block - Quilt Room 2015 Miniature Quilt BOM

February was a short month this year.  Already March and another block has been released as part of The Quilt Room, Dorking FREE Miniature Block of the Month.  I will admit that I struggle with foundation piecing as I am easily confused by working on the reverse, flipping, reversing the colours etc. etc, but I do love the look of it.

Quilt Room 2015 Miniature Quilt BOM

They haven't stated how many there will be, but I assume it will continue up until the end of the year so that we have twelve blocks altogether.  So, in just three short months I have accumulated these delightful little blocks, which seems to be filling the void of the Nearly Insane blocks which I completed several months ago.

Miniature Block of the Month February 2015 - The Quilt Room



Miniature Block of the Month February 2015 - The Quilt Room

Here is the February edition of the Miniature Block of the Month FREE from the Quilt Room, Dorking.  I am really enjoying this BOM so far.  Just one block means I can usually get it done quite quickly during one evening after work.

Just like last month I have put the pattern into my Electric Quilt software and printed off the foundation patterns.  I am pleased with the colours of the 'Snowman Gatherings' fabrics I am using.  I haven't taken any of the papers out yet.  I love the firmness and stability it gives - it reminds me of the more refined finish you get with dressmaking when you add an interfacing.


Suzi the Cat on her Cat Mat

We have had some warm winter days here lately which makes for hard work if you are a cat.  Moving from room to room following the sun is exhausting!

Joining up with Feline Friday! and Crazy Mom Quilts.
 

Minature Block of the Month January 2015 - The Quilt Room

January Miniature Block of the Month - Cross Canoes

If you read my last post you will see that back in November I had every intention of doing Bonnie Hunter's 2014 Mystery Quilt, Grand Illusion.  I had the fabric and everything.  Sadly I was just too busy and it just feels too late now.  I know that if I am joining in a mystery quilt or Block of the Month, I need to be sure that I have the time to complete them.  To satisfy my stitching itch, for 2015 the Quilt Room in Dorking, UK is running a FREE Miniature Block of the Month. Yes, just one miniature block a month.  I think I can manage that.  The blocks are released on the first Monday in the month on their website.  I assume that there will be twelve 4" blocks altogether and they are using a blue and white colour scheme.  To make life easy I am following the same colours using up a Snowman Gatherings Layer Cake that I have.  BTW, we did have a very light covering of snow here this morning ....


Cross Canoes Block - Foundation Piecing

The first block is a Cross Canoes block.  After all the Canoe blocks I have made for my Nearly Insane quilt, it was very familiar.  They are providing the patterns and instructions FREE online and if you are local to the shop in Dorking, they are providing fabric packs and support. 


Foundation Piecing - Cross Canoes Block 

I transferred the pattern into my Electric Quilt software and printed off the foundations papers. I love the sharp finish you get with paper foundation piecing, but I will admit that I find it quite scary, especially the bit when you flip the fabric and discover that you have not sewn it correctly! So far so good.

With the Cross Canoe block completed for January 2015 I feel that I am well on track. 

Joining up with other finishes at Crazy Mom Quilts!



Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 73

Block 73 - Nearly Insane Quilt

This is Block 73 ... I have moved onto the next draw if you don't mind.  Only 25 pieces to this cute Nearly Insane quilt block, so EPP made it nice and easy to do whilst watching Sunday night TV.  It went together so nicely that I can't wait to do the next one.


Block 73, Nearly Insane Quilt

I like the way the fabric patterns are graduating towards the centre.  It will look even better when the green stitches are out. 


Floral Gatherings Shirtings, by Primitive Gatherings for Moda


Also, I have finally managed to get my hands on the Floral Gatherings Shirtings, that go with the other Floral Gatherings selection I already have.  These are lovely tiny prints - there are even a few red and white ones which aren't too late to make it into this quilt.

Linking up with Design Wall Monday.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  25
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle  1 7/16" (36mm) x 1" (25mm) x 1" (25mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle  2 3/4" (71mm) x 2" (50mm) x 2" (50mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Calico
Chloe's Closet 30's Playtime - Red Flowers
"Friendship" (Tonal Red) by Howard Marcus for MODA (Collections For a Cause) # 46130
Red Sprig on Cream (Unidentified)

Christmas sewing stuff

I haven't had time to update you with some of the goodies I received at Christmas which I have added to my sewing stash.


'Floral Gatherings' Layer Cake, by Primitive Gatherings for Moda

Firstly, I managed to finally get my hands on a 'Floral Gatherings' Layer Cake, by Primitive Gatherings for Moda.  These are available in the USA and Australia, according to the internet, but have yet to reach UK shores.  It is one of those ranges that I have had my eye on for months, and I think my Mother picked them up in a flash sale at the Fat Quarter Shop, which helps a bit with the international shipping.  There is also a 'Floral gatherings Shirtings' range, again, which seems to be taking an age to get to the UK, which I am still waiting for.  Both sets have small floral prints on them (as the name suggests!).  In particular there are some red and white prints which I was keen to get my hands on.


Book - Civil War Sewing Circle by Kathleen Tracy

My SIL gave me a book by Kathleen Tracy, 'Civil War Sewing Circle', which has lots of projects in it.  There are lots of small projects in this book which have caught my eye, which I could use the Floral Gatherings for and other Primitive Gatherings prints.


Miniature Quilt Display Stand

Back in the summer at the Festival of Quilts I bought myself a present, a stand to display miniature quilts.  It would hold a quilt 12" by 12.5".  As yet I don't have any miniature quilts to display, but as you can see from the above, everything is in place to make it happen.

Fabric Stash Additions - The Sewing Studio, Redruth, Cornwall

It is over 6 weeks since I have set foot in a fabric shop, so luckily whilst I was in Cornwall last week, I was introduced to a new quilt shop, where I could get my fix. The shop was on Chapel Street in Redruth, called The Sewing Studio.  As well as a large selection of sewing machines, it stocks lots of the MODA pre-cuts, such as Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Charm Packs, at competitive prices, and other lovely fabric yardage too, so do take a look.

'Snowman Gatherings', Primitive Gatherings for MODA

To start with, I have had my eye on the 'Snowman Gatherings' by Primitive Gatherings for MODA for a long time, and with the 10" layer cake sitting there, it just had to come home with me.  I justified it because one of the purchases I made in America was one of the Schnibbles books, which focuses on using pre-cuts in its designs, so once my current hand quilting project is done and dusted, I am planning on making a few smaller projects.


Holiday Treats Red Packed Peppermints, Timeless Treasures

The purchase of red and white / cream fabrics is winding down now, but I am always on the look out for interesting novelty prints, and a fat quarter of 'Holiday Treats Red Packed Peppermints' by Timeless Treasures, also made it into my bag. 

Throughout the Nearly Insane journey, one fabric which I have fallen in love with is the Bias Check from the Mama Said Sew range by Sweetwater, for Moda. I looks really good in the blocks I have incorporated in so far, Block 11,  13, and 96, and I when I saw yardage in black and grey, I thought it would be a great addition to my stash.

The shop also had a good selection of quilting rulers, including my favourite Creative Grids rulers.  As you will see from my Pinterest board, a Star quilt of some sort is going to feature in the future, and I had identified that this ruler would be tool to get it done.


Creative Grids Non-Slip 2 Peaks in 1 Ruler

So as you can see, a good haul.

Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Quilt - Part 6

I managed to print off the instructions for Part 6 of Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Mystery Quilt just before I left for a weekend away on Friday, only to read that we are heading for a Rapid Fire Finish! Being away, I have not managed to sort our Part 6 until today. 
It looked easy, but for some reason I have laboured over it for most of the day.  I think this is partly because I have reached the end of my 'black and white' prints, and the mix is more limited, so I have had to introduce some fabric from my Moda 'Seasonal Little Gatherings' 5" Charm Pack, which has taken longer to cut and sew. 
It was the same for the squares, some of my 'greens' were too narrow, so I was making the triangles up from smaller strips.  However, as you can see, I got there evenutally.

Part 6 Easy Street Mystery Quilt

Bonnie has set the release of each part of the mystery quilt for when it is about 11 o'clock in the morning in the UK, so Part 7 has been live for over 7 hours. I have resisted the temptation to look at it before I completed Part 6, so that is where I am heading now.

Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Quilt - Part 2

 

Easy Street Quilt - Part 2 Flying Geese Units

Here are some of my 128 Flying Geese Units that are required for Part 2 of Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Mystery Quilt.  I am using GREEN where Bonnie is using PURPLE at this stage, mainly because it is the colour I have least of.  My cutting seems to be OK, as my finished units are working out the right size.

Flying Geese Units - Strips

Already I am loving the way my colour scheme is working out. Here are some of the green strips I have cut out.  I have snuck in a sparkly fabric, "Sing a Song of Christmas" by Woodrow Studio, some Primitive Gatherings for Moda, and the 2002 Classic Cottons range, of which I seemed to have plenty.

I have made Flying Geese before, by a different method, and was quietly dreading the prospect when I saw the Easy Street Part 2 instructions on Friday, as before I had found that my corners frequently went down the black hole of my sewing maching, chewing up the fabric.  However, a MAJOR penny dropped when I realised I needed to use a single hole sewing machine plate, instead of a zig-zag plate. 


Pfaff 2058 Sewing Machine Zig Zag Plate and Single Hole Plate

I had read about it, but had never acknowledged its importance.  The next challenge was, how was I going to get hold of one in order to keep up with the weekly Easy Street Quilt tasks?  I didn't know what I was looking for.  Then another MAJOR penny dropped.  When I purchased my Pfaff 2058, it came with a bonus Quilters Toolbox.  But where was it?  I checked online to see what was included in the kit, and sure enough Pfaff included a single hole plate.  But WHERE was it?  I checked all the usually places, but with no joy.  Since buying the machine, we have moved house, and most of Friday and Saturday were spent pulling everything out to find this 2" square piece of metal.  Yes, I finally found it.  It was in the side pocket of sewing machine trolley. Sew far, sew good - no fabric down the black hole.  I also changed the blade in my Rotary cutter - that improved things too!

I don't follow Bonnie's Scrap User's System (a scrap in  my book starts when it is less than 2" square), but Suzi the cat and I watched her very informative video on her Quiltville blog, and decided to construct the Flying Geese Units in the same way.  Since we are meant to be shopping our stash, I also used the rulers I already had.  I prefer to use the Creative Grids range, and have the Multi-Size 45 / 90 degree Triangle for making Half and Quarter Square Triangles from Strips.  From what I can gather, this one ruler does what the Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers do together.  I did a few samples, checking the lines I was following, and the units came out to be the right size.

Multi-Size 45 / 90 degree Triangle for making Half and Quarter Square Triangles from Strips, Creative Grids



 

Not all of them are sewn together yet, but most of the cutting is done. I had a few obstacles along the way. Here is Suzi the cat sitting on my cutting mat, just as I am about to cut another strip. You may be able to see the blur of her tail moving - this is usually moving within inches of the Rotary Cutter!

 

West Country Quilt Show

Today I visited the first ever West Country Quilt Show.  It was at the Bath and West Showground, near Shepton Mallet, Somerset. 
The traders had some lovely fabric, which I found hard to resist, especially with Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt, Easy Street, currently at the forefront of my mind.   The Laughing Hedgehog , normally based in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, stocked the Kansas Troubles fabric from Moda, which I am using for my 'background', so I was able to stock up on that, as I had realised that with the scraps I am using, I will not have enough for the whole quilt.  I also managed to get some of the 'Seasonal Little Gatherings' by Primitive Gatherings for Moda, from Sew Enchanting, based in Ashburton, Devon.  The Cross-Patch had a lovely display of the Lynette Anderson Designs, with a good selection of the fabrics, buttons and threads. There were so many other lovely stalls there, I had to pull myself away.


Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt - Boutique by Chez Moi

I only heard about it a few weeks ago, and saw that the deadine had not closed for entering quilts.  With nothing to display myself, I encouraged my sister to enter her Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt, which she made using a range called Boutique by Chez Moi for Moda Jelly Roll.  It was Hand stitched using the English Paper Piecing method, and hand quilted.  I was her first quilt.  She got the pattern from a Mystery Block of Month published on the blog of The Quilt Room, Dorking, which started in March 2010.  The pattern is now published in their book 'Jelly Roll Sampler Quilts' (Pam and Nicky Lintott).