Jennie's Threads

You know when you see a new pattern, and you just have to make it? That's what I thought when I first saw Aneela Hoey's latest patterns. She's just released two: the Zip up Tray Pouch and the Open Out Box Pouch . Whilst the Open Out Box Pouch is still on the list, I now have my own Zip Up Tray Pouch! I had to wait while the postman delivered the interfacing and zips I needed, but they arrived last Friday and I had my pouch before bedtime! It's one of those patterns, where if you read it through in advance it makes no sense... but if you do it step by step,, it isn't scary at all. This was my first time using a separating zip and I made life harder for myself by having one which was too long and needing to shorten it in such a way that the pull wouldn't come off the end... and I misunderstood the binding instruction and had to do some unpicking. But it really works! The one downside to the project was the final hand-sewing. Because the interfacing is qu

Here she is - this actually includes an extra day's sewing because I forgot to take a full picture on Sunday night - whoops! Monday, 17th April:Satin stitch in blue to create vertical stripes on the right hand side of the hoop. Tuesday, 18th April: I enjoyed the affect of the stripes so much, I did some horizontal stripes in lime green satin stitch on the left hand side of the hoop (and now much prefer this section of the hoop!). Wednesday 19th April: Running stitch in dark green in between the green stripes. Thursday, 20th April: Jessica's birthday, so I added a second heart, in pink, in the centre of the hoop. Friday, 21st April: I struggled with what to do tonight, so added a line of back stitch in pink on the far left of the hoop. Saturday, 22nd April: Blue chain stitch right across the top of the hoop - I'm not sure it looks great, so will require some more attention in the coming weeks! Sunday, 23rd April:Arrow head stitch in orange, which some yellow

It's been well over a year since I last joined in a swap on Instagram. I think I burnt myself out in 2015. But I decided to join in the Very Berry Mini Hoop Swap: a 2" embroidery hoop is not a huge commitment! My partner expressed a love of sea and mountains, and I've been enjoying embroidery at the moment, so here's what I made. I received this pretty little hoop in return from @quiltessential And I may have bought a couple of extra hoops to have a play with too!

Six weeks in and still up to date!!! But I'm coming to the end of what I pre-cut so I'm going to have to schedule in a bit of a cutting party soon! This week's block is a bit of an odd one: the Plus a Star block. I like the plusses. And I have nothing against stars. But I struggled with the combination. I actually spent a bit of time planning this block and even so, I'm not too pleased with how the star doesn't really stand out. I think in the grand scheme of the whole quilt, it will look absolutely fine and not be an issue. But today, critically appraising this one block all on it's own, it didn't work as well as I'd hoped. Next up - eleventy billion mini churn dashes!

One of the best things about the #365 challenge has been the community that has grown up on Facebook. It's a UK based group - with some overseas friends too, and I've never experienced anything like it. Everyone seems to have really got to know everyone. There has been cheerleading when people have fallen behind; mutual moaning when a block had eleventy-billion tiny half square triangles; and shared success as members have completed their quilt tops. To celebrate these friendships we had a little swap - 3" blocks, quilted and bound, whizzed around the globe! I signed up for three blocks - so I sent three and received three. The idea was that the blocks you sent should represent the quilt you made/were making. Here are the three I recieved from Kirsty, Jackie and Fiona: It took me a while to find the block I wanted to use. I needed one I could use as a colour wheel to reflect my entire quilt. Eventually I found the block for 7th September called 4 Corners. A l

Here's my little hoops after 15 weeks - that's over 100 days now! Monday, 10th April: Twisted chain stitch in lavendar from the bullion knot wheel on the left over the top to the whirl in the top right corner. I went as far as the length of thread would take me! Tuesday, 11th April: A new stitch from TAST ( Take A stitch Tuesday over at Pintangle ): double whipped chain stitch. I really like this one: my favourite chain stitch but bolder and pretty. I did this row on the left in yellow and orange. Wednesday, 12th April: Purple satin stitch to infill the middle loop on the right of the hoop. Thursday, 13th April: I took a line of orange chain stitch up the right hand side and created another curve in the top right with it. Friday, 14th April - Good Friday: Double whipped chain stitch in green and bluey-green under the Guilloche stitch in the top right. I'm very pleased with how this combination turned out. Saturday, 15th April: Purple stem stitch beneath ye

This week's block is my favourite so far: Trip Around the World. A truly scrappy blocks, so I'm going to link up with Leanne and Nicky for Scraptastic Tuesday. Tonight I took stock of how far I had prepared so far. Next week's block is pieced, and the week following is cut and ready, but after that I'm not so prepared. I continued cutting tonight and whilst it feels like I didn't make much headway, I'm at least further ahead than I was! I'm also making good progress with a few of the pineapple blocks - I'll need 16 of these in the final week and so far I've made four.

I'm still keeping up and I'm still thoroughly enjoying this project. This is week 4: Jacob's Ladder. Nine blocks sewn together to create this panel. This is truly a quilt entirely from my stash and I'm really enjoying pulling out fabrics I don't normally use and rediscovering long buried scraps! The pattern is Long Time Gone by Jen Kingwell and you can find all the information on this quilt along at Angie's blog.

I think this brings me to nearly 100 days of embroidery! Monday, 3rd April: a new stitch today: Moss stitch in deep pinky red, right at the top of the hoop. Tuesday, 4th April: and another new stitch - whipped back stitch. I stitched the backstitch in navy and then laced it with sky blue. I created a corner around the cloud filler in the centre of the hoop. Wednesday, 5th April: Blanket stitch in aqua, continuing from the line I did ages ago and taking it up round the swirl in the top right of the hoop. Thursday, 6th April: I added some green blanket titch to the middle loop on the right hand side. Friday, 7th April: some blue chain stitch to the same loop. Saturday, 8th April: a row of aqua chain stitch around the Basque stitch wheel in the bottom left of the hoop. Sunday, 9th April: Twisted chain stitch in pink up and around the loop in the top right. This week's two new stitches brings me to 42 different stitches used within the hoop - I was

Archie the Wonder Dog has raised a bit of a challenge: she reckons her list is longer than mine! Challenge accepted! As I mentioned in one of my recent posts, I'm taking part in the #100dayschallenge with the intention of spending a bit more time with my sewing machine each day, so I'm hopeful that progress will be made! 1. Frances Firefly Quilt: There are quite a few baby quilts on this list... this is just the first. And it's for a Baby who isn't a baby any more because I'm rubbish! The top is pieced and the backing has now arrived. I have a quilting plan and the binding is cut. In other words there is no excuse for this to not be finished by the end of the quarter. Earlier. 2. Allie Owl Quilt: A second baby quilt, for the baby brother of the recipient of the Firefly quilt. He is still a baby! But I'm still a few months late. This is another project that' already a quilt top, I've got the backing and batting and the binding is cut. Now for some

I'll start off with a round up of the March project. Nothing. I didn't even touch it. Moving on. And this month I'm going to make more of an effort.This month's project is number 11, which for me means the Summer Sampler 2016. This is perfect timing, as I've seen rumours that there may be another Summer Sampler this year - it would be good to have finished one before being tempted with another wouldn't it - i know - not my normal style! Also - these fabrics are just perfect for this time of year! The original quilt design is 20 blocks. I've made 10 so far, scattered through this post. The fabrics I'm using are a long hoarded bundle of Dreamin' Vintage by Jeni Baker for Art Gallery mixed with some Art Gallery Pure Elements. I even managed to pick up a large piece of one of the prints in a sale to have a matching backing! None of the blocks are particularly difficult - in facet I've made an eleventh block already, so there is re

I'm really enjoying this quilt along so far, and I'm staying up to date! Working ahead even! I've done a lot of the cutting in advance and although I'm not totally finished, it is definitely making it easier to get the blocks ready in time. This week is a lovely little block called Crosses of the UK and the pattern calls for six of them. Aren't they cute? They were also very easy to put together! One of the big challenges of this quilt along comes towards the end: 16 foundation-pieced 37-piece Pineapple blocks in a week. I don't think so.... so I've started making them already - 2 down, 14 to go. These blocks are great for using up scraps! The Long Time Gone sew along is hosted by Gnome Angel and you can find more information here.

March was such a busy month for us! I went away with work, Michael was away on a stag weekend, we both went away to the Lakes, we had some fabulous family days out and we just didn't seem to stop! But I also got a lot of sewing done! I pieced 54 blocks including the first 3 weeks of the Long Time Gone Sew Along Some Fireflies for a completed quilt top. The pattern is Fancy Forest by Elizabeth Hartman. Quite a few Quilters Planner blocks - this is my favourite, but I have no idea what I'm going to use it for! Some traditional hand piecing for my Delilah block of the month - this is the second block. And some English paper piecing: this is one of my Ice Cream Soda blocks . I had a finish too - My Small World . And a little zippy just for me. I've kept up with the # snailday blocks, I've continued a stitch a day for # 1yearofstitches , but I've fallen behind on my Dear Jane blocks and I'm not quite up to date with Down the