Jennie's Threads

Another border is now finished in this epic block of the month from Sarah Fielke and I have to say I'm loving every minute I spend working on it. Especially,  surprisingly,  the applique! I never thought I'd say that! So this border was created over three months. A few houses in the first month when we finished of the centre as well, a lot more houses in the second month and then a month all about the applique. I have not mastered needleturn applique but have found I'm getting really good results with Helen Stubbings applique paper, which is a visible semi soluble base. I glue-baste the fabric of as if they were EPP shapes, then all I have to do is tuck the dog-ears in as I sew. I loved doing the suns and moons as they were nice gentle, smooth curves. I was, however, apprehensive about the tiny kite bows. But they worked beautifully. A lot of the applique in this border is quite subtle and that was intentional... I plan to make them pop a bit more when I get...

well I'm a little behind in finishing off the second batch of Dear Jen blocks. There were four English paper pieced blocks this month: This one held me up... I'm a firm believer that any block can be EPP'd but the fine ends of the outer curves on this block nearly had me doubting that belief! And then there were two applique blocks. It was this one that I left to last and really didn't fancy - not just applique, but bias applique too. I used Sarah Fielke's method to create the bias binding, and her tip for transferring a pattern to dark fabric and it all worked out beautifully. So much so that I enjoyed working on this block the most of any this month! Onto month 3. No applique but lots of curves. I'm thoroughly enjoying the challenges of these blocks!

well most of these will be familiar to you! Lisa the Unicorn: this progressed last quarter from three individual blocks to a finished quilt top. I need to baste it and quilt it and then I think it will be snaffled by my daughters! Tula Nova: This is now a finished quilt top. It's basted. And I've done the first few quilting stitches... but it's way too hot at the moment to sit under a quilt so this one hasn't gone any further. Round of Cats: I've changed the plan for this. It's not going to be a quilt anymore. Nor is it going to be a tote bag for me. Two double-sided cushions coming up. The four blocks are made and need to be basted and quilted. My Crumb Quilt: this was the cushion cover I started at our North East Modern Quilt Guild workshop with Chris English and grew. I intend to hit the charity shops while on holiday and hopefully find a backing for it which matches the recycling ethos of the front! And then it's another lined up for hand...

Another quarter of the Finish Along is well and truly over and it doesn't feel like my most productive ever... nevertheless I do have 9 finishes and some of those contain multiple items, one is a large quilt and another is something that has been on my Finish Along list for literally years! First up the oldest: I finally did something with the Dachshund I paper-pieced over 18 months ago. It's not what I originally had in mind, but it's finished, it's pretty and Jess likes it. It lives on her bed. It's a bit of an odd shape, but I love it for its quirkiness. My Trinket quilt was the large finish of the quarter and I'm so chuffed with it I'm so pleased I decided on a alternative layout to the original chequerboard. It's light and bright and a rainbow! And it has dinosaurs on the back! Pouches were a feature of this quarter: I made five from discarded blocks from the Summer Sampler 2017 And three from Zuma . These pouches are all the Speed...

As I've been working on my 2019 Summer Sampler, I thought it would be a good idea to work on my largely ignored Summer Sampler 2018, and try and do a block a week of that project too. Up until the end of June that plan was going ok. I still love these fabrics - Palm Canyon by Violet Craft and coordinating Kona solids. Here is the block that was the stalling point last year - a foundation pieced, curved pieced, gorgeous little number that was no quick sew! Next up was another foundation pieced block - I struggled to picture this one together from the page but I'm very pleased with it. Then a third, even more straightforward foundation pieced block, though there is possibility that grey is just a bit heavy for it... And then this delightfully quick and easy rotary cut block! Now I need to get printing some more patterns!

Every year for the last few years I've taken part in the Summer Sampler hosted by @freshlemonquilts @lee.a.heinrich and @swimbikequilt. And at no point have I stayed up to date with the schedule of one block per week. I doubt that will change this year, but I've signed up nonetheless. This year's layout is amazing, with each block pieced in its own bubble - check out the designers to have a look! I originally planned to follow their colour scheme but using my own fabrics from my stash and Tula Pink Designer Solids in putty for the background. Here's my first block... I just didn't work... So I had a regroup. I've been hoarding a lot of Comma fabric for a long time. It's a line by Zen Chic from 2013 (I just looked that up and was amazed how long ago that was). It was one of the first ranges I ever bought a full fat quarter bundle of. I broke it up, added it to my stash and used it in so many projects. The fabrics were beautiful. But then I started ...

Well it's safe to say that going back to work has made a serious dent in my sewing output! Inevitably. The thing I've found hardest has been to carve out time at the sewing machine. I'm still sewing nearly every evening, but it's hand sewing. Going into July I want to remedy that and try and spend more time at my machine. Not quite sure where that time will come from mind you! Here's what I did achieve! Lots of EPP, including picking up my Pollinate quilt again: But here is a Brimfield block in De La Luna: EPP Geo-Diamond - I've now got four blocks so I can play with layouts a bit! A Hexie Shutterburst: I love the fabrics I picked, but the finished block surprised me a little: the aqua blends and the pink pops! Sharks Dinner When I have been working on my machine, I've been piecing Summer Sampler blocks... I'm planning a blog post to talk about the Summer Sampler 2019 in more detail, but for now, here's my favourite block so far...