Jennie's Threads

Sometimes you see a pattern and you just know it would be perfect for someone. And sometimes you have a friend who is going through a pretty tough time, who just needs a little reason to smile. And those two things combined in this embroidery. The pattern is by @lolliandgrace and comes with a selection of different words to add, and "Breathe" is important for my friend, so it was an easy choice. I used DMC threads, including some of their beautiful new colours, for the embroidery, which is all done by hand. I totally underestimated how long it would take to do those roses, but they were worth every stitch. The background is a pale yellow Kona fabric, because it felt so happy. I had originally planned to do it on navy but couldn't transfer the design successfully. Whilst I love the yellow, I would like to stitch this again, and I'm determined to try it on navy, so I've bought myself some Solvy wash-away, self-adhesive stabilizer to try.I haven't been ...

Another month down, another 4 Round We Go Blocks. And if I'm truly honest, I don't like this month's blocks much. The ones with the contrast centre are definitely the better ones, but they just don't do it for me. I've also made very little applique or quilting progress.... but I am still up to date on the piecing!

This might be my current favourite project! the Mandolin blocks designed by Tales of Cloth are an absolute delight to put together - the paper pieces are easy on the hands, and the method of construction is nice long seams. I never considered how the weight of paper affects English Paper Piecing until recently when I started using pieces from a few different sources. I've always used papers from Paper Pieces in the US before, or from Sew and Quilt in the UK, both of whom use a similar weight card for their pieces. Last summer I started the Round We go sew along using paper pieces from Sue Daley in Australia. These are slightly heavier weight and glossy. I slowly realised that these feel like harder work, even though I never sew through the papers. And then there are the pieces from Tales of Cloth, which are lighter weight than I was use to. When I first recieved them for my Ice Cream Soda quilt last year, I was worried they were too light, but they are perfect - gentle on the hand...

Yeah I know valentines day was 6 weeks ago... like I said, I've been a bad blogger! My husband and I don't do valentines day. It feels very commercialised and our birthdays fall two weeks either side, so we don't bother! But there are some very cute little projects out there that were just perfect for the girls. I discovered a new-to-me blog through the black hole of instagram - Swoodson Says . When you sign up to her newsletter she shares a free pattern for little felt kittens. Jessica and Mia both love cats, and Jessica currently also loves putting things her pockets - so these were perfect. They took just an hour to make and both girls love them! Quick finish, happy girls!

Month 6 of the Round We Go quilt along by Sue Daley was a bit more complex block. All four blocks were completed in time, but I didn't get much of the applique done and I haven't quilted any blocks in a few months now. The qult along is due to finish in August and it needs to be a finish quilt top by then - I've made life harder for myself by deciding to hand quilt it as individual blocks so mine also needs to be quillted by the end of August. #roundwegosal #suedaleydesigns #englishpaperpiecing

How is it April already? March just whizzed by in a blur - we were so busy with trips away, family catch-ups and sewing that I barely got a chance to keep up with my blog - so that means a flurry of blog posts over the next few days as I try and catch up and get linked up for the Finish Along. I sewed up a storm in the gaps between the chaos, so as well as a few finishes, there were a couple of starts as well - obviously! And my WIP list is pushing the mid-90s! I've fallen off the Aves wagon and I am about 5 weeks behind, but my word are they weeks ! Some really complex blocks and then some simpler blocks but in pretty high volumes! I really need to spend some time on this project in April otherwise it may never move forward. As usual, it's a foundation pieced block that's stopped me - I need to find a way round this kind of "hard-stop" in my sewing mentality and get over it. I have made some progress on my Curve Motion block of the month, but I'm beh...

Another nice easy block for week 6... just tiny rotary cut pieces, some flying geese and a couple of quarter-square triangles. I picked ou the fabrics on the Sunday. On the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday it snowed. A lot. How appropriate! The Angel of the North in the Snow for Flying Birds. Week 7 is a stinker....I haven't made it yet!