Jennie's Threads

As you know, I'm a sucker for a sew-along.... and that often, but not always, I fall behind! Each summer for the past few years, there has been a Summer Sampler Sew-Along. I finally finished my 2016 quilt earlier this year and I love it. The 2017 quilt remains mostly untouched - I think I made about 5 blocks.... I love the setting, but the fabrics I picked just aren't inspiring me at the moment. I have thought a few times about just giving up on this quilt, but haven't made my mind up yet. Every time I see a finished version pop up in my IG feed, I fall back in love with it. Lack of progress on my 2017 one inevitably didn't stop me from signing up for the 2018 one ! I decided to use Palm Canyon by Violet Craft. The fabrics are beautiful yellow, peach, pink, aqua and grey/black. I'm not using the whole range, just selected prints, and I've also picked up the coordination Kona solids. I made it through three blocks before falling by the wayside this...

I completed my month-4 blocks for my Mandolin quilt back in early summer, but I never shared them here, so here are blocks 8 and 9. The fabrics are mostly Spirit Animal by Tula Pink, but there are some complimentary blenders thrown in as well, including Painters Canvas, Lecien basics, and some Cotton and Steel basics. Since early summer I haven't made any progress with these blocks. These blocks were made from the pieces I received in mid-April, so I've got some catching up to do! I also fell behind with the filler blocks, which I need to keep up with because they are quite boring compared with sewing together these pretties, so best not to leave them all to the end! Hopefully installment five will be with you shortly. The Mandolin Quit is a block of the month from Tales of Cloth.

It's done! 13 months after I started piecing in August 2017, I have a finished quilt. And I love it! We took it to Blyth Beach yesterday to get some photos of it! This was an English Paper Piecing block of the month design from Sue Daley: each month over the course of a year, I received the papers to piece 4 circular blocks, all the same. 12 different blocks, four per month equals 48 blocks total. My colour inspiration was a washi tape I own and I had originally intended to use royal blue as my background colour. But whilst rummaging in my stash for a different project I found a huge piece of Art Gallery Pure Elements in a deep wine-purple - I think it's called Cabernet, and it just made the blocks sing. The royal blue went back in the stash! My plan was to applique the blocks as I went along, as I knew I would hate myself if I left it all to the end. And then to quilt each block individually, using the quilt as you go method. This plan would have been fine if I had...

Well here are the final blocks! I'm pleased to say I've kept up with the quilt along the whole year. I've spent the last few weeks doing way too much applique and hand quilting aiming to get this finished by the end of the month. Fingers Crossed I'll have a reveal for you soon!

I've got a bit behind on these posts.... but it is one of the few projects I've been making steady progress on during the last 17 weeks of feeling crap! Month 9 was not my favourite... lots of pieces... and a little helper! Month 10 was very straightforward - a welcome relief given my lack of energy! And month 11 was another favourite month - I love how the different fabric placements gives two very different looking blocks - but all are the same block! The end is in sight! One month left to share.

It's all gone rather quiet over here, hasn't it? In defense I do have a good excuse - honest! Yep - Baby number 3 will be joining the Craigs family in February next year and whilst we are aboslutely thrilled, I'm also absolutely knackered! As with my previous pregnancies, the first trimester is not a productive one for all things sewing, and sadly, even though I'm now 17 weeks, my energy is still low and so still not much sewing to report. We've been on a couple of weekends away: one to Chester to go to the zoo, which was amazing!   And another with all the family to the local Brownie Pack Holiday house to celebrate some 60th birthdays. We've also been enjoying the summer! We've had loads of fun in the garden with a new paddling pool and slide - Mia loves it, Jess took some convincing.... We took our annual holiday to Sidmouth for the folk festival and had a lovely week - it's fabulous to watch the girls get so much out of it - and I...

Rather last minute but here is my ridiculous list for Q3. 1. Round We Go 2. Alison Glass Triangles 3. Marcelle Medallion 4. Summer Sampler 2018 5. Sloths and Unicorns 6. Awesome Ocean 7. Blueberry Park hexies 8. Tula Nova 9. Kittens Around 10. Dachshund Cushion 11. Alphabet Embroidery