Jennie's Threads

This is one of those embarrassing finishes. Of a quilt that was started many many years ago... In September 2012 I finished piecing my Farmers Wife 1920s quilt, made all in batiks. I took it down to my Mum and Dad's to baste it, and my Uncle saw it. He loved it. He spent ages examining it and studying it and I promised him a quilt made from batiks. Fast forward 6 and a half years. And he still hadn't received that quilt. When I saw the Kinship quilt pattern by @Gnomeangel and @Skyberries I thought it would make a great quilt for him: I could make good use of the larger scale batiks, but it was a realistic goal as the blocks were quite straightforward, unlike my original plan of more complex 6" blocks. And even better - it was a quilt-along! I decided to make a non-batik version as well, using fabrics from my stash in a rainbow. And I have to confess that I did prioritise those blocks ahead of the batik ones. I finished piecing the rainbow one whilst on Retreat and I lov...

Yesterday was the first of the month and the reveal day for the project number for February. Number 8. Oh dear... this is very much an unloved project. Here's its sad little story: Back in 2013 I finished piecing my original Farmer's Wife quilt. I made it from batiks and used black throughout as my background colour. I took it down with me when I went to visit my parents so my Mum could help baste it. Whilst there my Uncle visited. Never have I seen anyone appreciate a quilt so much. He spent over an hour studying it and just simply enjoying it. It was really wonderful to see. When someone enjoys a quilt that much, they definitely deserve a quilt of their own. He was drawn to the batik fabrics in particular because of the colours and the depth - a feature I love about them, though I have to say that I rarely use batiks these days. I keenly started another black and batik sampler quilt, and then just as keenly, moved on to other things. The last time I worked on this quilt w...

Ok - I think this will be my final finish for 2014: This was the second quilt I pulled out to stipple whilst Michael was out the other night. It's a very old WIP and for many years, UFO. I started it in May 2011 at a class led by Jennie Rayment. Going to another Jennie Rayment class this past November, I dug out this quilt again, thinking that I really should finish it before starting some more. I didn't quite meet that deadline, but it is now finished. Not sure what I'm going to do with it now as it's bigger than I expected at 22" x 45" This was on my Q4 Finish Along list  too

On My Finish Along list at the start of Q4 I had ten zippy pouches listed. This was one of them. And the third to be finished back in mid-November. But because it was a Christmas present I haven't been able to share it with you until now. This was my second attempt at the Sew Together Bag pattern and it went so much quicker than the first one. I made a few changes as well: I found a great tutorial for adding tab ends to the internal zips at Crazy Mom Quilts which really tidies up the look of the inside - it makes it looks more finished somehow! I also hand stitched the binding down on the outside of the pouch - this looks so much neater than my original bag and didn't take much longer when you consider the struggle of getting the bag through the machine and everything lined up, and allow for the changing of needles when I inevitably snap one. Or two! I also understood the final step in the instructions this time. First time round I was quite tired but determined to fini...

A new year means new projects and yesterday I started two! Both are sampler quilts. Let me explain... About 18 months ago I decided to make a quilt for my Uncle. He had seen my Farmer's Wife quilt top and spent ages looking at it in great detail. When someone shows that much interest in a quilt it's not a hard decision to want to make one for them. Add in the fact that he has a habit of falling asleep on the sofa and it's easy. While he was there we worked out what size quilt he would need, and for Christmas I asked for the book of Sylvia's Bridal Sampler - I wanted to stick to 6" blocks and he really liked the jewel colours you get from using batiks but I was bored of the Farmer's Wife by this point. In February 2013 I bought the black batik background. And then I ignored it. Other projects took priority. Meanwhile I fell in love with a range of fabrics this time last year - Architextures by Caroline Friedlander. So much so that after ordering and playin...

2013 has been a year of ups and downs. Although we lost both my Grandmother and my husband's Grandfather, our niece was born in March, and two engagements mean two weddings next summer. It feels like I've been pregnant for ever but we are looking forward to meeting our baby daughter - she's due in just 6 weeks. Work has been challenging but I'm lucky to have worked with a fantastic group of people and my maternity leave has now started. And of course through everything I have been sewing.... I have completed 5 large quilts (some considerably larger than others...) Daniela's Quilt ; Pac Mania ; Medallion Quilt ; Steph's Quilt ; Debs's Quilt Nine Baby Quilts Murmurations ; Stepping Stones ; Baby Blue ; Indian Summer ; Bubbles ; EJ's Plus Quilt ; Rhubarb and Custard ; Baby's Quilt ; Baby Paws . And lots of smaller projects Paper Plane mug rug ; Pepper Coasters ; Block Keeper ; Swap Cushion ; Pembrokeshire Mini ; Triangle Place Mats ; C...

This was one of the projects on my Finish Along list - not a chance. But today I got a lovely parcel of fabric including the sashing and backing for this quilt so I pulled it out again and took stock: I had made up to block 65 and cut the fabric for most of the remaining blocks. So this afternoon I cut the remaining fabric, had a nap, and started piecing. Warning: there are a lot of photos coming up... No. 66: Aunty Catherine. This is a block for my Aunt, my Dad's sister. The fabrics are Kona Regatta, Kona Periwinkle and a batik. No. 67: Weardale. If you head south from here you hit the River Tyne and then the River Derwent and eventually the River Wear (pronounced like Weir). It's absolutely beautiful and was the location for a sewing retreat back in September. After a rough few months (before and after) with my pregnancy, it was so good to spend a weekend sewing, chatting with good friends and eating lovely food. The fabrics are Art Gallery Oval Elements, Art Gall...