Jennie's Threads

The Mini Medallion, which I pieced at the start of summer is now DONE! The pattern is by Corey Yoder and was shared on Sew Mama Sew during May . I got totally hung up on the quilting. I wasn't keen on the straight line quilting of the original quilt but couldn't think of anything I liked better. After much deliberation I decided to quilt it with a spiral. Unlike previous spiral quilting attempts I've spray basted this quilt.... it wasn't all hunky dory - I had some serious issues with the machine skipping stitches, but I didn't have as much issue with the fabric moving and there are no puckers on the back of this quilt . The binding was sat for months, neatly made and wound up so it's nice to finally be attaching it - no more chances to lose it! I couldn't believe how much the yellow binding changed the look of the whole quilt! The fabrics are Architextures and Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander, Minimalista, Modernology and Urban Mod Pointelle by...

Another medallion quilt has been on my to do list for quite some time now. Although my first medallion quilt wasn't a great experience (one of the borders didn't fit and I'd run out of fabric to re-cut leading to a bit of a hash job) I really wanted to try again. About a month ago Sew Mama Sew announced two spring sew-alongs, one being the Mini Medallion quilt . At only 25" x 25" finished and coming just after my successful Cheerio Mini Quilt , I pulled some fabric together. These colours are a bit outside of my comfort zone: turquoise, navy, coral and yellow - my next quilt will definitely have green in it! It's taken a while to put the quilt together, a border as often as possible, in between other projects - I seem to be juggling a fair bit at the moment - it's great! 80 HST in this border.... that was quite the pressing and trimming session... ...and I really struggle to get these square in a square blocks accurate unless I foundation...

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...

I got this quilt finished last Saturday but haven't had a moment spare to put together this post since. At the end of September I went on a quilting retreat and the project was a Medallion quilt. I'd never made a Medallion quilt before and I have to admit that it hadn't ever really been on my radar as a "must try". I am now a convert. Except for the long seams which I hate sewing, I really enjoyed piecing this quilt top. The central star is templates (which I suffered well). The first pieced border is flying geese and I learnt a fantastic new technique for making four at once - unfortunately baby brain means I have entirely forgotten it.  The next border is square in a square. Had I been doing this at home I would definitely have foundation pieced these blocks, as they were not as precise as I would have liked. And the final border was templates again. There were a few issues with this border, but with a couple of tweaks I had a finished quilt top. Mi...

October has been such a busy month - work, holidays, illness, family. But not as much sewing as I would have liked. Michael and I enjoyed a long weekend in the Lake District - a first and last holiday with just the two of us. The weather was dubious, but when you could see the landscape in between torrential rain showers it was stunning. This is one of my favourite spots in the Lakes - Elterwater in Great Langdale. Last weekend was my little brother's engagement party. This time next year Michaela will officially be part of the family! Yep - I have a Michael and my brother has a Michaela! We're just trying to confuse Mum. In between this I have done some sewing: I finished a baby quilt - Baby Paws. I've been working on the Medallion quilt - this is finished and just as soon as I have the time I'll do a full ta-dah post for it. I've done some City Sampler blocks, but I am a bit behind on these little blocks - the fabrics are cut, but I haven't had...

This is my Medallion quilt. Last Friday we basted it - somewhat unsuccessfully to start with - I love my husband, but basting isn't his thing! And tonight I have started quilting. I've stitched about 1/8" inside the red borders on each side. bad lighting, but you can see the quilting I also plan to do some hand quilting - some kind of motif in the corner stones and in the centre. So my question is, do you think it needs more than that, and if so, what? I am out of ideas.... Linking up with WIP Wednesday.

I have a finished quilt top to share! The medallion quilt I started last weekend now has all its numerous borders! The final border was a bit of a challenge but with a slight change to the pattern it went together ok. The fabrics are a total mixture picked by my Godmother, and when this is finished it will be a gift for her. I bought the batting and backing (above) today so hopefully that will be soon! I just need my husband to come back from a stag weekend and help me baste!

Looking back at September I'm quite proud with what I achieved! I have a finish, which I shared yesterday - my Rhubarb and Custard Quilt ! I am up to date on bee blocks (at least I was until today!) I was up to date on the Lucky Stars BOM and now have a plan. I've made a couple of Dear Jane blocks And I had a fantastic weekend at Horsley Hall and started a new quilt. And I made myself a hot water bottle cover ! Linking up with Lily's Quilts

I have just got back from an amazing weekend retreat! It was organized by Kim and Debbie from our Local Quilt shop. The venue was Horsley Hall in Weardale - it's about an hour's drive away from where I live and the journey is through some beautiful countryside, especially over the moor before dropping down into Weardale. Just a few minutes outside of Stanhope but it felt like the middle of nowhere. The Hall was gorgeous - this was the great hall where we ate and sewed and the drawing room, where we cut, pressed and relaxed There were 23 of us - some I knew, some I didn't - we did nearly as much chatting and laughing as we did sewing! The project for the weekend was a medallion quilt designed by Kim and Debbie and found in their second book "Shopping Days" which is inspired by nearby Beamish Museum. I'm using fabrics chosen by my God Mother - it will be a present for her and I want to get it finished before Baby comes. I made really goo...