Jennie's Threads

Oh yes - another one! This is one project which went through a lot of changes. The original plan was nine 6" swoon blocks in a traditional setting. I cut all the fabric. Made three blocks. Put it away. Had a baby. Pulled it out. Made another two blocks. Decided I was bored. But five blocks doesn't get me very far and I had loads of fabric ready cut. One Saturday evening I sat and randomly pieced together the remaining cut fabric. I then spent several evenings trying to put these random pieces together, limited by having only a fat quarter of the grey background fabric left. This is a kind of piecing that I DO NOT enjoy. It makes my head hurt. The resulting quilt is not entirely successful. I've called it Swooning in a Crowd because the Swoons don't stand out - which is a shame given how much work goes into them. The cross hatch quilting doesn't help - it hides them even more... I added a little hand quilting - just lines here and there. But again, the thr...

I've been working on lots of things these last few days that I haven't blogged about individually so I guess it's time to share! Everyone is having babies at the moment! Friends in Moldova welcomed their little baby boy this week (a little earlier than expected). Daddy is from the north east of England whereas Moldova is land-locked so I decided to make a quilt with a sea/boat theme and set about looking for boat patterns. I don't like doing raw-edge applique on baby quilts, and my needle-turn applique isn't always the strongest or neatest, so I was looking for a foundation pieced block. And I couldn't find any that I liked. So I designed my own. I haven't ever designed foundation patterns before, so this was a bit of a learning experience. I've so far designed a sailboat, a fishing boat and a lighthouse block. Each boat block will be made twice in different colours and I'll then add in four regular (easy) patchwork blocks to make up a nine patch. ...

I've rewritten this post a couple of times as I've changed my mind what I should put as my goal. Unless I rewrite it again, my goal for September is to finish my mini Swoon quilt. The original plan was 9 mini 6" Swoon blocks in a traditional setting. But I got bored piecing them after block 5, and I've started randomly piecing the already-cut-for-the-next-four-blocks pieces. I have no idea how this one will end up, but I'm looking forward to seeing. This is where I've got to so far... and I'm running out of grey Linking up my goal!

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 have some progress to report on a couple of projects I've talked about on a Wednesday before even starting them! First up is the baby quilt (for my Baby): I've now made two blocks of this pattern . I'm using English Paper Piecing to put this quilt together, which although slower involves sitting in an armchair, which my back seems to prefer. But I am still spending some time at my sewing machine. I got her back from her service on Saturday - apparently I use her so much that she should really be serviced every 8 months - there was no grease left (I can't oil her myself) and the fluff had compacted solid..... these are the first three mini Swoon blocks - each one is just 6". The one on the left isn't black, but a deep magenta I've also started piecing the Aspen Frost quilt in some very pretty Downton Abbey prints. But the thing I'm most excited about - this week has been a happy mail week (once I'd gone to the post office to pick...

I need a new project like I need a hole in the head! But that has never stopped me before. I've been stalking Pinterest for a few weeks now looking for ideas for a quilt for Baby and yesterday I finally found it. And I knew straight away this was the one , and I knew straight away the colours I wanted to use and the technique I wanted to use. http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/color-air So these are the fabrics I picked: Painters Canvas; Art Gallery; Lu Summers; Makower; Pearl Bracelets; Kona... I printed off the templates and I'm going to make it using English Paper Piecing.  So far I've started basting. I've also been working on some bee blocks (I'm behind again): this is one of two blocks for Stash Bee for October.  Because my Viking Sapphire is having its annual service, this old lady is having a run out - made in West Germany, smooth as anything! And if you recognise the brown, it's because I used it ...

That is exactly what happened yesterday! I got in from work, had a nap and then turned on my sewing machine! I cut, pieced and pressed and before I went to bed I had a 6" Swoon block! The half square triangle units finish at just 3/4"! One block down, two more cut this evening, 8 more to piece. The fabrics are a total mixture from my stash. In this block I've used Pearl Bracelets, and Kona Peony. The background is one of the new Kona's - Shadow - It's a lovely light delicate grey (far better than Butter which I had been thinking about).

October was a busy month and I am exhausted! I haven't linked in a while due to illness and then my only WIP last week being tidying my house - incredibly boring but necessary. This week I've been trying to catch up with some sewing, but all I really want to do is go to bed. This pregnancy thing is hard work! I've made a few more City Sampler blocks. These are nice and easy because I picked and cut all the fabric months ago in a moment of energy, so it's only a question of piecing and pressing. Block 61: Vienna: I lived in this beautiful city for 4 months in 2006 as part of my year abroad for University. I went back for a day during a stay in Budapest last year and it was lovely to be back - the Christmas markets were amazing, but my memories of Vienna are of the heat of the summer, swimming in the Danube and enjoying coffee and cake outside cafes while people watching. I did some studying too.... The fabrics are Kona Canary, Kona School Bus and Oval Elements...