The tale of 2 Quilts.....

Once upon a time, a stitcher called Veronika started a quilt for her daugher. She jokes that it was 'years ago' but infact I think it was only last September. It took the best part of two terms to make, just 2 hours a week, and V spent quite alot of time just laying out the fabric and planning her creation. Don't we all just love to do that??

Well, here it is and what a quilt!! There were a few 'tweaks' along the way and we had to trim the edges before V bound it because some of the layers didn't match up. But what a quilt!!

Lovely work....

And then there was another story, V has another child and she needed to make him a quilt just as lovely BUT QUICKER!!

So with a bit of searching and re-arranging of fabric, we came up with this simple plan of bands of print and some applique.

Sorry you have to crick your necks!!

Veronika was tempted occasionally to 'add' a few bits and I was guilty of suggesting different things, it's my job to inspire and suggest, but she kept her mind on the job and finished this one in 6 sessions. Not as complicated, but just as lovely.

The quilt is not quite finished yet, the binding still has to be hand stitched round, but Marco knows it is his already.

Well done V!

Summer stitching

This little chap was made in a week by one of my new stitchers, I didn't even manage to 'blog' about her starting the project before he was finished! So here is the lovely elephant in all his glory. The pattern is taken from the Magazine SewHip! and has worked really well. There are lots of great 1st time patterns each month and well worth a look.

He needs a bit more stuffing really, but I do like this exhausted elephant look, I know how he feels!!

Emma is now so taken with stitching that she has bought a whole load of patches from ebay and is planning a quilt for her new bedroom. She hasn't got a sewing machine yet, so we were planning some applique and embroidery to do on the centre panel to keep up the great work.

The colours are looking lovely and I think it will be a great mix of prints, very inspiring.

Half term round up

This is the beginning of a new project foe Leanne. She arrived today with a play for a Haribo cushion for her son ( his favourite sweets) and after doing some research into shapes and colours and possible designs - we just had to go and buy a bag.

We came up with this plan:

Some lovely felt colours, contrasting bears and squares and contrasting stitching for the detail. We are on half-term next week, but I hope Leanne will be able to crack on with this project. It should love lovely....

Now back to an ongoing project from the very creative Sue. This is the book for her son, based on his favourite nursery rhymes and stories. The Owl and the Pussy Cat, its waiting for the Pig, Turkey and the Land where the Bong Trees grow - cannot wait for that, great work!

I hear thunder.....
The Grand Old Duke of York......

This is an idea for the from cover. Unfortunately, Sue admitted, it was put together with no planning and we had to struggle and think of a few options for turning it into a proper cover for the book. It is one disadvantage of working at 2am when you are having trouble sleeping. "It looked ok then". I think we have come up with the best solution, hope so anyway...

New Stitchers-lovely stitching

Lets get this straight from the start, I can take NO credit for this work!! Lesley started the beading 8, yes 8 years ago and it is a spectacular UFO (Un Finnished Object)!!

However, she has now found some time with her new baby, to come along and join our crafting group in the Children's Centre, hurray!

I have advised that she doesn't cover the whole flower, which was the original plan, but just highlights areas. This will add more depth to the work and save hours of time.

I have also suggested that she mounts it in a circular embroidery frame and then it will make a beautiful gift for a lucky member of her family!

Olivia's first venture into sewing and she has made a delightful 'Eskimo' character, just lovely. NB, I am probably not allowed to say Eskimo anymore, but I cannot think of another way of describing this lovely 'wool clothed' little person!

Emma is new to the class and has not sewn before, but she is amazing me and herself with this group of animals: first was the fish, then the cat.

Then the cheese (which her husband does not think it looks like cheese, but I think it does here). The 'cheese' was closely followed by a mouse and a sausage dog - great work.

Leanne decided to make a mobile for her son and has worked really well the project. Her stitching has become more confident over the weeks.

She is now working on another small project to practice her stitching even more, before embarking on something larger, great work and growing with confidence each week.