A Bunch of Flowers

Day 6

of sitting with foot elevated

Today I  received a lovely surprise

A beautiful potted cyclamen flower from my beautiful daughter and son in law

and

also some beautiful flowers from  my In-laws

so inspired I  made my own bunch of flowers today

PC is of course helping with the auditioning of the fabrics for my flowers

so I did a pussy cat one

and

a few others 

Made me a bunch of flowers

sewing themed of course

have fun sewing

Kim

Hexagon Sewing Theme Quilt Project

4 days ago I had a foot operation,  3 days on pain pills & sitting  with foot elevated has lead  me to a new project, so I don't go completely nutty over the next 2 weeks, with  sitting & healing,  I needed a new project !!!!!!!

Now what can I do ?

I  have nothing prepared for hand stitching, every project I have is machine stitching.
I have my Accuquilt Go cutter… now can I use this sitting in a chair with my foot elevated….????
I think I can if I just get DH to bring out my portable sewing table I got when I was 12.
This is very Dangerous sending DH into my girl cave, he might see all the stuff I really have…

Now what Accuquilt cutting die do I want…..???

&

What fabric do I want to use?????

I have been collecting fabric with a sewing theme for the past 6 years & I would love to do something with them.

Oh NOOOOOOOOOO

I have to send DH into my stash cupboard to get my container of sewing theme fabrics…

 

Do I dare send him to my stash cupboard…..
There is no other way  to get it…. 
He returns with my very full container of fabrics…. with a smile…..pheeeeeeeeew


ok  Go cutter organised, fabric selected…
Now what pattern can I do or want to do….

When I first started quilting and patchwork in my 20’s I made hundreds of 2” hexagons, cutting each shape individually, cutting all the paper templates & then stitching them into flower shapes   but  somewhere along the line when we moved houses they were thrown out as rubbish..grrrrrrrr and I haven't made one since.

But I did buy the hexagon die when I purchased my Accuquilt go cutter.
Looking at my stash of themed sewing fabrics  I think the  largest hexagon in the Accuquilt dies  would be perfect  for my project as it would show off the different fabrics designs.

I have used a black sharpie to outline die

Ok now can I cut these out sitting with my foot elevated..???

First I need to make strips wide enough to go over the 5”hexagon shape

Now normally I would cut  the strips using a rotary cutter & mat but that isn't possible in this position so I roughly measure  the fabric across shape and did the old fashion rip along the grain line.

While this is using  more fabric  this is all about achieving the end results and I have stacks of fabric

now this strip, allows me to fold it over 3 times, but I can cut up to 6 layers at once

I then placed my well used protective mat over fabric & position the die to go threw the cutter.

Winding the handle until it is all threw the Go cutter..easy sitting in the chair

Removing the cutting matt of fabric  you can see the hexagon shape cut out.

Removing the outside excess fabric and stash in plastic bag for other projects…

and

I have 3 perfect hexagons, cut in 10 seconds that  it took me to roll it threw the machine

and best of all, my  foot is elevated  & healing. 

Now too roll, cut, roll, cut, the day away

I have sorted the hexagons  into  lights (creams, beiges and white) backgrounds

  and dark backgrounds.

that's enough for one day

am feeling a little tired

but excited about this project.

stay tuned to see what I create with these hexagons over the next two weeks

have fun sewing

Kim

Pencil Cases

I haven't have much spare time to sew on my projects over last few days with organising work stuff.
I did make a few pencil cases to inspire my class tomorrow.
They will be  learning to sew with a machine and  decorating fabric, to make & design their own pencil case.
Should be fun.

creating your own fabric  using crazy patch techniques and embellishing with buttons.

simple machine embroidery

recycled jeans leg

have fun sewing

Kim

Another Vintage Valentine block

As  my holiday’s come to a finish

&

my focus must go back to  preparing to go back to work, 

 I have completed another block .

so

 6 blocks done & the centre block done…

now

lets see how they will look on the wall

its been fun  getting them done

am happy with the results so far

I think the layout will have to be 4 across top row

With 2 underneath down each side of centre block.

Not sure I will fit more than that in.

maybe I’ll do  the remaining 4 blocks that should go underneath

  in a separate frame to go either side.

Have fun sewing

Kim

Another Everyday bag

just had to do another bag

this is a gift for my daughter

she loves everything black & white

I love this stitch on my Pfaff QE4

Stitch number 56 - length 9  - width 9
 I used a varigated black & white rayon embrodiery thread to embellish the seam edges.

that's my boy in the background PC

( he is a beautiful ragdoll cat who is the biggest sook & personality plus)

Again it is stripped pieces of fabric with a quilt as you go method on a foundation .

This time I did a contrasting red lining

and

I used boning in the handles to make them stand up……

some of  my past experiences of making wedding dresses

has its benefits with this project.

have fun sewing

Kim

Vintage Valentine Quilt

As  I  work my way through the blocks of this quilt,
 I am thinking there is an easier way to do this !!!!

the flower petals are driving me nuts they are so fiddley.

I think I bought something a few years ago at a fair that makes this easier…… 

(I am always buying some gadget at these fairs)

so off searching

I go through the drawers, cupboards..

mmmm  its a brown thingy I'm looking for….

yep found it..

an

Applique Mat

Now I  can remember being very impressed when I first seen this,
but instructions on the back of it are very basic.

So lets give it a go with the next block.

this will tested it out with all those little flower petals…..

Fabrics selected

block  instructions

1.  Flip the pattern  over & trace  the other side of the pattern with a dark marking pen,  ready to trace out shapes onto the applique fusing

2.  Select one fabric, then trace all the pieces that are using that fabric, onto the fusing webbing. E.g all the pieces using the  green check fabric.

Continue doing that for each fabric piece until all pieces have been traced onto the fusible webbing.

3. Iron fusible pieces onto the back of each fabric they correspond to.

All pieces fused ;-

I also mark the pattern shapes with its number and with a line on the side that will be underneath another piece of fabric on the block.

4. Trim around each piece  leaving  a narrow seam allowance that will slip under the connecting piece.

At this stage the paper backing is still attached to the pattern piece.

Next: I would then normally transfer the pattern to the fabric block  using a marker or lead pencil
 but
 using the applique mat there is no need to …( this saves time)

Examining the block, there are several components that make this block complete;
 several flower shapes as well as the hearts.

Create each flower separately  before putting them all together.

5. Select one flower component , find all the fabric pieces needed to make that flower.

I place the pattern right side up underneath the applique matt.
( you can see through the applique mat)

  then cut each piece out checking shape against  pattern and adjusting if necessary.

I use  my handing Clover Iron to iron the pieces into place.

To get pieces in correct order, the pattern has the sequence of numbers on each piece to tell you which piece to start with 
(always start with lowest number & build flower up finishing at highest number)

This step doesn't change whether you are hand appliqueing  or machine appliqueing.

6. Peel the paper off each  fabric piece  & in sequential order,  iron fabric down directly onto the applique matt,
with the fusible webbing going directly onto the mat
 &
 aligning each piece up with the pattern underneath.

now what makes this mat brilliant is:
  it doesn't melt
&
fusible webbing doesn't stick to it.
When it cools down
 the fabric peels off leaving the webbing intact
ready to fuse to your final fabric base.
The fusing only sticks to other fabric edges.

It is just brilliant.
Why haven't I used this before…

I forgot I had it!!!!!!!!

When the flower is created  & cooled  peel it off the mat
 

put aside and continue making all the components of the block in the same way.

then put the components together

Now ready to go on the block.

Completed fused block…. ready for machine blanket stitching.

Blocks done so far

8 blocks to go plus centre block

I  think I might fuse them all  down before stitching anymore…..

just so I can use that applique mat again.

So my review of the applique mat,

if you do fusible applique
&
you don't have one ,
go get one..

it is brilliant.

Kim