WIP's - What I have been working on.

This week I tried a new way of sandwiching my quilts. I have been researching different ways of sandwiching quilts that did not break your back or kill your knees. I have been using my sewing table which is quite large to drape all the layers over and slip and slide it around to baste it together, however I now have a hole in my table for my sewing machine which limited the space I could pull tight and baste. After using google (my best friend these days) I decided to try rolling the layers on timber planks so to speak. I headed off to Bunnings (local hardware store) and purchased 3 x 2.7m thin planks of timber and headed home to roll the top, backing and batting onto them.

Once home I found rolling the batting the hardest and most back breaking - but then using my small kitchen table was not probably the best idea as had way to much over hanging, so next time I will try the floor as hopefully I don't need to get down on the floor to do this. Getting down is the easy part but getting back up again is a whole other story...lol not to mention how much the hard floor hurts my back and knees. Anyway I managed to get the batting rolled up - a little wonky but it was rolled up. I then used my new ironing table to roll the top and backing which wasn't as hard as the batting.

Then it came time to make the sandwich, I must say this is a much better way to sandwich the quilt even though I did it on my small kitchen table with lots of over hang, I definitely preferred the way you have control of the layers and tightness of them together. I was only able to baste a little bit at a time but by being able to see each layer as you lay it out and smooth it, tighten it before adding the next layer is definitely better then the way I was doing it. On my last quilt before this I ended up skating very close to the edge of the backing and nearly ended up with the writing on the edge being on the back of the quilt as I couldn't see if I was aligned properly. This new way allows you to adjust the different layers as needed as you can always see where each layer will go.

Rolling the top

The other end of the top roll.

Here is a photo of the sandwiching process.

So I also did some work on my Diamond Hill quilt as well and thought I need to start making those little diamonds for the border. The pattern offers different ways of doing these however I chose the paper piecing method without the paper and they are excruciating to make but they have the WOW factor once finished and definitely give you a great feeling of satisfaction once they are complete. Though while I was making these I did keep thinking about those on the facebook page that had applique's the diamonds on and that it would have been quicker to do that, however I believe you start as how you intend to finish and as I started to do them this way I was to continue to do them this way for the whole project. I also finally started to starch my edges over on the second border applique pieces.

Once the squares were completed to trim down I lined up the points of the diamond on the cutting mat with the lines on the mat. I just eyeballed the lining up.

Then I used my ruler to line up with the lines on the ruler with the ones on the mat and left a 1/4 inch seam allowance from the diamond point.

Then sewed together matching points and seams.

During the week I had a little visitor come visit me in my sewing room while I was squaring up these tiny blighters. It appears my daughters new budgie likes my sewing room especially my sewing machine and fat quarter's every chance he gets when he is out of his cage he tries to head for my sewing room. My daughter has only had him for a couple of weeks and he already is happily sitting on her shoulder and finger and starting to try and mimic a clicking sound we are constantly saying to him. I keep teasing her that the budgies first word will be the dog's name Buddy as we are constantly saying his name especially when he is out of his cage as the dog thinks they should become best friends and keeps harassing the bird to sniff it and push it around.

Well I feel like I have accomplished a lot this week on different projects as I feel I have been neglecting some of my projects as the Garden Window quilt kept me busy for quite a while and the wedding quilt is turning into a very quick quilt with me already starting the FMQ though I must say I am having difficulty in working out what to FMQ and where as this quilt came together so fast I didn't get my usual time to process what I think would look good on each section but never mind I am slowly working that out and hope what I choose will look good.

Until next time - Have a great week.

Garden Window Completed

Wow another week has come and gone so quickly. Well I have been very busy this past week between work, sewing, and family drama I feel I have accomplished a lot this week. No wonder I feel very tired and it's only Tuesday.

Where to start - I finally completed the Garden Window quilt, it is all FMQ and binding all sewn down. It was a great feeling to finish. So here is the picture I promised last week as it has been washed and finally the wind had died down long enough for me to get a photo (very early in the morning mind you).

I then moved onto a quilt for my old neighbours that became good friends for their wedding in December 2017. I started this last week and have completed the top and pillow cases this week. Now all I have to do is sandwich it and FMQ it. I have always wondered why people loved the HST for quilts, I now know. If you need a really quick quilt do HST, I can't believe this quilt went together so quickly and I even embroidered some of the squares on my embroidery machine.

So without further ado here are some photo's to enjoy.

The Pillow Cases:

The quilt top

The three middle squares have been machine embroidered

As you can see I have been rather busy but then my daughter has been working a lot last week which helped as I sew while I wait for her to finish at night, it helps keep me awake.

So till next time, go ahead and sew :).