Cheddar Cheese & Crackers Quilt Top - Completed

Cheddar Cheese & Crackers.  Designer: Lori D. Size 25-1/2" square

Loved piecing this and a definite challenge for me.  Looks really super.  Hand quilting is in the pipeline but it may have to wait some.

I've heard some good reviews on the YLI thread for hand quilting.  So when there was an opportunity for a swap with Merilyn, I requested for it and in turn I sent some linen for her new cross stitching adventures.  Clearly a win-win situation!  So now to try it out and really see for myself what the hype is all about :)

Mary Glover after the completion of Part 2.  I must mention that instead of DMC 437 I've changed it to DMC 436.  436 showed better on the sand linen.  Part 3 is already out.  I am currently trying to complete 1 motif from Mary Wigham. 

6 Richmond

7 Log Cabin

8 Cotton Boll

The Civil War blocks are all caught up.  The Log Cabin block is wonky at best ... I can see why foundation paper piecing is used for Log Cabins.  I used Helen's instructions for the Cotton Boll block using the snowball method.  Their not my best work but it'll do for now.  Maybe I'm losing interest already ... I'll probably just do a few more enough for a lap quilt or a chair back and call it a day.

Move over Mary Wigham

 I had every intention to start on Mary Wigham until I read on Siobhan's blog (Thanks again Siobhan) that Emmanuelle was conducting a SAL on Mary Glover.  I could not resist.  So Mary Wigham has to wait for just a while longer.  I believe you can still register to partake in the SAL if you leave a comment on this post.

 Since there will be 1 over 1 stitching in a later section of the band, I thought I'd better go with 28ct Sand Cashel.  You know the old eyes.  I'm using DMC floss.  I am thinking of tea-dyeing the fabric after all the stitching is done. I think it'll make it look pretty old.  I'm trying to completed Part 2 this week.

CC & C to date.  A little slow for obvious reasons.

 On Monday, I bought a beginner fife in C.  It's like a flute but with a shriller tone.  It was displayed in the music shop window.  I used to play the recorder in school and thought a fife which has a different method of blowing would be more challenging.  Initially I couldn't even get a tone!  It was all air ... sigh ... I thought my lungs would collapse from all that blowing.  YouTube came to the rescue and I learnt how to blow with my embouchure on the lip plate etc.  I'm only now learning the fingering and notes slowly.  I'd like to play some Irish reels when I get better.  As my piano teacher used to scream at me ... practice practice practice!  I wonder if Jane Austen played the fife? Hmmm ....

Fancy Mug Rug

This was so fun and cute to make.  I've been warned not to spill tea on it! :) Slightly big at 6 1/2" x 10".  Gearing up for another, this time with selvedges. 

Lori's CC & C is coming along.  Slow and steadily.

While cutting 1 1/2" strips for the CC & C, I'm cutting extra for Kathie's Courthouse blocks.  A table topper will look good I think.

Mary Wigham by Needleprint.  Fabric: Tea-dyed 36ct Edinburgh Linen  Floss: DMC (as charted)

A long time WIP.  I am resurrecting it after being inspired by Lillie's progress.  I've completed 3 Parts out of 9.  Hope to complete it by year's end.

Happy Dance!

Friendship is a sheltering tree.  Designer: Prairie Schooler.  Book: More Friends.  Fabric: 32ct Antique White Belfast Linen.  Floss: DMC

 Some years ago Margaret W and I decided to stitch 10 blocks but I think I will stop at 4 :p and incorporate them into a wall hanging quilt.  Besides the other designs were a little more geometric for my liking.  Now I need to look into how best to design this quilt to showcase the cross stitch pieces. 

 I finished this piece in November last year and was thinking of finishing it as a sewing pocket.  I will finish it as a mug rug instead.  Should be an interesting finish.  I hear it's quite addictive.

CC & C to date.  3 more blocks to go before the 1/2 blocks.

Valentine Quilt Top - Completed

Size: 18 1/2" square.  Designed by Kathleen Tracy for Small Quilt Talk's Valentine Challenge

 

 I am not a pink person, however I will tolerate it in small doses. I added some blues into this Valentine Quilt.  I don't think Cupid is too happy :)

 I've started on Lori's Cheddar, Cheese & Crackers.  Lori did a quilt along last January.  It's a really interesting block at 4 1/2" square.  Have to be careful with the placement of prints.

 PS More Friends (Friendship is a Sheltering Tree) is almost finished.  There's still the bottom area with blocks of the same colour i.e. the grass, the lady's skirt.  We stitchers call this 'vast' expanse of one colour 'yawn stitching'.  Absolutely monotonous.  But it has to be done and I'd like to see it finished this week.

Midnight Stars Quilt Top - Completed

Midnight Stars Doll Quit.  Designer: Lori D. Size: 22" square

My thanks to Lori for hosting this wonderful QAL.  I really enjoyed myself making this quilt.  One of the setting squares had to be pieced because I only had a skinny quarter.  I don't know when I'll get it quilted but what I do know is it'll be a cheddar binding.

I've started again with the free star block quilt by Blackbird Designs.  I am using an older fabric collection also by Blackbird Designs called Beach House with Kona Snow.

The Civil War Block 5 Kansas Troubles is completed.  This was sure a challenge to get right, even then the points are not exactly perfect.

I have progressed some on Prairie Schooler's More Friends.  It's still on the frame and the lighting was bad to take a pic.  It's been drizzling the whole of yesterday and part of today.  Sure is cold lately.

Civil War Quilt Blocks 4/52 - Texas Tears

This was a tough block for me.  I did not piece the triangles correctly resulting in a wonky block.  I was aligning them until I read the Texas Tears block tutorial by Lilian.  I should have left a 1/4" tip on both ends.

More fooling around with house blocks.  This time I tried foundation paper piecing.  I couldn't get my head around how things worked on the reverse.  If truth be told, there was supposed to be two chimneys up there on the roof ... I calculated the height of the roof wrongly :( I think I'm losing grey matter rapidly.  But it's a good size now at 6 1/2" square.

Midnight Stars Doll Quilt Along blocks are all done and awaiting the next part.  Love it when things are on schedule.

Two tops in the works.  I did not like how the collar turned out for the shirt by Angela Kane, but I think I'll just complete it as a muslin and learning process especially for the sleeve placket  and cuffs.  Also to get a feel of sizing.  The blue one is another Patricia Tunic by Sis Boom.  I've had the fabric for yonks.

Midnight Stars Doll Quilt Along - Part 4

Lori blogged the instructions for Part 4 last night.  And this morning I was busy cutting up squares.  It goes along fairly quickly with chain piecing. Love the blocks and glad Lori encouraged me to give it a go since it's a 5" block which is small for me.

I clowned played around with a house block with some scraps.  Did not use the instructions of using a template for the roof.  I just winged it in my cockamamie way.  Ah well ... I'll just let it ferment a little ...

Prairie Schooler's  More Friends has been taking up my nights.  Absolutely adore this piece.  Feel quite motivated to get it done after seeing all those lovely cross stitch pieces from the girls!