Finish Along 2015 Quarter 1

Last year I joined in the 2014 Finish Along hosted by Katy at The Littlest Thistle, although I missed the sign up for a few of the quarters it did make me list and complete some of my works in progress (WIPs).

I felt motivated to try again this year with the 2015 Finish Along (FAL 2015) now being hosted by Adrianne at On the Windy Side a reference to Wellington, NZ where she lives and apparently it is windy! The rules for the challenge are here: FAL 2015


The 2015 Finish-Along Link

The idea is to list your WIPs (proposed finishes) at the beginning of the quarter and link to Adrianne's 'linky party'. Then, during the quarter as you complete your projects you can blog about them or post photos on Instagram or Flickr linking back to the 'finish linky party' at the end of the quarter.

So without further a do here is my list (some of which have rolled over from previous WIP lists):

1) Alex's hexie quilt: Some of these hexagons were started nearly 40 years ago by my hubby's mum. She died too young in early '82 and I was given the unfinished hexagons and cardboard templates during a clearing out session a few years ago. It is a finished top now (which is progress from 2014) we have chosen a backing fabric but I have not bought the batting yet.

2) Paletina pillow: This shouldn't be too difficult, the front is finished, everything is cut out. I have the zip and just need to sew it all together .... not sure where it is hiding at the moment!

3) Alex's curtains: Because I broke my elbow last year we managed without these and I sort of forgot they needed doing until recently. I love the material from Laura Ashley. It is called Bacall and is in the apple colour way. Not a good photo, it's all in a plastic bag. I need a whole weekend to spread out on the kitchen table so this won't get finished anytime soon!

4) Maddie's Cardigan: Knitted and partly sewn up, the project isn't finished as I'm not happy with the edge of the hood, so I've had to pull it out and need to reknit it on smaller needles. I need a couple of evenings to get this finished ... and some motivation which has escaped me!

5) Maddie's 'Frozen' costume. I have the fabric and a pattern ... just need to get started.

6) Draft excluder: A prototype I started to test out the heat 'n' bond. I have the houses appliquéd but have not completed the details on the doors and windows so they need doing before I can sew it up and use it. I like it so far ...

7 - 11 are based on a design from Kellie at Don't Look Now called Worry Dolls I have cut out all the little people resembling my nieces and nephews to make them cushions:
     
7) Stanley's cushion: A footballer to go in his bedroom.

8) Arthur's cushion: A footballer to go in his bedroom.

9) Georgiana's cushion: A girl (looks like her).

10) Maddie's cushion: A girl (made from fabric from her baby clothes).

11) Thomas's cushion: A footballer - Thomas is my colleagues little boy, he's nearly 4.
 
12) Georgiana's cardigan: Started about 8 years ago this will no longer fit my daughter so it's heading for my niece. It just needs a ribbon and some appliqué flowers. I hope it doesn't take me another 8 years to finish! 

13) Puddlejumper 1: Started last year, I was really happy with this - until my niece tried it on. She's long in the body and it was clear this was going to be too small for her to wear over warm clothes, so it got abandoned. This photo was taken at the cutting out phase:

14) Puddlejumper 2: Started last year at the same time as the one above, all I did was cut this out. It got packed away with the one above and I forgot about it until I found it the other day. I have someone in mind for this but have not dug it out yet.

15) Daisy Kingdom coat: This Simplicity pattern (2778 on the left) was one I fell in love with and bought several years ago but I could never find double sided fleece. When pink/orange reversible fabric turned up in a local store (The Shuttle) I bought it and then couldn't locate where I had kept the pattern! I think the design is the same as pattern 4515 (on the right) which is shown in the type of fleece I have bought. I know a couple of folks have made it already and it looked great (some Flickr photos of Charity's coat).

  

16) Fingerless gloves: I have started these in a lovely soft Alpaca wool and have got them almost finished ...

17) My contribution to the UK Mini Quilt Swap, one of a couple of swaps I am in.

18) My contribution to the Rainbow Mini Quilt Swap, another one of my current swaps.  

19) Wigwam: I must get round to making a few of these for the summer. I have some fabric and plans in my head but have not yet drafted the pattern. I feel excited about this but I know it will take up a fair bit of space to 'manufacture' them. This photo came from a Laura Ashley photo shoot and was in the 2009 catalogue .... doesn't it make you feel like packing up for a picnic? 

20) Georgiana's cape: Alex has one that she loves and would like her cousin to have one to dress up with her in when they go 'adventuring' in the garden. The Vogue pattern needs adapting slightly for size but the fabric and trimmings are ready.

21) Postage stamp quilt: for years I have been 'salvaging' 2" squares from scraps of material that are left from other projects or are simply not big enough to make anything else from. I'd love to turn these into a quilt similar to Red Pepper's quilt in this link Postage Stamp Quilt Tutorial. She made hers from strips.

22) William's quilt: This was started over two years ago with the intention of it being ready for my son's new room. I did not have a studio at the time and it came out in the bedroom occasionally if I could set up a space to work in, or I would take it on holiday. It has been stored away waiting for me to get back to it, I have a ton of excuses as to why it has not been first on my list however it is denim and heavy so since I broke my elbow last year I have done very little with it. He was away for the summer months of 2014 in Michigan at Indian Trails Camp and I had hope to complete it for his return - it didn't happen! I'll have to attempt it soon.

23) Baby quilt 1: I heard a while ago that one of my neighbours has adopted a baby boy. This baby quilt has now been cut out in some cute Urban Patch fabrics and strung together but I still need to complete the piecing of the top and make it into a quilt.

24) Baby quilt 2: A month or so ago I also found out that an old colleague of mine, now living in Cyprus, had a baby girl. She sent me a picture and I couldn't believe how much I missed her. Don't you just love an excuse to make a baby gift? I have not yet completed the top but it's a girly version of the one above!

25) My 'afternoon tea' quilt. similar to the one I made for my Schnitzel & Boo mini quilt swap partner, but in brighter colours.

26) Some pot mitts for friends and family - including our special folks in the USA and I need to make a tutorial too and post it here.

This will definitely be enough to keep me going ... It will be great having an additional incentive to get things done!

For Baby Kazmi

I was delighted to hear that one of my previous colleagues, Tahier, had been blessed with a little baby boy a few weeks ago. They called him Ehsan meaning "perfection" or "excellence".

Both mum and baby were recovering nicely when I popped into the Maternity Ward late one night to see them. I was made very welcome and treated to dates and Gulab Jamun, a small syrupy doughnut ball which is a traditional type of sweet pastry served to guests. 

Knowing that he will no doubt be swamped with gifts and that there are strong links with Pakistan and patchworking I decided to make Baby Ehsan a more traditionally British patchwork quilt.

I started with lots of 2" squares cut from the Benartex Cool Britannia range of fabric (some of which had been happily 'rescued' from the scrap bin in The Skep). I had bought some of the Crowns fabric in dark blue in their sale and so I decided that this would make a great border, with white dot minky fabric for the backing. 

Cool Britannia - Landmark, Crowns & Cityscape

As it's a fairly easy design didn't take any photos of the piecing. I sewed the 2" squares together in a random order and placed them together to form rows, taking care not to place any two squares of the same print together. Normally it would take me a while to order the placement of squares on each row ensuring an even distribution of colours and prints. However as I didn't have lots of spare squares to play with, I didn't worry if there was not an order to the pattern on this occasion. 

I then sewed the rows together trimming the edges to ensure a crisp finish adding a small trim to the top and bottom of the squares before completing it with the outer border. Some of my squares were a little narrow, I had 'help' cutting them at the time! This means that the piecing does not join accurately at the corner of each square along the rows. 

When the borders were added I was amazed how quickly I had a quilt top! Generally I have not added chunky borders before, but this time I wanted room to quilt them with a free-motion pattern. Having added a fairly light batting, I basted the top and stitched in lines over the squared centre. This was not quite in the ditch at the points the squares didn't align, I suppose it helps to highlight the stitching which contrasts with the fabric. Hopefully it will add to the 'handcrafted' feel. This photo gives you an idea of the central panel although the colours are a little distorted:

I then drew a few bus outlines as templates on squared paper and, having had a quick practice run on a 5" square of fabric with batting to ensure tension was up to scratch, I pinned the bus templates to the outer border in various places.

Using free-motion quilting I then stipple stitched with buses 'drawn' at the points I had pinned the templates. I adjusted the exact position of the buses as I went, to fit with the stipple stitching. Once I had the outline stitched I removed the paper. This was a painful process for some of the buses and I resorted to a pin to wheedle the last bits free.

I have now had lovely cuddles with little Ehsan, isn't he just adorable! Tahier and Umal not only loved the gift but they have promised me lots more cuddles and have already sent me photos of him with the quilt in use!

Baby quilts are not just for bedtime ... I think they are so handy for tummy time, additional warmth in the car or buggy and as additional comfort & padding for a shopping trolley, swing or highchair!

I am linking up this finish with Kate's Finish Along as this is on my Q2 list of things I hoped to complete!