The linky party!

So over at The Littlest Thistle the linky party has started and all the folks who bravely shared their works in progress (WIPs) have been busying themselves to finish some of their projects.

I went a bit mad and listed far more WIPs than I could possibly manage to complete here in this post. I have managed to complete a few of them but the rest will have to roll over to Quarter 3 of the Finish Along. 

Here's how I got on:

13) Alex's skirt - the link is here on Facebook.
22) New conservatory cushions - we love them! I wrote a post about them here.
23) Baby quilt - for my gorgeous little Ehsan the post is here 

and also 25) Scrappy Floor Cushion - which I finished just the other day:

This was fun to make! I used up lots of scraps, just sewing them together in random strips and then piecing the strips together to make larger ones until I had quite a large piece of patchwork. 

I used a round plastic lid to draw two circles for the top and bottom and quilted them to an old flannelette blanket for a bit more stability! The side gusset was a strip cut to the length of the circumference of the circle which I backed with medium weight iron-on interfacing to stiffen it a little.

I used ricrac in the seam round the top and added a zip in the bottom side seam to enable the cushion to be put inside (it was still a work of art getting it in there as I used a large, plump and fluffy Ikea cushion which I bought in their 'bargain corner' for £2). 

It is heading to my friend Laura's house - for her lovely cat Xeno!

I have also been busy with my Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt ... but more about that in another post.

Don't worry, I have it covered!

When my hubby bought a second hand conservatory suite I must say I wasn't too impressed. The structure was solid but the covers were dated and had seen better days.

"We'll just get new cushions," he said, which got me thinking. There was nothing wrong with the cushion pads themselves, it was just the fabric that looked like it had seen better days. It had been repaired a few times and wasn't exactly what I would have chosen for style.

I have made loose covers before. For a few different items: suites, chairs armchairs and chaise lounges. I knew that although I needed lots of fabric it wasn't difficult,especially if you had an existing set of covers or a shape to follow. I also knew that I had in my stash some canvas weight furnishing cotton. It was the remainders of a roll of fabric I bought called Mintern, from Laura Ashley. It was left from curtains I made for my Kitchen in my previous house. I still have the cups and the table mats to match. 

My SIL got roped in to help me salvage the zips from the old covers and cut off the seams to prepare the old covers as pattern pieces. It was good to have some company as it was a rather monotonous task. I think it also demonstrated to her that if you start somewhere it isn't too difficult!

I sewed for a few evenings ... taking up the kitchen table as the fabric was heavy and I needed extra space. I also lined the cushion back pads, to allow me to take the covers off without disturbing the padding again.

I made about 15 meters of red piping (from some Laura Ashley Bacall in Raspberry) and am really pleased that I decided to pipe the cushions. This is the finished suite:

Here's a better picture of one of the chairs:

It was a big project and I'm really pleased with the results! 

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

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! 

Am I Mad?

I have read with keen interest some of the fabulous blogs that are joining in with this years Finish Along 2014 hosted by Katy at The Littlest Thistle. I missed the first quarter, so I have had a few weeks to prepare to share all some of my unfinished works in progress (WIPs) and to sort out which I think I might be able to finish .... at some point soon.

I think I would like to quote Yvonne over at Nellie's Niceties when she explained her reasons for joining in:
"It is such a good idea to share with like minded people your plans to finish projects and then look back to see what you have all, hopefully, achieved.  Or at least the steps toward finishing that you have taken."

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

So without further a do here is my list:

1) Maddie's cushion: This will be a replacement - unfortunately the first one I made (shown in the photo on the left) was stolen from the car while we were on holiday! I have made several of these already and they have gone down very well with the little people they belong to. I have completed the top, cut out the sides and base, but not started the rest.

2) Arthur's cushion: Similar to Maddie's cushion, but actually a little further on. I love these bright colours ... I find I struggle to get inspired by fabrics for boys sometimes.

3) Alex's hexie quilt: Some of these hexagons were started over 30 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.They came in a bag of stuff with a "could you do something with these?" suggestion, from my SIL who knows I like sewing. I have already split them up and have added more. I made some into a cushion for my SIL and I completed a smaller quilt for my niece so she had something of grandma's to keep.

4) 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.

5) Alex's curtains: The material is Bacall, purchased from Laura Ashley in the apple colour way, ready for a newly decorated bedroom that without these isn't quite finished yet. Not a good photo, it's all in a plastic bag.

6) 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.

7) 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.

8 - 12 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:
     
8) Stanley's cushion: A footballer to go with his bedroom.

9) Arthur's cushion: A footballer to go with his bedroom.

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

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

12) Thomas's cushion: A footballer - Thomas is my colleagues little boy, he's 3.

13) Alex's skirt: I bought this cute Paris fabric with a plan to make her a skirt for the summer. She's quite fussy though and I'm not sure if she's quite sure what she wants yet ... this will be interesting.

14) Georgiana's cardigan: Started about 7 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 7 years to finish! 

15) 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:

16) 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!

17) 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).

  

18) 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?

19) 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.

20) 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.

21) William's quilt: This was started over a year 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 earlier this year I haven't even attempted to do any more with it. He has now been in his room a good 3 months ... I will have to attempt it once I feel I can manage. (Maybe a little at a time.)

22) New conservatory cushions: Nick bought a conservatory suite second hand and although it was described as in excellent condition ... the covers were truly shocking! I have some Laura Ashley fabric left from curtains I made in our house in Hull which I think will do the trick nicely and brighten it up for the springtime.

23) Baby quilt: I was delighted to hear yesterday that a former colleague of mine has had a baby boy. He sent me a picture and I popped into the Maternity unit tonight for a little peak. Don't you just love an excuse to make a baby gift? I have pulled some fabric tonight ... as if I haven't got enough to complete!

24) Embellished washcloths: I bought some Krama washcloths from Ikea the other weekend after I came across a great post from Probably Actually here: Divided baskets. I think Nova Flitter is actually responsible for the inspiration, although I can't find any elephant fabric which seems to be a must.

25) Scrappy Floor Cushion: I want to make use of the scraps I have saved, sewn together and not made anything of yet. I thought a floor cushion would be a good idea.

 I think this will be enough to share of my WIPs ... for now! Thanks Nessa for the reminder, I noticed you have completed one of your projects already!