Handbag - Switchback

 I love a good challenge and on my list of new things to try was making a handbag. Where to start .... I had bought some supplies, just could not get started. There is a French quilt shop that sells quilting fabrics and patterns and other cute things (link). The owner started a sew-a-long and I decided to participate. The bag in question is the switchback from "Made by Annie". A good thing the original pattern in English was part of the package - if I had to rely on the French version I would have never gotten to the end. 

The end result is this great colorful bag made from Kaffe Fassett fabric that I will be using a lot. On to the next.

Feathers SAL February finish

My feathers top is finished. And she is a beauty. The pattern is by Alison Glass and Nydia Kenhle. And the fabric is from Alison Glass bought as a kit and a selection from different Sun Prints, Ellipse and Cross Stitch.

 

Those colours - so vibrant - if shipping and taxes had not become so expensive I could just buy kilos of the Alison Glass fabric. Why was I so slow in discovering this fabric line?

The pattern calls for paper piecing - and I do like the precision of the final product. The high waste factor is a minus .... and so is removing all the paper. Maybe some more folding of the quilt and the different paper pieces might make it easier to remove. I managed to keep up with the schedule of the sew-a-long and finish in time

Or maybe I should have Sindbad roll a bit more all over the quilt to soften the paper ...

Linking up with Patti's OMG for February over at Elm Street Quilts

OMG December

 December is going to be a crazy month. Starting with St Nicolas celebrations in the Netherlands. And then the rush to get Christmas cards out, think of gifts that I can make that of course never happen ...... least this year as I will maybe need to empty out my sewing room (also my office space now because of teleworking) as we need to extend the heating system. This implies drilling through a one meter thick wall ... generating kilos of dust.

So not much creativity is expected this month.

 So my OMG for December will be to finish my hexagon candy quilt. Top is finished and needs to be quilted and bound.

 

Linking with Patty's OMG at Elm Street Quilts, turns out I started participating in 2017, the year the OMGs started.

Color Jolt QAL

September was a good crafting month .... and not yet finished ... am on a roll.

 

I finally finished my quilt - binding and all. 

 

This quilt started somewhere Q3 or 4 2020 and the top was finished in November 2020. I sandwiched the top earlier this year and somehow just would not progress. This had to change. I added finishing this batik beauty to my OMG list in the hope that this would push me to finalize. I had to add this to another challenge (the wips-b-gone list - 100 last days of the year challenge) to get going. Having a finished top laying around more than one year seems to be a too long.

I had started with straight (more or less) horizontally accross and then some more vertically across. And then the little block ... no idea what to do with them .... nothing seemed to inspire .... so decided to quilt diagonal lines, using one of the diagonal sashing as the basis and work across.  Up close, the quilting looked awful .. to me and I almost threw the quilt out. Took a deep breath, layed the quilt on the floor and stepped back .... and loved it again ... from 2 meters away the total looked good. 

 With new energy finished the quilting and the binding three evenings later.

 The backing is solid purple and some African batik.

Linking up with September OMG from Elm Street quilts.

OMG September

The weather this week is so good and am enjoying the nice temperatures - not too hot and not too cold in the evenings either so we can still eat outside.

Over lunch spent some 15 minutes cutting branches and was contemplating if I should go back to my blog after two months. Either going back or not all ???? Not going back lost!. Part of the blogging pleasure is boosting myself to finish projects, and to get more ideas for which I have absolutely no time. Only to be sidetracked for more projects calling to me.

 

Some finishes are in order and these are mostly my July goals.

1) Color Jolt QAL quilt top

 I made some progress and FMQ-ed straight lines across and in the length. Next step decide how to quilt the blocks. Am thinking diagonal lines across, maybe in pink. If I would go for white the thread would stand out to much on the red fabric. Red thread would stand out too much on the white sashing. Or maybe I zig-zag across the rows, or in each block.

2) Knitted socks

Both socks are knit and still waiting for the final step. They will be useful this winter, even if I am completely not happy with the result so far.

3) Swap

I love swaps, just don't always have enough time to participate. Making something for someone else is so nice, even if you don't know who the other person is. The challenge is definitely part of this. I have made several things this year - things I would otherwise not have tried. Am now working on an autumn inspired cushion cover. As this is a surprise for my secret partner (or actually I am the secret partner) no pictures until the project is send . Autumn colours for sure.

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for the September OMG. Hopefully this month I will finish a few projects.

Sewcialites top

 Not sure what happened to summer. One day she arrived .... only to pay a short visit or so it felt. Not much crafting happened ... all weekends were busy. We managed to go see my family in July so two weekends out, took a week off so another two weekends gone. The ever optimist, I brought some knitting work with me that I started last year, frogged the whole lot and re-started. Not much progress as we were camping and did not have electricity. Looking at the stars was more fun then trying to knit, clearly.

In June I finished all the blocks of my sewcialites blocks and started assembly.

Only to take it out partially in July as one block (the same one each time) had a way of its own and played rebel. 

 

 

So that was my July project ... just waiting to be written about.

 

 

OMG July

July is here and so is summer. My list of projects to be finished is slowly getting shorter .... and my list of new projects and ideas is getting longer and longer.

 

My July projects are:

1) Color Jolt qal quilt top

The quilt top was made end of 2020 and basted earlier this year ... and then no more progress. The basted top was waiting and staring at me asking to be finished. 

 

 

 

 

 2) Knitted socks

Both socks are knit and waiting for the final step of closing the toes.

 

3) Destination quilt along

I so not need a new project .... this one is just to difficult to resist. Last year I participated and had so much fun, so the theme of this year .... different surprise destinations each time. Between each block there is a time span of two weeks ... so this should be feasible

 Slice of Pi Quilts, one of the blogs I follow, is one of the organizers/designers

 

4) Sewcialites qal

36 blocks sewn over a period of 36 weeks. Final assembly to be done this month.

Linking up with Patty's July OMG at Elm Street Quilts

June finishes

Halfway the year 2021 and am making a little dent in my projects to be finished - only to get side tracked by new projects, ideas .....

On the knitting front I almost finished a pair of socks, both are done and the only pending is finishing the toes with the kitchener stitch of both socks. Maybe because I don't really like the yarn ... not difficult to knit - just not what I expected. My favourite sock yarn is definitely West Yorkshire Spinners. And I have some yummy colours waiting for me.

I did finish a scarf for my youngest - he choose the colours .... and that was it ... supposedly he was going to learn how to knit himself .... another day/year ....

I started a scarf for the eldest which progresses nicely, no thinking required and can be done in front of the tv  and this is one of those "no-rush" projects. 

On the quilting front my OMG finishes for the month are:

1) Harmony hand pieced quilt

This wall hanging really turned out nice. My daughter wants it for her room, so this will be either a wall hanging or a sort of curtain. I thought of turning this small quilt in to a sewing machine cover, so will need to make a new one for myself.

2) Catching up with the Sewcialites QAL

I was pretty behind and made 10 blocks this month and worked on the lay out. I managed to do more that planned which is always a bonus. Another month will think about the backing and the quilting, although I definitely want to have a finished top next month. For the FMQ part am thinking of maybe straight lines diagonal across and that will look nice with the diagonal lines of the HST.

 

 

 

 

I cut the grey blocks and the grey/yellow HST and played a bit with the lay-out

I think I like the second layout best - so that will be my finish for next month.

Linking up with Patty's June OMG at Elm Street Quilts.

Harmony hand pieced quilt

 Ta da!!!! My first hand sewn project is finished, what an accomplishment. The good part is that I really enjoyed the slow pace of hand sewing. Still quite a few things to learn, such as precision when using the paper templates - or actually - next time make carton templates for more precision.

We had some nice weather over the weekend so I managed to make some nice pictures.

My cherry tree is a good model for quilts.

For the quilting I tried to be a bit more adventurous and used the design to guide the FMQ and not straight lines or a circle. This is still not my thing .... and a good thing I went for the wall hanging size. Although now that the quilt is finished am very pleased with the result.

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts and Kristin Esser at Simple Handmade Everyday. Thank you for the lovely pattern, explanations and motivation.

June OMG

June is here with typical May weather, instable ... rain announced and no rain arrives, just clouds and more clouds, some sun and then some more sun, and then rain .... and wind .... and back to sun and clouds ..... Work-wise still hectic, however I manage not to work many hours over the weekend. The pace of last year was not feasible. We are now well over one year in to the Covid-19 pandemic and still new vaccines to be evaluated.

A good day to get some crafting done.

For June my OMG is

1) Harmony handquilted top

I finished the top and officially have a flimsy future wall-hanging. Basting is done so aim is to finish completely this project. Only to make one over summer most likely in different colours as a "take on holiday project" working towards a quilt. Still not sure what this will be when finished. My daughter needs a curtain ... as a wall-hanging would go as well with her room. As a cushion cover is definitely to large.

2) Sewcialites

I am so behind on this project and have quite some catching up to do. Block 34 just came out (the one but last block) and my block number 27 is only cut .... I have some serious cutting and sewing to do here. aim is to have all blocks caught up. And make the HST blocks. 

Linking up with Patty over at Elm Street Quilts

Harmony hand piecing qal Rectangle Units

 Slowly I make progress on my slow stitching process. A colleague asked me why I was hand stitching and I said that I enjoyed the slow pace and I am not in a hurry.

Working life is crazy as is - and this pause during the week is exactly what I need. 

This week I finalized the rectangle units, so the wall hanging is almost done. I am still not sure if I make a wall-hanging out of this block or a cushion cover. I used the left overs from a quilt I made for my daughter so this could be a nice add-on to her bedroom.

Over summer I think I will make a new one as this would be a perfect holiday project. 

For one or the other reason my flying geese are smaller than the other units, not sure why. I used the templates: I cut one template and used this with a ruler to cut the white and green triangles. More practices is in order.

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts and Kristin at Simple Handmade Everyday

OMG May

Goal setting is one of my favourite things, and goal setting for my creative projects works. Choosing one or two projects works to get through my list of unfinished or not yet started projects ....

For this month 

1) Finish the flying geese top 

Last year i participated in a sew a long to make a quilt from flying geese. I finished the top and now time to finish. I had sent it to a long arm quilter as the fabric is so beautiful and soft I did not want to mess this up

2) Finish the harmony top

I participate in a sew a long, difference is that this one is hand sewing. I choose to make the wall-hanging format. I might end up making all four blocks over summer as these I can easy take along with me

Linking up with Patty over at Elm Street Quilts for the OMG of May.

Harmony hand sewing in spring

Hand sewing has never been my thing. For a few years I watched the hand sewing QALs organized by Patty at Elm Street quilts and  Kirsten at Simple.Handmade.Everyday... from a distance. Not having time was one reason not to join, not being a big fan of hand sewing played a mayor role as well. This year I decided to jump in ... and I love it. There is something so soothing about hand sewing!! 

 

And now I am all caught up in the QAL; buying the pattern was the first jump, the biggest jump was to start. And then the realization that I actually like this. I have this little thread catcher I made a few weeks ago. Turns out this is perfect to keep all the notions together so I can carry my hand sewing project all over the house.

The four corner units are done - am making the wallhanging as a first step. Although I might make a cushion. And then who knows, I might try to actually make 4 blocks for a quilt. But that is something for the summer as a holiday project.

 

As part of the slowing down went for a walk this Sunday morning before the rain would come. Spring is here and trees are blossoming everywhere. Definitely one of the advantages of living in the country side.

 Linking up with Patty over at Elm Street Quilts for the 11 April check-in.

 

OMG April - Harmony and more

 

1) Harmony quilt

A small hand stitch project on the side is perfect to unwind. For now, I don’t see myself making any big quilt by hand, that is for sure. For April the aim is to finish the corner units and the individual blocks for the rectangle unit

 

2) Very very pink skull quilt

The top is done, backing sewn together, batting bought and over the weekend I basted the all three layers together. This month I need to absolutely finish the quilt as this will be a gift for a sweet girl turning 30 this month.

 

3) Sewcialites QAL

I managed to catch up with all blocks in March (including the ones from January and February). For this month I want to stay afloat and stay on track.

 

Linking up with Elm Street quilts’  One Monthly Goal. My April OMG is to finish two out of three objectives.

 

OMGs of March - Harmony, Sewcialites and cushion cover

 For March I had a mix of goals. The last few months work was crazy, so this mix of little projects was perfect. Out of the four "group of projects" the aim was to do at least two. So how did I do? Not bad, not bad at all; 3 out of 4 goals achieved and for  2 out of these 3 I achieved more than planned.

1) Finish my project for my secret swap #tqsspringswap

Last year I participated in a postcard swap and when was announce for January I jumped right in. Through one of the IG I follow (one makes loads of new creative friends) I stumbled on the swaps organized by tiny quilts sewing. They are loads of fun. OK, so I cannot participate i all that I see passing by, however the tqs springswap was awesome. I managed to finish by cushion cover. One of the fun parts is that I am pushed to try other styles/projects, depending on what my secret partner indicates. For this the indication was red, lots of red and hearts. What I wanted did not work out (exploding heart) because I had cut the strips to thin. The end result nevertheless is soo cute, I think I need to try this again.

2) Catch up with the Sewcialites SAL

The aim was to do at least all March blocks. I was more behind than I thought, a few evenings cutting and a few evenings sewing and I was caught up not only with all the March blocks, but also with the February blocks.

 

 3) Finish the geesey-geesey quilt  

This top is sent to the longarm quilter. I hesitated and then thought, the fabric I used is so beautiful and soft. This merits a special treatment. The binding will then be part of my April OMG. 

4) Harmony quilt 

Ohh I love this one. I never had the patience for hand sewing, one of these traumas left over from primary school where i had to embroider a napkin and after 6 months was still on the first or second flower. The Harmony as a quilt has 4 the same blocks and one block on its own would be a wallhanging. I thought well, if not to try now, then when. If I don't like this I only make one block turn in to a cushion cover for my daughter. I used the left overs from a quilt I nade for her years ago. 

The minimum I aimed for was two units. I have now finished 5 units and am almost caught up. I seriously enjoy hand sewing. Everything slows down, no noise ..... 

 

All in all, a productive month, filled with lots of tiny projects. Linking up with Patty's March OMG over at Elm Street Quilts