Hand quilting with Aunt Becky's finger protector

A few years ago I learned to hand quilt in a new way. Before this I had always (since the mid-nineties) used the rocking motion to quilt. Then I stumbled across a video by Jean Brown. She showed how she quilts. I had to give it a try.

The bent metal plate is kept under the quilt, protecting your finger as you push the needle back up again. (The pic above shows the back of the quilt shown in the first pic) I suppose this method is related to spoon quilting, which I have yet to try. In the beginning, learning to quilt this way I felt like a beginner again. Some hours learning again had to be invested. I find it was worth it. Being able to quilt for a considerably longer time at a time, without pain and fingers with calluses, I find amazing. Also I like my stitches, and think they show better on the back of my quilts. Another great plus is that it is not exaggerated to say that the quilting is more time efficient. I love the process of quilting, and do not care if things take a long time, but quilting this way allows me to handle more UFOs.

Jean Brown's demonstration of the technique can be found here. I appreciate that we all have our own preferred methods. This is just one happy quilter's ramblings... And I do not know Jean Brown, but I am grateful to her for showing a great way of avoiding sore fingers when I get to do what gives me much pleasure.

Gift delivered

   

A quick shot of the back of a small quilt I made for a dear old friend. ... before ironing .... very blurred, I pushed the button just as the seven year old holding it up decided she was tired of being of help;)

 ... and after ironing.

If I had had the time for more quilting, I might have kept the white border. These borders are there to ease quilting in a frame. But alas, there was no time - the gift had to be finished before a sewing appointment.

 Some favorite fabrics and colors in there...

 Almost done - there remained frenzied last minute sewing down of the single binding. There was no time for last show off pic;)

Folded for gifting - it was very well received, and I'm very glad:)

All hand sewn - including binding
All cotton - except for wool batting
Have a beautiful week end

This summer

I learned from a dear friend how to make ginger, lemon and honey tea. 

we spent lovely times at beaches near and far

 cherries were picked

 and gese were made

It has been a good summer - despite the mourning process we all have gone through after happenings in the Oslo area on July 22nd. We were not personally affected by the tragedy, but we were nonetheless nummed by the evil nature of the events.

Now regular schedules have resumed, and we are preparing for autumn activities and winter journeying.

... which calls for some hand sewing preparations ...

 Take care

Windmill quilt

In March I put in the last quilting stitches on this project that has been undergoing a process for about thirteen years. 

A few days ago sewing down the binding was almost done too. It is a strange feeling, ending a process. It is almost like saying farewell to a friend.

My pretentious working title for this quilt was 'Winds form the east'. My husband is Swedish, and I started making this when we had just met. It is a leftover quilt - made from fabrics after the making of this one.

I like the back too. After it was finished I threw it in the washer, and I find that the cotton batting has worked its wonders nicely.

The windmill blocks are quilted with lines half an inch apart. When I started working on the borders - oh, the initial woes of choosing patterns for borders - I decided I wanted to keep working in 'half inches' The pattern I landed on, so to speak, was one similar to the orange peel pattern. I outlined the peel shapes, and quilted free hand around them. As I progressed, the half inch increment narrowed down to a 'scant' quarter inch. In a way the quilting took over and started living its own life.

Choosing border, backing and binding fabrics I had good help from Trine Bakke at my favorite local quilt shop, Lappemakeriet.

Good help was also given by a dear friend, who helped me baste it before quilting. To my 'horror' I discovered my backing was not large enough. Looking through my friend's scrap basket we discovered backing fabrics from a quilt she then recently had finished. It was perfect for this backing, seen in the pic above to the right.  

Hand pieced, hand quilted. All cotton, fabrics, batting and thread.

Measurements: 56x48 inches.

Corner block - one of my favorites. Looking at this quilt, I see my color preferences have gone through some changes over the last decade or more, but the fabrics and colors in this block I could have picked out yesterday... See you.

Sisters

Two blocks - same pattern, inspired by the George coverlet at the V&A. When I drafted the pattern, I did not care too much for the center, so I made a twist of my own - a star.

While I was at it, I made another with a different mood.

Two sisters - same origin, but different. I have not yet made a smaller version of this pattern.

Finally, a week ago, our cherry trees were in bloom - now the surrounding ground is covered in white petals. Now our apple trees are in full pinkish bloom - spring is exploding before our eyes. 

Inspirational book

I now know what I want to be when I grow up - brodeuse! 

It is a wonderful, wonderful book. Just have a (little) look.

Thank you so much for the kind words about my embroidery! I have some more learning to do to acheive anyting like the picture above...

I'll be back with a more quilt related post later.

By the way: I'd be very appreciative to know if anyone has any impressions of Dublin, Ireland. Any tips about interesting things to see or do? Tudelu! 

Doodeling - learning by doing

I have had some wonderful hours with hoop, linen and floss in hand. It is an immensely soothing activity, and I long to do more. 

A long time ago I tried my hand at embroidery, and had forgotten its charm. Now I am hooked again:) 

It might become a framed memory, but I have yet to find the right frame.

After what feels like the longest winter in a long time, we are enjoying the springing of spring. 

On a different note, a little while ago David gave me an award. Thank you!

I get a bit nummed when this sort of honor is bestowed upon me, so I humbly direct you to a post written after I had been tagged some time ago - here. 

I am off to fetch the kiddos. Have a lovely week end 

Bunchin

According to my Process Pledge I'm posting a basket I'm working on.

I was inspired by Taryn's Red and White online exhibition, and decided to make a red and white quilt. This will be the center applique block - the other blocks will be shoo flys and four patches.

The grey item looking like a bag that is holding the applique block in place (how I love long sentences) is my rendition of a 'Bunchin'. In last year's class I saw Ms. Saito using a bunchin - a weight - to hold her applique work in check while stitching. She sells them on her site, but they weigh 1,3 kilograms, so the shipping is a little expensive, I think - I mean for merely weight....(I would rather buy her books...) So I made one from cloth and 'bird sand'. Mine weighs 1,4 kg (that's how much I had left of the sand) It works like a charm.

Happy Monday!

Thinking of the Japanese today

Friday bliss

Oh, James Taylor, how you brighten the day...

Home with a bad cold. But nothing seems drab and dreary listening to that voice of his. Now if only the 'plugs' in my ears would go away soon so I could hear it better ;)

Reversible Zakka Pouch Tutorial

Here is something I have been wanting to do for almost two years...

To save some space here, the tutorial with photographs is
over here.

The recipe is as follows:

You will need:
For outside and lining:
4 strips of fabrics for the front, each: 3'' x 12,5''
4 strips of fabrics for the lining, each:  3'' x 12,5''

The draw string closing fabrics:
2 strips , each cut to 4,5'' x app. 19''

For the 'yo yos':
2 strips of fabric, each cut 2'' x 10''
Medium thick plastic
Surgeon's tape

For the stopper:
1 piece of fabric: 2'' x 3''

Batting, thin yet sturdy polyester batting:
For the bottom:
1 square 4'' x 4''
For the 'body' of the pouch:
1 piece 6'' x 16''.

You will also need a piece of string measured to 22''.

*********

I will be making an*other or more from the tut myself, and add corrections as I go along.

Have a beautiful week end.
U

No words Wednesday - almost

Memory of a colourful Monday spent with good friends.

Pockets and a huswif

A few years ago I did some sewing for a Danish designer and shop owner Helene Juul. She has an affinity for the treasures of the past, and does wonderful work. She wanted to display ways to use reproduction fabrics, to entice her customers to make practical and beautiful items. I was honored to be able to help a little. She sent me lovely fabrics, and a booklet by Edyth O'Neill. Inspired by Mamifleur's recent lovelinesses, I show the samples I made then, a pocket and a huswif from Ms. O'Neill's booklet.

And the one I'm currently working on, for a friend, which is supposed to be a surprise... well well ...

Merci - amitié.

Winter sewing

This is wonderful. Real winter. The kids love it. Everything is quiet and embracing. So much better than the cold cold days before this blanket came. We had some days of minus 18 degrees celsius.

And it inspires to colorful activities indoors. I am slowly working to complete the flying geese sashing rows. There are still a lot of geese and skies to be cut. These are mere a beginning.

Barbara Brackman is graciously hosting a block of the week quilt along. These are my first blocks. Being a lazy daisy and discovering the measurements for the saw tooth part of the star were the same as the geese above, I decided to use some that were already sewn. I was pretty happy with the result. When I had deciced on which cornerstones to use, I discovered there were some of Ms. Brackman's fabrics in there - the cornerstones and the red 'goose'. I look forward to the next block! Which will it be?

Dreaming of ocean waves. Only two half square triangles of a myriad. I will try to piece these without marking sewing lines - according to Jinny Beyer's method - eyeballing the seam allowance. But in what color scheme?

Also longing for the first bicycle ride this year...

See ya!