Favourite things

Leila chose 'Favourite Things' for her 'Ringo Pie' queen bee month.  There was a lot of freedom in this theme, the block needed to reflect something about us.  I recently bought this inspirational book, 163 Patchwork Blocks and Quilts.  There is a Flickr group about this book and you can find out more about it there.  You just know looking at the cover that this book is fantastic- sorry to be such a temptress.  It is hard to find- The Workroom stock it when they can and are great at mail order.  Pomadour24 on ebay and etsy sometimes has copies.  Warning: it is expensive!   You need to be prepared to draft with this book, it is all in diagrams in the usual Japanese style and many of the blocks use intersecting Y seams- just saying...

 As soon as I saw this spools block I just knew this was the one.   I love spools block, conquering the Y intersection seams in my first Ringo Pie block was part of my quilting journey and my love of paper piecing.

I knew I wanted my favourite Kumiko Fujita ruler print, ( you can find some here).  I have it in 4 colour ways- one for each spool and I wanted vintage prints for the spool centres- many of these came from swaps with the lovely Chase.

Leila wanted 6" finished blocks for a sampler quilt she is planning so this block is small but it was intricate with 16 Y seams!  I drew the block on freezer paper- you can see the book diagram which gives block proportions and also a picture of the assembled block reverse side which is most helpful.

I am using the same book to inspire me for Pillow talk 9 swap.  I have an amazing partner, and I am hoping that this block will do the trick.  I plan for 9 of these and you can see, Y seams again so I need to get on with it!

Guesting at Quilt Story-Hexagon Handle Holder Tutorial

Today you will find me at Quilt Story,with a Holiday Tutorial starting the gift making season with an each project.  Heather and Megan have a great list of contributors- check them out here.

My tutorial is for a hexagon handle holder: a quick and easy make and perfect for scraps- especially those with a kitchen theme.  Let me know what you think over at  Quilt Story.

Center City

So many fabric lines out at the moment, sometimes it feels like some prints are everywhere.  Jay Mc Carroll's  Center City is a little different.  It isn't going to have UK distribution so it won't be widely available in the UK. Annie at Village Haberdashery has been pulling a few strings to make sure she has it, and she may end up as the only UK store to stock it.  know she was a big fan of his last line 'Habitat' and this one is a bit special.   Take a look at Jay McCarroll's video, it  gives a great idea of the concepts behind the collection, like a moving mood board...

This collection works on a number of levels for me.  The bricks are calling for paper piecing houses- such an obvious use but I can't let the opportunity pass by.  The bolder more abstract prints scream clothing, tunic dresses, Tova tops- you know the sort of thing.  I don't mind a bit of quilting weight cotton in clothing, used with the right style it can provide the right sort of structure, especially in dresses and the prints are too good to miss out on dressmaking opportunities.  Annie made a great dress with a print from his last collection.

Thankyou to Annie for letting me use her photo!

I can also imagine these prints in pillow and cushions.  The colours are punchy and the fabrics go together without being too matchy matchy.  Annie has some of the prints listed here and is just unpacking the rest so they will all be up very very soon.  She also has a great value bundle available with  a selection of Center City prints and some Free Spirit solids to co-ordinate.

You can meet the lovely Annie in person-I met her at Fat Quarterly Retreat in the summer and she is lovely, easy to chat to and very smiley- at The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace 12th-14th October.  Judging by the pictures this show looks massive!  You can find her on stall J22.  You can see all the exhibitors and find a show leaflet here.  She will have a selection of  fabric and yarn goodies with her, including the newest, just arrived collections and some London Modern Quilt Guild members helping out too.  

I wish I was there!

Busy

Autumn is turning out to be busy so it has been a little quiet here of late- bear with, bear with, bear with... projects are coming and a couple of new free tutorials/patterns will be guesting at other blogs.  In the meantime, there is a whole lot of Liberty going on.  One of my projects is for the Liberty Lifestyle Craft blog and I can't wait to show you!  A sneak peek below- making is still in progress.

Plus a project for Nova and Jo's Liberty Scrap Challenge

Jo has given me a scrap bag ( she now lives conveniently close by!) and my project is for October,

Meanwhile Katy has done a gorgeous Ruffle Front Clutch for the September project- see here for more!

Liberty Winner...

You all love your Liberty!  The lucky winner is comment 153

Congrats to Beth- she is over the moon!  Thankyou for all the entries, likes, followers and comments.  I have a few Liberty projects on the go so more pretties to see in the next few weeks too, and meantime, Ali's shop is here if you just have to have some of your own.

Elephants at Eternal Maker: Kits and Giveaway

The folks at Eternal Maker do like to make life easy for us sewers.  Firstly, they have put together a free pattern to make this lovely elephant pillow.

Secondly, they have put all the materials you need to make the outer (you will just need bondaweb and stuffing or pad) right here in the shop

And thirdly they are doing a giveaway- (you need to click that link to enter, you can't enter here!) quick, go! Not many days left on this- right now to win a bundle to make the pillow.

You can also find the other co-ordinating Birch fabrics here .  

Sunny Sidekick

Anna has just realeased her new bag pattern Sidekick Tote, and it is a beauty.  I had some daisy canvas bought for bag making a while back so I set to work.   I made the small size. Anna's instructions are always a joy to follow, clearly set out, lots of photographs and full of hints for tricky areas like zippers.  I haven't sewn an inset zipper like this before and I found this easier than putting a zip in a wallet or pouch

I haven't sewn an inset zipper like this before and I found this easier than putting a zip in a wallet or pouch.  The end extends past the opening like her  Open Wide Zipper Pouch so there are no lumpy bits to fit into the seam.    The pocket is easy to make and is the perfect size to have your phone readily to hand.  For the lining I used Essex yarn dyed linen, available at Eternal Maker  and Justine is also planning to stock it in her newly acquired shop, Simply Solids.  The tape measure print is Japanese linen from Etsy a while ago and the red polka is poplin from a local shop. I used webbing for the strap.

 I took it to the beach yesterday.  The first time I have travelled more than 2 miles in months, with the help of travel tablets and some concentrated starting at the floor rather than out of the window, we successfully managed a short train trip to our local beach for some gorgeous September sun.  When we got close enough for me to look out of the window I nearly cried.  It has been hard living so close to the sea and not seeing it all summer.

  Bag in action with feathery Tova (shamelessly inspired by Angela).

Anna's pattern is on sale here.