Building Blocks Quilt - 2014 Free Motion Quilt Along #4

This weeks quilting lesson was spirals. They gave me some problems I just couldn't find a happy medium. I was going too fast or too slow, my hands weren't working with the sewing machine. Maybe I should of stopped more often but when I did I ended up with little pointy bits. This was the hardest one so far. 

                                    This weeks block all done, with all my problems. More practise time please.

Out of the 3 blocks we have completed I was most happy with the second one (gridlines) It was so cool stitching the lines free motion rather than using walking foot.

I look forward to next week lesson when we piece the next 3 blocks.

 

You can see how other quilters are going via this link. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/fmq-project-link-up_31.html

  

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

 

 

Unfinished Project Update #2

This is my second report on my unfinished projects. I hope all of  you will keep me in check when I start to flounder or get too distracted with new  projects and remind me about my unfinished projects. My batik log cabin quilt is now ready for quilting. Just need to find the time to do it.
Progress has also been made on the Farmers Wife Sampler. Some more blocks were made and one got unpicked and resewn after I noticed I had sewn it together wrong.( See my mistake below.) I didn't notice it until I went to press the blocks that I stuffed it and it was a easy block. My husband would say too much talking and not enough sewing happening when we get together for our Farmers Wife Sampler sewing morning. It is now fixed.
Here are the latest batch of blocks completed from the last 2 sewing session.

 

 

Oops I think I stuffed this one. Where's the seam ripper?

                                               Until next time keep stitching
                                                            Cynthia

Building Blocks Quilt- 2014 Free Motion Quilt Along #3

This weeks free motion quilting lesson was on gridlines. I like the idea of sewing straight lines after the curves of last week. I must say I enjoyed this challenge. I have to do something about my free motion quilting foot on my machine. It isn't an open toed one so I was having trouble seeing where to stop and turn. Good news I rang my favourite sewing centre and they tell me there is an open toed foot to fit my machine, so before next weeks lesson I will go and buy one.
 From the front I am happy with my attempt. My travel stitching needs more work but my lines are reasonably straight. When you look at the back you can see the trouble I was having with my travel stitching,  not being quite on top of each other enough. More practise is on the cards I think.

The back has a couple of threads that need to be sewn in.

 

The front doesn't look too bad. Well not as bad as the back.

 

You can see how other quilters are going via this link. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/fmq-project-link-up_24.html

  

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

It is Competition Time!

 We have 2 x 2014 Quilter's Diaries to give away. All you have to do, is in the comments box below tell us What crafting event you are looking forward to attending this year? We will draw 2 random winners after the competition closes at 4pm (ACDST) Monday 27th January 2014.

                      Prizes kindly donated by Cynthia's Ark www.cynthiasark.com.au
                                                      
                                                        Until next time keep stitching
                                                                    Cynthia

Globtrotting Block of the Month #1

This is a block of the month quilt created by Pat Sloan called Globtrotting. Pat has stitched it in two colour way  and fabric suggestions are available in the material list but on Facebook there is a wide variety of colour ways from others participating in this BOM to enjoy. I have gone with a blue theme. I'm love blue so I couldn't help myself when I saw the blue version from Pat. So here is my fabric selection for this project.

Block 1 Washington DC instructions were released and off we went cutting and sewing the first block which is the centre of our quilt. Of course we have been sharing our progress with each other on Facebook.

Here is my first block all together.

You can still join in at http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/block-one---washington-dc.htm

This is a free BOM.

 

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

 

 

Wishes Quilt Along 2014 January Block #1

Wishes Quilt Along 2014 is a block of the month quilt run by the Fat Quarter Shop. You can find it on their blog and it comes with instructions and tutorial. You can also purchase a kit from the Fat Quarter Shop if you want to make it the same as their quilt or choose your own. I have chosen fabrics from my stash and I only had to purchase the background, sashing and border fabric for the top. I will get the backing later. Stash busting already this early in the year. Way to go. Tick that off my list. It will allow me to refresh the stash later when I see something that takes my fancy. These are the fabrics I have chosen.

                                                   
                                                Here is the first block completed.

 

 

So I look forward to tackling February block. You can still join in just follow this link http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com.au/p/wishes-quilt-along.html to catch up.

 

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

Building Blocks Quilt- 2014 Free Motion Quilt Along #2

This week we had our first free motion lesson with Leah Day. The challenge was to quilt Wiggly U shapes on our first four patch block. With plenty of tips off I went. As the pictures below shows I had some problems. Firstly I was having trouble seeing where I was quilting and secondly getting started once I stopped, when I got going it went a little bit smoother and stitches were more even.  You can't see the quilting very well on the front but on the back you can plainly see my troubles. At least by the time I got to the last quarter I can see some improvement and the free motion stitching in the ditch was much easier than I thought it was going to be. This is the first block so I can only hope to improve as we make our way through the lessons.

The block before quilting.

 

The back of my first block.

                                                        The front of my first block.

You can see how other quilters are going via this link. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/fmq-project-link-up_17.html

  

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

Unfinished Projects Update #1

If you read my 2014- What is on my to do list post last week you will know there was some unfinished projects at the top of the list. My batik log cabin quilt was at block stage still. The quilt layout was worked out and only 4 blocks left to make. I can say they are done. Now it time to sew the blocks into row then the rows together. As this is a hand piecing project, it is a sit in front of the television job. I have got the first 2 rows sewn together so far and I will do the rest in the evenings when I am free. Here is a sneak peak at the layout.

 

You can find a good variety of batik fabrics for sale in our shop at www.cynthiasark.com.au

 

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

Celtic Solstice # 4

This week it was back to my day job so there was less sewing time. I did manage to make more sub blocks and put together 8 more of block #1. So now I have 22 of block #1 completed and 12 of block #2 completed. So 34 blocks completed and only 15 more to go. I thought I would lay out half the quilt to see how things were shaping up.

                                                    I can't wait to see it completed.

 I will keep everyone updated with my progress.

 

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

Building Blocks Quilt- 2014 Free Motion Quilt Along #1

One of the projects on my 2014 list is the Building Blocks Quilt- Free Motion Quilt Along. This project is has a double tick by it. It has 2 techniques I wanted to have a go at. First I want to improve my free motion quilting skills and second I have been wanting to have a go at a Quilt as you go project. Leah Day (www.FreeMotionProject.com )has cover the 2 in this project. I look forward to get stuck into this Quilt Along.

This is my first block made and you can see I have gone with blue and grey fabrics for the blocks and  a navy blue solid will be the backing.

 I am using Aurifil 50 wt  #2630 Dark grey for piecing my blocks.

 

The first 3 blocks ready for the quilting. I just have to trace the patterns onto them and pair them with batting and backing. Then I will be ready for Monday quilting lesson.

This is going to be the thread I use for quilting Aurifil  50 wt  2620 Light Grey.

 

You can see what other quilters are up to via this link. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/fmq-friday-link-up.html

 

 

Keep stitching

Cynthia

2014 What is on my To Do List.

With a new year most of us reflect on what we did in the last year and what we want to achieve in the next year. After my 2013 review my list starts with 6 projects.

1. My Pies & Tarts Quilt I am half way through hand quilting this one.
2. My Batik Hexagon Quilt top ready for quilting and binding.
3. My Batik Log Cabin Quilt I am nearly finished the blocks (4 blocks to go)
4. My Farmers Wife Sampler quilt -only have 30 blocks to go then sashing and borders.
5. Bonnie Hunters Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt the final layout was only released on 1st January 2014 I have 24 blocks completed.
6. My Double Wedding Ring quilt I started at the end of October at a workshop. 3 rings completed only.
New things to tackle this year, there are plenty of new things I want to try but there is only 365 days to work with.
7. Building Blocks Quilt. 2014 Free Motion Quilt Along created by Leah Day. This one is going to allow me to tackle 2 things on my list, improve my free motion quilting and have a go at the Quilt as you go technique.
8.A new Cynthia's Ark design featuring our Mystery Batik Sampler Pack. All designed just have to sew, write the pattern and kit it.
9.A new Cynthia's Ark design featuring hexagons using the Inklingo technique or EPP.
10.Quiltmaker magazine Black Tie Affair using Riley Blake Evening Blooms (in stock at www.cynthiasark.com.au)
10. Pat Sloan's Globtrotting  BOM for freequiltpatterns.info (One block a month)
11. Fat Quarter Shop Wishes Quilt Along BOM (One block a month)
12. A Dahlia Quilt I have a pattern.


I will share my adventures tackling this list. As I write this I know there are other projects that haven't made this list  and I'm sure there will be projects that will be started that weren't on the radar at the start of this year. I'm sure there will be a number of baby quilts to be made for sale that will be fitted in.
                               Until next time keep stitching
                                          Cynthia



Celtic Solstice #3

Wow! What a big reveal on New Years Day. I wasn't expecting it so it was a nice surprise to see how all the blocks we have been making go together. We have been having lots of fun making up blocks trying to guess how they go together. I did have some good sewing sessions this week and finished clue #3 and got a good start on Clue #5 before the big reveal. It was good to have some of all the blocks completed so I was ready.

A sample of each clue.

With the release of the final blocks I was ready to sew a few up to see what they looked like.

 

I pieced the two blocks and I am very happy how they went together. Now I have 12 of each block made and I am ready to make some more sub blocks so I can complete all 49 blocks. I can't believe I am nearly halfway.

 

To view other Celtic Solstice  mystery quilts in progress click this link  http://quiltville.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6.html

 and I will keep everyone updated with my progress.

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia

 

 

 

2013 In Review

Before I can make up my to do list for 2014  What did I achieve in 2013.  In 2013 I wanted to finish some on going projects and there was some new projects to tackle. The list wasn't long but the unfinished projects was at 9. I needed to get this part down of the list down, 5 just needed quilting and binding.  A red, blue and cream quilt that half the blocks were completed but I decided the quilt was too big and put it to one side.  A pile of log cabin blocks that I had foundation pieced just sitting there. My first Inklingo project The Secret Garden quilt and the pink star quilt which I had the fabrics and created the pattern but had not started.
So where did I end up by the 31st December 2013. I started with 5 quilts that only needed quilting and binding 3 got done on the machine but I am still hand quilting my Pies & Tarts quilt and a hexagon quilt that  I haven't touched.
 Next was my first Inklingo quilt. This one was a new technique that I wanted to try that I started.  I was hand piecing this one as I needed a portable project while we were on holiday. This was completed, all hand pieced, machine quilted and including binding.

 

The red, blue and cream one I managed to resize some of the blocks as the ones I had completed were in 3 different sizes and created a new layout.  So this one gets added  to my 2014 To complete List with the other 2.

Next was the Pink Star quilt, I had to get this one done as it was for someone else and I was dragging my feet. Why I don't know but I tackled it and got it completed and delivered it before Christmas.

 

Finally my log cabin blocks, I made more blocks and after trying many different layouts.  I made my decision and started to sew 4 single blocks together into 1 so now I have a pile of larger blocks.

The size of the quilt has been set at 42 blocks (6 across and 7 down) and I only have 4 large blocks to complete before I can start sewing the rows together. It won't take long to finish.

 

 

Plus there was a number of baby quilts made for sale, 4 new baby quilt kits created and samples completed during the year, so there is 3 projects that make the 2014 To Complete List with my Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt, my Farmers Wife sampler and my Double Wedding Ring quilt I only started in October. So that is a total of 6 projects on this list to complete in 2014.

Now I need to work out what goes on my What I want to Try in 2014 list.

Until Next time keep stitching

Cynthia

 

Stars and more Stars

This is what I have been playing around with. Stars. I have used Inklingo  2 inch 60 degree diamond collection for this project and I have hand pieced these stars when I have a spare minute or two. I  always carry my little sewing bag with a hand piecing project in it when I go out just in case I need to fill a few minutes. It has had my Farmers wife blocks and hexagons in there this year and now it is full of printed diamonds. There is another lot of hexagons printed when I finish my stars. All these stars are from the same piece of fabric though they look different.

 

This is the fabric that all the above stars came from.  They are not as perfect as I would like but for a first attempt of these stars, I am happy. Once they are all mixed up in a quilt with more stars, will it really matter.  We will see what happens once I get to piecing it all together. Who knows what might happen I haven't decide if this is going to be a quilt, table runner, cushions or what.

For more information on Inklingo visit www.inklingo.com

 

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia