Another Finished Project

Here she is! My Star Wall hanging finished. It is great finishing a project and this one was a quick one to make. You can find all the details to make this project on Instagram +Fat Quarter Shop  I used the dark blue fabric in the outer tips of the star for the binding.

 Unfortunately this was a new project and it is not on my 2015 To Do List.So I can't cross anything off the list but shortly I will be able to cross off my Farmer's Wife Sampler which is in the final stages of binding. So far 3 evenings and I have only reached the first corner. I think I started on the long side and a couple of cats wanting to sleep on it. Now that is really exciting after 3 plus years of hand piecing, it will be a satisfying finish. It is the largest quilt I have made.  So it is time to select the next  project on my list to complete. I think I need a smaller project, so I have pick my double wedding bed runner as the next UFO to complete. It is at the quilting stage and I want to play with some more of the Westalee rulers I purchased. The range of their products are increasing in the shop as I go.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Quilting Star

I have been doing some English paper piecing lately and I have been sewing along with the Fat Quarter Shop EPP Sew Along on Instagram using the beautiful blues from Katagami range of fabrics..

We are up to the quilting stage of the project. I pinned it on Monday ready for quilting I was hoping one night during the week I would find some free time but it didn't happen.
It was Friday night before I could sit down in front of the machine and tackle this one. I will have to find some serious sewing time  before the end of October as I have 2 project which deadlines are the end of the month. Plus there is one I really need to start on which has a December deadline. Oh boy! I will need to hustle to achieve these deadlines.

I am using a variegated thread for the star and doing some simple straight quilting over the star. Who chose this thread? It was one problem after another but maybe I should of stopped when I got a big bird's nest thread tangle when I was winding the bobbin and picked something else. There is no shortage of threads for me to choose from. Now it is a synthetic thread but I really like the sheen and the colour, plus I have used it before as a quilting thread but I don't remember having problems. As I continued, it was coming off the spool loosely and the machine kept coming unthreaded and a had a few more tangles to deal with. Luckily it is only a small project so I was able to complete the star. The problems I was having influence my choice to change threads when I was ready to quilt the background. I went back to my Aurifil cotton, this time I have selected the #2021 in the 40 wt,  it is part of my Cynthia's Ark Batik Bright Thread Club(You can start your collection at Cynthia's Ark ) and away I went quilting to my heart's delight.

 Normally you would quilt it all then trim it back to the size that you want but I knew my piece was 3-4 inches bigger and I didn't want to waste the thread and my time quilting it all only to cut it off, so once the quilting reached the size I wanted I cut it down to the finished size and then I only had to fill in the corners to complete it. I am so pleased how it has turned out.

Now to the binding I am thinking of one of the darker blues for the binding.

What colour would you choose from the fabrics in my project?

All these fabrics are available online and in store at Cynthia's Ark

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

English Paper Piecing Sew Along #1

Over on Instagram the Fat Quarter Shop has been running their EPP Sew Along (English Paper Piecing) and you may of notice I now have a nice selection of these papers, templates and accessories for this technique.  I need to make a few samples for the shop, so I thought I would join in. I have selected the fabrics from Katagami which is in stock at $26 per metre because of it fussy cutting potential.

This is only a mini quilt so it won't take long to make and in between working on the Fully Stacked projects I slipped in  a few minutes here and there to work on it. I cut all the shapes and glue basted them to the papers. Then it was time to play with the layout.

Then last Saturday night  I sewed the star together. I know I should of been finishing the binding on the last Fully Stacked project but I couldn't help myself. The binding did get done on the Fully Stacked project on Sunday. I just need to finish off the lose threads from quilting and it will be ready for it pictures to be taken and I only have to add the pictures to the pattern and it will be finished, ready for printing. Now I have to cut the background fabric so I am ready to applique my star onto it, when time permits me.

If you want to try English Paper piecing I have a little coaster kit on the shop you can purchase with full instructions in it and you will need a glue pen which you will find under the English Paper piecing Supplies tab in the Patchwork section of the shop but if you are already familiar with the technique we have lots of different shapes for you to experiment with.

Fully Stacked is on this weekend so if you want to find out more about English Paper Piecing stop in for a cuppa and I am happy to show you some of the basics.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Little Joys Quilt Along #3

It is time to show you my latest finish. I have finished my Little Joys quilt. Fresh and zippy this quilt speak to me of Christmas in Summer. I played with my rulers again and I had a play with the small clamshell ruler, mainly because I was curious how it worked and it was the right size for my little border. You can just see it across the top of the quilt.
I used the stripe from the range to make the binding. Do you think I like stripe bindings or what? Second time this month I have used a stripe but they are my favourite going fabric for binding. If there is a stripe in the range I automatically get extra so I have enough for the binding.

Now I have completed all the binding, it is time to get back to  quilting, 2 more quilts to go. Luckily I left the Pfaff set up for quilting. Tomorrow I will pin my Inklingo star top and prepare a sample sandwich. I want to play with another ruler in the sampler set I got.

Until next time
Keeping Stitching
Cynthia

My Wishes Quilt is Completed.

Yes finally I have another finish to cross off my 2015 list. This quilt was from the Fat Quarter Shop blog. It was their Wishes Block of the Month last year. I was using some of my reproduction stash and  I only brought the meterage of the background fabric for it. Once again Valerie from the House of Valerie has done a wonderful job quilting it for me. I left it to her to select the quilting design and I loved it on sight.

During the week before I picked it up I was kicking myself over the fact I didn't keep all the leftover to make a scrappy matching binding but yesterday I was thinking I was already working from scraps so there wasn't a lot of pieces large enough for binding. I did have 3 fabrics in the stash that were in the quilt, 2 blue and a red. So after asking my LSH (long suffering husband) which one he liked. It was decided the red was the better choice.

Everything was going fine until I reached the last corner and I thought I had run out of bobbin thread but it turn out I was wrong but I was low. Was there enough to finish the binding? How high up did I start on this side? Then I noticed I was almost to the last binding strip. I hope my maths was correct.
I can tell you my maths was correct and I didn't run out of binding but I did run out of bobbin thread this close to the finish. What a bummer. I suppose it is better I run out of bobbin thread than binding. It is easier to slip in a full bobbin then add another strip of binding.

So here she is all finished. Sorry it isn't the best picture I was on a ladder to take this photo and not feeling too secure and it wasn't too bright.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

PS Hopefully I will be writing a post on my Farmer's Wife Sampler sooner than later as I have change my mind again and left it with Valerie to quilt for me. I wanted to hand quilt it but realistic I knew it would take me years and I really want to use it. Just not enough time to sew all the projects I want to make.

Little Joys Quilt Along #2

If you read my Little Joys Quilt Along post from last week, you would know I planned to finish the last block (the Christmas present) on Friday. Guess what! It didn't happen I had all these plans I was going to come home from a local craft store with some extra supplies and sew way into the night. I can say I did start but I didn't get far in and I hit the wall. As I knew I had a big day on Saturday I turn in. There is no point continuing when you are feeling headachy and tired. Some days I have enough trouble with making mistake when I am feeling good, so there is no point when I am feeling poorly.

Any way I did get the last 3 present block completed on Tuesday night so it was time to assemble the top.

I am going to have to plan a quilting day and starting a few of these projects to complete them.

Here is the top altogether without the last border but I can tell you that border is on. I just forgot to take another photo.

Now to baste it for quilting, I am going to use the Christmas tree fabric for the backing. It is my favourite in the range.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

2015- To Do List

I don't believe I am writing this post already. Where did 2014 go? I have learnt some much during 2014 with new techniques, blogging, social networking,  and I have met some great people during 2014.
So what is left on 2014 list that needs to be transfer over and the new projects that were started during 2014 that need to be added.

UFO's from 2014

1. My Pies & Tarts quilt. I am 3/4 through hand quilting this one.
2.My Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt. I have finished the top in 2014 so it is ready for quilting. I just have to decide hand quilt it or machine quilt it.

3. My Double Wedding Ring quilt which has become a bed runner. I have lots to go on this one.
4. My Disappearing Hourglass quilt. I only have made 6 blocks so far.

5. My Wishes quilt. Ready for quilting.

6. My Pink Dahlia quilt. I need to find the templates so I can continue.
7. My Inklingo Castle Wall quilt. I am working on the 2nd pieced border.

8. My Inklingo star quilt. All printed and 2 blocks completed out of 12.

9. Grand Illusion Mystery quilt. I am currently working on the blocks.
10. My Lozenge scrap quilt. All ready for blocks to be assembled, if I don't change my mind and want to make it bigger.

11. My Aurifil Block of the Month quilt.  I am ready to arrange and piece the top ready for quilting.

12. My Crossroad Quilt. I am still working on the blocks, 12 done and 13 to go if I settle on 25 blocks. I am undecided about a border I may just make some more block to make it bigger.

New things to do for 2015.

Pat Sloan's Vacation Time Block of the month
Fat Quarter Shop Snapshot Block of the Month. This is going to be a special present.
Quiltmaker's New Year Mystery Quilt
So Scrappy Rainbow Scrap Challenge 15
Stretching your Skills 2015
Aurifil Mini Project of the Month. I may not make them all just the ones I really like.

There is a few more possible project starts in the pipeline like I want to make a Dear Jane quilt maybe 2015 is the year to start it. I also want to do some foundation piecing as I have 2 patterns I brought over the last year. Who knows what else I will start in 2015.

 Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- Border Update.

Happy New Year to everyone. May 2015 be full of crafty delights.

This is where I am up to on my Wishes Quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop Wishes Quilt Along 2014. I had to work hard to complete the pieced final border before the end of the year. I knew there was no way I could complete the full quilt before the end but I aimed to complete the top. I am thinking I may have this one quilted for me so I can continue on other projects. It is a large quilt.
The final border was a checkerboard border so there was lots of chain piecing done to get all four side pieced and I had my fingers crossed I didn't make a mistake.

The top 2 piles are the side borders ready to go to the sewing machine.

 So I was over the moon when the side borders went on perfectly. I did play around with the top and bottom border so at the corners I didn't have same colours touching in the corners. I just took 3 from the bottom of my pile and put them on top so they are slightly different at the begin and end of the strips. They went on beautifully too. I am so happy how this quilt top has turned out. Now for the quilting.
 Do I take it to my long arm quilter or do I do it myself?

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along Borders Update

I have spent some time cutting this week in preparation for borders to go on a few projects. One just needs the borders add as they are solid but the other two have pieced borders and the Wishes is one of them. So I cut the sashing strips and the first set of borders strips ready to be added and I got the blocks sewn into rows ready for the next lot of sashing to go in between them.

Once I have the block rows sewn together the 1st border is goes on.

 Then there is some work to go in to sewing the pieced border together before I will be able to join those borders to the quilt but I am getting close. Time for a big cutting session.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- December's Block

Here we are at the last block for this quilt along-Grape Basket. Once finished we will be able to complete our tops and turn them into finished quilts. If I get the top completed I can add it to my To be Quilted list for over the Christmas break maybe it will get quilted. This list is growing quickly. I think I better have a look at what is to be quilted I may be in over my head already. This is recipe to failure for me if the list is too long. In the meantime let’s get back to finishing this quilt top before I worry about quilting it, again 2 steps ahead of myself. 

All my blocks ready to be pieced together.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along - November's Block

I really want to get ahead this month, with Christmas just around the corner I want to get stuff done that I know I need to get done early. So when life becomes hectic I might not lose total control. So I have got my Wishes block done early. The good thing about this project being only 1 block it doesn't take long to make. I have on a number of times this year done these blocks in 2 parts, when I have a spare 10 minutes. I select the fabric and cut the pieces for the block and lay them out on my board in order. Then another time when I am free I sew it up. 

Here is November block - Stair Step.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- October's Block

 We are getting close to finishing our Wishes Quilt Along blocks. This is #10 out of 12 blocks. So there are 2 more to go. I have the finishing instructions. So once I have all the blocks made I can start to assemble the blocks. I did think I might start joining the blocks sooner but when I took the photo of the 10 blocks there was  a couple of fabrics I have used a number of time and didn't realise it. I may do a rearrangement of blocks to spread them out a bit or maybe not. We will see what happens once I have all the blocks made.

Here is this month block Idaho Beauty.

This is the 10 blocks so far laid out according to the pattern. Tell me what you think. 

Until next time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along - September's Block

We are up to September block. I am happy to say mine is completed. I finally broke the machine piecing drought that has been happening here and it is not the last week of the month. So that is 2 stars by my name this month. LOL. I must say I really love how this project is turning out. I can see some other quilts being created from certain blocks. 

Here is September's block.

This week the Fat Quarter Shop posted a teaser for next year project. It looks fantastic so I have already decided I am going to do it.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- August's Block

August’s block for the Wishes Quilt Along is completed. I can wait to piece these blocks together. It will be a decent size quilt when finished. A couple weeks ago I saved the border and finishing instructions for the quilt so I'm all set to finish it once I finish the last block. There is only 4 more blocks to go.  There is still two more block of the month to finish before the end of the month. Will I get them done? 

Let's see what happens. I have been piecing my Farmers Wife Sampler blocks into rows.  It has been 2 1/2 years in the making and I would love to finish it by the end of the year. Sounds like an excuse to me if I don't do my blocks of the month. So I better do them.

 No excuses please.

The first 3 rows done. 

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along -June's Block

Where did June go? Most of my Block of the Month projects is still waiting for their June block to be made. Where did I go wrong this month? I have cut 2 ready for sewing and this is the only one finished so far this month. Maybe I can find some time this weekend. I hope I can or I will be really behind. How are you all going with your Block of the Month projects? Are you keeping up or like me occasionally falling behind? Let me know in the comment below.
Here is the only June block finished.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along -Mays Block

It feels like ages since I worked on this project but then I remember we are only doing 1 block a month and it was probably the first one I did last month. So here is my Log Cabin block all finished.

It is a good feeling to complete each month's block I feel I am achieving a lot more this year compared to last year.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along - Aprils Block

We are already 14 days in to April and I haven't started any of my April blocks. It seems I have been too busy, so on Sunday I decided that is it I had to do some if not all. I know it is a little ambitious on my part but I had to try. I started with the Fat Quarter Shop Wishes quilt first. It was nearly completed when I had a thought, half square triangles are playing a big part in my quilting world at the moment with this block and the Layer Cake Sampler Quilt (which is all HST) plus I was playing around with a new design featuring batik fabrics and they make appearance there to. When you take notice of them they do appear often. One of the most used blocks out there I am thinking. Here is my block for April.

Now I better get to the next one. 

Until next time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

My Quilt Along Addiction

 When I saw the Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along on the Material Girl Quilts blog, how could I resist. I may have a problem.  I may have become addicted to these Quilt Alongs this year. Last year  I participated in my first Quilt Along which was  the Inklingo The Case of the Secret Garden quilt, which I hand pieced. I enjoyed it and I have finished my quilt. One of only a handful of projects finished last year. It was a lean year sewing wise.

 So late last year when I came across Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt I jumped in using the Inklingo method. I am still working on it. I learnt a lot with Celtic Solstice including posting progress pictures online and adding links back to my blog. It has started me on a big adventure I discovered and I am really enjoying it.  One of the best things is sharing my progress on the quilt alongs with others doing the same project and see what others are doing and where they are up to.

A little sneak peak at what my Celtic Solstice quilt layed out.

So as we entered 2014 I was on the look out for new Quilt Alongs I could join and I may have gone overboard but I how could I resist these beautiful quilts and I was looking to improve my skills. So here are the Quilt Alongs I am  currently involved in.
1. Globetrotting  1 block a month with Pat Sloan.and freequiltpatterns.com
2. Building Blocks Quilt- Free Motion Quilt Along- This one has weekly lessons with Leah Day teaching the piecing and the free motion quilting.  The pattern is available at www.leahday.com  to purchase. This one is to improve my free motion quilting.
3. Aurifil Block of the Month- 1 block a month from different designers with an interview with the designer for added interest.
4. Wishes Quilt Along- 1 block a month  with the Fat Quarter Shop 
5.Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along- 2 blocks a week with Amanda from the Material Girl Quilts.blog. This one uses layer cakes in its construction for something different.
6. This one is the newest on my list Triangle Quilt Along from Paula at The Sassy Quilter blog. This is a short 5 week Quilt Along and should be fun. I alway wanted to make a triangle quilt. It starts on the 21st March. So this one is about to start.

Have you joined any Quilt Alongs? I would love to hear what ones are being done out there. Or is it just me with this addiction. I am posting my progress on my blog on all the ones I am doing.
                                                          Until next time
                                                          Keep stitching
                                                               Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- March Block

After getting side tracked last month and only just finishing my block before the month run out. I got my act together and did the March block early so I can focus on a project I designed that is waiting to be stitched (which I will share another time). March's block was a breeze to stitch no mistakes this time. So here it is.

                           I really like this block and will most likely make a quilt featuring this block in the near future.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along 2014 - February Block

February has come to an end so quickly. I just finish this block just in time. The double windmill block was a little tricky  keeping the pieces in the right order. I did the first 3 quarters not a problem but the last one I must of twisted a couple of pieces and sewed them together wrong. It is so annoying when I stuff it up. But it is all fixed now. All happy and ready for the next block.

                                                   Until next time
                                               Keep Stitching Cynthia