A Quick Christmas Project.

I had to visit a fabric/ homewares discount shop yesterday for a couple of things and though I don't buy my quilting fabrics from them I always look in the remnant bin to see what is in there. Generally I am looking for pieces that will work for the soft toys I make. I have found some fur like pieces and felt pieces which suit animals. Anyway for some reason I picked this piece of red and white Christmas fabric, I couldn't really see the design but I could tell it had some red reindeer on it and it was only $4.00 for the 50 cm piece. What the hell I thought! I am sure I can do something with it. Let's see if I can create a quick and easy project.

When I got it home and open it up it screamed table runner.

So here is how I turn this piece of fabric into a quick table runner for a quick last minute gift or for your own table. As this piece was longer than the standard quilting fabric length I need an extra piece to length the backing fabric.

I cut the green into two pieces and sewed the striped fabric to them.

It was time for basting the two fabric with batting in between them and pin the layers together. You can use basting spray if you prefer. It was too hot to use it as I tend to use it outside due to the smell of it, which I don't like.

Some simply straight  quilting for this quick project. I used masking tape to help keep the lines fairly straight with white cotton.

Remind me to but a better brand of blue tape as they were nearly off by the time I finished my 6 lines of quilting or maybe it was just too hot, over 40 degrees again.

Then it was time for the binding and I went with red. I did consider the green I used on the back but I liked the red a little more.

There you go, a completed table runner. Of course this would work with any fabrics of any theme to make a quick table runner.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Pre Christmas Fabric Sell Out.

It is time for our biggest sale of 2015.

Our Pre Christmas Sell Out starts today at  www.cynthiasark.com.au We have a lot of fabric in stock with more on it way and we need to make room for it. So we are having a pre Christmas Fabric Sell Out. Prices start at $10 a metre but you will find a few at the incredible price of $5 a metre if you look. Jump in now and grab a bargain before it all goes. There is some kits on special too.

Plus I have working behind the scenes on improving our newsletter. It is something I have needed to do for quite awhile but wasn't sure how to go about it. I have finally getting it sorted and we should have an improved newsletter going out next time. So what I need everyone to do is sign up to receive the new newsletter even if you have been receiving one from me. This is a totally new system and if you sign up I know you really do want to receive my emails. The newsletter sign up form is at the top right hand side of my blog or if you are on our website it is under the Information heading on the left hand side of the home page.

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Under the Pressure Foot #16

I have been waiting for this range to arrive since I ordered it in June. It is Thimble Pleasures and features vintage sewing machines panel, scissors, tape measures, thimbles and sewing sayings. They are all now available at Cynthia's Ark.

I have two projects ideas for you for this range.  Today I will share the first idea and next week I will share the other idea once I do a little more sewing on the project. Firstly the panel can easily be cut into 2 strips of 4 sewing machines.

So the first idea is a table runner. So you could make 2 table runners from 1 panel or you could make 1 table runner and 4 matching cushions. For the table runner all you need is a cream inner border. I used Riley Blake Designs Shades Cream fabric for an inner border.

Then I used the Thimble fabric from Thimble Pleasures for the second border.

I will have to find some quilting time now to finish this table runner off but I do know I will be using the tape measure fabric for the binding.
When I finish this table runner I will write the pattern up and put it under the tutorial tab for anyone who would like to make one. These fabrics are available at Cynthia's Ark.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Polka Dot Pond Friends Quilt Tutorial

This is one of the children's quilts I made over the weekend. I thought I would share what I did to make it. This little pattern will work with any skinny panel you have. I have kept it simply but you can fancy it up with a four patch block like I did with the Photo Safari panel I had in stock awhile a go.

I cut 2 x 4 inch strips from the green swirl.

Pinned them in place and sewed them on. Press to the borders.

Lay the backing fabric out, right side down, lay your wadding on top. Lastly centre the quilt top in the centre. Make sure you smooth out any creases as you lay out each layer. Pin baste the layer together.

Quilt as you like but I kept it simply and quilted around some of the motifs and some of the straight parts including stitching in the ditch between the panel and borders.

Cut 4 x 2 1/2 inch strips from the striped fabric for your binding and join the strips end to end  for a very long 2 1/2 inch strip. Sew on the quilt using your preferred binding method. 

You can purchase this fabric kit at Cynthia's Ark.

Quilt finishes approx. 30 x 43 inches (76 x 110 cm.)

 Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Cushion Time

Last week I shared an AQS tutorial on my Cynthia's Ark Facebook page on cushion making with a special tip for the corners. I was inspired to try it as there was some large scale Kaffe Collective 15 fabrics that had just arrived and I was wondering how to showcase them.

I choose 2 prints to start with.Though I want to make a cushion from each print. That may happen who knows! It didn't take me long to make the first one using the Chrysanthemum print. A long week and a little too tired to continue but I promised myself I will do the other one during the week.

 On Tuesday night I cut the second one out and had it sewn up in no time using the Pansy print this time. The only problem I had was the cushion insert was a little smaller than what the packet claimed so my first cover was a little loose. Not too hard to fix.

 I think I will find different cushion insert when I make some more, just not quite happy with the filling in these ones. The stuffing isn 't quite in the corners.

Visit my Cynthia's Ark Facebook page to find the tutorial.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia