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Showing posts from 2014

Christmas Star

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This year I give you my Christmas Star Tree ornament And another.... You can easily make one of these yourself. Using two star templates - one large, one small.   With just these simple ingredients..... Sew Lets get stitching! Cut two pieces of fabric (one piece will be your star front, the other will be the back of the star)  roughly about half an inch larger than your large star shape. & Draw around the large star shape on one of the fabric pieces On a contrasting piece of fabric Draw around the small star template  (I've used cookie cutters - and as you can see I'm making lots of Christmas Star ornaments) Cut out small star and place onto centre of your drawn star . Stitch in place using a contrasting thread. (note you are stitching onto the front fabric only at this point) Place front onto back fabric  and stitch around outer star. Cut out your star Attach a ribbon for hanging

Little knitted Hats

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Just by way of a change from patchwork and quilting. I've been making these little hats for bottles of Innocent Smoothies to raise money for Age Concern. To find out more   click here I crochet some last year, but this year I got myself a pair of childrens knitting needles  and knit one, purl one......  I'm just following the basic 'simple' pattern, but if you want to see some Amazing Innocent Hats, click here I think I knit four, purl four, for this one. They knit up ever so quickly. I couldn't resist a little crochet edge though! I've got until the 12th December to get my little hat sent in. Using double knitting yarn and some 4mm needles, cast on 28 stitches. Click here To see the Big Knit patterns

A One Hour Workshop

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When I gave my Welsh Quilting talk to a local ladies group 'Positive Thinkers', they asked me to return to do a mini stitching workshop - Any project I though suitable. Realizing the restrictions of having one hour to complete a workshop I decided to make an Applique Felt Heart Hanging. You may remember the red and white felt ones we made last Christmas. Anyway, these hearts are Aqua Blue I wanted to make sure the ladies had the best chance of making these up within the hour, So   I've cut out, drawn out stitching lines and made up 30 kits  Begged borrowed, bought and stolen about 70 needles. Cut threads to length and threaded said 70 odd needles (cutting thread and threading the needles would take valuable time out of their hour) Cut out ribbons for hanging the Hearts  Made up a number of example pieces  At different stages And rather ignored the dogs pleas to be taken out for a walk. I think I am just about ready now I u

Paper pieced Tumbling Block

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Continuing playing with English Paper Piecing I give you A basic Tumbling Block Sew, starting with three 60 degree diamond shapes in three different shades/patterns of green (choose any colour you like)  Using the same technique as we did for the hexegons, stitch the fabric over the papers. Then  Stitch two of the diamonds into a V shape And to complete the tumbling block Stitch the third diamond into the V  This is the wrong way to place your diamond onto your fabric!  We had great fun last Thursday. Everyone used the same template I had used, and cut their fabrics the same size as mine. But One of the ladies (who shall remain nameless) I don't want to embarrass her  though I was left red faced by this!!!  So anyway, one nameless lady called me over as she had a problem.  She had laid her template onto her fabric. But the fabric piece was too short - there was not enough to fold over at the points of the template. See pic above N

Hexie mania

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Well my Quilty friends, after a slightly indifferent start the Monday Ladies have taken the hexagon challenge and are running with it. They are really enjoying making hexagons now - aren't you ladies?. And quite a few of you are now well on you way to making my Hexie Handbag Kit. Do you remember when I posted the instructions for the Hexie Handbag Kit and there was some confusion over the size of the hexagons I used. (my fault). Well, below you can see the results. On the right my original Hexie Handbag Kit and on the left Ros's oversized Hexie Handbag Kit.  Both look stunning And my new project Joyofquilting group on a Thursday morning starts this Thursday 1st May. Among my new group I have four newbies and so thought I'd start them off with a simplified version of My Hexie Handbag Kit  I've been busy the last few days making up these kits. I've also be working on my own stitching. I've just finished my latest piece for this years

New Quilting Group - Port Talbot

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Hello there my Quilty Friends, no Monday Class this week - Easter - And I hope you all had a lovely weekend. The weather here in the U.K. South Wales has been glorious. And lots of us have spent quite a bit of the weekend outdoors. But the main reason for my post today is to spread the word to anyone living within striking distance of me that I am starting a new Quilting Group and I shall be holding a coffee morning this Thursday 24th April at 10.30 at The Youth Hall, St. Theadore's Church, Port Talbot. For you to come along, have a coffee/tea and chat to me about the new class.  So if you fancy learning some of the techniques featured here.    Above are samples of my work. We'll be covering both hand and machine stitched projects. At a pace to suit you - it's all about enjoying the journey.....not rushing to your destination. Anyone interested in joining the new Quilting group I'm setting up is welcome to come alo

Hexie Handbag Kit - Part Three

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For Hexie Handbag Kit part one click here  & For My Hexie Handbag Kit Part Two click here Firstly my Quilting Friends, even if your not making this kit, it's worth scrolling to the bottom of the page to see the music video I've selected for you today.....I know I'm just a tad older than these boys usual fans but I love their music anyway. Phew - nearly there now....final push... Hexie Handbag kit - part 3 - no cliff hanger today my Quilty Friends. Today we finish this kit! OK you should be all refreshed now and have a piece of work that looks something like this. Yes? Right next step you need to trim the backing fabric to a generous half inch (1.5c.m.) all around. Then using the tip of an iron (a travel iron is great for this) press over towards you work - see pic above And pin/tack it over onto the front of your work to create a binding around the edge. Stitch binding in place using a co-ordinating thread. Note - when stitching