Christmas Reflections - Runner and Mini Quilt

Hello! Just a quick post to show you a festive table runner I've made. If you want to see some pretty close-ups of the quilting, head on over to my post here where I go into a bit more detail.

Of course I've made a pattern for the runner, which also includes a pattern for a mini quilt at no extra charge. :) It's available in my Etsy store, here. 

Swallow

Hello! I sewed another Farmer's Wife Sampler block on Monday night. This is block 93, Swallow:

It was a nice quick one to put together. I used the templates to cut all the triangles, and for the rest I just used my ruler and rotary cutter.

I always have such fun making these, and really want to step up the production a bit... maybe try for a couple a month. So many projects, so little time... I bet a lot of people can relate to that!

Bye for now

Hope x

Wander Through the Woods

Just thought I'd mention I have a brand new pattern available, called Wander Through the Woods. It's available now here.

It's so easy to make, and really quite quick. The pattern is full of extras, a total of 8 different quilts to make if you wanted to, including a mini quilt just 12.5 inches square. :)

If you'd like to know more, head on over to my other blog, here.

Bye for now x

New Mini Block Pattern and a New Blog

Greetings! I am just popping in to let you know that I have a new blog, hopesquiltdesigns.blogspot.com. It will focus on patchwork and quilting, and maybe a bit of other sewing. This blog will now include more of the other things I like to do - sewing, papercraft, drawing... whatever takes my fancy, just like it says up there in the header. ;)

I've posted about a new FREE mini block pattern over on my other blog (Autumn Tints, shown above), and that's where I'll tell you about all the new mini block patterns as I get them ready, as well as other patterns I design. If you'd like to visit me there, I'd love to have you, so please do stop by and say hello.

Bye for now, Hope

Homemaker

Goodness, what a lot of time has passed since I blogged. I've been super busy, but have managed to do another Farmer's Wife Sampler block. It's block 47, Homemaker:

This block has inset seams, or 'Y' seams... Now this doesn't normally worry me. The first quilt I ever made had inset seams, by my own design too. I must admit to having some trouble with this block though. I started sewing it as per the directions in the book (as I understood them), but that wasn't working for me, so I unpicked it and did it differently. 

I left the corner units assembled, but without the blue floral triangles attached. I attached those to the centre square first, then attached the corner units. It worked beautifully and the block lies perfectly flat. You can see how I ironed the seams below:  

I will tidy up all those threads before I put the quilt together :)

Something I like to try to do when sewing quilt blocks is have the fabric grain running in the same direction for each piece, or at least at right-angles. I drew the grain-line on the templates before cutting the pieces out so I could line them up appropriately.

One thing I didn't do though is sew my usual scant quarter inch, so it's a teensy bit smaller than it should be. Not enough to worry about though thank goodness, I'll just take it into account when I assemble the quilt.

As for what's been keeping me busy... I'm doing a course in Small Business Management. It's very full-on, with a recommended 60 hours for each module, one module a week! Assessments at the end of each week too... It's all going well though and I only have a few weeks left. Then, there will be a LOT more sewing happening. ;)

Bye for now x 

Rainblow Flowers Mini Block -Free Pattern

I finally got to testing my Rainbow Flowers mini block pattern yesterday, and am pleased to say that it all works and is now available for free download at my Payhip Pattern Store. 

For my test piece I sorted through my Bonnie & Camille scrap jar, which is full of Marmalade offcuts from my ZigZag Love quilt, as well as a few pieces of Ruby from another project.

I love the way the finished block looks with the stripes and spots. Actually, this has me wanting to make a whole mini quit in just spots and stripes. Wouldn't that be cute?

I hope you'll have a look at the pattern and give it a go. It really is a fun little block!

Happy Sewing x

Evening Star

Good afternoon, and happy Tuesday to you. I'm back to share another Farmer's Wife Sampler block. This time it's block 31, Evening Star.

This block went together so nicely. I used the templates provided on the CD for the triangles, and cut the squares using my quilting ruler and rotary cutter. That's my usual way of doing these blocks, unless the squares will be funny sizes like 1.7 inches or something - then I use the templates for the lot.

I was very organised last night and printed off three pages of templates. I find that if I don't have the right template printed it will put me off sewing these Farmer's Wife blocks. When I want to sew I just can't be bothered with turning the computer on, finding the right template, printing, etc... Now, I will have no excuse not to dive right in to the cutting!

Bye for now x

Hovering Hawks

Hello, and Happy New Year! Once again I've been absent from my blog for a long time... Things get busy and I forget about my blog. Maybe I can make more of an effort in 2014, make it one of those dreaded 'new year's resolutions'. :)

I made a Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt block today, my first one in a long time. It's called Hovering Hawks:

My Farmer's Wife quilt is another thing I've been neglecting. I have done a total of 46 blocks now, out of the 111 in the book. I would love to get it finished in 2014. I'm not yet certain what size I'm going for, but will probably aim to make all the blocks regardless. They're fun!

I have a new mini pattern just about ready for the 1.5 inch Rainbow Flowers block. I just need to proof read it and then I'll put it up on Craftsy for free download. Soon!

Have a lovely day, bye for now. x