summer of love quilt reveal!!

The day is finally here..

about blimming time I hear you say!
I hope you love it like I do!

Between loading and unloading the washing machine

last week I made up this

cute label.

Here you can see my choice of binding too.

It was an online buy,

which can be hit and miss,

but I think the colours work perfectly.

The binding fabric was a metre square,

so lots of joins!

Luckily being striped they dont show.

My inspiration for this quilt primarily came from

here

 I was quite smitten,

and so the journey began.

Searching out fabrics from 

junk shops, charity shops, friends and the www!

Previous to my discovery of the want to make quilt 

I had bought some

lovely

vintage patchwork,

that I made into cushions..

which influenced my colour combinations.

To tell you the truth some of the hexagons,

in my mind are downright hideous!!

But strangely they do work together as a whole.

THE GALLERY

(please click on pictures to get a closer look)

FAQs

1. This quilt is a hand sewn English paper pieced quilt.

Check out my tutorial at the top of my blog to see

how it's done.

2. I made my own templates with computer paper.

The diamonds measure from point to point 4.5"

Which makes the hexagon sides a little over 5".

3.  I didn't use a pattern from anywhere,

it's not necessary really.

4. The quilt measures approx 70" square,

which fits a UK double bed,

not entirely as I didn't want the pillows covered.

5. I used heirloom cotton/polyester mix batting,

which I got here.

6. The fabrics are a mix of vintage and new,

with solids mixed in to calm it all down!!

7. The bulk of the sewing was done this year.

Totally crazy!

8. The backing is an old duvet cover,

recycle recycle recycle!

9. Each block took roughly an hour

which includes cutting the templates etc.

10. 68 block and 8 half blocks.

11. Find similar quilts here 

a quilt along flickr group for all things diamond!

12. The quilting is basic straight line machined,

I'm not great at hand quilting.

13. The binding was machined on the front

and then hand stitched to the back.

 I'm sure there are many more unanswered questions,

so feel free to ask me anything!!!

To retrace the progress of this quilt

click on the summer of love label in the word cloud

in my sidebar.

I know that I am responsible for this heirloom,

and yet it still amazes me that I made such a crazy quilt!

I hope I have inspired you to create your own..

if so why not join the flickr group 

and share your journey!

almost a quilt

Here at last is a sneak peek at the quilt

very nearly a full functioning bed adornment.

 I really didn't enjoy the number of hours it took me to remove the papers,

though their flights of fancy round the garden amused me.

 I have to say I've never enjoyed a good iron so much!

And if I could I would have left this top as flat as a pancake,

but needs must.

SOAP BOX WARNING!!

 I have backed it with a piece of old duvet.

Before any one wants to lecture me on the
rules of quilting,

(I've had this happen)

I would like to say that quilts 

were originally made from recycling old unusable fabric,

there were no 'quilt shops' back in the olden days.

I like using one whole piece of backing,

I'm not into back piecing,

for one who's going to see it?

and two I've just made the quilt top,

you really think I want to make a back piece?!

I remembered this old duvet cover that we stopped using,

it's fine, it's recycling it's turquoise and it didn't cost me a penny!

Okay I'm done..I thankyou.

 When basting I need the television!

It's too uncomfortable and dull not to have 

some kind of distraction.

Mine was a recorded programme
about British landscape artists,

I love art and I've decided to gain more
arty knowledge this year,

I may even go back to college.

 Anyway with the Augustus John thing on

I began.

Wadding wise I am using

heirloom 80% cotton 20% polyester.

(the lemon meringue sample)

from the cotton patch

First I pinned with safety pins,

then tacked it together with thread,

folding it over as I sewed.

 With the pins removed I got on to quilting.

And here we have the dilemma.

After many hours of research I came up with a
straight line..

Before you all gasp in horror,

(believe me I've done a lot of gasping)

let me give my reasoning, before casting judgement on my wicked ways.

 1. This is my first big attempt at machine quilting

2. I am still very much a novice

3. I had a stinking cold, 

so not entirely responsible for my actions

4. I'm a lazy a@s

5. The real reason:

after basting I found a few seams had pulled apart,

due to 

some rubbish sewing!

 the vintage/new mix of fabrics.

I felt it all needed some secure quilting,

I fear this quilt is a little fragile

and certainly will never be machine washed!

 So here it is..

I do feel a bit peeved annoyed

with myself, for not waiting.

But you know when the moment takes you,

even with a fuzzy head full of cold.

I think with the reasons I've given 

I should be able to forgive myself.

And at the end of the day it's still a nice quilt.

So I was going to sew diagonals the other way too,

what do you think?

I'm swaying right now.

Just binding left now,

I think it has to be turquoise or white,

I'm not sure?

I'd love to know what you think?

If you love this quilt pattern 

there is a group on flickr

if you would like to see more.

Jessica from life under quilts

is writing an update this week and is also sewing an awesome

hand pieced quilt!

summer of love v summer cold

Good morning folks.

The sun has returned which is cheering me up no end.

I'm pretty sure I have a cold,

I'm not totally convinced,

it could be hay fever.

Though I'm taking tablets and I still feel rough!

Apparently it's a bad year for allergies.

With the celebrations and the doings past

I can concentrate (a little) on the quilt.

Oh geez

let me tell you

the taking out of the papers is 

draining my will to live!!

I feel free!!!

 Well I wasn't going to post this yet 

but it's so sunny I couldn't not!

( I feel free by Cream,

must be sung whilst reading this post!)

 I have finished the patchwork stage of this quilt.

Hooray!

 I'm so glad I added that extra row,

because now it just about fits our king size,

which is a nice option considering

I've made it for the double bed in the loft room.

 Here is the backside,

still with the majority of the papers still intact.

I almost love the back as much as the front!

 Next job then,

snipping all those tacking knots!!

 Ooh get that super reflection.

 Not sure if my hands were shaking due to being star struck

or just low blood sugar, from not eating lunch yet!

So now I need your help...........

backing, quilting and binding options??

One choice for the backing is

a pink floral 70s vintage sheet that I have,

with a plain white binding.

But I'm not sure if it should be something plainer??

Then there's the quilting!

OMG what to do?

I have only ever stitched in the ditch (in the seam),

however because I have used lots of vintage fabrics 

they are a little more fragile so I was considering 

straight line quilting,

to strengthen the whole quilt.

My issue with that is not wanting to mess up the star shapes

with too many lines.

So another option would be to stitch a cm inside the star....

....but can you imagine the turning of the quilt under my machine!!!!!

What to do?

wordless wednesday

the magic porridge pot

 Anyone who knows the story of the magic porridge pot

(my favourite childhood book)

will understand this post.

This quilt is turning into quite a porridge of a pot,

in that it goes on and on!

The bigger it gets the more of a monster it is becoming!

 I know I know...

not another post with that quilt.

Believe me I want to see the end too.

Yesterday to my horror,

whilst filling the gaps along the edge,

I realised that I need to do another whole row!!

That's another 8!!

If I don't then the quilt will end with half a block.

(as above)

I was tempted to leave it,

but the angel (or is it the devil?)

on my shoulder wont let me!

 And so with a big sigh...

...onwards.
(ignore the pillow/quilt combo,
this quilt is for the loft room.
I'm just using our bed to lay it all out)

 On a cheerier note, some primulas,

that my mother in law gave me.

It was a table decoration at a charity event they went to

with my Mum and Dad. (who they see more than I do!)

How cute is the simple laurel leaf casing.

Righto then porridge with homemade gooseberry jam.

Just one bowl thankfully!

blockbusters

Can I have a P please Bob?

Good morning folks.

This was supposed to be a post on the garden 

to follow on from the birdwatch.

But who am I trying to kid really?

It's cold out there!

This is more or less how the quilt will look when finished.

There have been many hours of pondering and switching

to the point of insanity.

You see I gave myself a rule of not using a fabric more than once,

well that slipped and now its a free for all.

Just heard the oscar winning composer John Barry has died, 

so they are playing the theme from

Out of Africa, on the radio,

it's such a beautiful piece of music.
He was most famous for the James Bond themes.

What an amazing legacy to leave the world..

I wonder what will happen to my creations after I am gone?

When do they become vintage?

Will they be loved?

I must remember to sign them so the next owner 

can look me up and read all about my life

here on my little blog!

hello

carry on

 OMG I have a strange man singing in my lounge!!

So this post comes to you from the bedroom

Two reasons.

1. I have men in plastering.

2. I have succumbed to some kind of lurgy!!

I hate having men in so I had planned to be out..

..instead I'm in bed with my lap top and not 

with Lisa from jumble and jelly

As you can see I've sewn up my hexagons...

and I was really chuffed at actually finishing,

but when I laid it out on the bed I realised that

it would be more of a wow to be a full quilt

rather than just the end of the bed 

half job I had planned!

In my heart I know its the right thing to do.

So I shall carry on...

uh-oh

 Can I just say sorry for the hedonistic fashion post.

My teenage torment of too short to model

erupted this week...

Probably egged on by 'you know who's next top model'.

Who needs David Bailey when you have a

10 second self timer on your camera and a gorilla pod!

Hats off to the model wannabes however..

its not easy!!

But hey its my blog and I'll model if I want to!

A person should only have to do up one old house.

So why am I now on my second?

We bought this house in a finished all wrapped up state.

Which is fine...

five years on however it is time to 

put our stamp on it.

Its only when you strip things back do you uncover the history.

I don't like the not knowing!

I think houses should have health notes,

like people do.

 So how many uh-ohs did you notice?

Giant filled in crack
previous repair of damp
or this luscious yarn?

I am a creative wh*re!!
No sooner am I finished with one project...
Okay so I've not completed this one yet,
but I have sewn all the patches.

three more uh-ohs  discovered whilst writing this post.

1. the gutter behind me is blocked and over flowing terribly

2. the washing machine sounds like its full of elephants
3. I am responsible for creating the above monster!

Have an uh-oh free weekend all!!

messing about

 Hey well looks like I'm writing another post with lots of 

not very good photos!

So I woke up with a migraine this morning,
its raining and so dim.

Whats a girl to do?

 Thought I'd share how I go about patchworking

and making a big old mess!

I feel like I'm talking in an American accent on this post?

Must be the crime investigation channel I'm watching!

Love it!

 So this is how I spend my days 

when patchworking

(or crocheting!)

I've left my twiggy stars up on the fireplace

just because..they look cute.

 This is to my left.

Do you see the bare floorboards, 

(yes its been a cold winter!)

you can see where originally they were exposed,

by the staining in the the doorway.

It was common place in period houses that the floorboards 

were only stained where they showed, 

hence the bare wood where the rug would have been.

Funny right?

If you live in an old house, you've probably seen it.

I like to take pictures when I'm working colour schemes,

switching patches around to see what works best.

 Looking at a digital picture helps sometimes.

I've still not matched those mustard diamonds yet!

 Lesson learnt this morning:

hidden cotton reel versus slipperless foot.

 equals....ouch!!

 Ta-dah! That's me.

With a little help from my gorilla pod.

a flexible camera tripod

(a great gadget gift from the old man)

No need for comments, just wanted to share my mess.

I'd love to see what mess you get in when crafting, 

it's interesting to see the 'making of'

and not just the finished product.

 And now its 2 o'clock and I've not eaten my lunch yet!!