I have to sit quietly and let my arm heal at the moment, so I have been busy crafting. This afternoon I put the next strips around the final three blocks which I am putting together at my patchwork class on a Wednesday. The design is Pineapple Log Cabin, although you would find that hard to work out right now. It will be a lap quilt, and those gorgeous little stitching ladies in the middle were a birthday present last year from Dawn McHugh, who has a great blog which catalogues life on her Welsh smallholding, where she is NEVER idle for a minute!
Above, I sewed these hexi's yesterday morning whilst catching up on the new Series 3 of Outlander. BLISS!! They are destined to finish off an unfinished 1970s patchwork quilt top I bought last year. Then I cast my eye over it again and realized these should all have velvet centres . . . That's tomorrow's job then - busy with the stitchripper and some fresh velvet centres.
I do have one of these (a quilting ruler), somewhere in the house, but damned if I could find it when I needed it this week, so I had to buy this one. Imperial measure as I'm a feet 'n' inches gal. It came in the most ginormous box, which we will use for apples (which we have in abundance, as always).
Dawn wrote about my taking up lace making on her blog (she gave me my first lesson recently and got me started). Her mother-in-law read her blog and kindly brought over a starter-kit for me when she came to stay with Dawn and family this week. I am VERY grateful. The round item is the lace pillow, and the blue material (thanks Dawn) is to cover it with - blue is the traditional colour. I have now (naturally) lost the stapler, which lived in the bottom of my food cupboard for at least 10 years, but is now MISSING . . .
This pretty bag is a special cover for the lace pillow, to keep it clean and everything in one place.
A dozen pairs of lace bobbins with pretty dangles, to help me get started. I have about 13 pairs which I have collected in recent years, so am well on the way now.
It is Torchon lace I am starting on, and Dawn's m-in-law kindly photocopied a few basic designs for me to work through, and the blue card is the pricking for this first pattern.
I am close to the end of my first piece of lace now - not without its faults! - but when it is finished I will show, and also the start of my next lesson.
Finally, I have blown the dust off this quilt which I began for Elder Daughter two years ago, but it got sidelined as some of the blocks weren't an accurate size and I got frustrated with it. Now I WILL get it right and finish it, along with Middle Daughter's quilt . . .
Now, this won't do. Half past 6 already - where has the day gone?!
OK RR, this one is just for you.
They started off pretending to be Cabbage White caterpillars (only on the roses). They have a habit of sticking one end up in the air (tail end I presume). They are happy munching my rose leaves. Now they are fairly hefty - too big for butterflies. Any suggestions?
OK RR, this one is just for you.
At least someone has got to craft. I do hope you are okay. Healing thoughts coming your way. I love your projects you really have got a lot on your plate mind you I need not talk. I am just as bad. I have a problem with losing things when I need them too. The latest thing is the cloves for the pomanders. I know they are there somewhere, but where is another matter. You really are getting to grips with the patchwork it looks super all of it. I have started a hexie one and am hand sewing it but I think this is one project that is going to be dealt with of an evening during the winter months. I have not got very far so far but once I get myself sorted out a little bit. I love the lap quilt with the little ladies on that Dawn gave to you for your birthday. That will keep you snug once it is finished. I am going to try and book another week off at the end of October and then hopefully I will be able to get the crafting underway if not before time. Its all waiting patiently for me. Please take it steady. Kind regards. Tricia xx
ReplyDeleteFor once I am being a Good Girl and doing as I am told reference resting the arm. I just slightly stretched it last night and realized that was NOT a good thing to do! I am sure your hand-sewn hexi quilt will keep you busy throughout the winter - they soon make up and you can take them up, put them down at your leisure.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it frustrating when you KNOW you have something, but have mislaid it? I had to buy replacement dress making scissors in the summer as I had lost my black ones - normally that results in the lost ones turning up, but not this time.
I am looking forward to having some finished pieces soon, rather than the usual work-in-progress which got sidelined.
Re: the caterpillar - have to say I am definitely not an expert where they are concerned!! But have had a look in one of my books which has loads of caterpillars in. I think you were right and it is one of the "cabbage whites". It looks like a Large White caterpillar to me. On the final instar they can reach over 4 cms - is yours about that length or longer? If it is a lot bigger I will have a rethink!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your quilting by the way - oh to be able to sew such beautiful items.
That sounds like the beasties then RR. These are pretty stonking big! Obviously roses will do when no cabbages are around . . .
ReplyDeleteI am sure you could make nice things. Are there any classes in your area? It helps to have some guidance, although YouTube these days is brilliant in this department.
Must admit I was a bit surprised at choice of food plant - can't find roses anywhere listed as one. But it was the closest match I could find - unfortunately the book I have doesn't cover all butterfly and moth caterpillars.
ReplyDeleteI do knit things - would like to learn to crochet but not easy to teach yourself! Yes, youtube is very useful as I have discovered. Haven't heard of local quilting classes but will keep looking! Thank you :)
Hah - if you saw me UNPICKING just about everything I sewed together yesterday, you would wonder about the sense of taking up patchwork! I think my brain must have been walkabout . . .
DeleteVery pretty quilting and looking forward to seeing the lace. I also find roses get eaten by caterpillars and my brood of Vapourer moth cp's really munch away on roses.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzie. The quilting looks better now I have got the blocks exactly 12" square and not variants of that! Yeesh . . . I am down to one large caterpillar out there now so assume the rest are stowed away until the spring.
DeleteThe quilts are gorgeous and I'm so impressed with your lace bobbins. I'll keep an eye out for any over here, they may be worth grabbing. Thank you for your inspiration and I hope your arm is better soon, take care with it.
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs.xxx
I've seen some really lovely bobbins over on Fleabay, but of course the prettiest go for more than I am willing to pay.
DeleteI have been resting my arm, and it is still comfortable.
The caterpillar could be Mullein, I also have them eating my rose leaves! I am itching to start a new quilt and testing myself with a new pattern. So far I've only made two log cabin quilts with my mum's or possibly grandma's fabric (although I did buy backing and wadding) and a baby EPP one inch hexagon quilt with the leftovers from those. What have you done to your arm BB? Hope it's feeling better and you've had some nice quiet sewing days to help it along.
ReplyDeleteThere are similarities Sarah, but the Mullein ones look a bit bald and these are a tad "hairy". I hope you find a pattern to tempt you soon. I bought full size wadding for two double quilts, only to find one now needs to be king size . . .
DeleteI had a "mole" removed from my arm. It used to be a dark freckle but came up like a beauty spot. GP sent me to specialist, who thought it was a Blue Nevus but said it was probably harmless but best removed anyway. I have quite a dent in my arm now!
I love the quilt you are making for T. Beautiful colours.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy this "quiet time" while your arm heals. A perfect excuse to get your quilting projects underway again and to have a go with the lacemaking. I don`t think I would have the patience for that!
Hi DW. The air was blue during my "quiet time" sewing today! I had to unpick everything I sewed yesterday. Patience is a bit thin now!
DeleteDon't you hate it when you know you have something but you can't find it and then have to buy a new one! Love this post - my mum is making Grace a quilt farmhouse style, a patchwork one. Lovely.
ReplyDelete