I sat and sewed again this afternoon and have probably sewn too many big squares now (a couple at the top of the bed are folded in half!) but all in all it looks pretty good and I am delighted it's gone together so quickly (and with mostly accurate joins!) My patchwork class starts again on Wednesday so I hope to get all the big squares joined together into one top and then our teacher (who I showed a photo to) has suggested a few sessions in her quilting workshop on her long-armed quilting machine so we can quilt the top professionally. I'm quite excited at that idea.
This has been a good stash-buster anyway, although I still have some double blocks sewn together - probably enough for a lap-quilt for downstairs. Now I must go in search of the magazine that had the pattern for my Heirloom quilt, as that looks like it will be started far sooner than anticipated, although I do have a Space Invader quilt to do for my son first as well, but that is an easy one I can do at home.
Plus - it had to be done - I orderere a black Egyptian cotton fitted sheet and it arrived today, has been washed and I will get it ironed and on the bed soonest, with the new duvet . . .
I also had a surprise email via Ancestry, regarding the whereabouts/fate of my gran's (half) brother Christopher Charles Rose. Apparently he emigrated to Canada, where he married, but sadly died from Tetanus in 1916. I had a postcard of a church near Harrogate with a note on it in my gran's handwriting, saying that her brother was buried there. So, confusion all round. Which brother then? I am a lapsed member of Ancestry, so don't know how I can thank Christopher Rose's grandson for his note.
P.S. Nearly forgot - First Snowdrops noticed locally today when I went out for a walk (3 miles in an hour, so good going for me) - by the tiny ruined cottage on the riverbank, were some Snowdrops with multiple layers inside. This cottage last lived in around WWII and I think these may be a very old Snowdrop type. (Just looked them up and they are "Double Snowdrops" - Galanthus hipplyta - yet near the Mill are ordinary one-layer Double snowdrops. Yesterday, on the way back from N's, lots and lots of Celandine leaves and one Celandine flower about to open. Yay!!
Wow Speedy Gonzales has nothing on you. It looks wonderful. I like the simplicity of the pattern. I am going to start that old shirt quilt soon. Promise. You are inspiring me. Cannot settle at the moment to anything. Want to just is not happening. Will look lovely when you have finished. I would not know where to start with quilting it myself. Take care. Tricia xx
ReplyDeleteThe slow part (and even that not that slow as SUCH a simple block) was putting the "surround" to the central square - two short side bars, then two longer ones top and bottom. I kept doing those until I had a stack, then sewed them into pairs, then the last two days, making 4s, 8s and 16s of them. Simples!
DeleteI like to hand quilt, but on a king size quilt I would need a big frame, so it's not going to happen. If you want more inspiration look up various things about quilting on You Tube. THE best is Missouri Star Quilt Company - they will show you how to do everything, and a hundred different block patterns . . .
You have just answered the question for me of how to 'centre' the middle square. Very pretty quilt. Have some new materials (from Cotton Patch) which are in the black/white/grey range.
DeleteThats a lot of work gone into that! Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteA good way to spend a grey January day anyway!
DeleteThe quilt top looks very cheerful. I love it.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It was so simple to make. The next quilt - my Heirloom William Morris one - is a great deal more complicated!! I shall be very slow, steady and ACCURATE with that one.
DeleteI have enjoyed your blog for awhile but never commented. I've tried some of your recipes and admire the beautiful quilt work. Crocheting and family history are my hobbies. Ancestry was a gift from my son for Christmas. If there is any way I can help deliver a message let me know. My home is in the province of Alberta in Canada. Take Care! Judy
ReplyDeleteIntriguing! Unfortunately I am a lapsed member, too, so I can't do any checking.
ReplyDeleteExciting news about the quilt, it really is very beautiful. I love it when the early flowers start to come through, no sign of Celandines here yet, but I am keeping watch. Your energy levels are impressive and no doubt very welcome - a really good start t o the new year.
I can't afford to keep up membership all year round when I only do my family history so intermittently though I do need to update the family tree (I have it all on paper and whoever inherits it - probably Eldest Daughter - would go mad with all the little trails along with the facts!) Glad you like the quilt. I can't wait to get it finished.
DeleteEnergy levels much better than they were - that virus really knocked us for six.
Hello and welcome Judy, lovely to hear from you. Glad you've tried some of my recipes and hope they went down well. Family History is something I've done a lot of down the years, but normally with big gaps in between concentrated weeks of effort. I love doing it (it's a bit like a treasure hunt!) and this message has gotten me gee'd up again. Thanks for your offer to help deliver a message - I am thinking I shall take out a month's membership of Ancestry to correspond with my ??2nd cousin and say thanks to him. I went through my notes on Christopher Rose, and found I had tentatively written down "Died 30 November 1916 Fort Frances, Rainy River, Ontario, Canada aged 39, so I HAD found him, just couldn't confirm it. Haste ye back Judy, don't be a stranger now!!
ReplyDeleteNice to see your reply.The recipes were very tasty but somehow I couldn't comment to let you know. Sorry I don't have a blog. We are kind of like detectives and our searches are personal. Glad that you made a connection. Did you know there is a site called Find A Grave? Happy hunting BB!!
DeleteI vaguely remember the Find a Grave site - have jotted it down again. Many thanks Judy. Glad you enjoyed the recipes too!
DeleteThe quilt looks so beautiful - feeling rather envious of your skills :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful to hear that local snowdrops are starting to flower and the lone celandine - real signs of Spring :) I can't even see leaves appearing on my few garden snowdrops unless of course yet again I have managed to lose them! Have lost count of snowdrops planted over the years that rarely survive more than a few winters :(
I'm sure you could start off with a very simple block and make yourself a cushion, and then you will realize it IS doable after all (even for dunces like me, who would ALWAYS prefer to sew by hand, as I am in control then!)
DeleteSorry about your disappearing Snowdrops - perhaps you have bank voles or something nobbling them. Perhaps plant in hefty containers?
My stash is going to be busted this year as I am inspired by all the quilt making on the blogs I follow. Pam was talking about this on her blog today too. I struggle with the quilting part due to size but just do simple stuff. I would love to have a try of a long arm quilter-look forward to seeing the finished quilt.
ReplyDeletePam is a whiz with quilts - this top going together only looks fast because I sewed all the blocks last year. Pam can sit down and throw a quilt together in a couple of days - I can't sit that long as my neck gets stiff. I hope your stash busting results in a fabulous quilt! I will report back on trying out the long arm quilter . . .
DeleteI love your quilt BB. So much work and what a beautiful result!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine how much you are looking forward to starting the William Morris quilt. DWx
It's nice and cheerful and will be the everyday quilt (I'm fed up with the hexagon quilt which I made years ago), and the Heirloom Quilt For Best!
DeleteWhen constructing fairly simple quilt blocks I work on 4 or 6 at a time. Lay out the pieces and stitch all of a kind not cutting the thread between. Snip apart, press if needed, and proceed with the next round. Piecing seems to go faster this way as long as I pay attention!
DeleteYou are brave to consider using the long arm machine. I never tackled the one kept at the quilt shop for beginners.
Yes, I must get into this habit. That said, on these bigger blocks they went together pretty swiftly anyway. Yesteray's final bash at it took longest as I had to unpick two seams the length of the quilt as when I saw the back it was obvious the bobbin tension was wrong and I had loops (I did it on one of Alex's machines - mine is fine).
DeleteI think I'm brave to attempt the long arm too, but Alex will set it all up and be in the same room so I shall report back!!