Hello & a Happy Wednesday to you all!
Today brings my first of many Christmas videos for 2014! And we’re starting off with a bit of a tricky one. But take comfort, once you know the basic steps to Foundation Paper-Piecing, you’ll be whipping up these blocks in no time!
Like I mention at the beginning of the video, if you’re new to Foundation Paper-Piecing, perhaps watch the tutorial I made a little while ago explaining everything there is to know to this technique to then help you out with this video.
And if you’re interested, here’s just a quick little list of the sewing tools I used in this video*…
– Brother Innovis 200QE sewing machine
– Brother 1/4″ sewing foot
– Gutermann polyester thread
– Fiskars Rotary Blade and Cutting Mat
– Sew Easy Rulers
– UHU Paper Glue
– Triumph Craft Scissors
– Clover Serrated Tracing Wheel
– Clover Finger Presser
– Fabric from Spotlight
And as always, share with me any pictures of your finished blocks if you’re keen on giving this a go! You can contact me here: 3and3quarters@gmail.com
Happy Sewing Friends!
*This is not a sponsored video or post. All products have been bought by me and all opinions are my own.
For today’s post, I’m harking back to my earlier days of blog writing and am just going to write about everything that’s been happening in my little sewing world!
Sound good?
Excellent!
Right, let’s start with a WIP!
January this year, I uploaded this video. Here I chatted about my intended intentions (say that ten times fast!) of getting all of my WIPs finished this year!
I was keen and ready to jump in!
And seven months later, I’ve finally decided to begin honoring this New Year Resolution! (As you do!)
Monday night I felt restless and itchy to get my mind and hands stuck into some sewing. So instead of starting something new like I always do, I reached out for one of my WIPs.
And it was this one I chose…
Paper Pieced Union Jacks
I only had two more paper-pieced blocks to make until I could begin piecing the quilt top together. So that’s what I set out to do.
At about 9.30pm (which is pretty late for me to be sewing), I dug out a pretty floral and some sweet pastel fabrics from The Stash and begun piecing together.
About an hour later I had made this…
Out of all 11 blocks I’ve made, this is my favourite! Uber chic and girly – LOVE IT!!!
This afternoon/evening, I hope to tackle the last block for this quilt. I’m still umming-and-ahhing over fabric choices but I have a fair idea what I want this block to look like.
Bring on my wild Saturday night! Whoo!!!
Speaking of fabric, I took advantage of a great End of Financial Year Sale at Kelani Fabric Obsession during the week and treated my self to some b-e-a-utiful fabrics!
Here’s a list of the fabrics I bought…
#one
Cherry Dot on Blossom Pink | Oh Deer! By MoMo for Moda Fabrics
#two
Memoir in Zest | Alchemy Quilting Collection by Amy Butler for Rowan
#three
Pineapple Slices | Acacia by Tula Pink for Free Spirit
(My first ever cut of Tula Pink fabric!)
#four
Vivienne Stripe in Blush | By Alexander Henry
#five
Toyland Twinkle in Orange & Blue | By Alexander Henry
I can’t wait to get stuck in and use these little beauties… I don’t know what for yet… But a day will come when I was glad I spent a small fortune on a lovely array of fabric!
And lastly, although it was uploaded this time last week, I wanted to share with you my latest Weekly Vlog.
I didn’t get to film much of the show due to copyright etc but I did manage to capture some awesome footage of the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the city!
We also celebrated my Dad’s 68th birthday! It was wonderful!
So I think that’s about it at the moment.
A WIP is on its way to be completed (sorta) and I’ve soothed my fabric lust for just a few days!
Hopefully I’ll act get my act together and show you a finished quilt top in my next post…
The Easter Long Weekend came as blessing in disguise for me.
I was able to use the time to focus on getting my Foundation Paper Piecing tutorial edited and uploaded for you!
Initially I was going to demonstrate the technique using a Wonky Log Cabin pattern that I had drawn up, but decided it was possibly a little bit too complicated and fiddly for a ‘beginners’ tutorial.
So in the end, I drew up a Flying Geese type pattern that seemed a lot more quick and simple.
The method I use to tackle Foundation Paper Piecing is the way I was initially taught and feel is the most easiest, quickest and neatest way to do it.
However, there are plenty of other ways Foundation Paper Piecing can be done. These preference will (and do!) vary from quilter to quilter!
I’ve been buying so many quilting gadgets and sewing accessories over the past month or so (who doesn’t, right?!), that I wanted to share a few of them with you in something that I call:
A Craft Haul!
Item #1
‘The Quilting Answer Book’ | Barbara Weiland Talbert
I discovered this little beauty of a book in one of my local bookshops and immediately knew it was coming home with me!
I had a good little flick through it to see what it was all about…
It begins with the basic questions and answers that all newbie quilters begin with regarding fabrics, batting, tools/accessories as well as cutting, piecing and pressing and how a quilt is assembled etc.
The book also delves into answering the deeper and more advanced techniques of quilting like applique, quilting techniques and skills, embellishments, calculating your own block designs and more!
The book has been set out into easy to find and read sections that have informative diagrams and images to follow along with.
[CLICK HERE] To see more information about this book!
Item #2
Fiskars Self-Healing Double-Sided Cutting Mat | 18x24inches
I had been saving like mad and keeping my patience hat on, waiting to get this.
My previous cutting mat was getting a bit ‘rough-around-the-edges’, both sides. Because I was really impressed by the quality and features of that Fiskars cutting mat, I was on the look out for a good sale price (these baby’s aren’t cheap!).
Eventually my patience was rewarded with a 40% off Fiskars Quilting Tools sale at Spotlight! Cha-Ching!
The thing that I especially love about the Fiskars Mats is that they have the 1/8th” measurement lines as well as a dotted lines in between the solids so that accurate measuring and cutting is a breeze!
Item #3
Sew Easy Patchwork Ruler | 14×4.5inches
While I was ‘treating’ myself to a new cutting mat, I also purchased another quilting ruler.
I was looking for another one of those ‘basic’ types of rulers that can be used when measuring and cutting anything.
This particular ruler is slightly longer than the previous one I was using (tick!) and features the all-important imperial measurements (tick!).
Item #4
Clover Tracing Wheel | With Serrated Edges
When I do paper-piecing, I like to perforate the lines that I’ll be sewing over by guiding the paper through an unthreaded sewing machine. This perforation helps when tearing the paper off in the later stages of the block construction.
To avoid this time consuming step, I bought a serrated edge tracing wheel that will, hopefully, do the same kind of job as the sewing machine.
I’m yet to trial this method out so I can’t really say whether this will work with much success! I’ll keep you posted!
Item #5
Pink Thread Snips | With anti-slip grip handle
I like using these types of thread cutters. I find that they’re quicker to pick up and use and the point at the end of blade cuts closer to the surface.
These particular thread snips are unbranded and were on the cheap side, so how well they’ll work and how long they’ll last is anyone’s guess!
Item #6
‘PaintBox’ Collection by Cynthia Rowley | ‘Prism’, 50x112cm
Gosh I love this fabric! I’m sucker for anything with crisp geometric forms and bold intense colours.
As you may know, I’m using this print as the feature in my Friendship Star Quilt. Initially I only got about half-a-metre (50cm) from the meterage and realised it wouldn’t quite be enough for what I was doing (don’t you hate it when that happens!?). So I bought another 50cm for when I need it – and I will!
This print was part of a super-swish collection from Cynthia Rowley that I purchased from Spotlight. The other designs in the range are all insanely beautiful and fun…I wish I was a millionaire so I could buy them all!
I’d been searching around for chalkboard paint for ages until I very randomly came across this sweet little tin in one of my favourite stationary stores.
I was happy with the price ($9.95) and the size, so I got it!
I haven’t used this product yet, so again, I’m not sure of the quality that lies within… However, I’m always on Pinterest, so I’m sure I’ll come across a brilliant craft idea to try it out on! I’ll share that too when the time comes!
I also filmed a video of me chatting about all of these products on my YouTube Channel!
All of these products, except the book and chalkboard paint, I purchased at Spotlight – usually when there was a catalogue sale or storewide sale.
I haven’t been paid or asked to review/chat/share these items. Everything written is my own opinion, experience and thought.
Moving on, I have new quilt block tutorial coming out later this week!!
Here’s a little glimpse…
Mystery Block…
Ooo, what could it be!?!?
Stay tuned for more!
Happy Sewing Friends!
xx
PS. You can also find more of me, my work and patchworky dreams here –
Two years ago, on this very day, I found the guts to start writing a blog.
I was nervous, unsure and a little bit scared at the thought of writing and publishing my own quilty work on the internet.
But I was looking for a challenge, an expressive medium and a chance to reach out to other creatives around the world!
And two years later, here we are! Still writing. Still making. Still challenged!
I thought for today’s post I would look down memory lane of the past year – reflecting on the good (and plain-right exciting!!) things that have happened over the past 12 months!
Main picture: Me with my Minimalist: 101 quilt at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Show – my first ever entry into this show!
From bottom left to top right –
1. Hexie Cushion, detail. (I looove hexies!!)
2. London Phone Booth Embroidery, detail. (I wanna go to London so bad!!)
3. Mini Cot Quilt – hospital donation.
4. Painted Flowers Embroidery. (Click here to watch it come to life!)
5. Double Wrench Mini Blocks, quilt top only (ATM!!)
From left to right –
1. Olfa Rotating Cutting Mat – featured in my 5 Quilting Tools I Couldn’t Live Without post & video.
3. Hexie Pincushion (Click here for the video tutorial!)
4. Lovely fabrics used in the Double Wrench Mini Blocks
From left to right –
1. I Heart Colour wallhanging – machine paper pieced wonky log cabin blocks designed by yours truly! Quilt made from 100% scraps – nothing new was bought to make this baby!!
4. Scissors Embroidery – made specially for my new sewing room door.
5. Scrap-Happy String quilt, detail.
This also happened during the year…
Encouraging blog stats!
And this is what happened in my life behind the blog…
Main picture: I became an Auntie again!! My fourth nephew, Xavier, was born in August! (Isn’t he just the cutest!!)
From left to right –
1. I decided to grow my hair out long – I’ve always had it really short (think, pixie/short-bob style for 6 years!) and decided a change was in need! (Change is a good thing, right?)
2. I took my ‘challenge’ mantra to the next level and started making YouTube videos featuring quilty stuff, life stuff and lots of other stuff. (I think of it as a cleansing [and confronting at times] way of finding my self-confidence…). Don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there – it’ll help boost my self-confidence even more!! 😀
3. I drank a lot of tea!
So…wow!
It’s definitely been a busy year!
And I’m thankful it’s been a busy one, otherwise I would’ve just gone insane! Literally…
Thanks to everyone who has ever read my little blog and has left messages of encouragement and support! It really does mean a WHOLE LOT!
I’m terribly excited to see what the next 12 months will bring!!
I think it’s obvious to say that my quilting life does not mix well with my newly appointed university life!
Four and a half weeks into the semester, I’ve only been able to dedicate precious time to my sewing machine this past weekend.
After a hectic week of rushed essays and failed-in-revision in-class tests, I spoilt my self to a whole weekend of sewing (and movie marathons!)
And to this weeks flavour of the month project…
Where like all inspiration is found, I was intrigued by a wonky paper-pieced log cabin design I randomly came across on Pinterest and thought, ‘I could easily draw up one of those!’
And so I did!
Wonky Log Cabin Paper Piece Template
In a desperate bid to devour some of my ever-growing fabric scraps, I chose to construct the blocks in different colour ways from my scraps…
First block Triumph!Pretty Colour Ways!
Each one is pieced in a totally random fashion: I approached the construction in a very laid back and non-pluss attitude. I think it worked out well!
ATM, the yellow is my favourite – so sunny and happy – and you can easily see the differing angles and what not.
I’ve three more to make: brown, grey and black. I’ll sash them together with white homespun that will really allow the colours to pop! Binding: possibly a creamy-type homespun…
Who actually knows when and if this little quilt will be finished…Life just seems too full at the moment!
Yes, that’s right! Today is 3and3quarters: A Quilters Blog 1st birthday!
A whole year has past and so much has happened within those 52 weeks.
This week I took a reflective look back at the posts I’ve written since day one, reminiscing on past quilts I’ve made and given away as well as the endless quilts and projects that I’ve started but are now left unfinished and forgotten. I never realised how many embroideries I actually tackled and finished this past year…last count was 11 plus 1 in progress equalling twelve.
This whole blog thing all began with wanting to eagerly show the process of making a quilt I made for a cousin in the UK. Purple Rain became a beautiful quilt that challenged my perceptions on the shades and values of the colour purple.
Hopefully one day I can make another like it, studying colours such as oranges and yellows or pinks and reds.
With thanks to the Craftsy Block of the Month (BOM) series, I learnt and became a master of some new and exciting quilting techniques, which in turn became concrete fads for me to delve into and get lost in. They included…
These wonderful techniques have definitely added another dimension to my quilting practice by enriching my knowledge, confidence and technique for the better.
Throughout the year, I’ve also shared some big moments in my life…
I left my job of six years and delved into a strange new work environment that didn’t end up being the right path to go down
I started the year enrolled in a Fine Arts course and am ending the year in a teaching/education course
I travelled to new and exciting places as well as experienced my very first plane trip
It’s quite a strange feeling looking back at, what is, a written documentary of the past year of my life. There have been so many moods and emotions felt: feelings of failure, accomplishment, success, frustration and happiness. Confidently I can say that these things have made me stronger and much more determined to “Do what I love. Love what I do”. I couldn’t imagine life without my quilting practice. It’s what I breathe. What I think. What I feel. What I love. It is something that truly makes me feel happy, contented and successful.
And so with all that said, this week I’ve been meddling in a few new embroideries, have drunk far too many cups of tea and sewn together a couple more Union Jack Blocks.
Within the next few weeks I plan to sew together all of my finished BOM blocks into a beautiful sampler quilt and then get a start on some homemade Christmas gifts. (Oh my goodness, is it really that time of the year already!?). All the while, I’ll be continuing to hand quilt my Jacob’s Ladder quilt battling the Australian summer elements of hot, sticky humid days.
Here’s a lovely little quilt I made this week for a good friend of mine, celebrating a new direction in her working career.
As she is a die-hard lover of bunnies, I sourced a sweet embroidery from Andrea Zuill’s website Badbirds called Folk Rabbit and paired it with four paper-pieced Union Jack blocks taken from a pattern in the book Modern Blocks. I also quilted Union Jacks in the green corner blocks – almost like an echo of the paper-pieced blocks.
Here’s a few piccys of the process…
Embroidery underway…
Union Jack Template…
Organisation!
A quarter done…
Mid-Sew…
Middle Panel…
Basted, ready for quilting…
Mid-Quilt…
Finished!
I’m really happy with how it turned out after cramming in time over the last few days to both start and finish it.
I’m slowly churning out a few more of the Union Jack blocks as part of yet another quilt I have in mind to make… We’ll see how far that gets in the near future!
I’m still patiently hand-quilting my Jacob’s Ladder quilt. I try to make sure I do a little bit every night as I’m watching TV. I must admit, I haven’t done much this week as other things have been happening, but I’ll make sure I make a conscious effort to do more this coming week.
I’m so happy to proudly announce that I am no longer a machine paper-piecing virgin! Yay!
October’s Craftsy’s BOM where all about machine paper-piecing, making the Friendship Circle Block…
And the Circle of Geese Block…
I was always a little wary of how machine paper-piecing worked. I had watched countless Youtube videos without an ounce of understanding of how or what to do.
And yet, this past weekend, I put my sewing-thinking-cap on and the technique finally clicked in my head and I successfully completed these two sweet little blocks.
I now feel more confident and less wary to tackle a project that features the machine paper pieced technique and will definitely go out of my way to find a suitable one to start very soon! Like this one that I’ve been dying to know how to make (but with cuter fabrics!)…
Getting back to the topic, here all my of 20 BOM blocks together!
Today in Sydney, the weather is coldish and overcast with a little peek from the sun: perfect to wile away an afternoon on the sewing machine. After completing some of my heavy loaded uni work this morning, I’m treating my self to an afternoon centred on my darling sewing machine! I need to get started on the backing for my Jacob’s Ladder quilt so I can baste it and start quilting it. I’ve almost convinced myself to give hand-quilting a go on this quilt. It’s a technique I’ve never attempted before as I’ve always machine quilted my quilts. I know the basics of how hand-quilting works in my head and have all the accessories to start but haven’t quite perfected it in the actual ‘doing’ bit.
Here some hand quilted quilts that have been inspiring me over the past week…
3and3quarters 