Baby quilts for The Octavia Appeal

I wanted to introduce you all to the Octavia Appeal, our charity this year.  The Appeal was founded by Lynda Mackie, who will be joining us for our 7th April meeting and be able to tell us more about their work.  The appeal is run through the Friends of the Royal Brompton, although the Octavia Appeal is specifically to help the paediatric intensive care unit and paediatric wards.  The majority of the young children treated in the paediatric are very young babies.  With so many tubes and machines, a light weight quilt would be perfect to cover them.  It would also brighten up the wards and let the parent know that others outside the hospital walls are thinking of them.  Ideally the quilts should be 70cm by 100cm, with no loose ends or added embellishments.  We will also be making a LMQG label, so all the quilts can be labeled and the parent will know who made them.  There is an Octavia Appeal website and facebook page.

A modern quilting bee, Block Party

Written by Alissa Haight Carlton (a founding member of The Modern Quilt Guild) and Kristen Lejnieks and published by Stash books.  The book contains 12 project chapters for a year long bee.  January starts with a wonky log cabin, well explained and with lots of tips on holding a bee.  I havent ever been in a bee and after reading this book would love to.  Presenting a chalenge and also making me sit down with a dead line to work to.  Februrary is a wonky quarted log cabin, March a wonky 9 patch block – wonky is the way! April wonky triangles, May string x, June wonky roman stripe, July a modern dresden plate, August polka dot.  September uneven coins

October

November

and December is a confetti block.  There is lots of information on quilt backs and quilting, by hand, machine or just hand tying.  This is a great book for anyone wanting to hold a bee, make a quilt with friends or even to make a quilt alone.  But why quilt alone if you can quilt with friends?

Pin Ring – a tutorial

Last months challenge was to make a pin cushion to swap at the January meet up.  I dithered as normal and wanted to make up something different, a small addition to the patch square pincushion I had made.  I decided a ring was my favourite – here’s how I made mine.

What you will require :

matching thread and some toy filling.

1.  Cut 1 4inch square of fabric (here I have used an off cut of British tweed from Fabrics Galore).

2.  Fold the square in half and pin.

3.  Stitch using a 1/4 inch seam allowance around the 2 open edges.

4.  Make a 1 inch slit on the folded edge.   I also sniped off the pointed seam allowance, as below.  Turn through and be careful when pushing through the points.

5.  Yours should look a little like mine below, if made in quilting cotton the points are a lot sharper.

6.  Start to fill your triangle, I placed lots of stuffing in the central part – do not fill the edges as these are going to form the ring part of your Pin Ring.

7.  Whip stitch closed the opening.

9.  To form the ring, fold the two ‘wings’ around your finger.  I then placed a long pin through to secure the wrapped ‘wings’.

10.  Stitch in place with a matching thread and you will have a fab new piece of sewing kit or jewellery!

I did play with shapes and also made a rounded version, in the tweed it worked brilliantly.  Have fun and do show me your pin rings if you make one.  They are addictive, here’s a hand full in shades of Kona Solids.

We Love Colour compiled by Susanne Woods

We love colour has 16 bold and beautiful Kona Solids quilt designs created by 16 iconic designers, published by Stash Books.

I’m a huge fan of Kona Solids, great colours and made from quality opaque cotton.  This book has 16 designs using the whole rainbow and all thoroughly modern too!  Each chapter is a new quilt, with the designers explaining the inspiration behind the design.  The first is a fabulous outsize courthouse step designed by Cherri House.  Above is Amy Ellis Colour Frame Quilt.  All the designs are beautifully written, easy to follow designs and a perfect start for any modern quilter. It also has some more challenging designs that would be perfect for the more experienced.  The projects include precision piecing, improvisational piecing and applique.

Above is Lupine by Emily Cier and quilted by Cathy Kirk, just perfect hexs.  My personal favourite is Orbit by Jennifer Sampou, a dramatic quilt using an organic improvisational technique and freehand cut circles.

Stacked Blankets by Valori Wells above, was inspired by a photograph of quilted blankets.

and finally TV colour bars by Betz White, the perfect TV/sofa quilt.  I really enjoyed this book and inspired to play again with Kona Solids!

Happy Home by Jennifer Paganelli

This year Jennifer Paganelli second book was published, called Happy Home.  It is a beautiful compendium of crafts, all made in her wonderful bright fabrics – a real feast for the eye.  A few quilts and smaller projects, like the lovely hexy cushion.

The book is made up of 4 main chapters called Decorate, Accessorise, Party and Dream.  The first chapter has delicious ruffle & applique cushions and curtains.

Accessorise include a lovely hat, the party makes just made me want to throw a party, to give my self the excuse to make up pom-poms, fun napkins and a vintage banner!

The Dream chapter is full of lovely bedroom makes, quilt, duvet cover and dreamy canopy amongst them.  If you love making bags there is a great shopper, dog bed and laundry bags.

The Dream section I think is my favourite with lovely ideas for any bedroom.  I have’t added any trim to a quilt, but love the turquoise tassels and pink pom poms below.

All beautifully photographed and written, a real visual feast and inspiration to decorate any home.  The patterns are held in a pouch in the front and are full size, which is always a bonus.  So ready for when inspiration to sew strikes!

Seaside Home

C & T publishing

Seaside Home is a compilation of quilts, softies, embroidery, appliqué and decorative crafts – perfect for a nautical look in any home. A splash of summer cheer, especially with all the wet wintry wet weather we are having at the moment.
C & T publishing

An adorable Sea Turtle fresh soft quilt with a soft corduroy backing. Also included are a Deep water wave quilt, pebble stack wall hanging, a zigzag crab cushion by Heidi Troyer craftnosis and my favourite Porthole baby quilt designed by Latifah Saafir.
C & T Publishing

Jasonda Desmond’s embroidery hoops that would add a fun flash of colour, also included are a whale embroidered cushion, sailboat cushion, crab napkin wraps. All well explained with a glossary of stitches.

C & T Publishing

Some nautical bunting, just delightful and a fun project to make with children.
C & T Publishing

There are appliqué projects, including this adorable pirate ship t-shirt by Heather Jones (oliveandollie), appliqué art and a couple of beach bags.
C & T Publishing

Seaside softies, perfect small projects for the summer along with this lovely mermaid.

C & T Publishing

Packed full of projects by many talented artist and it covers all abilities, beautifully laid out with full size patterns. So not trips to enlarge projects – perfect for a spur of the moment make! So if you are looking for a book with a mixture of craft projects not just quilts this is a great place to start.

Hexa go-go

C & T Publishing

I love hexagons, always have and when I saw the front cover of Tacha Bruecher’s book Hexa Go-Go I just had to see inside!  This book is based around English paper piecing, Tacha says that hexagons are quilting’s answer to knitting.  The book starts off with an outline of what English paper piecing is and how to choose fabrics, set blocks, print or stamp on fabric, getting started and template making.

C & T Publishing

The Cat Tails Quilt 70″ x 92″ is just fabulous, vibrant colours and mixing up machine and hand piecing.  The instructions are clear, well written and full of helpful tips and design notes.

C & T Publishing

Large and small projects, hand and machine sewn, so lots of choice on what to make – depending on how long you want to spend making something.  I think my favourite quilt is the Over the rainbow quilt, a perfect rainbow in fabrics.

C & T Publishing

It measures a whopping 112 inches square and the hexs are 1 inch, isn’t it stunning?  Perfect for some small and precious fabrics that you may have saved up.

C & T Publishing

here is a Modern Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt, a modern twist on the traditional Grandmothers Flower garden, with added coin strips and sashing.

C & T Publishing

In amongst the quilts are some free form projects, again beautifully explained, a zippered pouch,  needle book, table runner and Christmas project.  For the patriotic amongst us there is an Union Jack and Stars and Stripes quilts – perfect for the Olympics!  Many of you will know Tacha from Fat Quarterly and her fab blog or Flickr.

C & T Publishing

The book is suitable for any level of skill or time commitment, using both modern and traditional designs.  You will also find that English paper piecing is the perfect antidote to the modern world a real stress busters as well as stash buster!  A must for anyone wanting to English paper piece or just be inspired by the fabulous designs.

Published in July 2012 by Stash Books.