Chev N' Hex & Diamond Carat Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: April/FMQ

FMQ is now complete on my two April Skill Builder BOM blocks.  I wasn't looking forward to making these blocks at all, and so I put it off, then I didn't make the May blocks either because I hadn't done the April blocks.  A week before the June blocks were available, I thought it was time to sort myself out, so I got stuck in to get up-to-date again with the BOM!

So here are my 2 April blocks:

CHEV N' HEX BLOCK

Alyssa introduced us to English Paper Piecing using a pre-cut applique foundation similar to interfacing (see image above) rather than card templates - this can be left in the finished block and breaks down when the quilt is finally washed.

Instead of thread basting the pieces, we glued the fabric to the templates and then glued the seams back into place.  I used Aleene's Tacky Glue (fast-drying glue pen), and also Aleene's OK To Wash-It (permanent fabric adhesive).  The Tacky Glue held the fabric in place quicker than the OK To Wash-It, and the OK To Wash-It was visible through the fabric for a day or so after I'd glued the pieces and then it disappeared - must have needed longer to dry out properly.  I found the glueing process messy and, even though I'm a very clean and careful worker, I frequently got glue on the fabric's surface.

I also found that the applique templates, which were incredibly like interfacing, didn't have a firm and solid enough edge to allow me to cleanly fold the fabric back over them and get the crisp seam line to sew along.  This was frustrating when joining the pieces together as the edges didn't butt up to each other as perfectly as I expect when I'm doing English Paper Piecing - you'll see what I mean more when you see the photos of the next Diamond Carat block.

 Look how you can see the glue showing through the fabric, particularly on the green sections above.

I decided to try out Alyssa's suggested machine sewn method of joining the pieces.  Basically, I surface sewed the pieces together using an invisible top and bottom thread and set my stitch to zig-zag with a 0.9 width and 1.0 length.  This method was soooooo quick and easy, and although the stitches are visible (I'll show you these more in the Diamond Carat block), it's really not that bad.

And here's the finished quilted block:

Kaffe Fassett -Bekah

DIAMOND CARAT BLOCK

On this Diamond Carat block, you can see how the surface zig-zag stitching works - and just how visible it is.  Creating the centre star's tiny points wasn't easy - there was so much fabric to fold back, and the interfacing wasn't solid enough to give good crisp lines.  The pieces didn't come out to perfect sizes as you would normally expect with English Paper Piecing, and then the pieces didn't line up well against each other.   The fabric surface is also dirtied with glue.

 You can see in the photo above that the pieces didn't lie well next to each other - there's overlapping, gaps and unevenness along the seams.

Below is the finished quilted block - I quilted as close as I could to the seam lines to try to hold the pieces in place more firmly, and then shadow/echo quilted each line as I didn't trust that the zig-zag joining method would hold the block together well over time.

Kaffe Fassett - Lake Blossoms

Next Time: We'll be doing Foundation Paper Piecing - something I'm well practised at already being a pattern tester for Juliet @Tartankiwi, so it shouldn't be too difficult ;)

Related Posts:
Woven Star & Woven Chevrons Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: March/FMQ
Woven Star & Woven Chevrons Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: March/HSTs & QSTs & Bias Sewing

Em Dash & The Mood Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: February/Basic Piecing and Bias Sewing
Sound Wave & Magnum Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: January/FMQ
Sound Wave & Magnum Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: January/Piecing

A Year Long Quilt? Well I'm Very Excited About It!

Woven Star & Woven Chevrons Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: March/FMQ

Can't believe it - I'm totally up-to-date finally with the Skill Builder BOM, and I seem to have got the hang of this fmqing lark as I don't need to have my shoulders surgically removed from my earlobes this month!

WOVEN STAR

Kaffe Fassett - Baba Ganoush

WOVEN CHEVRONS

 

Kaffe Fassett - Millefiore

Had a bit of a disaster with my Water Erasable Marker by Clover - I tried out a couple of fmq designs and changed my mind, but they wouldn't erase properly.  I've never had a problem before, and I'd have highly recommended the pen to anyone and everyone. Still, for some reason, and only on the Kona Solid red and orange fabric that I've used in my Woven Star block, it didn't disappear this time when I wet the fabric.  I took some photos to share with you:

I soaked the fabric and gently rubbed it a few times (this has always done the trick with any stubborn marks before) but the lines stayed put.  In the end, I've just quilted my new designs over them, which has made the pen marks far less noticeable, but I'm hoping they disappear properly when the quilt is washed.  I've got a long wait to find out as the quilt won't be finished/washed until next December when the Skill Builder BOM is complete, and that's concerning me a bit as I reckon the ink will be well and truly set into the fabric by then - any ideas/tips anyone???

  

Here are a few photos of my March progress to date; of course, none of the blocks is in the correct order as yet - we're jumping around the quilt each month doing two blocks that use similar techniques rather than building the quilt a row at a time.

and it occurred to me that maybe you'd like to see how the back is coming on -

Next Time: We'll be doing some hand pieced English Paper Piecing, but Alyssa @Pile O'Fabric's going to share a different method with us that involves an applique foundation that stays in place and when the quilt is washed, it becomes part of the fibres in your fabric/quilt - sounds really interesting, looking forward to finding out more.

Related Posts:
Woven Star & Woven Chevrons Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: March/HSTs & QSTs & Bias Sewing 
Em Dash & The Mood Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: February/FMQ 

Em Dash & The Mood Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: February/Basic Piecing and Bias Sewing
Sound Wave & Magnum Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: January/FMQ
Sound Wave & Magnum Blocks - Skill Builder BOM: January/Improv Piecing

A Year Long Quilt? Well I'm Very Excited About It! 

Will Ye No Come Back Again? Absolutely, Next September!

Bonnie Chairlie's noo awa', Safely ower the friendly main; Mony a heart will break in twa', Should he ne'er come back again.

Will ye no come back again? Will ye no come back again? Better lo'ed ye canna be, Will ye no come back again?

Traditional Scottish Song

What a week! Flicky and I have had a marvellous time in Scotland where we spent 3 days in St Andrews, checking out the town, being shown around the University and meeting with Admissions and one of the Modern History professors.

Allow me to introduce you to the University of St Andrews ...

And here's some photos of the Cathedral and Castle;

the beaches and golf course;

and the St Andrews town centre.

but these are my favourite photos:

Flicky sitting at the entrance to the School of History, St Katherine's Lodge, where she will be studying

 and Flicky battling the elements, the wind so strong she could barely walk,
but just check out that Manhattan City Quilter carrier bag!!!

The weather wasn't our friend, freezing temperatures, winds and snow, but Flicky loved it.  The University and people of St Andrews made us very welcome and we quickly learnt just how special it is that Flicky has received an unconditional offer from this ancient seat of British learning, who still hand pick only the students that they feel will suit the way of life and study methods.

So Flicky is pretty certain that she will be accepting their offer and we've already booked our trip back for her admission in September.

After St Andrews we headed off to Glasgow via Dundee.  The weather was dreadful but we did squeeze in a bit of shopping and a trip out to the 'Armadillo' to see the English comedian Jimmy Carr, which was excellent but nothing that I can repeat here ;).  Flicky also had her first experience of being caught in a football crowd at Glasgow Central Station - jeering Scotland fans singing "we hate England more than you" to the Wales fans was incredibly intimidating and frightening but I told her to not speak so she wouldn't give away our nationality and we were quickly on our way.  It was the one low point of our trip but at least she's a bit more prepared now for when she encounters that sort of behaviour again.

I did have to take a photo of the sewing machine wall at the All Saints store in Glasgow.  I know this is a regular feature in All Saints stores but I always think they look amazing and yet it makes me a little bit sad that these machines aren't being used anymore.

We spent our last 3 days in Edinburgh, again the weather was too bitter to do the touristy things so more shopping and eating and catching up on some rest and sleep in our beautiful apartment.

 

We did look up at the Castle as we shopped our way along Princes Street
and we enjoyed some delicious Flirtini cocktails

We didn't worry too much about not really seeing anything as we figured we'll have plenty more opportunity to do everything properly over the next 4 years that Flicky's studying here.

Oh and look how much of my EPP Coffins I managed to do ... don't do a close up on my stitches because you'll see everyone of them screaming at you - my appalling eye sight, a smattering of turbulence, narrow seats (yes we fly economy) and an overhead plane light on a night flight don't lend themselves to beautiful, invisible stitches!!!

It's good to be back though, although I love doing EPP, I'm very, very happy to see my sewing machine again!

For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my side bar :D

Coffins And More Coffins

Remember this?

and I did say at the time 

"I'm not sure if this is something I'll be doing lots of - I can see that it's a great travel project still I like my crochet for that."

Well two weekends ago when we visited Washington DC I didn't take my crochet, I took my coffins instead.

There you go, that's me on the train from NYC to DC, maybe somewhere around Philadelphia, and just look at the concentration on my face!  That'll be the concentration on my face before my shocked expression at the public display of affection by a couple in the seats diagonally opposite from us that caused the whole carriage to take action against them and the guards to have them removed - and all this in the quiet carriage!!! 

There wasn't much time for sewing on the trip but I did manage some and here's where I'm at now:

I started with one design in mind but as you can see I've decided to extend each line of coffins out a little.  The other fabrics are Kaufman Essex Linens - Med Aqua and Sand - haven't decided what to make yet - maybe a cushion or a bag, we'll see but I do know I want to applique the coffins on to these linens. 

I guess you could say I've been converted (again!) and guess what I'll be taking to Scotland with me?

Related Posts:

Anything Wills & Kate Can Do ...
And We Did ... Take Manhattan That Is!  

Anything Wills & Kate Can Do ...

This week has been incredibly productive and exciting on the quilting front but I can't share any of it with you right now.  I can tell you that I've been testing a quilt pattern and I finished the final binding late into Thursday night/Friday morning.  I've taken lots of photos along the way, even of a section of the quilt that once sashed, quilted and bound revealed an offensive symbol that took me 8 hours yesterday to undo and remake.  It's true to say that I've learnt a lot in making this quilt and as soon as I'm allowed to tell you all about it you can be sure that I will!

 On Thursday I took time off from 'the test quilt' to pop along to an English Paper Pieced Hexagons class with Judy Doenias at my LQS in Manhattan.  I learnt this form of paper piecing at school in England when I was around 8 years old but haven't used it since and, as everyone's going Hexie crazy I thought I'd do a refresher session.  

2" Coffin design by Judy Doenias

 I haven't taken a class with Judy before and she was a great tutor, explaining everything very clearly and thoroughly, with lots of opportunity to ask questions and individual help for those needing that bit extra. 

Here's my efforts - not much to show so far I'm afraid
2" Coffin design using Denyse Schmidt Free Spirit Chicoppe prints (freebie from Quilters Take Manhattan)

I'm not sure if this is something I'll be doing lots of - I can see that it's a great travel project still I like my crochet for that.  I can appreciate the workmanship involved but it's a lot of effort for not much output.  I'll finish what I've started but there's other techniques that grab my interest more - who knows though and I never say never.

In other news my daughter Flicky has put in a request for a Chef's Hat and Apron to give as a gift to a friend - can't give more details as it's going to be a surprise (has anyone else noticed the theme of 'secrecy' running through most of this post and wondered yet, as I am, if there's any point in me blogging anything this week and even less point in you reading it if I do!!!).  This time I can treat you to a peep at the fabrics she's chosen.

Who wouldn't love those ostriches?!
Olive the Ostrich by Laurie Wisbrun for Robert Kaufman/Green with white spots - dear STELLA
/CHILDREN at play by sarahjane for michael miller fabric

and while she was wandering around our LQS Flicky spotted these two organic fabrics on the 'Sale' shelf and promptly nabbed them.  She's requested some pillowcases to take off to university with her - she's already mentally decorating her room there.

I'm actually using other fabrics from this range for the Something NEW Sampler
Avalon JAY-CYN designs for birch fabrics

Flicky's been offered an unconditional place to study for an MA (Hons) in Modern History at The University of St Andrews, Scotland and if it's good enough for Wills and Kate then it might just pass muster with our Flicky too.  She hasn't been to Scotland before so just to be certain the two of us are flying over during Spring Break to check it out.

So the plan is: two nights in St Andrews where we'll be lucky if there's anything to see other than people carrying bags of metal sticks, wearing Rupert Bear trousers and pastel coloured, diamond patterned jumpers; then 2 nights in Glasgow where we're going to see the English comedian Jimmy Carr; and finally 2 nights in Edinburgh where we're going to see the Russian State Ballet performing Swan Lake - well we have an extremely diverse cultural appreciation if nothing else!

University of St Andrews, Scotland

Anyone paying full attention will have noticed that I'm now running one week behind on The Something New Sampler and also the Skill Builder BOM.  I'm hoping to get myself up-to-date over the next couple of days and I'll be posting my progress - let's hope Flicky doesn't find me any more projects in the meantime :)