Sweet Dreams - A Collection Of Students' Pillowcases

Just before Christmas I taught a Sunday afternoon pillowcase class at The City Quilter in Manhattan.  A number of registered students didn't show for class presumably last minute Christmas events came along as is the way at that time of year but it didn't stop the four of us having a great crafty afternoon.

My first student is Eileen, she'd agreed to come along to accompany Angela who you'll meet in a moment.

Eileen made me giggle as she was eager to get to the bit where you pin and here she is finally getting her wish!

She's hiding behind her first pillowcase... 

...for someone who was only here to keep her friend company Eileen really caught the pillowcase bug quickly moving on to make her second.

And next Eileen's friend Angela - she was on a mission to make six Christmas pillowcases for her grandchildren

but having made two...

...she made the mistake of leaving the classroom, getting caught up in fabric shopping then making this third pillowcase for one of her granddaughters.

 Finally meet Sylvia, she brought half yard cuts from this gorgeous fabric collection - the name escapes me as I'm writing this, I think it's Australian, I'm using it myself for my travel hexies.  The half yard cuts wouldn't work for the usual pillowcase measurements but as Sylvia wasn't concerned about the final size of the pillowcases we went with what she had and I really love how the wider cuff looks.

We sewed the right side of the pillowcase to create super neat French seams.

 I'm loving these brights.

 And on to her second pillowcase...

...it only took about 40 minutes!!!

Amazing work - six of the day's seven pillowcases, alongside my three class samples.

We really had a great afternoon and I hope they drop by another of my classes very soon.

A student from my No Bind Baby Quilt class came along to my December Late Night Sewing class to make a second No Bind Baby quilt as a Christmas gift for her daughter.  The quilt was completed, start to finish, in less than four hours and isn't it gorgeous?

I sneaked into that pic too!  Here again is the matching quilt she made for her other daughter in my quilt class when I take the technique.  I really hope both of her daughters loved their quilts on Christmas morning.

And another first over Christmas - my middle son, Joe, came to stay with his partner Katie.  He wanted to learn to sew so he worked through my Quilted Cushion With Hidden Zip class notes, it's a modified version of the tute here on my blog.  He'd never even used a sewing machine before but four hours later he'd learnt to use a machine, sew, quilt and insert a zip. 

 Here's what he made...

...isn't it amazing?!!!  Katie's a big Oz fan and she was super pleased with her cushion.

I love sharing my sewing passion with others, it's such a thrill to pass on skills and knowledge and to see others taking that and developing their creativity.  It's a privilege to work with wonderful students and I'd like to thank everyone who has taken my classes in 2014.

If you'd like to take a class with me full details of current, upcoming and past classes are available here on my blog - just clicking the button below.

Featured:

     

Heard The One About Six Quilts Made In Under Five Hours?

What a quilting whirlwind we stirred up in my No Bind Baby Quilt class at The City Quilter in Manhattan on Saturday.  The end result six finished quilts in under five hours - have fantastic is that?!

Here's some pics of work in progress:

 cutting fabric;

fusing batting;

and attaching backing.  

Above, Sylvia's working off-piste with a beautiful soft pink Minky backing that on the day really didn't want to behave, as only Minky can, so she's taken her quilt home to baste heavily before finishing her quilting.

After a flurry of activity involved in preparing the quilt everyone settled down to some quilting.  At this point you could have heard a pin drop as everyone was so engrossed in their work - I've never experienced that in any of my quilting classes before!

And here's the finished 36" x 48" quilts:

Maureen has used two of the store's exclusive NYC fabrics - NYC Subway Dots and Times Square.  Maureen also messaged me the same night to tell me she'd already started her second quilt - two quilts in a day, not something you hear a quilter say often!!!   

Jaye used this cute bright donkey print Jungle Creatures fabric by Amy Schimler for Robert Kaufman and backed it with the softest Peppered Cotton in a deep rust orange.

A first finished quilt for Valerie, the first of two quilts, one for each of her daughters, and using two fabrics from the gorgeous Wee Wander collection by Sarah Jane for Michael Miller - Wander Woods and Nature Walk.

Erica has used a lilac 1930's reproduction print Lazy Daisy Baskets by Robert Kaufman and a matching solid back.

Dee also went off-piste making a sofa quilt that's wider than longer and adding scattered yo-yos to the back.

A fabulous quilt top using Holiday Sweet Tweets by Laurie Wisbrun for Robert Kaufman.I love Laurie's designs - remember the Chef's Hat and Apron I made using her Olive The Ostrich print?

those red and white striped yo-yos look like sweets on the Korkek, Glimma by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics backing and what a perfect embellishment to a fun quilt.

 

And finally, Dolly with her bright kid's quilt using another Jungle Creatures fabric by Amy Schimler for Robert Kaufman and an NYC themed The Pixie Pops Timeless Treasures fabric backing - another first finished quilt, yay :D .

We had a great afternoon - such a fun, easy and fast make for quilting newbies and dab hands alike.

If you'd like to take a class with me full details of current, upcoming and past classes are available here on my blog - just clicking the button below.

There's more details of my own No Bind Baby Quilt class sample here on my blog too - click the pic below to go to the post:

 

 

   

     

No Bind Baby Quilt - Fall Class In Manhattan

   

I've got a very busy September lined up starting with a business trip to Phoenix next week ('to do' recommendations welcome), then I'm heading off to Seville for a few weeks in October to meet a very special-to-me young man who's making his first appearance at any moment over the next 4 weeks.

With no time to spare I needed to crack on and finish my November 'No Bind Baby Quilt' class sample ready for display at The City Quilter in the Manhattan quilt store where I'm teaching.  It's a really quick make and my students can look forward to taking home their very own finished version of the quilt at the end of the day.

THE PHOTOSHOOT:

No front or back to this quilt, both sides are equally wonderful.

It's a great way to showcase favourite fabric designs you just can't bear to cut into.

I've couldn't resist these two Cloud9 fabrics when they arrived in the store, they're both from the new Lotus Pond collection by Rae Hoekstra.

Meadow Blossoms (blue)

Lotus Drop (turquoise)

Simple straight line quilting doesn't detract from the main player - the fabric (Aurifil 50/2 thread - White #2024).

My label detail

Finished quilt size - 34.5" x 45" makes this a perfect baby, child or lap quilt - great for gifting.

Couldn't decide which side I preferred for this rolled shot so here's both!

Thanks to those Cloud9 organic fabrics the quilt's super silky soft and snuggly.

Would you like to come along and make a quilt with me?  Email madebyChrissieD@hotmail.com for location and registration details.

No Bind Baby Quilt - $70

Saturday, 8 November 2014 - 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, Chelsea, Manhattan

This super easy quilt can be made any size from stroller to crib to baby.  Using wholecloth fabric for the top and backing, you won't believe how fast it is.  There isn't even a binding!

Open to anyone who knows how to use a sewing machine.

If you live in the greater New York area or are making a quick visit to the Big Apple, why not join in one of my classes?
You can find details of all Fall classes I'm teaching via the 'My Classes' link in the side bar or by clicking the link button below:

Featured: