Exciting things for 2023!

Recently I had some very exciting news ...

I am happy to announce that I have been selected to be a Sew Hot brand rep for 2023! 

I am one of eight quilters, sewers, dressmakers, bagmakers working with Sew Hot over the next year and can not wait to get started!

This is an amazing opportunity and I'm looking forward to sharing my makes on here and over at Instagram. 

Happy Stitching!

 

Jelly Roll rug ❤️

I don't know if you are like me, I think all Quilters are, but my projects to make list is very long.

I am always seeing new patterns, fabrics and projects, although I have a rather large expanding WIP pile that does need my attention!

One of the projects I had been wanting to do was a Jelly Roll Rug. I had already tackled the Jelly Roll Christmas Tree skirt which I love but that only comes out at Christmas time and I wanted something that could go into my little sewing space all year round. 

To make the rug is not a one day project, its also not that hard it just takes time but it came together much quicker than I thought. 

To make the rug you will need:

The Jelly Roll Rug pattern by Roma Lambson of RJ Designs (Roma Quilts on IG).

A jelly roll - I used 20 strips of Shine On by Bonnie and Camille.

Batting cut into 2.5" strips and then joined. I used a roll of Bosal Katahdin on a roll, which is 2.5" wide x 25 yards and is fantastic for this project.

A denim needle - I used a Schmetz Jeans needle 90/14 and didn't have any problems.

Wonder clips.

A Walking foot, although it would work with your standard machine foot. You will be using straight stitch and a zig zag stitch.

A sewing machine extension table or a pile of books to take the weight of the rug as it grows. 

And then you get stitching!!

My finished rug was the small size and came out a 19" x 32.5", is a little bit wobbly in places but after a good press it is fine. I only had my standard extension table that came with my Bernina Artista 170 and have since purchased a new to me much larger extension table and I think this would have helped prevent some of the wobbly bits. 

So if you have lots of Jelly Rolls and are not sure what to do with them then this is a great project. 

For the next one I am going much bigger!!

Happy stitching!!

Sunday sewing and a catch up

Well hello!!

How are you, enjoying Summer? What have you been sewing, what's been keeping you busy?

If you live in the UK like me you are probably (dare I say) fed up of the heatwave! I like the sunny weather but not when it's so hot it's difficult to do just about anything and unlike some places, houses in the UK are well insulated for the winter but we don't have air con, so it's a tad warm! Definitely not weather for snuggling under a quilt whilst putting the binding on!

There has however been plenty of sewing going on.

I finished all my blocks for the Riley Blake block challenge 2022 and now just need to decide how to arrange and put them together as a quilt top. I love how they have all turned out. 

I finished my first Jelly Roll rug and although a bit wobbly in places I love it!

I've also had an idea using the quilt as you go technique which is coming together. 

Finally I managed to catch up on some of the monthly projects as part of the Clover and Violet Sewing club, so many good projects!

Here's a sneak peek of each of those for now as they all deserve a bit more explanation in a later post!

A finished block from the RBD block challenge 2022

Sneak peek of my completed Jelly Roll Rug

Having a play with Quilt as you go

August's project from the Clover & Violet sewing club

July's project from the Clover & Violet sewing club

And why the return to blogging, you might be asking if you've got this far in the post, well I think like many I love Instagram but am finding that I am either seeing too many adverts/sponsored posts that I did not ask to see or the new trend of reels, which I like but not for every post I see. I think, as I have said before on my blog I am a bit old school and used to love Flickr and the swaps and quilt bees and love reading a blog or learning a new technique through a tutorial. Although will still spend far too many hours on IG 🤣

So, thanks if you made it this far with my ramblings and see you again soon! Also let me know what you're sewing!

Happy Stitching x

Happy 2022!

Not sure where the end of 2021 went but it flew by, and here we are in a new year! 

I don't really make New Year resolutions as such, as I know if I write them down I'll never keep them, but this year I have decided to use all the good stuff! 

What does that look like? Well the gorgeous bundles of fabric I've had for years I'm going to use! The good notebooks I'll be scribbling in! The clothing I keep and wear for a special occasion will be worn more often! The good china will be out of the cupboards! You know those sort of things! 

If life has taught me anything over the last few years - use the good things and treasure each day! 

I've already started a few new projects and will hopefully be tackling the pile of WIP's too (but first I need to get them out of their boxes and see what I have to finish!). 

I'm taking part in The Modern Quilt Guild Mini quilt swap as part of Quiltcon, so that will be my main focus to get finished in January! So far it's going to plan! 

When I looked back at what I accomplished last year I was happy, I always think I don't get much done but actually I got more finished that what I thought! 

Happy New Year!!

What quilting / sewing plans do you have for the New Year?