Progress

How's the sampler going? haven't had any questions so far so I'm hoping you are all finding the instruction clear. make sure you send links or email photos to share.

Both dh and I are still very flat from this bug we have been battling, it's seems as soon as I do a bit too much I feel terrible again, today was one of those days.   Squid has come down with a sore throat as well. At least next week is the last week of term, so we can all have a break from running around so much.

I have managed to make up my steps for steptember, and am just under the 10000 average a day.  I've been walking late afternoon, so I can stay in bed a bit longer in the morning and avoid the cold air, I'm going to try for a couple of long walks this weekend to get ahead. This blog post has taken a couple of day so I can tell you yesterday I walked 16.5k so my average should be good this week.

It's birthday season here and Maestro has been invited to a couple of girls parties over the last few weeks.  Parties have been strictly all male affairs up until this year but I guess that changes from now on.   he's having his party on afl grand final day, not everyone will be interested in the footy so there will have to be a few other activities planned.  DH usually has pin the something on something, (there is never a donkey involved) and a few other party games lined up.   I would have thought they would be getting too old for the party games but apparently not according to maestro because that's the best bit.

The appliqué quilt is moving along and I am up to the leaves on the last appliqué border.  I am thinking about adding some more bits to the bottom corners, it just looks a bit bare in spots.  Then I can start working on the final pieced border.  Squid has her eye on this quilt but I'm thinking of making it into a pattern which means it will be off limits to her for a while.  Though I still have a few difficulties in getting it ready as an epattern to overcome before I finalise that decision.

Quite often I find myself buying patterns by other designers just to see how they put their patterns together.   I have to tell you most of the time I'm disappointed with how it is all presented apart from the cover so maybe I am over thinking it all.

Catch you next time.

Chocolate Marshmallow Sampler Month 1

Here we go Blocks 1 and 2  

These are traditional blocks and where possible I have simplified the piecing.  This month I introduce connector corners (which is a technique devised by Mary Ellen Hopkins many years ago).  For my beginners this is a new technique to add to your growing skills.  Some people don’t like this technique because there is a bit of waste but if you are careful with your trimming you can keep the offcuts and make small half square triangle units to use in another project so then there is no waste.

What you will need for the whole quilt

All blocks are 12" finished.  You will need approximately 16 fat quarters or 4m/yards of fabric, with a good mixture of light, medium and dark values.

I plan to sash my blocks for a finished quilt size of 48" x 63" (121cm x 160cm) and I will probably want to add a border as well.  If you decide just to make the blocks the finished size will be 36"x 48" (91cm x 121cm).  

If you are adding borders and sashing allow extra fabric (1m or 1 1/8yard for sashing) and at least 6 strips of your chosen border size for the border.     

To make it simple I will refer to brown fabrics and pink fabrics in their various values throughout but replace these with your chosen colour scheme.  If you are making a scrappy quilt, brown and pink can be different colours in each block.  It will all work as long as you are careful about your value (dark, medium and light).

If you want to make your quilt bigger, think about making a negative of each of the blocks by swapping the lights with the darks or simply add another colour variation.  Each month I will add to the virtual version of the quilt below.  Block placement is not fixed and I won't decide where blocks go until I put the real quilt all together.  

For the first week of the month the link to the file will be on the months blog post then I will remove it and leave it on the Samplers page which you will find in the tabs above.  There will also be a link to my etsy shop where you can purchase any of the months that you may have missed.  If you remember to follow along the sampler is free.  

If you have any questions just leave a comment under the post and I’ll get back to you.  If you find an error do the same and I will make some changes.  Anyway its all about having fun and for the beginners out there stretching your knowledge and learning new skills. 

Head to the Chocolate Marshmallow Sampler Page for the Month 1 Link

Don't forget to save the instructions to your computer.

Are you ready?

I've just been putting the finishing touches on the first lot of instructions for the Choccy Sampler.  It was a good job that I got the first lot of instructions done last week and I only had to edit today as I have had a virus all week and been really under the weather.

The virus also managed to bring on a migraine, and DH had to try and get me into the Drs for a maxalon injection which are ever so enjoyable but at least it made me sleep most of Wednesday.  Although I still have a head cold I feel 100% better and managed a good long walk this morning in the sunshine  which did me a world of good.

Back to the Sampler I've finished 5 blocks and they are looking pretty georgious so I can wait to share them with you over the coming months.  I'm hoping to do another later today.   On a couple of the blocks I've used some Pat Sloan fabric from her very first fabric range which has been in my stash for just so long.  I decided to use it not knowing it was the last piece but it just looks wonderful in the blocks so I'm glad it will end up in this quilt.



I'll schedule the post to come up just after midnight on Sunday, so fingers crossed it all works.

Last week Coco and I walked along Linear Park from my MIL house, we didn't quite get to the beach as I was getting sunburnt but it was a beautiful day and there was a bit of different bird life to see.

Chocolate Marshmallow Sampler

Inspired by my Beginners Class and thinking about what they might do next I have decided to embark on a Mystery Sampler Quilt running over 6 months.  Each month I plan to give instructions for 2 blocks for the Sampler. 

The Sampler will be called Chocolate Marshmallow as I am choosing a pink and brown colour scheme.  You of course can choose whichever colours you like.  Mine is going to be pretty scrappy and I will use fabrics only from my stash however you may choose to purchase fabrics specifically for the project.  

All blocks are 12" finished.  You will need approximately 16 fat quarters or 4m/yards of fabric, with a good mixture of light, medium and dark values.

Step by Step Instruction for the blocks will be available for free for 1 month and will be replaced by new instructions on the 15^th of each month (Aussie time).  If you come to the party late instructions for previous blocks will be available at my etsy shop as and instant download for $3AU per month (2 blocks).

I plan to sash my blocks for a finished quilt size of 48" x 63" (121cm x 160cm) and I will probably want to add a border as well.  If you decide just to make the blocks the finished size will be 36"x 48" (91cm x 121cm).  Remember to allow extra fabric for borders and sashing (1m or 1 1/8yard for sashing) and at least 6 strips of your chosen border size for the border.    

Block designs will not be released in advanced and will only be revealed once the instructions have gone up though you may get a peak if you follow me on social media.      

Join me on my facebook page and instagram.

I still have a couple of technical issues to work out but they will all be sorted by the 15th of September so come back and join the fun.  You can see up on my menu bar I have a tab for the Sampler that will be where you can find all the details and download the blocks on the 15th.

And we have a finish

My beginners class wrapped up this week.  They were all enthused and wanted to know what the next class would be I was teaching, unfortunately they weren't into needle turn appliqué. By the end of Tuesday's class they all had their quilts basted and were starting quilting in the ditch.   We had a bit of fun with all the various walking feet and having them work out how to go on the machine.  I have to say a couple of them were not exactly easy.

I think next time I will have a follow up class in the pipeline.  I will be running another beginners class in the new year, so if you have been thinking about learning to make a quilt and want to know all the basics contact Patchwork by Sea and put your name down for next year, who knows if they get enough interest they might run another one next term.  However with my beginners in mind I have been working on something in the background.

Mid September I will be launching a free sampler BOM.  I have a bit of a sneak peak.  It will be called the Chocolate Marshmallow Sampler and will run for 6 months.  Patterns will be available for free for one month and once the month is up the blocks a new set will go up and the previous months will be available sale at my Etsy shop as an instant download.

I should have most of the details finalised on the weekend so watch this space.

It's nearly Thursday and I have a busy day planned

Don't think I am going to fit everything in tomorrow.  I was thinking this morning on the way to work it would be wonderful to slip back to the 3 day working week and go back to having a day dedicated to sewing, unfortunately the amount of work at work especially this time of year and the bank balance really needs that extra day.

Maestro found out his braces can come off "at the next available appointment" which is in 2 weeks time at which point we have to pay off the balance.  As he has only had them on 16 months and payments were calculated for 2 years there is still quite a bit to pay off and the permanent "gold" wire isn't included so that's more on top.  Every time I look at Squid's smile I know she will be following down the same path in the not too distant future.

Have to say that my Beginners Class is going great guns, and the girls are in various stages of finishing their first ever quilts and all enthused to learn more.  As I think I have said the first week I was pretty nervous but I have been doing my notes as the weeks have gone by to make sure I cover everything they need and I am sure they will come away with a completed (or nearly completed) quilt at the end of the course which they will be able to finish on their own if they need to.  

I am really pleased with how this weeks lesson went as I had girls on 3 different stages in the process.  I did a bit of show and tell with my quilts to show different border options - No borders, pieced borders and plain borders.  We did pin baste one quilt this week and we talked about spray basting (my preferred method) and had the other girls start to add their borders.  The class went really quickly  for me as there was talking on my part and helping with the various stages instead of just watching them sew blocks.

I'm heading to the class room this weekend as a student, I am doing a class on foundation piecing at Hetties Patch as the kids have a break in tennis this week.  Maestro is finished for the season, and Squids team went straight to the Grand Final so they get a weeks break so I get to play this weekend with my sewing machine.

I'll leave you with a picture of Maestro's footy team, it was team photo time.  This was straight after another loss ... only one more game to go not that I am counting but it will be nice to have Sunday's back again.

 

Christmas in July Trio

My last pattern was unveiled today.   Here are the 3 patterns made from Home for the Holiday fabrics by Riley Blake.