Applique!

This is the applique block we made for our Beginner Hand Quilting Class. With this all our blocks our done and we are on to sashing. I love the way the block turned out even though it was a pretty long process. But I am really excited that I now know how to applique and I can't wait to get started on more shapes!  

Dresdens and Tumbling Blocks!

I used to look at tutorials of Dresden Plates and think, "Some day I'm going to make one"... and I always put it off 'coz I thought it would be too difficult. But here we are! :)This Beginner Hand Quilting Class with Jeannie has really made a lot of things so much simpler. Right now I'm working on the applique block - again something I have not done before - but it's going great! I am very inspired. Yaay! :)

We used freezer paper to make the circle and I have to say that I was a little daunted by having to cut the back and take the freezer paper out and everything.... but it was a breeze. Another note to self - don't write off something before you've given it a shot and definately don't spend hours stressing about it either!

Dresden

Got my Tumbling Blocks all done and appliqued onto the background. Really like the way they turned out!

Linking up to:

I am piecing by hand!!!

Taking the Beginner Hand Quilting with class with Jeannie at the store this season and here are the blocks we've learned. I never thought that I would piece by hand...ever! But its great fun and look at the blocks? Don't they look good? I am amazed at how simple the process is and Jeannie's so good with her instructions that it's really a breeze. I don't feel like I'm doing anything great... I just follow instructions!

Block 1 - 16 Patch

The first block is a good way to get started. We cut out our square template from a plastic template sheet. Then marked the squares on the fabrics using the templates and cut the squares out with scissors... yes... in the old fashioned way! I have to admit that I was so tempted to rotary cut... but then I told myself that this class was about learning the traditional way that I will. Jeannie does give us the option of rotary cutting though... so one of the ladies in the class is doing that. I have always believed that my scissor cutting skills sucked so I am proving myself wrong and working those shears! :)

Block 2 - Star

And we're on to triangles!

 

Block 3 - Tumbling Blocks

Tumbling Blocks have finally entered by repertoire! I have to piece them and applique them on to a background but I wanted to see what they would look like. Very happy with the effect.

Three blocks down and three to go. We have an applique block and a Dresden Plate in the mix which I am very happy about. I remember watching videos of how to make dresdens and thinking ... I don't know when I'm going to make those... the time has come!

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Hand Quilting Class

I'm taking Jeannie's Beginner Quilt Making by Hand class. We started off last week. My hand sewing is not very good... well... I haven't done much of it so I guess I shouldn't keep saying that. I'm probably going back to the time I tried to piece by hand ... 4 years ago... with no templates and no instruction and ofcourse it was horrible. And I have been making the hexagons and they're not so bad so I really sould stop saying that! :)

Anyway... this the is fabric I'll be using. It's the Sonora Collection from Benartex. Love the colours. this neat package is from The Bargain Lover's Club. It's so neatly done that I didn't want to open it up! Great deal too.

We started off with a 16 patch. I made my first four blocks more as a trial. Will have to start working wiht the actual fabric now. I was always a little worried about scissor cutting but its not so bad once you make a template. I'm really glad I'm doing this class. It's a well designed class and by the end of it I would have worked on triangles, applique, tumbling blocks and a dresden plate! Yaay! :)

Pieced the top!

Went in to the store today and pieced the top. This is the size the class is doing. It's 45" x 63" - a nice lap size quilt. I'm going to make it into a twin for my niece. She loves blue and I hope this is blue enough for her. I think I might add a border with blue fabric - something from the squares - so it looks a little more blue than it is now. What do you think?

45"X63" Lap Quilt

I love these fabrics. They are so bright and happy.
As I was piecing the top I felt so good just having the fabric on me... You know how you need to have the quilt top and quilt on your lap when you're sewing... isn't that such a great feeling. I had forgotten about that since I haven't sewn in 9 months.
Sigh... the simple pleasures of life! :)

And I love the Kona Snow for the back.

I want me one of these! So great to be working on a design wall. I can't thank Judy enough for letting me sew in the store. It's AMAZING!!!

Squaring Blocks

I didn't think squaring blocks would take so much precision. I must admit I never really gave it much thought before. This is good though... much happier with the results but I still have a ways to go before I piece!

So Jeannie does it this way. First you measure the block and see what its turned out to be. Our blocks were supposed to be 9 1/2 inches but mine were a little less. The trouble was that the needle of the sewing machine I'm using at the store is a little off centre and needs to be fixed so all my blocks are slightly smaller than they should be.

Oh! I just remembered... I love working with the quarter inch foot! What a great little foot it is!

Ok... getting back... so we figured that the block could measure 9 1/4 inches. Now Jeannie worked out that half of 9 1/4 is 4  5/8th of an inch... I have no clue about 5/8ths and 3/8ths... but there is a sheet somewhere that will tell me all this. For now I know that if you have .625 it's a 5/8 and you can count these lines off on your ruler. So she marked the spot on the ruler for me and I used it as a guide. I've got to figure this out though.

Then, we used the centre square and folded it so that it was half and marked it with a pin. These flower head pins work very well for them 'coz they're flat and you can place your ruler over it and cut.

 

Got my mark there

So I had to measure each side and cut and square the block. It's a little tedious but it's worth it. I also find that fabric here seems to stretch a little more than what I used to buy at home so I need to be a little more careful with it.

Squared Block

I bought some fabric to make a pillow case for my nephew. He's 7 and he likes skulls 'coz he thinks they're cool. So here's what I'll be using for his pillow case. :) This is going to be fun!

Linking up to W.i.P at Freshly Pieced.

Sewing Saturday

Isn't it great when you can sew all day? Went into the store this Saturday and sewed for 5 hours! Was in heaven! I finished my blocks for the class. I need to now square them up. This is going to be a sweet quilt. The prints are just so happy and cheerful.

 

Love working on the Janome and can't wait for my machine to come home! This is the store machine that Judy is letting me use  for class. Really enjoying it.

 

I have all these three and a half inch squares left over! I feel half-square triangles calling out.

 

Looking forward to class on Tuesday. Going to be piecing blocks! 

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday over at Quilt Story. 

Finally! Sewing Again!

I am sooooo happy to be sewing again! It's been close to 7 months since I left home and my studio... I have been taking a class at work  and I love it! I don't have a machine yet so I have to go to the store to sew before work... so I'm not getting as much done. Still, it's wonderful to be taking this class.
Jeannie Jenkins is a wonderful teacher. She's so patient and gentle and will always find a way to make something work. Learning a great deal from her. The ladies in the class are lovely too and we're having a great time together.

We're making this quilt and its really interesting to see what fabrics everyone has chosen. There's a wide range of colors and fabrics in the class and I'm sure the quilts will all look great once they're done.

Here are my blocks.

We had a whole bunch of Amy Butler's Midwest Modern and Daisy Chain fabrics and Erin McMorris' Weekends come in a couple of months ago at the store. I've used most of those fabrics. I love the colors... they are so happy and summery. Linking up to W.i.P. at Freshly Pieced!

Taking a quilting class!

I'm going to be taking a Beginner Machine Quilting Class that we are having at the store in March!!! :)

Beginner Quiltmaking by Machine

Wednesday Evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 beginning in the March 28th  (7 Sessions)
Instructor Jeannie Jenkins
$99.00
Learn the basics of quilt making by machine. Jeannie will take you through rotary cutting basics,
piecing, assembling the top, sandwiching, quilting and binding.  Sewing machine required.

This is so great! Jeannie Jenkins is a fantastic quilter and does a host of classes at Sew Sisters Quilt Shop. I'm really looking forward to it. There's another one I want to do as well - Introduction to Paper Piecing. I'm so looking forward to these.

I haven't sewn in six months and its driving me looney!!!! :(

Introduction to Paper Piecing

Tuesday May 8th, 1:00 - 3:00

Instructor Jeannie Jenkins

$20.00

Paper piecing is a technique of sewing oversize fabric pieces to a paper foundation.  This allows you to make accurate patchwork blocks easily and quickly without making any templates. During class you will be given some sample patterns and work on completing some easy blocks.  Suitable for beginners or anyone wanting to learn machine paper piecing.  Sewing machine required.