Finish A Long 2017 1st Quarter

Sarah of Sew Me reminded that the first quarter was almost over and time to post of progress with outstanding projects. We haven't had internet for over a week so this was the first opportunity for me to update my blog.

Here were mine, three quilting and one knitting projects

1. Dolly Dress Up Quilt

2. Frivols Quilt

3. Godfrey Gadabout

4. Hexies

Out of the four I have one finish - Godfrey Gadabout.  He was knitted and given to my granddaughter weekend before last.

Here are a few pics

 This was how he looked at the beginning of February, body made, hair, nose and hat brim added but still had to have arms, shoes and other bits to go on.

 This photo was back in January and keeping all those bits and pieces together in a poly bag

 All finished, ready for his travels

And another view before he departed to West Sussex.  Isobel was delighted with Godfrey.  He comes from a knitting pattern book called Jean Greenhowe's Knitted Clowns, The Red Nose Gang and she has a website here.  Amazingiy this lady has now just retired at the age of 83 and won't be producing more patterns.  It's nice to know that her clowns are still appreciated and knitters will still enjoy knitting the clowns.

For my other projects the Dress Up Dolly quilt has not been lingering.  This is a slow project but I can say that progress has been made with 7 out of the 9 blocks finished and trimmed.  This will be joined quilt as you go method and I bought some red fabric at Farnham in January to provide the sashing strips.

They are arranged on the floor though this may change. The missing blocks are both Dresden ones, one sewn with markings to be removed and another still in progress with hand quilting. This will go onto the next quarter.

Next is the Frivols Quilt.  This has been layered and started machine quilting but has been on hold.  This will go onto next quarter.

Here's a view of the backing, which I bought last year and has so far done 2 quilts.

Lastly is the hexagons table centre which I haven't touched this quarter.  Now that lighter evenings are here then I may tackle that in the next quarter too.

If you look back at my blog I've had other things on the go with starts and finishes.

And my crochet blanket too

So keeping busy.

Today is ....

So today I have been sewing. Unlike some other years where either I've helped arranged something or have been to a quilting event I'm sewing at home alone and using social media to chart my progress.

I wanted to use quilt as you go squares to make zippy pouches for Project Hope to sell Cherry Tree Nursery next Saturday. This will raise funds for materials for quilts for teenage cancer patients. I know that the pouches have sold well.  I haven't had time today but I was also thinking of making small round pouches for ear buds so will have a go one evening this week.

I've shared photos on Instagram (@suewilduk) and on the UK Quilter's United page on Facebook during today.  I made all 4 squares and by lunchtime one was completed.

This was on my bed settee with the Keep Calm cushion in the background.

By mid afternoon, time for tea (no cake to go with it, mind) I'd finished 3.

 

Afterwards the 4th one was finished 

Then I added the one I finished one evening earlier this week

They look so colourful. I'm pleased to use the day to make something useful and have a lovely relaxing day.  I hope that whatever you've been doing for International Quilting Day you've had an enjoyable one too.

Tomorrow is....

International Quilting Day.

I haven't organised anything locally this year for various reasons and just ran out of time but I had marked the date on my calendar so I will be at home and sewing.  I have a few pouches to make and will also catch up of one of the subscription box projects too so I will have a busy day.

I will be putting photos on Instagram during the day, my account is @suewilduk and I will use hashtag #iqd2017suew if you want to follow my progress. 

Hope you can join me.

Bit of this, bit of that..

End of February and beginning of March was dogged by illness, others, not mine, but the effect was not much was done.  Everyone is well now so hopefully onward and upward.  

There is one finish, which I'm not going to show yet, that of the clown. It'll be Isobel's birthday next week and we are going down to Sussex to visit so I will be able to show Godfrey Gadabout after then.

 I started on my Attic 24 Cosy blanket kit on the 1st and this is progress to date

I found the pattern, which I thought I'd lost. I've been crocheting this while watching tv in the evening. 

I've really caught the crochet bug and bought a book the other day in Smith's. The branch in Poole is stocking more craft books, which could be dangerous!

100 Granny Squares, this might keep me busy for a while, though this solid Granny Square wasn't in it!  I saw the instructions on Sandra Cherry Heart's blog after seeing a few of these on Instagram. I liked that the book has English Crochet terms and has some lovely floral blocks.

I haven't neglected my sewing and in finding some picture panels I made a cushion with cats on, for which I have a recipient in mind, more of that another time but here's a few pics

I took the whole panel and simply quilted around the pictures and frames and using the wiggly stitch machined in between the pictures.  The panel was bordered with a fabric with stars on a blue background.  I had to improvise on the back as I ran out of that fabric.

So I found another fabric with stars on a blue background. Job done.

I also made a boxy pouch this morning too.  There is a charity sale soon so I will be making a few more of these. This takes just about an hour to make by making the block quilt as you go so it's already lined but I do have to zigzag seams after joining,

Keeping busy today I also managed to do some baking too. Making a banana loaf using a Lorraine Pascale recipe and also some ginger rock buns. 

Isn't that what Sunday's are about?  A day, mostly at home, doing a bit of this and a bit of that.