10th March 2011

Sam's quilt which is a first bed size measuring

44 x 60 inches ( 112 x 150 cm )

 

 

21st March 2011

 

Here is Nayan's finished quilt with his name in the corner.

The finished size is  49 x49 inches (124 x 124 cm )

 

5th May 2011

 

 Ethan's quilt

 51 x 40.5 inches

(130 x 103 cm)

 

Since the quilt was finished, Anne's grandson has been born, a little early, but doing very well. Now his name has been added to the front of the quilt.

 

 

 Here is Samuel's finished quilt, bound with red borders. a label is sewn to the back which reds 'For Samuel Robert, on the occasion of your Christening, May 2011, with love from Caroline and Kate.'

 

 

 This quilt measures 35 x 36 inches ( 89 x 91 cms )

23rd May 2011

 This quilt is finished except for a label on the back which will say " Made for Amy Helen, born 12th May 2011, with love from Paul, Kate and Benjamin."

 

 

This quilt measures 35 x 35 inches ( 89 x 89 cm )

 Here are two more  elephant quilts made in the same style recently:

 

Ellie's quilt which is to be given by James and measures

29 x 31.5 inches ( 74 x80 cm)

 

 

This one has been made for Eva Florence and measures

37.5 x 35.5 inches ( 96 x90 cm )

 

 

 This is one made for Harry, to be given to him on his special day by Ben, Marie and his best friend Sam.

It measures 35 x 35.5 inches (89 x 90 cm ) 

 

 

5th August 2011

 This quilt is going to university with Jessica and measures 58 x 72 inches.


15th August 2011

 

 

 Here is a quilt made from treasured fabrics. It measures 51 x 51 inches

( 130 x 130 cm ) and represents Jax's hopes for the future.

 

 Here is the matching wall hanging to cover the inside of the letterbox.

 

 

 Here is a quilt made for Alison to give to Raphael who was born on the 30th July this year. It measures 43 x 37 inches ( 109.5 x 94 cm )

 

15th September 2011

 Here is Eleni's finished quilt for her first bed. The quilt measures 53 x 50 inches ( 136 x 128 cm ). In the dog and the bike squares, Brighton Pavillion is quilted in the back ground.

 7th October 2011

 This quilt measures 36 x  36.5 inches ( 92 x 93 cm )

November 2011

 Here you can see a close up detail of the quilt which shows the quilting and the baby's name.

 Here is the finished quilt which will be given to Beatrix at her Christening by her Godmother Kay.

24th October 2011

I must just show you the fairies..........

.......and here is the finished quilt which is a single bed size. The backing fabric is turquoise blue.

 The label on the back reads: For Kitty , Happy Christmas, with love from Mummy and Daddy xxxxxxx

 Grace has asked me to make a wall hanging for a friend's Christmas present. It will hang in the farm kitchen and feature John Deere tractors and Holstein cows. Here are the fabrics I will be using and a rough outline of the design.

 The fabric at the sides is patterned with John Deere tractors and the yellow logo.

 As the pieces of the design are cut out, they are pinned on the design wall. The corner stars have been made and different coloured hearts are pinned at the top until I find a combination which looks right. This photo was taken in artificial light and looks a bit brighter than the real fabric colours.

Here you can see that the cows have been added. At the moment they haven't been stitched down. I have added the grassy areas as, without them the cows seem to float unhappily. The stitching will add an embroidery texture to this part of the quilt.

This picture shows the three layers of top, wadding and backing fabric pinned together.The quilt is now ready for the machine quilting stitches through all three layers. I am really pleased to find a row of black and white cows in my fabric box, which has been added to the bottom. The cream area is where the name of the farm will feature.

Here you can see the quilting stitching being added.

 The name is added to the bottom of the quilt hanging and you can see the row of cows too.

Finally the hanging tabs are added and a small label at the back of the wall hanging. Here is the finished little quilt which measures 47 x 67 cm ( 18.5 x 26.5 inches).

 And the backing fabric is lovely............

17th November 2011

 Lucy has asked me to make a baby quilt for her little daughter for her Christening. She would like a farmyard design in soft colours. Here are the fabrics, cut into squares and put up on the design wall in the sewing room.

 The blue fabric with yellow marks is actually blue with little yellow chicks on it, difficult to see in the picture. Next all the squares are sewn together.

 The white insert strips are added, then the animals are cut out for stitching to the quilt top. At the moment they are pinned down.

 Next the three layers of top, wadding and backing fabric are put together and pinned to stop them slipping. The quilting stitching can now be added.

 The quilting helps to make the animals stand out from the background fabric.

 Lastly the edges are bound with fabric strips. The fabric pattern is the same as the backing fabric which is pale blue with tiny roses on it.

 Here is the finished quilt which measures 29 x 31 inches (74 x 79 cm)

20th November 2011

This is an elephant quilt in pinks which has been made for Albany to give to Isabelle  who was born in November.

29th November 2011

 Christine has also asked me to make a memory quilt for Georgie, Kitty's younger sister. A huge parcel of outgrown clothes has arrived and here you can see them being cut up into squares and rectangles for stitching together.

 When everything has been cut up, a big sheet is spread out on the sitting room floor and the pieces are laid out. It is a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle to make everything fit together. Some of the fabrics have been stitched into traditional patchwork patterns and you can see the big stars in the middle and at the bottom.

 When everything has been stitched together, the three layers of top, wadding and backing fabric are layered together and pinned ready for the quilting stitches which go through all three layers.

 Now all the quilting has been finished and the edges bound with the same fabric as the back of the quilt. Saved buttons, little labels and pieces of embroidery are stitched on to add extra memories. Here you can see the finished quilt which is a single bed size.

 At the bottom you can see a fabric photo print to remind Georgie of her pet hamster and her own name appliqued in the right hand corner. The backing fabric is pink with a print of small white spots and strawberries.

 This is a close up of a piece of a little winter dress with embroidered birds and flowers. The swirls are quilting stitches.

 8th December 2011

 Lucy has asked me to make two single bed quilts for her little girls, Charlotte and Christobel. She would like spring garden colours and I have found some fabrics which remind me of all the colours of tulips. Here are the fabrics I am starting to make the top with.

 As the pieces are cut and sewn together, they are put up on the design wall. I move them around several times until the colours are balanced but the effect is random. The colours look more orange here as the photo was taken in artificial light.

 Now everything has been sewn together and the top of the quilt is complete. In daylight you can see the tulip garden colours...

 Next the three layers of top, wadding and backing fabrics will be assembled and pinned together, so the whole quilt can be stitched with quilting threads.

Here you can see the meandering quilting stitch over the whole quilt which holds the three layers together and gives texture to the surface. Next the edges are bound with the same fabric as the back of the quilt. This is pale blue with tiny white dots. Now the quilt is finished except for a label to be stitched on the back.

 Here is the finished single bed quilt, made for Charlotte for Christmas. I had to sew her name on quickly or I would have found it very hard to let this one go. I am going off to buy more of these fabrics straight away!

 Below is a second quilt made for Charlotte's sister Christobel. The edging fabric is pale green with tiny white dots.

13th December 2011 

Natalie has asked me to make a first bed size quilt for her baby Peggy Rose who will be a year old in January. She would like an alphabet design with lots of animals, so I have been drawing new patterns.  Here is the design, with stars, animals in the letter blocks and a tree of life in the middle.

 Natalie would like bright colours and here are the fabrics I am starting with, these may be added to as the quilt blocks are made.

 As the blocks are made, they are put up on the design wall so the over all effect can be seen. Here is the beginning of the quilt, starting with the tree.

 I have made some star blocks, but am not sure about the pale backgrounds of them. I may trial some with all over colour as well.

 Peggy Rose adores their Scottie dog so we are including him in the quilt. Here is a trial of the 'D' block before the stitched detail is added.

Now the basic top of the quilt has been finished except for the strip at the bottom where  the name will go. I have designed an Alphabet and will start to add the letters and animals next. This the fun bit!

All the animals have been cut out now and ironed to the surface of the quilt top. There is one for every letter of the alphabet. U for unicorn was not allowed by biologist husband and he suggested umbrella bird instead! V is for viper, but I will give him and the alligator a friendly smile!

 Here are the three layers of top, wadding and backing fabrics layered together and pinned to stop them slipping. Next the quilting stitches are added through all three layers.

 In this picture you can see the meandering quilting stitches.

 Here is the finished quilt which measures 43.5 x 60 inches (111 x 157.5 cm)

N is for Newt............

 12th January 2012

 Here is a first bed size version of the soft colours farmyard quilt which I made last month. Kay is going to give it as a gift to new baby Emelia Ruth.

 17th January 2012

 Denise has asked me to make a farmyard quilt similar to the one above but with tractors in bright colours too. She would like neutral soft colours for the bands of patchwork across the quilt.Here are the fabrics I am starting with:

 First, lots of squares are cut out and postioned on the design wall in rows. I move them around frequently until a balanced but random look is achieved.

 Next all the squares are sewn together and the white bands added between the rows. everything is pressed carefully so that the seams lie flat.

 Here you can see the quilt so far. Next the animals and tractors will be cut out and added.

 Now all the animals and tractors have been added and stitched down. Borders will be sewn all round to make a visual frame for the main parts of the quilt.

 The top of the quilt is finished now . Next the three layers of top, wadding and backing fabric are layered together. Safety pins are used to secure them together so there won't be any slippage when the quilting stitches are added.

 In both these photos, the pink blurry shape is a pig! My camera seems a bit confused by the pale colours..

 When all the quilting is finished, the edges of the quilt are bound with fabric which matches the side borders. The binding is turned to the back of the quilt and stitched down by hand. Here you can see the finished quilt:

 This a first bed size quilt measuring 45 x 55 inches ( 114 x 152 cm )

 Here are some closer details....

 7th February 2012

 Lucy has asked me to make a little quilt to match the farmyard one I made earlier in soft colours. This one will have some exotic animals on it instead of farmyard livestock.

Here are the fabrics I am starting with:

 First, lots of squares are cut out and put up on the design wall. They are moved around until a random but balanced effect is achieved. Next they are all sewn together.

 The white bands are added in between the rows of squares. Then the animals are cut out and placed on the white areas and ironed down. Now you can see the beginning of how the finished quilt will look.

 My newest pattern is a flamingo which has been cut out in bright pink material.The animals are all then stitched down.

To be continued as the quilt grows..............