Monday, December 28, 2015

AGF Stitched Event - Locket Quilt


One of my favourite ranges that I fell in love with at Fall Market was Paperie by Amy Sinibaldi for Art Gallery Fabrics.  This is Amy's first range and - wow - it is ever so sweet and just the perfect assortment of fabrics.  The colours are delicate and bold and each print complements perfectly.


Being invited to work on the latest AGF Stitched Event together with Fat Quarter Shop has been great fun.  The latest Quilt design - Locket Quilt is a large scale block design that works so well with this range.  The Locket Quilt pattern (available free) can be found here.  Along with a Video Tutorial  - here.


These blocks came together quickly and I decided that I would turn my Locket Quilt Blocks into a Table Runner.  The colours in the prints allow the pattern to stand out and have sewn up well in a row which slightly differs to the pattern's "on point" block formation.



I quilted around the shapes using tramlines in matching Aurifil Thread colours.  


You can find the Quilt Kit to make this Locket Quilt and Backing Set all over at Fat Quarter Shop.

Here is the list of all the other participating Bloggers for you to check out the Locket Quilts and projects they have made.


Happy sewing
Jemima x 

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Top 5 Tools!


I often get asked about the Tools and Equipment I most often use in my own Sewing and Quilting.  So I thought that a blog post might be a great way to share my Top 5 Pics.

I looked carefully around my sewing room and thought about those Tools, Gadgets and pieces of Equipment that I always use.  The tools that would be great for any one to add to their equipment toolbox for making sewing better and easier.  These are my go-to's!


Bloc-Loc Rulers - I sew a lot of Half Square Triangles and Flying Geese blocks in my Quilting.  These rulers have changed how I sew them and I will never go back.  There is an inbuilt channel in the back so that you can line up your seams so that you are able to trim down your HST's or Flying Geese down to the correct size with perfect points every time.  While some may see the trimming as an extra step I think it makes for a much more professionally finished quilt and saves you battling to match up points as you sew. 

Bloc-Loc rulers are widely available, come in a variety of sizes and can be found in most Local Quilt Stores or easily online.


Clover Fork Pins - These are the best little gems of pins for when you are working with seams that you have pressed open.  They slide either side of the pressed seams to hold the seams perfectly as shown below.



Clover Binding Clips - I have to admit that I don't actually use these Clips for binding but for so many other uses within my sewing room.  I love using them for English Paper Piecing to hold my fabric covered papers together (as shown below).  I use them to hold groups of fabrics together when sewing.  I use them to hold Linings and Outsides of projects together while top stitching such as in Bags or Fabric Baskets - anytime where regular pins are filly to work with.



Clover Pressing Mat - when I spied this little mat at the Craft show earlier this year I have to say I hesitated at buying this.  I don't like Gadgets for the sake of it - I like products that work and will be used regularly.  Well this has been one of the best items I have bought in a long time.  I often sew hems, casings and turn down fabric.  This Pressing Mat means I don't have to take my tape measure to the ironing board overtime with me anymore and I just fold over the fabric to the required length and press.  Seriously this is well worth getting hold of if you sew lots of hems, sew lots of zips into things like cushions or other projects or make casings for things like drawstring bags.  This has become one of my most used tools in my sewing room.


Clover Black Gold Needles - Appliqué/ Sharps No 9 - I do a lot of hand sewing.  These are my needles of choice for English Paper Piecing, any mending, sewing my binding down or anywhere I need to use a needle and regular thread.  These glide through your fabric and have a nice flex as you work but are not flimsy.

It is easy to get caught up buying Gadgets, Tools and Equipment that end up on the shelf, not being used.  Tools that help make your Quilting and sewing more enjoyable are a great investment in your love of sewing.  

All these tools are ones I use the most.  It is coincidental that most of these items are Clover brand.  Just my personal preference (I have not been sponsored for these opinions.)

Happy Sewing
Jemima x x


Sunday, December 13, 2015

Smitten Quilt - My English Paper Piecing Adventure - The final chapter!

I can't believe I have stitched the final hand quilted stitches into my Smitten Quilt.  This quilting adventure has take me most of the year but I have never more enjoyed hand stitching and hand quilting.  






When I first started this quilt - fussy cutting was not on my agenda.  I had only bought Fat 16ths of my fabrics so this mostly wasn't possible with that size of material.  However as the year went on and I got my hands on some larger pieces of fabric just perfect for fussy cutting I could not resit adding in a few here and there.





I have always loved Hand quilting and as I went along English Paper Piecing the top I knew that I wanted to hand quilt this as wee.  I tried to make the hand quilting quite random, some hexagons are quilted around all sides and some not at all.  

For Hand quilting I used Aurifil 12 wt threads in a variety of colours.  Mostly matching fabrics and coloured threads as I went.  These have a beautiful sheen to them and the perfect thickness for hand quilting.  I also used Tulip Embroidery Needles - Sharps.  These have the perfect flex and size to the needle for such a big task.


I came across this "April Showers" fabric by Lewis and Irene earlier this year and purchased enough for the backing.  As soon as I saw it I knew it was perfect for this Smitten.  I then placed a few fussy cuts of this sweet girl into the front to tie them both together.




I am definitely Smitten with this quilt and I hope you have loved reading about my adventure along the way.

Happy Sewing 
Jemima x 
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