Rainbow Crochet-A-Long

Crochet is a big love of mine and getting to team up with the lovely Jodie from @jellywares for a project is super exciting - so much so we would for you to join us in a Rainbow Blanket Crochet-A-Long.   We will be using the hashtag - #rainbowCAL to record our progress, post updates, answer questions and share what we are all creating together.  So come and join us over on Instagram (@tiedwitharibbon) for some inspiration and great fun.  

Inspired by Matt's Rainbow Granny Square Blanket we are aiming for a blanket along these lines.  We will be joining the squares as we go and then putting this beautiful Pom Pom Trim by Once Upon a Pink Moon, on for the border.

Jodie and I will be each using the same patterns but will each do a different variation so that you can choose which way you would like to make it for yourself.

Jodie will be using 18 shades of an 8ply Cotton/Acrylic blend to make her Rainbow Granny Squares and is aiming to make 540 squares with 3 rounds (of the same colour) in each Granny Square. Jodie recognises this is ambitious but those up for a challenge and great fun then this amount is achievable.

I will be using a smaller amount of colours - 9 shades of Rico Cotton Essentials to make my Rainbow Granny Square and aiming for 270 squares with 3 rounds (of the same colour) in each Granny Square.  Mine will be a smaller blanket for those who have a stash of fewer colours or maybe you are only just starting out and want the pace to move a little slower

We are kicking off this Friday - February 13th with an 8 week work time to finish our Rainbow Granny Squares Blanket on April 5th.  

If you need some help with patterns here are some helpful Tutorials

Attic 24 - Joining Granny Squares as you go

Once Upon a Pink Moon - Pom Pom Trim Border 

Looking forward to seeing what you all create.

Jemima x 

Queen of Hearts Quilt - because everyone deserves a quilt fit for a queen!

Introducing my latest quilt pattern - Queen of Hearts. 

Isn't it a beauty!

This lap size quilt (52.5in x 52.5in) design, features beautiful big bold Hearts to capture the beauty of all the feature fabrics around them.  For this design I used  Liberty Tana Lawns from Ava and Neve.

I chose Linen to make my hearts from as I wanted the Liberty Fabrics to do the talking and be the feature of the quilt around the hearts.

The pattern is Jelly Roll friendly and whether you are using fabrics you have been keeping in your stash for a special quilt or are wanting to make this from your over flowing scrap bucket - the result will be stunning.

I used my favourite Aurifil Thread - #4060 Silver Fox in 50wt, to not only piece the quilt but also for the quilting on the top.  The variegated grey meant that no matter what colour I was sewing with it went across beautifully.

Queen of Hearts is now available as a PDF Downloadable Pattern or Paper version at my Website 

or Etsy store.

If you make one I would love to see it - you can send me a pic or if you are Instagram you can tag me - @tiedwitharibbon and use #queenofheartsquilt so I can see all the beautiful creations you make.  Happy sewing

Jemima x x

In-between Sewing!

In-between sewing bigger projects like quilts and writing patterns there is always something to create and be inspired with, discover or learn about.  I was sent some Soak Wash Inc products just before Christmas to try out - see previous post.  I had heard great things about their Smoothing Sprays and Laundry Care products and was keen to try them out to see if they did what they say they do.

I used the Soak on some of my Quilts and even on my crochet blankets and have to say that after washing them with the Soak not only did they smell amazing but they left such a natural feel to the quilts and blankets.

Hands down though the Flatter is a Game Changer!  So much of what I do in my sewing is about the Seams of quilting.  So to use a plant based soothing spray to make my seams sit just flat - well that just makes quilting even better.  

I was so thrilled with how it actually made the seams sit flatter and crisper and so I could show you I made two samples (above).  The first was using Flatter and the second was just using steam alone from the iron.  And well as you can see the results speak volumes of this great product.

Ask for it at your Local Quilt store - it is well worth it.  Here in Australia you can find Soak Wash products distributed by Millhouse Collections at these stores:

Hetties Patch SA

Appleyard Cottage NSW

Amitie Textiles VIC

The Stitchers Cupboard NSW

Addicted to Fabric

Patchwork Paradise QLD

Make it Hobby & Craft QLD

Two Blue Birdies VIC

The Quilted Crow TAS

Patch'n'Paint WA

Quilt Fabric Delights

I have also made a start (and to be honest this is the only block as it stands) on my Gypsy Wife Quilt. For this project I have chosen to use Liberty and Linen.

And after finishing up all my Tula Pink Hexagons that I turned into Grandmother's Flower Gardens - I sat down and planned out the layout for them.  Armed with some Hexagon Grid paper I drew out the design and then laid out all the flowers so that I would be happy with how they were all going to be placed.

Making good progress so far - that's 20 out of 70 hand sewn.

Jemima x 

Vintage Cotton Reel Mini Quilt - New Pattern

This beautiful new range - Milk, Sugar & Flower is so sweet with such a vintage and reproduction vibe to it.  Designed by Elea Lutz for Penny Rose Fabrics this range is now available here in Australia through Millhouse Collections.

Its adorable floral prints and cute characters were perfect for some fussy cutting and inspired by some of the Vintage Cotton Reels I have from my Nanna I set about creating a design to showcase these beautiful fabrics.  These prints were so fun that I thought a Mini Quilt would be just the project.

After piecing the Cotton Reel, I was trying to decide how I would create the thread.  Would I hand sew it or machine sew it and if so which thread and then all of a sudden this idea came to mind. 

With the Mini Quilt top complete I set about using Free Motion Quilting on my sewing machine to create a Loopy style pattern which I wanted to look like loose thread.

This Vintage Cotton Reel Mini Quilt pattern is now available at my Store over at my Website 

or Etsy Store.

Milk, Sugar & Flower is now available at these Australian stockists:

The Stitchers Cupboard

Fabric Pixie

Sew Piecefully Patchwork

Jemima x x

Katie's Swoon - a Quilt for a dear friend.

A long time ago I bought this Fat Quarter Bundle of "Fresh Cut" by Heather Bailey.  It sat on my shelf just waiting for a special project and then when I decided to make a very dear friend a quilt - I knew these were the perfect fabrics.  I teamed them up with matching Kona Solids to complement each of the fabrics in the bundle.

Katie and I have share a friendship for over 30 years.  We lived across the road from each other as children and have been a big part of one anothers lives since.  We went to school together, we were Bridesmaids for each other, our daughters have been named after each other and we are Godparents to the others beautiful daughters.  A true and special friendship indeed.

Back in August of last year I went on a Sewing Retreat armed with the bundle of fabrics and the Swoon pattern by Thimble Blossoms - determined to leave after the weekend with a Quilt top for Katie to celebrate her birthday.

After lots of sewing I did take away a finished quilt top. I gave it to  The Quilting Cottage machine quilt it for me.

To my dear friend Katie, you are such a special part of my life - Happy Birthday!

Jemima x x

Holiday Sewing Fun

I love the start of a new year - there is such a buzz about what will come through the year and all the great plans you have to achieve.  Holidays also mean a bit of sewing just for me and for fun!  With both my girls home I know that "work" style sewing and creating is set aside for a while while I enjoy some time with my girls.

One of the projects I have been working on is my Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap Project.  I broke out my Cotton and Steel stash that had just been waiting for just the right project and my Black and White Text and Low volume fabrics.  I used our Kaleidescope Foundation Paper Pieced Cushion pattern and have made a Mini Quilt version.  This is heading off overseas soon for my swap partner.

I am a lucky girl - look at this beautiful new range Milk Flower & Sugar by Elea Lutz that Millhouse Collections sent me to play with.  This range will be available here in Aus in February and I can't wait to cutting, creating and sewing with these beautiful fabrics.  The bunny print is just adorable and I love the colours.

As any quilter will know washing and looking after your quilts is very important to their care.  Millhouse Collections now have the Soak range available and if you have not used them before for your quilts then I highly recommend them.  The "Flatter is great while ironing and pressing your seams and your quilts will never have smelled so beautiful after washing them after using "Soak Wash".  

Another fun project I can't wait to get stuck into is this "Frances" dress.  I have not strayed too far form the pattern picture choosing Chambray and a Red Liberty print myself to make this.

Jemima x x 

Custom Order Quilt complete

Finishing up the year with a custom Quilt seems just right.  It was gifted to the clients dear friend for a special birthday gift. The Coral and Aqua fabrics have all come from my stash.

And how could I go past this binding - "A Day in the Country" - do amazing stripes - always perfect for binding.

In-between finishing up orders, working on publication and media commissions and sewing Santa Sacks I have been working on two projects that I had started earlier this year.

I have been wanting to get back to my crochet Granny Square Bobble Blanket for ages and having finished up other projects I was working on (namely Green Tea and Sweet Beans) I have put it at the top of my list and I now have some nice little piles of Granny Squares.  Now to just sew in the ends before it all becomes too much at the end.  I prefer to sew in the ends as I go - how about you?

Also back to working on my Tula Pink Hexes - I decided to turn these Parisville Kits into Grandmothers Flower Gardens. Look I am not going to kid myself - English Paper Piecing takes time so this make take another whole year to complete the design I have in mind.  I love English Paper Piecing as I take it along with me for the times I have to wait - like while the girls have Swimming Squad, or waiting at doctors appointments or for when we travel long distances in the car.

70 Grandmothers Flower Garden Hexes all finished

In the kits also came with the Aurifil thread - both perfectly matched colours for basting and sewing together - #4060 (Silver Moon) and #4660 (Pink Taffy)  The 50wt is just perfect for sewing them together.  

Jemima x x