Winter Project Link Party - February

Well, hello and welcome to the February Winter Project Link Party hosted by Jennifer at Thistlebear. Thank you Jennifer, it is always a joy to see what everybody makes.



At the off-chance of boring you to death, I am still working on Sam's quilt. It is taking rather a long time. I don't have nearly enough time to sit down with my needle and stitch as I'd like. I am telling you, I am almost missing the time when I was a stay at home mum and actually had the freedom to sit down for a few minutes at the time and do something immensely enjoyable whilst reflecting on the day. Don't get me wrong, I don't think for one minute that stay at home mums have a leisurely life. I know from experience that's not true. However, there is more flexibility to the day when you don't have set hours that must be spent in the office, or wherever work may be. This is what I miss most. I don't even have a job that is timetabled to the minute but believe me, it is relentless and doesn't stop when I get home.

Right, now that I got this off my chest, I can swiftly move on to more fun things. The quilt. I am amazed at how many lines I still have to stitch! I have wondered briefly if a naughty elf undoes a line or two every night but probably not. It is still enjoyable, very much so actually, but very very slow. My stitches are quite small, maybe four millimetres but I like it like that. Neat and small comes at a price, and the price is time.

Last Sunday, I went to the Stitchery for an afternoon of sewing in company. I wanted to make binding for the quilt. I have thought much about this binding, more than is probably healthy. At first, I wanted to make it all blue, a soft darkish blue, like washed out jeans. But then I thought I did not want to waste any of the precious fabrics of the quilt decided to make the binding from the scraps. It is Jo's fault, honestly, it is. She is so good at using stash and every last piece of scrap that I feel I need to up my game a bit and try to use up all I have.

I had lots of small pieces left, mostly 5.5  inch squares, some of them finished half square triangles. I spent ages and ages cutting these into 2.5 inch strips. It took less time to sew these into a continues 7 metre binding piece. I ended up with a small roll of binding. There is very little fabric left now and I am happy to add these scraps to my scrap collection for a future tiny scrap quilt. I imagine something like this. Anyway, I am going to finish the quilting and then I'll stitch on the binding.

In the meantime, I have plenty other projects I should be getting on with: unfinished jumper, half a sock and a crochet blanket. Actually, this last one is doomed, I no longer like it but I am not quite ready to frog it. I have also started cutting the triangles for Annie's quilt. I have practiced sewing triangles together with some pieces of calico. I think making this quilt will be fun.

And now you have to excuse me, I really need to get some stitching done before Sunday disappears into another week of work. Have a lovely week. xx



Comments

  1. Wow, hand quilting, I am impressed. If it's any comfort, I'm home all day and yet my day runs away with me and I have WIP that date back to last August because I have so little time to spend with them.

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    1. Slowing down is urged now by SO many sources. The Little Book of Hygge..Why the Danes are the Happiest People... urging people to choose how they live hour by hour..beginning with choosing priorities...unless a healthy person is in prison.. each of us has a choice. Why not hand quilting... why hurry to ruin a good quilt with machine stitching that ends up looking ...as a professional quilter said.."like a mattress pad."

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  2. I really lime hand quilting so I enjoy looking at the progress you have made. Scrappy binding is really effective and it ties everthing togther nicely. I alson love the binding part of a quilt but most flok think that's weird! Catriona

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  3. Sewing is so relaxing isn't it. I'm a bit lost without a quilt on the go. Still haven't photographed the two I finished recently. Maybe when the weather is better so that I can spread them out in a good light. Love the look of your scrappy binding, what a great idea. I love, love, love doing the binding and taking out the pins one by one to leave a beautiful finished edge. Maybe I'll do something made from scraps next, I have quite a few now. Hope you're having a lovely afternoon of sewing. CJ xx

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  4. Your quilt is going to be wonderful. whatever binding you choose. I don't seem to have a project to post about, to many other things running through my mind right now. I wish some days I was a stay at home Mum again, then I get in my car and head off to work. When I was home I wanted to work, when I work I want to stay at home. See no making me happy!

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  5. I love the way you are using up your scraps! The border is going to look amazing with that extra work. Your stitches ARE very tiny and neat. What a lot of work you are putting into this quilt. It's going to be so worth the effort. I'm having trouble with the time issue as well, so right after this I am back to knitting my blanket ;)
    Enjoy the last of your Sunday!
    Wendy

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  6. I love handsewing, I find it very relaxing and therapeutic, but gosh that is a big job! It will be well worth it when it is done because it already looks beautiful and will be wonderful when it is done!

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  7. I hand quilt and it takes forever yes I know :) Love following your project :)

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  8. I love the idea of a scrappy border, inspirational. Looking forward to seeing the end result in all its glory.

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  9. Scrappy borders RULE! well done you, glad to have been an inspiration or bully, one or the other! It is going to look great. My quilt top is all done but I need to make the sandwich, maybe today after I have cleaned the kitchen floor. Jo x

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  10. You're making a great job of it, and I don't think it matters how long a project takes, just so long as you enjoy it. I do like that scrap quilt you've linked to, isn't it lovely?

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  11. I think your theory of the naughty elf is a good one. There's one in my house unravelling one of my socks when I'm not looking too! xx

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  12. I love the colours in this quilt... it will be worth every little stitch when it is finished.

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  13. oh I love it. How clever at making your own groovy binding!

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  14. I think that mulling over the binding is a quilter's way of retaining their sanity when they are hand stitching their quilt! It's one of those 'tomorrow will come/this quilt will be finished' things! Sam's quilt will be absolutely stunning when it is done. Happy Quilting! X

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  15. I hope you get more time this week to work on Sam's quilt. It is already looking good and I'm sure the binding you've made will finish it off perfectly. x

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  16. It's a gorgeous quilt :) Hope you get some time this week to work on it! xx

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  17. It's looking so good and you're making great progress overall. I think Sam will love it. I'm sorry you aren't getting more time to work on it during the week but the Sunday stitching group sounds nice. Hang in there. Thank you for joining in with my link party. :)

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  18. Your stitches are so beautifully neat, I just can't imagine hand sewing something so big. The finished quilt is going to be so worth the time it's taking.

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  19. Sam's quilt is looking fab, I lo ve how bright and fun the clours all are. I am a bit scared of bias binding. At school it terrified me and I didn't understand it at all. I DO understand it now but the terror remains LOL
    Jillxo

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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