New QAYG techniques class

There are several ways in which you can assemble blocks and join them together using Quilt As You Go techniques.   These techniques are fantastic especially if you have trouble quilting a large quilt (strength, injury, space etc.).   Your quilt may consist of blocks that need to be handled with care so rolling it up and pushing though your machine could damage your blocks.
There is also the cost factor.  We have all sent our quilts away to be quilted.  They look stunning when they come back however, if you make a lot of quilts, this can be extremely expensive.

Most QAYG quilts are made using a set quilt block design.  In this class we work though different block constructions  and joining  techniques. 

Regard this sampler as a reference.  Its all about planning and how to avoid the pitfalls.  Use up your scraps.  Its not meant to be pretty - just a great opportunity to learn, understand and practise.  Once finished, you have it always to refer to.



Most of all, its all done on your sewing machine NO HANDWORK including the binding. 

Next years class dates to be advised.

Happy stitching
Shirls.

Wedding gift

I can now show you my latest piece.  It was a gift for a lovely couple who married last month.

It's thread painted using wonderfil.  The image drawn first using fabrico pens.

Shirls

French knitting

I French knitted one 50gram ball of Wendy's merino yarn then wove it to create a cowl.  Unfortunately it didn't hold together after several months. So I have remade it using Anna Hicks idea of crocheting it together.  Check out Anna's work. Her online name is Hix Girl.

I have used alpaca indiecita to crochet it together.

Happy stitching.

Shirls

I love summer

This is my next sewing project.  Thanks to equilter for these digitised panel prints.

Paris (on the left) will be my front centre panel and Rome the back.

Now to choose my complementary fabric.  Could be a wee bit tricky.
Will post pic when its made.

Happy sewing friends
Shirls

Fabric Marking Pens

Over the last year I have been happily using the Pilot Frixion pens to mark my light fabric quilts until I read an article by Jenny K Lyon on her blog http://quiltskipper.com/2015/08/frixion-pens-all-you-need-to-know/ .  Its worth a read so I encourage you to read her article.  Basically even though the markings iron out, they do not wash out.  So my quilt markings can reappear any time when the surrounding  temperature is close to zero.  Frixion pens are made for paper only. :(

Tonight I have tested a new Product introduced into New Zealand.  The Sew Write pen.  Especially made for marking fabrics.  The pen markings iron out as well as rub out.

The pens come in three colours.  Black, Blue and Red.

I proceeded to mark my batting and blocks with the blue.

I'm not sure if I have been sold a "lemon" but the blue pen stopped marking after a few blocks.  I also noticed that I just couldn't draw one line, I had to redraw it so it could be seen.  Note the markings in the bottom block (left)

I proceeded to work with the red and that appears to be working ok at this point.
 


Lines disappeared quickly with the iron. 



My Verdict.


 I will buy another blue and continue using these over the next couple of months. 

They are very reasonably priced.




I will keep you up to date on these pens.
Shirls
 

Houston

Visit the winning quilts at Houston via this link. Just stunning.  http://www.quilts.org/winners.html

Quilt as you go - Nancys Stitch Studio

Yesterday was day two of my QAYG workshop.  It was a chance for me to tweak it before I teach this the NZ Quilt Symposium next year.

Here is my class sampler.

Here are some of the photographs of completed quilts from my previous workshops.

the back

 

the front

 

Photographs from yesterdays workshop.



When laying out your quilt blocks use the camera on your mobile phone (you always have it on you) to view your blocks.  Below Lisa has tried out three different layouts.  This helped her to decide if she needs to make more blocks, which colour way and how big to make her quilt.

Catriona's quilt layout

Great students, venue and lovely fabric choices.  Bit of a worry when I covert my students fabrics!

I look forward to seeing these quilts completed and will share these with you at a later date.
Happy stitching
Shirls

Wellington Quilters Guild Exhibition

Its been a busy few weeks with lots of quilts on display at the various exhibitions.  Today I visited the Wellington Quilters Guild exhibition.  It was held for two weeks with today being the last opportunity to see these stunning quilts.
I have seen lots of posts on social media showing the winning quilts from this exhibition.
Here are some I would like to share with you.  Enjoy

A different Approach by Claire Hodgson

Fire by Marilyn Daly

It take a Village by Marilyn Daly

Look Mum no rulers by Catherine Croucher

Navajo Journey by Stephanie Taylor

One Row at a time by Mary-Anne Georgiou

close up of One Row at a Time

Pine Green Blue by Catherine Croucher

Remembrance Scully Series #7 by Marilyn Daly

Street Lights Through Fog by Jill Bowman

close up of the couching in Street Lights Through Fog



Summer in Minnesota by Shanon Peters



Swatches Quilt Jacket (back) by Anna Hicks



Swatches Quilt Jacket (front) by Ana Hicks



Waharua by Jackie Bailey
(Started in my Quilt As You Go Class.).

Taupo Quiltmakers Exhibition

For my oversea's readers, Taupo (Town) is in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand.  Taupo Quiltmakers held their bia-annual exhibition at the beginning of this month.  It was a great honour to be invited as guest exhibitor, to judge their challenge and to speak at their club evening. 

Here are a few of my photos from their exhibition.  I was impressed with the amount of hand quilting and hand applique work.

Farmers Wife by Heather Hanrahan

Flower Power by Fiona Hussey

Made by Dulcie McClintock

Heather on the Moor by Debra Munro

Jacobs Ladder scrap quilt by Lynley Paine

As this quilt was so high up I was unable to read the quilt name made by Yoko Saito.
The applique and quilting on this quilt was beautiful.



Korowai by Julie Brunton

Lilies made by Margaret Boyt

Moody Blues & Aqua Hues by Cris Cunningham

Naomi's Quilt by Diane Pilbrow

New York Metallica by Karol Rose

String of Pearls by Peggy White

Triangle Pursuit by Julie Brunton

View of the Sea by Wendy Hilhorst

 

My quilts exhibited at Taupo Quiltmakers Exhibition.
 

Once again a big thank you to Christine Beavis and the Taupo Quiltmakers for making me feel so welcome and looking after me.  

 Shirley