6 Sided Kaleidoscope day two - Nancy's Stitch Studio

Day two - the blocks have been sewn so the next task is laying out.  This can be daunting however we have a great tool - our mobile phone cameras.

Check out the before and after photos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We kicked of our shoes and spent most of the day on the floor exploring different layouts.  I'm looking forward to seeing these quilts finished.

Shirley

 



Knitted Cushion Pattern

As promised on my "dontwaittocreate" facebook page, here is the pattern for my cushion.

I'm a girl who likes visual textures and its a real bonus if the texture is easy to create.  I have no idea what the name of this stitch is.  I watched a friend use it and the effect speaks for itself.

Here is my cushion using Natural Chunky wool supplied by Naturally Yarns

The lower half of this photo is the "right" side of the pattern.  The top is the "wrong" side.

I measured my cushion - 40cm wide x 45cm length

The length of your cast on stitches should be narrower than the width of your cushion to prevent it hanging loose on the sides.

Here's what I did.

Pattern Row 1: sl2 k1 (sl1 k1) repeat brackets until last two stitches k2
              Row 2: sl1 purl to the end (slipping the first stitch helps keep the sides straight)

p = purl, K = knit, Co = cast off, sl = slip stitch, m = make, pat = pattern

Cast on 70 stitches using 5.5mm needles
(if making a larger or smaller cushion cast on an even number)
Pattern until work measure 85cm ending with a purl row.

Building contrast section.

Next row (right side of work facing): purl
Next row: sl2 k1 (sl1 k1) repeat until last two stitches k2
Repeat the last two rows until work measures 97cm ending with a knit row

Button Holes
Next row: sl1 P15, CO2, P16, CO2, P16, CO2, P16
Next row:Sl2, pat13, m2 in next stitch, pat 15, m2 in next stitch, pat 15 m2 in next stitch, pat to end.
Next row P
Pattern 4 rows then cast off.

To make
With wrong side facing, fold beginning edge (start of work) up. 
Bring end or work (button hole section) down over lapping until the beginning edge lines up with the start of the button hole section (where the pattern changes).  This over lap can allow for adjustment to fit cushion size.
Pin side seams so your flap sides are in the correct place, turn work inside out and slip stitch the sides together.
Turn work so right side is facing.  Line up button holes, and mark for sewing on your buttons.
Insert your cushion.


I have used 1 1/2 hanks of this yarn.  With the left over yarn I made this cowl

Have fun
Shirls

Colour and Contrast Quilt Exhibition 2016

My friends Sandra and Lesley accompanied me to Carterton yesterday to view the Wairarapa Quilting Guild's exhibition.
For all my overseas readers, The Wairarapa is located on the south-eastern corner of the North Island  of New Zealand.  http://www.wairarapanz.com/.  It is made up of small country townships of which some are only 10 minutes drive apart.  Its a region of horticulture, animal farming and vineyards.  Its a beautiful place with only a two hour drive to the East Coast beaches - great for fishing. 
Because of this life style, a lot of people (and quilters) have retired to this region from the Wellington (our capital city) area.

This exhibition was held in the Carterton Event Centre and we had a great time catching up with "retired" quilters who have moved to this area.

I have taken a mixture of photographs of 27 so there should be something inspiring for different quilting tastes.  There were 94 quilts exhibited. 

A group of quilters each made their own version of "Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Quilt".  Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler is a 140 block sampler quilt quilt made by the characters in a novel, The Master Quilter, the sixth in the Elm Creek Quilts series by Jennifer Chiaverini.

Study in Greens by Rayellen Chisholm

Hanna's Wedding Quilt by Adie Wyeth

Rhapsody in Blues by Sue Burns

Elm Creek Sampler by Judy Betts

There were several 'Storm at Sea" quilts

Love at Sea by Adie Wyeth (this was a miniature)

Forest Light by Sheila Christensen
A variation of the Storm at Sea started in a Maria Travers' class

 

Light between Oceans by Heather Vernon

Memories by Daphne Pratt

Caswell Quilt by Judy Betts

Wind in the Whiskers by Carol Whitehead
A McKenna Ryan design

Peace in the Garden by Susan Proctor

Leanne's House Block of the Month by Sarah Williams
You'll have to scroll in to see the detail.

City Shadows by Noeline Day
 

Close up of City Shadows.  Use of colour in the quilting thread.

 

A Yen for Red by Carol Auckram
Original designer of this quilt is Sandra Kennington, Auckland New Zealand

Anchorage by Margaret Enright

For Liz by Helen Ewan

Crossing the Waingawa by Maggie Pryce

Diamonds by the Dozen by Monica Rose

True Weave by Sheila Skene

Georgetown by Margaret Enright
all made from plaids

Hoop La by Daphne Pratt

Antipodean Morris Magic by Sheila Williamson

Heather's Garden by Sarah Wilkins

Autumn Bouquet by Maria Travers

To close of this post.  Here are a couple of quilts made by Pauline Cave.  Pauline is known for and tutors around New Zealand teaching  her "scrappy" or scrap bag quilts. Her piecing and finishing is stunning.

Underground Railroad by Pauline Cave

Julia Grant by Pauline Cave

Mary Lincoln by Pauline Cave

Thank you for taking the time to view this quilts from Wairarapa Quilters.

Shirls

6 Sided Kaleidoscope class at Nancy's Stitch Studio

I had a wonderful day teaching a class at Nancy's Stitch Studio in Wellington yesterday.
Check out the student's fabric selections and their first blocks.  Part two of this class will be in a fortnight.  So exciting - you don't know what these quilts will look like.  Unpredictability!!

 

 

 

 

 

For each block you have three variations (below)

variation 1

variation 2

variation 3

 

We meet in a fortnight and I'm really excited to see how these will turn out.

 

Happy Quilting.

Shirls