Patchwork, Tunisian Crochet, stacking Bowties Plus more

Yes its been quite a while since I have had the opportunity to catch up with my blog.  Also I struggle with the format of Blogger and once I have published my post, it moves my photographs around.  Sooooo frustrating.  Any tips would be appreciated.

My classes commenced end of April, starting patchwork for beginnrs at Wellington Sewing Center


Here are some of the quilt tops.

I ran two Classes of Tunisian Crochet, introducing tactile stitches to crocheters at Wellington Sewing Center.
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A Quilt as you Go class:

Louise and Prue showed off their completed Kaleidoscope quilts from Last years class.

Some of the ladies who attend my Wednesday night class made Stacking Bowtie cushions.

There are still more cushions under construction.  I do have another class for this technique coming up Sunday 5th August at Wellington Sewing Center.

We were lucky enough to test drive Sue Schreuder's E-Spinner made by Ashford.  It did look easy when Sue was using it.  Soooo on my "Want" list.

My Effort - lets just call this artistic!

And finally -an Overnight or Weekender bag class coming up.  Will fit in the aircraft "overhead" locker provided it does not wight more than 7kg.  Its fully lined with an internal pocket.
For more details, please visit Wellington Sewing Center website or contact Jo@sewingdirect.co.nz

Thats all for now.  Thank you for taking the time to read my post.  Until next time,
Happy stitching

Shirls

New class plus other things all crafty

I spent yesterday with 14 members from Kapiti Quilters in Waikanae New Zealand, learning four different block construction and four different joining methods of Quilt As You Go.
The club hold their meetings at their local Bridge Club.  I have taught here before and love the great facilities and space.  Here's just a couple of snaps of our day.

I am attending a weaving class at Wellington Sewing Center.  We are using Ashford Rigid Heddle looms and our own yarn (mines from my stash - ah yes - have a yarn as well as a fabric stash). So much fun and maybe I'm getting slightly addicted!!

We carry around a very important and clever tool in our handbags, pockets or back packs.  Yes our mobile phone.  Use your camera to help with your crafting or creative work.  Here is an example.  One of our customers wanted to put a red boarder on her quilt (red is her favourite colour).  By taking photos we were able to guide her to look at other colour ways what would compliment her fabric.

The red is draining the colour out of her blocks and the blue is enhancing it.

I have had my knitting needles out again.   This time using Touch Alpine Mohair (12 ply 100gms), casting on 22 stitches using size 10mm needles.  Its gorgeous and quick to knit up. 1.9 meters long, sew ends together and you have a boofy cuddly cowl.

The alpine mohair hank below my cowl is called Whitebait.  Its also very cool.  I'm restraining myself from buying it. Click with our mouse onto the photo to enlarge it for a better look.

That's all from me. 

Happy stitching
Shirls

QAYG Another class variation

Last week I attended Coastal Quilters club meeting and was excited to see another quilt completed from my QAYG class held early 2016.

This is Leonie's quilt. I love it.

QAYG class variation

These are two variations using my QAYG template.  The white background quilt has been my main class sample.  During my classes we have played around with layouts using students blocks.  I finally have put together another variation in the greys.





For those of you who have attended my previous QAYG classes, you can use the same templates but instead of laying the first piece at the bottom of your diamond batting/backing, you place it on the side of the diamond.
My grey quilt isn't finished although I have sewn on the binding.  In the future I will eventually square up the sides to create a more functional quilt but for now its an ok size and weight to travel to Christchurch for my QAYG 2017 symposium class.

One of the major hiccups when creating QAYG blocks is demonstrated below.  See even I do it!! - Sew without checking the previous seam has been sewn in correctly.

 

There is no getting around this.  I took out the block and unpicked it.
Here are two tips I hope you will find useful when unpicking and recreating your block.

Use a lint roller to help pick up your unpicked threads.

Close your sewing holes by lightly spraying water onto your fabric, then gently rubbing with your finger making sure you don't warp any bias edges.  Finally iron dry.










I have been focused on finishing a knitted blanket which needs to be completed this week.  Will post you the photos soon.

happy stitching
Shirley

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.

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