La Passacaglia - my progress so far.

If you told me a year ago that I would be making an EPP (English paper piecing) quilt, I wouldn't have believed you.  I have admired grandmother garden quilts over the years but have never been tempted to make one.  BUT I am.  Here is my progress on my La Passacaglia quilt.  I have included other penrose blocks from Willyne Hammerstein's second book as well.  I invisage this quilt would take me at least another year to complete as I'm in the middle of other exciting projects as well.

Happy stitching friends.

Shirls

Show n Tell

Completed cushion ready for stuffing as a result from attending my Stacking Bowtie class.  Beautiful.

World quilt exhibition winners have been announced.

Visit this linked to view the winners.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=73aacfd4-e4bc-4fb6-9ec6-ce417a849fbb&c=11955320-b4a1-11e3-bdbb-d4ae527b77f8&ch=12a90d10-b4a1-11e3-be3c-d4ae527b77f8

Best of Country New Zealand - Congratulations to Mary Transom for Kings Garden.

Millefiori/ La Passacaglia

Wendy Welsh and I will be giving a talk to Capital Quilters Guild in Lower Hutt, New Zealand on Willyne Hammerstein's La Passacaglia quilt. The addiction to this quilt is massive and world wide. There is a Facebook Group currently with 2.5k members (Wendy is one of the administrators for this page). The same questions are asked by people wanting to make this quilt I.e. Fabrics, templates, papers etc. so we have decided to help.
Wendy and I are not experts but by sharing what we have learnt along the way (including gadgets and techniques) we hope to either help and encourage those starting and to maybe introduce newbies to this wonderful EPP quilt.
Venue is Waterloo School, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.  Saturday 29th August commencing 1.30pm. Visitors are very welcome.
Google la Passacaglia images or check them out Pinterest.
 

Early stages of mine

 

A must have in all quilting club library's and for all EPP lovers

 

If your local and can come - we would love to see you.

 



Patchwork for beginners

Another group of new quilters taking their first steps into the amazing world of quilting.  Day one of a two day class - here are their results so far.

And a bonus - Jenny brought in her completed beginners quilt which she quilted herself as well.  And like any quilter, has her fabrics for the next one ready to go.

Shirls

Felting my knits

I have started playing around with my knitting machine and still have a very long way to go figuring out how to prevent wavy sides and ends with the pieces I have made.  I was getting random holes but have sorted that one out.  Now to work out how to cast of etc.

wavy sides but at least no holes

I visited DEA Yarns in Levin on a recent Quilting Retreat with friends where I bought a couple of end of line cones of 2 ply.
 
I intend to use my knitting machine to make fabric.  Once knitted it will be felted using my embellishing machine (so much easier on the hands).  The final outcome should be fabric made for a wool quilt that still is forming in my head.

I have noticed when felting the back becomes fluffy and the front matted.

Here's my progress so far.



The back of fabric showing area felted

Center front section felted

Back showing felting area

Felted sections giving this piece A
textured look

Back to playing around adding other fibres.

My satchel made from old denim

I started cutting 4" squares from two pairs of old denim jeans.  One pair darker and than other to create a contrast.  I wanted to see how well denim would work using the stacking bowtie technique.  Initially I had considered making a skirt but decided that maybe I should try something smaller first.

I  quilted the interior fabric with needle punch and stitched trimex onto the back of my main fabric (stacking bowtie denim) since a satchel is usually a very firm bag.  The trimex made it very difficult to sew when assembling the bag.  In fact I had to upgrade my machine needle size to 110 (bent the 100). 

The sides of the bag are only supported by needle punch - maybe a double layer or a heavy Vilene should have been added to prevent them from collapsing a little.

The strap is made from jean legs.  I avoided using the knees as this part of the fabric was stretched.

It was meant to be a fun project but without a pattern I did a LOT of unpicking.  My Janome Horizon 7700 managed to sew through the thick layers but in some areas my stitching is a little rough - had trouble manipulating all the layers particularly where I had placed trimex.



Interior fabric



Rose jean buttons - found these at the Sewing Depot (Petone NZ)



The back. 

I'm still deciding how I will secure the flap of the satchel but have decided against magnets (they are either to weak or to strong), a zip (annoying - especially if it jams) and buckles. I am thinking of using two pieces of fine elastic (or something similar) which will be sewn behind the center diamond and can be stretched over the two rose jean buttons on the edge of the flap.  Will post a picture once I have figured this out.

4 Standard jean buttons have been placed at the bottom of the bag help protect the fabric from soiling when placed down on the floor etc.  I thought this was clever however this hasn't quite worked with this bag as I hadn't made a rectangle base so doesn't quite sit flat.

Still - I'm really happy with it and have learnt a lot making this satchel.  I won't be making a skirt using this technique out of denim as it will be to heavy.  My next plan is to try linen.

Happy sewing friends.