Steven in Flight

Pam Holland is an Australian artist who makes amazing quilts.  I follow her on facebook and visit her blog from time to time.
She recently posted an article on the Apps she uses to manipulate her drawings and photographs which then become inspiration for her work.
If you cannot draw or have difficulty selecting colours for areas of your quilt, follow this link and get inspired.
https://iampamholland.com/2016/02/22/how-do-you-match-the-colors-for-a-quilt/

I am excited - by using Pam's info, I have made this quilt and had to share it with you.


Original photograph - My son Steven.



I used Dreamscope (app) to manipulate photograph then drew it onto my fabric ready for Stitching.





My curved stitching stretched my fabric thus creating a curve in my edge.

 

To help straighten it, I ran a running stitch by hand and slightly gathered it.

 

Then sewed on my binding.



Finished quilt "Steven in Flight"

The curved area at the bottom centre of this quilt still has a tendency to warp a little so I will steam iron it further.  See what happens.

Now for the next project.....  Happy stitching friends.





New meshwork / weaving class coming up

New class for next year which I will be trialling soon
at Sawmillers Quiltery 30th of April 2016.

Meshwork is the Japanese art of weaving with strips.  This weaving creates an illusion of a miniature quilt and gives that wow factor to any bag, purse, quilt or other gift item you make.

In the South Pacific region we are surrounded by beautiful cultural weaves.  You will be shown how to draw up and weave your own designs.  

 

8th Annual Stonestead outdoor quilt festival

What a spectacular day for an outdoor quilt festival.  I arrived early before the heat of the day had set in. I took only a few photos before the exhibition opened.  Yvonne will supply professional photographs on the Sawmillers webpage later in the week.
For those of you not familiar with this exhibition, it is held on the grounds of the original Stonestead homestead property in Te Marua, Upper Hutt owned by Kevin.  With his friend Yvonne they also run Sawmillers Quiltery on the same property.



9am Exhibition hanging nearly complete.

Challenge quilts.  Theme table runners

Family Tree by Alan Armstrong.
His own design and I think he must have had a lot of fun making this quilt.

There were several quilts on loan which means I do not know the name of the maker.
These cats are all embroidered.  Beautiful.

close up of one panel in the previous quilt.

More is More by Helen Malanchak quilted by Sue Burnett

close up of Sue's quilting.

Millefiore Paperweights by Jocelyn Thornton.  Quilted by Sue Burnett

3 way quilt by Lynn and Ingrid Jarvis.
Very cleaver idea.  Close up below.

The knitting was so even and beautifully done.  Love the covered buttons.

Elm Creek Sampler by Judy Betts.



My quilt of many colours by Wanda Borowicz.  Hand pieced and machine quilted.

This is an open event which means any quilter can enter.  This relaxed exhibition encourages beginners to enter quilts and it was great to see so many there on the day.
Looking forward to the next one.

Lisa's quilt from my spinning stripes class held at Coastal Quilters last year.
Great to see another top finished.  Clever use of her fabric to create the border.

Clover double tracing wheel

For years my sewing has involved arts, crafts and quilts.  Its been only in the last two years that I have started making my own dresses.  I get so much joy out of making something unique and fun.

I am about to draft several patterns from Burda's Vintage magazine featuring garments from the 1960's. Burda do not include seam allowances in their patterns.  Clover has the perfect tool for this and apparently it has been designed specifically for Burda.

Clover double tracing wheel

Notice the cm spacing options

Each wheel can be pulled out

Wheels can be set and your preferred setting.

 

Depending on whether you are right or left handed, the center wheel will always mark the pattern outline and the other will add the seam allowance. 

Update to previous 1/4" Ruler Foot post

Continuing on from my previous post, I have spoken about the 1/4" ruler foot to two quilting guilds this week.
I do recommend watching the Nancys Notions video link (below) to get an idea of how effective quilting with rulers can be.
Nancys Notions Ruler Foot

Poppy Lane

I have completed "Poppy Lane" sample quilt for my Enhance and Mellow class coming out later this year at Sawmillers Quiltery.   I used the Ruler foot and a clamshell ruler from Handi Quilter to quilt this quilt.  I definitely needed the help of my supreme slider quilting mat to help the quilt slide freely.
Supreme slider link

The quilting is a little rough in places.  My stitches are not even and I found I tended to slip  the ruler so some of my clam shells are not event.  I did scratch the ruler by placing it on top of my pins so I do recommend taking your pins out.  Part of learning as we go and I definitely need more practise.

I have enjoyed testing out the 1/4" ruler foot and will continue to use this method on some of my quilts.  In New Zealand the access to rulers is very limited.  Stewmac are the NZ distributors for Handiquilter rulers.  Quiltique.co.nz also supplies machine quilting rulers (my friend has bought some for her HQ sweet sixteen) however I cannot find the rulers listed on their website.  Will update this post when I receive more information.

Now - of to play with my new sewing machine gadget "flower foot"

Happy stitching.

Janome , Elna and Bernina 1/4" ruler foot

I have seen some amazing quilting on quilts where rulers have been used with the Handi Quilter machines.  Of course like anything (watching online videos) it always looks easy when someone else does it.  I quilt my quilts however I don't have a natural ability with my free motion.  I have to plan and measure while some of my friends can just draw pictures with their sewing machines.
So due to my skill level, I can't justify purchasing a HQ Free motion machine.  I have used them and they are beautiful.  Sigh.........

Janome have a 1/4" ruler foot (part number 767-434-005) which is an attachment for the straight sewer machine (1600p).  This ruler foot also fits the free motion foot holder which comes with the Horizon models 7700, 8200, 8900, Elna 720 and 760 Excellence models.
This foot holder is available as an additional extra for the  Janome 6600p, 6500, Skyline S3, S5 and S7 models and other models such as the DC range of machines. In New Zealand, this holder (shank) and three attachments retails for $189.00. The additional 1/4" ruler foot attachment retails for $69.00.

You must have the foot holder to attach the 1/4"ruler foot to it. Check with your dealer to ensure it will fit your model.
 Notice the spring section of the foot holder in the picture below?  When your holder is attached to your machine you can adjust the height of your foot to work perfectly with different lofts of batting by just turn the dial.  So easy.

My free motion foot holder has the  1/4" ruler foot attached.  The other three
feet attachments shown came with my foot holder.

Notice the depth of the 1/4" ruler foot? 
Standard Free motion foot to the right.
 

My first attempt at using my 1/4" ruler foot and
Handi Quilter (HQ) ruler.

This foot must be used with a 1/4" thick quilting ruler  - not your cutting rulers.

BERNINA ruler foot is number 96.  This foot doesn't have the adjustable shank.  Check with your dealer whether this foot will fit your model of machine.

It will take me practise to get the correct grip / pressure on the ruler to prevent it from moving.
Now for a day of play.
Happy quilting friends.

 

Meshwork pencil case for a friend

Happy holidays. Its a great time to cruise the web for ideas and stimulation.

I have a friend who is incredibly generous and has given me lots of advice over the years.  She ( I can't mention her name - still a secret) is also a very talented sewer so I have struggled to come up with the perfect gift for her.

A spark ignited when scrolling through pinterest pencil cases last week as I have decided to give her fabrico pens.  This clever pencil pouch appealed.


http://www.handmadiya.com/2015/11/pencil-pouch-tutorial.html


My friend also likes the meshwork star version of baby blocks and I know she will never bother making this for herself.

Meshwork Star






For this pouch I will use three colours to create a meshwork star outer fabric.  The two greens will form the star and the purple the hexagon surround. 

30cm of each colour cut into 3/4" strips.

 

  

L

I laid  each green on either side of the purple (picture right) gave the star a half and half effect (above).  This didn't appeal to me so I unpicked my weaving.

 I laid each green in pairs between the rows of purple.

This gave the effect below.  Much more pleasing to my eye.
I quilted the panel around each hexagon to secure the weave as it bends into its new shape.

The total size of my woven panel was 11" x 11".  This gave me plenty of space to cut into the required shape.  I had to vary the instructions for this pouch as the meshwork was to thick to incorporate as a seam.  I also used a Vislon 70cm zip rather than a dress zip.  I liked the chunky look it gave and it is more in proportion with the meshwork.  The only snag - the sewing machine needle will not sew through a vislon zip so I had to hand bound it.

 

Bottom of zip hand bound.



Side of completed pencil pouch



top of pencil pouch



Inside pouch. 

I ironed on a firm interfacing onto the lining fabric then hand stitched into the pouch rather than sewing it in at the same time as the zip.  I had to improvise from the techniques used in the pouch tutorial due to the thickness of my fabric.

Now to fill this pouch with fabrico pens.  Mine are nearly drained.

Happy Stitching and Happy New Year. xx