Hand Sewing and some Machine Quilting

It's been a weekend of nothing new.

But also a weekend of working on.

This was the first time I put the binding on a quilt by machine. It was just something I had to try. It looks okay but I think hand binding is so much nicer and for me, it gives me a chance to say good bye to my quilt. I love the final process.

I've been spending every chance I have hand quilting this too. I have decided to give it to my son's girlfriend's family. He has been living with them for the last 5 months in Sydney while he has been studying. They have had to put up with his mess, washing, and for sure, his commandeering of the TV and couch. The have had to watch Aussie rules instead of NRL and I think they are saints. They already had 4 kids and took my boy in without blinking an eye. He took my Marimekko comforter up there and they were saying how they were going to miss snuggling under it while watching TV so I am excited that this quilt will fill the gap. When he comes home in August, this will be finished and in it's place.

I started machine quilting the Bicycle Quilt.

Another round is on the Wheel of Fortune.

I guess it's been a good weekend.

New Skills

I have been a long time admirer of this quilt.

And I have been watching with envy this little baby growing on Cabbage Quilt's Blog

I have little patience for paper piecing but Cathy's quilt was so tantalizing that I kept thinking about it.

On a visit to Amitie,  Judy assured me that if I was very careful and accurate with my templates there was no reason why I shouldn't be able to run this up on a machine.

Here is how it is going.

Not all the joins are perfect and it is still a massive amount of work but it's moving along nicely. I am not sure if I am crazy about the colours. They are just being added from whatever I have in my stash.

Anyway I have learned lots, particularly that where there is a will, there is a way. The friendly unpicker has had a good workout, in fact I think it is blunt and I need a new one.

Birthday Books

Last month was my birthday and my husband, as usual, had no idea what to buy. I mentioned that I had a wish list on Amazon and lo and behold my wishes came true.

I am only half way through looking at all the pictures.