x + Quilt Top Finished

 This quilt block practically killed me. I didn't like the cutting, matching and pinning that went with the whole process. Yes, it is made from scrappy bits of fabric but I never seemed to have enough of the right scraps and had to cut into the good stuff to get enough blocks together. 

In the end I was really happy with the finished quilt top. It is just the size for a cot and will be a fun "I Spy" quilt for a young one. I didn't have the patience to make it any larger but I am glad I started it and finished it.

I'm not sure how I will quilt it or what I will back it with yet.

The Australasian Quilt Convention

It was a glorious Autumn day when I set out to the Royal Exhibition Buildings for the quilt show.

 I have to say that apart for a few things, it was all pretty much the same as every year's show. Nevertheless it is fun to have it all in one place and at one time.

I think my favourite quilt on show was this one by Maria and Theodore Giannoukas.

 It was made up of tiny scraps of fabric

 This was part of a much larger quilt. Extraordinary detail.

We all know what this one is. It would take me years to make a Dear Jane. This one was made by Helen Wadsley.

Lots of Dots by Chris Jurd

I was very restrained and only bought some more pieces of woollen felt and a floor lamp for winter nights of stitching.

A Day in Town

After hearing about a haberdashery store called L'uccellos in the city I decided to visit this hidden gem as well as visit a friend for her birthday. I found her building first. It must be something special to work here every day. It just felt like a place where things could happen.

Coffee and chocolates done.

Next stop was finding the Nicholas Building where L'uccellos is in residence.

I missed it the first time and actually walked right past it.

The ground floor was worn out and tired but still showed some of its former glory.

Up two flights of steps and I found it.

It is a store filled with all sorts of goodies.

Fabric, cards, crochet, vintage buttons and collectables, gorgeous threads, books, linen....

Did I buy anything?

Just a little bit.

I couldn't resist.

A Couple of Finishes

Finally the long awaited perle thread colour arrived in store and I was able to finish this quilt. I looked back through Flickr and it said that the top was finished in September and here we are in April. That's a long time ago!

It is amazing how such a simple block repeated can turn out such a bright and happy quilt.

The second finish has not taken so long to put  together.

It's Summer's blanket backed with light weight Echino fabric that I originally bought to turn into a scarf, but never did.

 We are hoping to meet her next week.

Also I'm still working on the giant hexies. I have sewn strips of all the fabric so I will just keep going until I run out of them.

It is school holiday time. I have not much planned except going to the quilt show.

Looking forward to having no plans!

I know these precious days will just slip through my fingers.

Finished Stitching and a New Quilt

I've finished Summer's blanket stitching but now comes the bit I don't like; the backing and ribbon.

I've decided what will be the backing fabric and I'll probably stick to a cream ribbon. It is really hard to put the backing on so that it sits flat and straight. Last time I pretty much did it like a quilt, using lots of pins and it worked better. 

The weekend was blissfully quiet, unlike the upcoming one with an engagement and a 60th.

There were hours where I had the whole house to myself. Although I am in the middle of a dozen different projects, I just had to try out Sujata's pattern (The Root Connection) from the Victorian hexagon Quiltalong 

Here are the first few blocks.

And the next few blocks although I lay one down in the wrong way.

I have to say I am loving the way these are looking.

Once I worked out how to do these, following Sujata's very easy instructions, I found a few short cuts to get them done faster. For one, I use freezer paper instead of paper for the templates. Secondly once the centre strip is in place you can sew the next few strips together in long rows and then join them up as one piece.

Stitching for Summer

My nephew and his wife have a new baby girl and as per family tradition that means I have a new woollen blanket to stitch. Our new little great niece is called Summer and here is a preview of her blanket.

Apart from the new blanket all I have managed to stitch are some more x + blocks. They take ages and no matter how many I do, the quilt is still way too small so I just have to make more. Hmmm.

When you make the block you have to snip off all the triangle corners. Hating to throw out anything I saved the tiny triangles and sewed them together as well. They make squares less than 1" in size.

I've started playing around with these guys as well but I am not sure what they will end up doing yet.

So although I have been quiet as far as blogging goes, I have been getting a few bits and pieces happening.

Pot Mitts Again

Although I was almost pot mitted out when I made stacks last year, I was asked to make a pair for a friend at work. "What kind?" I asked. "Pink," she replied.

Instead of using scraps from the basket I cut into my nicer piles of colour and was much happier with the result.

 She was so happy, she asked for 2 more green/blue ones.

 I had to make 2 sets because I wasn't sure if she would like the darker ones.

Thanks for all your advice on the + x blocks. Your thoughts and ideas have encouraged me to keep going. In fact I'm going to start cutting as soon as I have some coffee and chocolate while doing the crosswords. It's Sunday after all.